Preview: The New LEGO Batman Plays Like Arkham, Brilliantly Rebuilt in Bricks

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For over a decade now, Batman: Arkham Knight – a game that was quite controversial upon release – has left us looking back and realizing what a gem it truly was, though we may not have fully appreciated it then.

As a gaming enthusiast who’s been hunkered down for a decade, working tirelessly on the chaotic Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it’s rumored that the masterminds at UK’s Rocksteady are about to shift their focus towards a brand-new Arkham project.

Until the distant future arrives, you’ll need to settle for LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight in the interim. However, after having spent more than an hour playing through the game’s storyline at Gamescom, we can assure you it’s a solid alternative.

Similarly to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, veteran developer TT Games is starting anew with this franchise, transforming it into an open-world crime story that draws elements from various Batman universes.

You’ll encounter mentions of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, Matt Reeves’ film The Batman, and the classic period from 1989 associated with Tim Burton. For Batman enthusiasts like yourself, it will be enjoyable to find all these references as you progress through the game.

In our demonstration, we spent approximately 15-20 minutes roaming around the vast open world before diving into a mission set at Ace Chemicals.

The sandbox is simply fantastic: As Gotham City provides a gloomy setting, as you’d imagine, it’s bursting with activity. A palpable sense of humor pervades, with people grumbling about the rain and the misfortune of their pepperoni pizza getting damp.

In a manner similar to Marvel’s Spider-Man, you can locate various criminal activities with your scanner device. These instances prompt brief missions during which you must apprehend or defeat miscreants and troublemakers.

As a gamer, I’d say the combat in this game feels reminiscent of the Batman: Arkham series. You can slide towards opponents by pressing Square, and use Triangle to counter incoming attacks – it’s got a smooth rhythm to it. Now, even though it’s not breaking new ground, the different finisher moves from Batman perfectly capture that hilarious slapstick humor that the LEGO games are famous for.

As the character Batman, you’re equipped with both a grappling hook for traversing higher levels and a glider that allows you to swoop downwards. However, we discovered that the glider can be somewhat tricky to handle, but remember, this is an early demo, so it’s likely that the developer is still perfecting the control system in these areas.

Alternatively, summon the Batmobile by tapping on the d-pad control. The vehicle’s handling was a bit heavier than anticipated, making a time trial mission slightly challenging; it took us multiple attempts to secure the gold medal. Adjustments are necessary – keep this in mind if you’re looking for a more arcade-style feel, which we initially assumed would be present.

Following some exploration in the vast outdoor environment, we moved on to Ace Chemicals to accomplish the primary objective presented during this trial run. It’s worth noting that the initial scene unfolded in the expansive outdoor setting, allowing us flexibility in our approach.

Essentially, our mission was to dismantle an illicit drug operation within the area. Given that this is a family-oriented franchise, we portrayed the drugs as teddy bears. We utilized Batman’s stealth abilities to take down local criminals, but if you’re caught, it doesn’t mean failure; instead, it leads to a physical altercation.

In our story, we targeted a drug operation for elimination. To keep things family-friendly, the drugs were depicted as cuddly teddy bears. We utilized Batman’s stealth prowess to apprehend local gang members, but if you are seen, it only escalates into a physical confrontation rather than a failure.

Since the gameplay closely resembles the rules set in Batman: Arkham, employing the full arsenal of Batman’s moves feels incredibly intuitive. There are fewer surprises, but it’s like putting on a well-fitted cowl that has been shaped to your face before.

Inside Ace Chemicals felt like a more conventional LEGO adventure for me, with a blend of combat and puzzles that followed a more structured path. I was joined by Commissioner Gordon, who I could alternate between using the directional pad, or control in local co-op if someone wanted to join in. To advance, I had to utilize each character’s special abilities effectively.

Gordon carries around a special type of foam gun that he uses to seal off pipes or extinguish fires. On the other hand, Batman relies on his iconic Batarangs and grappling hook, creating an interesting dynamic between them.

The concern lies in the fact that beyond his foam gun, Gordon’s abilities mirror Batman’s extensively, making traversing the open world much simpler – however, this implies there isn’t much distinctiveness between them. If all the playable characters come equipped with a grappling hook and glider, then it raises questions about individuality; we’ll have to observe and find out for sure.

The finale of the demo involves a pursuit scene where you have to outrun Red Hood. Once this is accomplished, you must flee from an exploding building. Despite the intense action and impending danger, the LEGO style of humor persists, keeping the overall tone light-hearted.

The demonstration left us incredibly thrilled about the entire game. With a DualSense controller on PC, the demo felt exceptionally well-crafted. It had an impressive visual appeal and offered a fantastic feel to play, although there were minor issues with the glider.

As a dedicated LEGO enthusiast, I’ve always enjoyed the LEGO games, but TT Games has truly outdone themselves with their recent offerings, particularly 2022’s magnificent LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. If you’re fond of LEGO or even Batman, this hilarious adventure through Gotham is tailor-made for you!

(Sorry, Bruce – we probably shouldn’t mention alleys, eh?)

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2025-08-28 18:08