Gotham City is once again in the spotlight for Spanish gamers with the release of a new title that aims to break away from the conventions of previous installments. TT Games has gone all out with LEGO Batman: The Dark Knight Legacy, an adventure that can already be enjoyed on current generation systems and PC, while owners of the upcoming Switch 2 await their turn at the end of this year.
What sets this title apart from its predecessors is not just its visual polish, but its intention to pay homage to all eras of the detective, from the classic comics to Nolan's films and Matt Reeves' detective style. It's clear the developers wanted to... the player feels the weight of the mask through a narrative that begins with Bruce Wayne's childhood and continues to his rise as the protector of a city plunged into chaos.
A narrative that traces the history of the bat
The script for this installment doesn't simply copy a specific film, but embarks on a fascinating chronological journey. We begin by controlling a young Bruce Wayne who must train with the League of Shadows alongside Ra's al Ghul, which serves as a prelude to building Batman's identity and the entire Bat-family. Throughout the campaign, which lasts between 12 and 16 hours, we will see how characters like Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon evolve into Nightwing and Batgirl respectively.
The villains also receive special treatment, notably a Joker who returns to his origins as Red Hood. Although it's a shame that iconic locations like Arkham Asylum don't have a more extensive presence, the representation of the antagonists Classics like Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face live up to expectations, providing that touch of sardonic humor that is so popular in block games.
Renewed gameplay in the style of Arkham
If there's one thing that will surprise those who haven't played a TT Games title in a while, it's the combat system. Simple button-mashing has been abandoned in favor of implement combos and counterattacks which draw directly from Rocksteady's Arkham series. Batman feels more agile than ever, using his grappling hook and gadgets contextually to clear rooms of thugs with astonishing fluidity, something that perfectly suits the game's pace.
Instead of offering hundreds of clone-like characters that barely differ from one another, the studio has opted for a roster of seven main heroes. Batman, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Talia al Ghul all feature exclusive skills and devices which are essential for solving the environment's puzzles. For example, while Gordon can identify suspects using the Wanted poster system, Batgirl is in charge of hacking terminals with her advanced drone.
An open world full of secrets and collectibles
Gotham City is presented as a living, breathing world, with traffic, persistent rain, and a verticality that invites you to soar from the skyscrapers. Exploring its four boroughs is a monumental task, as the map is full of hundreds of challenges and collectibles. Among them are more than 120 puzzles divided between Riddler and Cluemaster, as well as activities such as rescuing escaped zoo animals or destroying giant carnivorous vegetation.
To get around this immense map, we have a garage in the Batcave where we can build iconic vehicles. From the Batmobile from the animated series to the Tumbler from Nolan's films, the personalization of transport It's key. Furthermore, the use of Red Bricks in this installment has changed: they now function as aesthetic modifiers to change the color pattern of our suits and vehicles, moving away from the invincibility tricks of the past.
Cutting-edge technology and downloadable content
The leap to Unreal Engine 5 is palpable from the very first minute. The level of detail in the plastic parts, the reflections in the puddles on the streets, and the neon lighting in Wayne Tower are typical of the new generation technical aspects. However, the PC version has reported some occasional frame rate drops and optimization issues which, while not ruining the experience, do slightly detract from the visual presentation.
As for what's next, Warner Bros. already has the Mayhem Collection planned for September. Thanks to leaks of internal code, we know that this DLC will allow players to control the members of the Mayhem team. Suicide Squad in Gothamincluding characters like Deadshot and King Shark. This expansion will add story missions focused on the chaos caused by the Joker and Harley Quinn, as well as a good number of alternative skins for the protagonists.
The arrival of this installment is a breath of fresh air for a franchise that was at risk of stagnating. With a cutting-edge graphics engine and gameplay that inherits the best of the action genre, The title is positioned as a must-buy. For fans of blocky buildings and the DC universe. Despite the minor technical glitches that often accompany ambitious releases, the amount of content and the care put into each item ensure that we'll have Dark Knight on our screens for a long time.