Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Cover art for Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
Developer(s)	Traveller's Tales TT Fusion (handheld/mobile)
Publisher(s)	Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Feral Interactive (OS X)
Director(s)	Jon Burton John Hodskinson Jonathan Smith
Designer(s)	Jon Burton
Programmer(s)	Steve Harding
Artist(s)	Leon Warren
Writer(s)	David A. Goodman
Composer(s)	Rob Westwood Batman (1989) music composed by Danny Elfman Superman (1978) music composed by John Williams
Series	Lego Batman
Platform(s)	Android iOS Microsoft Windows Nintendo 3DS Nintendo DS OS X PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita Wii Wii U Xbox 360
Release	NA: 19 June 2012 EU: 22 June 2012 AU: 27 June 2012 OS X WW: 6 September 2012 Wii U WW: 21 May 2013
Genre(s)	Action-adventure platform
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is a Lego-themed action-adventure platform video game developed by Traveller's Tales, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii U,^[1] Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and iOS.^[2][3][4] The game is a standalone sequel to Lego Batman: The Videogame and the second one in the Lego Batman series. The storyline follows Batman, Robin and Superman as they try to foil the Joker and Lex Luthor's plan to have the latter become President, joining forces with the Justice League along the way. As such, the game's cast is larger than its predecessor and includes characters outside of the Batman series.

The game featured dialogue and an open world to explore, the first in the Traveller's Tales' Lego series to do so. It was released in North America on June 19, 2012.^[5] The Mac OS X version of the game, published by Feral Interactive, was released on 6 September 2012.^[6] The Wii U version was released on May 21, 2013. A direct sequel titled Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham was released in November 2014, and a spin-off, Lego DC Super-Villains, in October 2018. A film adaptation based on the video game, titled Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, as a compilation of cutscenes from the game, was released on Blu-ray and DVD in May 2013.

Gameplay[]

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes features an open world setting, in a similar gameplay style of the Batman: Arkham series, where full exploration of Gotham City is granted. The gameplay is similar to its predecessor, Lego Batman: The Videogame, but allows players to play as classic Batman characters and other various DC Comics superheroes, such as Robin, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Superman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman.^[7] There are 75 playable characters.^[8] New gadgets such as Robin's Hazard Cannon, Green Lantern's Power Ring, Superman's heat vision, and a Power Suit for Batman were introduced.^[2][3] An optional 2-player cooperative play mode is also present.^[9] However, a split screen is used, due to the game having an open-world environment.^[9] The Wii U version allows the use of the gamepad's screen instead of a split screen, allowing both players to have independent screens.^[10] Most of Gotham City can be broken into "bricks", as players can use the broken bricks to build new suits or construct objects that can help solve puzzles.^[8]

Plot[]

An award show is being held in Gotham City, attended by the city's finest. Lex Luthor ends up losing the "Man of the Year" award to Bruce Wayne, but the ceremony is interrupted by a band of villains led by the Joker, who rob the audience while the Joker steals the award; in the process, the Joker presents a film about himself, which includes a showcase of his laughing gas that can briefly make people adore him. Sneaking out, Bruce dons the Batsuit and, alongside Robin, defeats Harley Quinn, the Riddler, Two-Face, and the Penguin. The Joker attempts to escape via motorboat, but is ultimately defeated at Amusement Mile.^[2][8][11] The villains are imprisoned at Arkham Asylum, while Superman arrives to congratulate Batman and Robin, much to the former's frustration. Later, believing that the Joker's gas could help him get elected President, Luthor breaks the Joker out of Arkham using the "Deconstuctor" - a kryptonite-powered weapon which deconstructs unbreakable black objects. The Joker uses the Deconstructor to release more inmates before he and Luthor make their escape. Batman and Robin respond to Commissioner Gordon's distress call and round up the Penguin, Two-Face, Harley, the Riddler, Catwoman, Bane, and Poison Ivy after chasing them through a maze in the asylum's yard, as well as Scarecrow inside the asylum. Batman then realizes the Joker has escaped, and finds some bricks affected by the Deconstructor, which emit an energy signature.

While responding to a break-in at Ace Chemicals, Batman and Robin realize it was the Joker's doing and search for clues as to what he is planning, but the factory is destroyed by a series of explosive chemical reactions caused by the Joker before he left. The pair are rescued by Superman, who puts out the fire, but Batman declines his help in dealing with the situation at hand. Later, Batman learns that the chemicals Joker stole can be mixed into synthetic kryptonite, and uses the Batmobile's on-board computer to track the signature to Luthor's mobile operations center. Batman and Robin board the vehicle and retrieve a piece of synthetic kryptonite, but are thrown out and can't continue the pursuit due to the Batmobile being destroyed by the Deconstructor. The pair return to the Batcave, unaware that the synthetic kryptonite has a tracking device inside, which Luthor and the Joker use to find them. The villains destroy the Batcave and escape with Batman's supply of real kryptonite - which was their target all along - while Batman and Robin are again rescued by Superman, whom the former reluctantly allows to help.

While Robin attempts to salvage what's left of Batman's equipment, he and Superman travel to Metropolis, where they infiltrate LexCorp and stumble upon a giant Joker-esque robot piloted by Luthor and the Joker. The villains use the robot's kryptonite weapon to subdue Superman and crush Batman with a large crate (unaware that the heroes have swapped costumes minutes prior), before taking off. Having survived, Batman and Superman follow them and fight them in mid-air, damaging the robot's flying gear and exposing its kryptonite power source, which weakens Superman, causing him and Batman to crash-land in Gotham. The pair make their way to the city hall, where Luthor's plan backfires, because people affected by the Joker's gas can only adore him, as shown when the voters begin to cheer for the Joker instead of Luthor. After another fight, Superman damages the robot's power source, causing it to leak liquid kryptonite, but is left completely weakened. Robin arrives in a multi colored Batmobile, which can counter the effects of the Deconstructor, and he and Batman trick Luthor and the Joker into chasing them around Gotham. The kryptonite creates a giant Joker face, which is seen from the Watchtower by Martian Manhunter, who contacts the rest of the Justice League: Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Green Lantern and the Flash. Once they arrive to help, Luthor concedes defeat and decides to destroy Wayne Tower in an act of retaliation against Bruce Wayne before the heroes can destroy the Joker robot.

Superman recovers his strength and he and Wonder Woman try to save Wayne Tower, while the others battle the Joker robot on top, sending it plummeting onto the street down below. With the robot destroyed, the Joker and Luthor (who is wearing power armor) come out to fight the heroes, but are ultimately defeated, while Green Lantern rebuilds Wayne Tower's supports, stabilizing it. As the two villains are arrested, Commissioner Gordon thanks Batman for saving the day, to which he admits he couldn't have done it without his friends' help, and that he is glad to have friends that he can always count on. As the League prepares to rebuild the Batcave, Green Lantern shoots a beacon from his power ring into space in victory, which is seen by Brainiac, who utters "I have located it"; hinting at a future title.^[12]

Development and marketing[]

A promo for the game was leaked online by Lego fansite, Bricktuts.^[13] On 15 March 2012, the game's first reveal trailer featuring gameplay for Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was released to the public.^[8][14] During the 2012 Game Developers Conference a 45-minute demo of the game was limited to eyes-on only.^[9] A demo was later released on Xbox Live on 19 June, the day of the game's release, and PlayStation Network on 26 June 2012, while a Microsoft Windows demo was released on 20 June 2012.

Voice cast[]

Lego Batman 2 is the first game in TT Games' Lego series to feature full voice acting with full spoken words, as opposed of the mime acting and the grunts, mumbles and gibberish of the previous LEGO game titles.^[15] Cam Clarke was the voice director of the game. The voice casts includes several well-known actors who reprise their roles from other pieces of media, such as Clancy Brown (who reprises his role as Lex Luthor from the DC Animated Universe), Troy Baker (who reprises his role as Two-Face from Batman: Arkham City, and also voices Batman in the game), and Steven Blum (who reprises his role as Captain Cold from Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and also voices the Penguin and Bane in the game).

Soundtrack[]

The game's background music consists of Danny Elfman's score from Batman (1989), John Williams' score from Superman (1978), and original music written by Rob Westwood. It has been described as "just right".^[16]

Film adaptation[]

Warner Premiere released Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the video game produced by TT Animation. The film uses cutscenes from the game as well as new scenes to replace gameplay.^[17] The film, produced and directed by Jon Burton, was released on 21 May 2013.^[18]

Reception[]

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The game received generally favorable reviews with critics praising its refined gameplay, story, and voice acting, although it was criticized for some minor and sporadic technical glitches.^[19] Game Informer gave it an 8.25 out of 10.^[11] The game holds an 80 on Metacritic for the Xbox 360 version,^[20] and an 81 for the PlayStation 3 version.^[21] Andrew Laughlin, of Digital Spy reported that Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was the best Lego game yet, admiring the game's new features, and original story.^[16]

Sequels[]

On 27 May 2014, it was announced that the third installment in the Lego Batman series would be called Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. The game was released in November 2014. A spin off to the Lego Batman trilogy called Lego DC Super-Villains was announced on May 30, 2018 and released on October 16, 2018.

Downloadable Content[]

Exclusively on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, two add-on packs were released: the Heroes Pack and the Villains Pack. The Heroes Pack included 5 new characters: Nightwing, Katana, Shazam, Zatanna, and Damian Wayne. The Villains Pack included 5 new characters as well: Bizarro, Captain Cold, Black Adam, Black Manta, and Gorilla Grodd.

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Authored by Stephen Stratton. Published by Prima Games, 2013. ISBN 0-80416-161-5

External links[]

• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes at Lego.com
• Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes at IMDb