Giving something popular a LEGO spin usually results in a fun video game experience. We've seen it various times with Star Wars and Marvel, and we've definitely seen it with Batman, which has resulted in three well-loved outings for the combo. This is why the announcement of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was met with praise, since it was pretty much guaranteed that there would be a good game. What we didn't realize is just how good of an outing this would be, as it will now take a larger than normal amount of effort to top this latest iteration of the LEGO Batman series.

The story is essentially the origin story of Batman, going from his parents' deaths to training with the League of Shadows to dealing with the rogue's gallery of Gotham City. It is a very familiar tale for Batman fans, considering that it has been told several different times in several different ways in different mediums. The twist is that this incorporates various elements and plotlines from every stand-alone Batman movie to date, except for the old serials and the 1966 movie starring Adam West and Burt Ward. For example, you'll get to use the first version of the Batmobile from the Robert Pattison version of The Batman and see cut scenes that mimic parts of those films very well. Joker blowing up the hospital from The Dark Knight is present, as is the encounter with Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. You'll get Batman 1989's scenes at the Flugelheim Museum with Joker vandalizing the place, and Max Schreck from Batman Returns shows up as well. You'll even get the version of Mr. Freeze from Batman & Robin, complete with an impersonation of Arnold Schwarzenegger's accent. While there are other nods to the other different comics and TV shows and video games, the movies get a big focus, and this is an excellent attempt at bringing all of those versions into one game, especially since there's been a significant amount of effort to tie in everything as cleanly as possible.

If you've played any of the licensed LEGO games before, then you have a good idea of what to expect in terms of basics. This is a game that can be played either solo or in local co-op, and it's aimed mostly at the younger crowd. That means you can have infinite lives, so friendly fire isn't that big of a deal. There is some challenge but not to the point of frustration, so there shouldn't be a point where you get stuck. The game sports loads of collectibles and lots of breakable objects, so you can keep getting more stuff. The focus is on fun over challenge, making it a very good game for kids while also remaining an entertaining experience for adults who don't mind messing around in a world filled with silly humor.

While the core elements of the game remain faithful to the LEGO Batman titles that have come beforehand, the number of things that have changed is numerous. Being able to change up the difficulty level is a big one, as the main difference between difficulties is how many enemies get thrown at you at a time. The highest difficulty level adds the ability for most missions to only give you a limited amount of lives instead of an unlimited amount. The difficulty can be changed at any time, which is great as far as letting you cater your experience to whoever is playing without needing to lose progress in the process.

The next big change has to do with the number of playable characters in the game. Whereas past LEGO Batman games had you playing with a cast in the hundreds, this one whittles it down to around seven, where you've got Batman, the extended Bat-Family, and allies like Commissioner Gordon. They still possess their distinct abilities, like Catwoman using cats to get into small spaces or Gordon using a bubble gum gun to mess with machinery, but the game allows you more time to stick with your favorites.

The open world also represents another change, but this one is specifically new for LEGO Batman, as we've seen this applied to other LEGO titles in the past, like LEGO City Undercover. We've also seen this applied to some of the other mainline Batman titles, such as Batman: Arkham Knight, but what makes it work is how alive the world feels. The streets are populated with all sorts of different cars. The sidewalks are filled with people who are happy to deliver random chatter that takes a good while before it repeats itself. Compared to other games that have used the open-world concept, this one feels like a lived-in world, rather than a place otherwise devoid of life. The hallmarks of an open world still remain, such as loads of collectibles being tucked away and the ability to hit cars and people. The LEGO sense of humor keeps things feeling whimsical, such as seeing Batman flail while riding as a motorcycle passenger or having others comment on Batman's bad driving if you hit too many things. One thing that people will appreciate is how you can call on your vehicle at any time, so you're never without a ride. Another thing that people will enjoy is the ability to fast travel, but there is something humorous about having Batman use Gotham's subway system to get from one point to another.

The biggest change to the typical LEGO formula comes from the combat system. With help from Rocksteady Games, Legacy of the Dark Knight adopts the same fighting style used in all of the Batman: Arkham games to date. That means being able to attack one person in a group and then hit a button to defend against and counter another person in a group — all without using too many inputs. It is smooth seeing this in action and smooth when it comes to the controls, as you have some generous windows in which to respond to an incoming attack. It can feel like button-mashing at times, and that can lull you into not paying attention, but seeing yourself take care of a large number of goons and delivering high double-digit combos without getting hit still feels exhilarating. Like the open world, the game uses the LEGO license to make what would normally be brutal finishing moves even more devastating yet still humorous. For example, suplexing an enemy or tossing them and punching them in the stomach as they're coming down would look awesome normally, but seeing those same enemies shatter into various LEGO minifig pieces makes the finishers look both more menacing and playful.

Combat isn't the only thing that the team has taken from the Arkham series, as you can now employ some stealth. Behind-the-back takedowns can be executed, but so can leaping takedowns when you're perched on building ledges and on top of gargoyles and other overhangs. You can clear out an area completely through stealth, so fisticuffs aren't always your go-to solution for clearing out enemy rooms. Since the LEGO series hasn't really used stealth as a big mechanic, having it be present is pretty monumental.

This all comes together to make a game that feels like the perfect combination of grit and silliness. You can unleash devastating combos that end with onomatopoeias, just like the old TV show in the 1960s. Gotham looks appropriately gloomy, but you'll see silly things like cops being bribed with donuts. Batman is as serious as ever, but that image is softened when you see him interacting with Batmite as a shopkeeper or flailing about when riding as a motorcycle passenger. It is a combination that once again feels perfect, and it comes together in a game that remains quite lengthy for the main questline, let alone when you uncover all of the secrets and try to solve all of the Riddler's puzzles throughout the city.

Really, the only big issue may be the fact that there's no online play available. Just about every LEGO game has featured local drop-in/drop-out co-op, which is fantastic. However, online co-op is one thing that people have clamored for, and the team has yet to deliver on this front. It would be understandable if this was omitted to ensure that the game's target younger audience doesn't get exposed to unsavory people who want to ruin a kid's game session, but that doesn't make the omission hurt any less.

The audio is very well done. The music does a good job of emulating the overall Batman vibe, while also matching up with what players got out of the Batman: Arkham games over the years. This is one area where the game benefits from the soundtrack not trying to be funny, considering who this game is aimed at. The voice cast is great, with some excellent performances that do a good job of switching between serious and humorous without feeling jarring. Some of the voices go for close approximations of the movie versions of these characters, such as Alfred being the Michael Gough version from the Batman 1989 to the Batman & Robin films, and the impersonations are close enough without sounding bad.

Graphically, this is very impressive. The LEGO games have always looked good, but the move to Unreal Engine 5 with this title has allowed the game to show off more. The cloth textures and minifigs are well detailed, and things like rain droplets cleanly roll off the plastic surfaces. The game sports more detailed lighting effects on some surfaces, and the game is able to have a ton more people and other movable objects on-screen at the same time without slowing down. It looks very impressive and all without any of the typical detailed texture pop-in and stuttering that is usually associated with the engine. The price you pay for all this is lengthy shader compilation when you first boot up the game, which is worth it for an experience this smooth.

The game runs fine on Linux machines, but you will have to deal with a lengthy amount of time caching shaders before you can play. The same story holds true for Steam Deck users but with the added caveat that, like most modern games, you'll only be able to eke out around 90 minutes of gametime on a full battery charge on a Steam Deck LCD version. The game looks quite good even with everything set to their lowest setting; however, using FSR causes some screen fizzling. You might not end up turning on the upscaling technology, as the game fluctuates between 40-55fps in the open world and stabilizes for some missions but doesn't feel off during gameplay.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is both a very good LEGO Batman game and a very good overall Batman game. The focus on a small set of characters makes everyone feel like they're more than just a skin swap. The use of an open world is well done, since it actually feels like a living place. The combat is more fluid but feels natural, while the kid-friendly humor is retained to keep the game feeling light-hearted, even during the more serious scenes. This is a game meant for every kind of Batman fan, and it is a title well worth playing.

Score: 8.5/10