In Haly’s Circus, the legendary Flying Graysons are plummeting to their doom. Again.
Or maybe not. After taking a long drop which typically results in Dick Grayson mourning his fallen parents, the duo gets up and promptly fires their son, prompting Bruce Wayne to employ him and take up the Robin mantle.
It’s a comedic change of lore which perfectly captures what LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is all about – all ages enjoyment, while still being respectful to the source material. I got the chance to romp around Gotham City to get an idea of what to expect ahead of its PlayStation 5 launch on May 22. My time with the game featured single-player mode, but two-player local co-op will also be supported.
Classic stories told in new ways
As with the Flying Graysons example, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is all about subverting some of the expectations of the character’s history, having a little fun with well-known storylines, and referencing scenes from comics, TV, animated series, and even other video games.
“We wanted to make the definitive [Batman] background story,” says TT Games’ Executive Producer Matt Ellison. “DC Comics described this game as a remix of Batman’s Greatest Hits. We want to make a unique story out of that and showcase him in a different way.”
To that end, this knowing mash-up features all kinds of references, from the red Bat-phone of the Adam West TV series, to a costume from the current smash hit comic book Absolute Batman.
Movie influences everywhere
And to keep things up to date, default depictions of some characters like Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon are given a touch of Warner Bros. The Batman film, complete with performances that feel reminiscent while remaining distinct.
“Jim Gordon is played by Colin McFarlane, who also played Commissioner Loeb in The Dark Knight,” says Matt. “His voice really suits that character. He’s got a lot of gravitas, but he’s also good fun to listen to. How their voices played off each other was really important to the story.”
Arkham Asylum-style combat
It’s not just aesthetics which have been borrowed from other tales, either. Joining a LEGO version of Joker’s incarceration from Batman: Arkham Asylum are the detective styled Focus Mode and slick combat system, clear nods to the Rocksteady fronted series. You can chain attacks with the Square button, and when prompted with on-screen warnings Triangle initiates a counter and the Circle button dodges.
The latter is essential when facing off against armoured or shielded goons to get around their protection, as well as avoiding gunfire, with R1 letting you break out a finishing move once your Focus Meter is maxed out, which ranges from a flurry of punches to a pair of cymbals across the ears. Something I gleefully employed when facing off against a variety of colourful goons as I answered random distress calls of muggings and gang warfare across the crime ridden Gotham City.
Don’t forget about the gadgets
Like another sequence cribbed from Tim Burton’s first Batman flick, there are plenty of chances to play with the Bat family’s “wonderful toys” via the R2 button. Of the seven playable characters, I was given access to Batman, Gordon, Robin, and Catwoman, each with their own selection of gadgets. Some were traditional, like Batman’s Batclaw, others… not so much. Personal favourites were Catwoman’s ability to summon a feline who can attack enemies and enter enclosed spaces, and Gordon’s bizarre foam sprayer which can both gunge up gears and security cameras, as well as encase baddies, which you can then punt off screen.
Stealth hasn’t been neglected, either. When exploring the Iceberg Lounge I had to sneak across the rafters of Carmine Falcone noisy club (complete with a DJ proudly declaring “who’s ready for more of the exact same beat!”), and wade through a massive ballpit in a hilariously unexpected funhouse. I was able to perform one-shot takedowns, but gratefully, discovery didn’t mean a game over – it simply meant diving into combat with angry guards crying out “you’re cutting into our ballpit time!”
A cave of classic LEGO humour
“Putting a twist on expectations is the way we often make humorous situations and surprise people,” says Matt. “We have these dark characters but we want to be appropriate for children as well as the older audience.”
So like the best family comedy, the laughs in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight are often double or triple barrelled, where its humour is both explicit and subtle. A training montage with Robin is full of LEGO stud shaped bat guano and a great Rocky Balboa steps moment, while an earlier moment with Two-Face has the villain screaming “I cannot sanction your buffoonery!” to his falling thugs, in reference actor Tommy Lee Jones’ infamous off-set outburst during the filming of Batman Forever.
And in another scene Bats and Gordon attempt to blend in with a party crowd by busting out some breakdancing moves that trigger a short rhythm action sequence. Who knew the ol’ Commish could pop his minifig body like that?
The City never sleeps
There are plenty of deepcut references across Gotham City, too, along with knowing billboards, and BatMite shops to visit. While suitably dark and occasionally rainy, the open world is alive with vehicles, and pedestrians who wave and chat to our heroes, an active train network which you can ride on top of, and lots of crimes and puzzles to tackle.
Pressing the Up directional button unleashes the Batmobile for getting around the city if you don’t fancy using the fun combo of a grappling hook and glider, with driving, combat, traversal trials if you want to practice your skills. There are even spots where you can just sit and watch the world go by.
Suit up for more costumed capers
With the ability to change into a variety of different skins for each of the playable characters, TT Games has ensured there’s a costume for all occasions no matter if you’re trekking through Nanda Parbat or fighting Poison Ivy in her carnivorous garden.
“We really want to celebrate the character and his history through all the different media that he’s been in,” grins Matt. “But we also want people with different levels of Batman knowledge to enjoy the game. There’s something for everyone.”
You’ll be able to join in the big and slightly batty celebration when LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight swoops onto PS5 on May 22.
