Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review – An Arkham Game In All But Name

It feels like a lifetime since Rocksteady closed out the legendary Arkham trilogy. Although the developer moved on to other (less successful) DC projects, many of us wondered if we would ever get another chance to patrol the rainy streets of Gotham City as the Dark Knight. Surprisingly, it’s TT Games answering the call of the Bat-Signal with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. The latest Lego game trades gritty realism for plastic bricks, but it manages to capture the essence of the caped crusader better than any developer has in the past decade. It’s a return to free-flow combat, a beautifully grim open world, and a sprawling cast of villains. It embraces the absurdity of the character’s history and delivers a genuinely great action game, one that sees Rocksteady’s influence bleed into every punch, grapple, and glide.

The story plays out like a greatest hits compilation of Batman media. It refuses to settle on just one tone or one universe. After opening up with the path-defining moment in Crime Alley that birthed Batman, the journey fast forwards to the League of Shadows training under a Liam Neeson-esque Ra’s al Ghul, mirroring the events of Batman Begins. From there, the narrative bounces wildly across different eras. Everything from Adam West’s wacky 1960’s Batman, complete with Bat Shark Repellent, to Pattinson’s moodier run as the iconic hero are on display, each given lovingly crafted moments for long-time fans to adore. Virtually every scene will have you pointing at the screen like Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

The game throws Christopher Nolan, Joel Schumacher, and Matt Reeves references into a blender. It also tosses in a bit of Batman vs. Superman (paired with some good-natured jabs) and the Arkham trilogy arc for good measure. The plot chapters largely structure themselves around different iconic periods. In the early hours, a younger Batman contends with Red Hood One leading up to the villain’s legendary evolution and scales up to stopping Mr. Freeze from triggering a new Ice Age. The sheer volume of inside jokes and movie recreations keeps the 15-hour campaign highly entertaining.

Rocksteady’s Building Blocks

Combat takes direct inspiration from the Rocksteady’s unforgettable formula. The brawling system relies on building a combo meter, timing counters, and leaping acrobatically between groups of enemies. Goons with shields require players to dodge over their heads and strike from behind. Thugs wielding electric batons force a more careful approach. Players can still throw a Batarang into a criminal’s face mid-combo or use a hookshot to pull them close. The stealth mechanics also make a return, albeit in a more simplified form. Batman can grapple up to gargoyles, drop down for silent takedowns, and zip back into the shadows. The terror aspect of the Arkham games is replaced with physical comedy. Sneaking up on an enemy might result in knocking them out with a frying pan or a codfish instead of a brutal chokehold.

These systems are made easier for a younger audience, but the rhythmic timing of strikes and counters remains satisfying. For example, an early upgrade makes clicking the attack button at the right moment grants critical hits. For those seeking a steeper challenge, there are three difficulty settings from which to choose. The highest option makes enemies hit harder and puts a limit on lives. The first two options are much more forgiving, aligning with the unlimited life and low risk nature of other Lego titles.

*Skip the next two paragraphs if you’d like the unlockable characters and vehicles to remain a surprise*

The character roster is surprisingly small for a Lego game. Lego Batman 3 had over a hundred playable characters, but many of them played exactly the same. Legacy of the Dark Knight cuts the fat and focuses on just seven distinct heroes. The playable cast includes Batman, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Talia al Ghul. Each character serves a distinct purpose and brings their own specific gadgets to the field. Batgirl hacks terminals using a Frogger-style mini-game and deploys a drone that creates a floating grapple point; Catwoman cracks safes, swings her whip to spin objects, and sends out cats to crawl through tiny vents; and Commissioner Gordon uses a foam gun to halt cogs in machinery. The game forces players to switch between these characters to solve puzzles, and the transitions feel smooth and meaningful. However, the companion AI can be annoying. Characters constantly yell out unprompted hints within mere seconds of being presented with a puzzle or obstacle, giving the player no time to solve the issue themselves before they’re pointed directly at the solution. It’s a minor gripe in the grand scheme, and one I was eventually paying little attention to while blissfully enjoying local co-op—move over, Gotham Knights. There’s a far better co-op Batman game now.

A Love Letter to Batman Fans

Gotham City is once again presented as an open world, begging for exploration. It is divided into four distinct districts: Tricorner Island, South Island, Central Island, and North Island. The city looks spectacular. Raindrops slide down the plastic cowls of the characters, and neon lights reflect off the wet, brick-built structures. Players can navigate the city using grappling hooks and gliders, with a sense of momentum identical to the Arkham games. Or they can call in a vehicle. The game offers a massive garage of unlockable rides. Players start with Robert Pattinson’s muscle car Batmobile and can eventually unlock the Tumbler from the Nolan trilogy, Adam West’s classic cruiser, the little-known 1951 Robinmobile, and even the Bat Truck from the Dark Nights: Metal comic run. The driving mechanics backing the various rides are chaotic and arcade-like, as studs shower across the hood while boosting through Legos.

The story missions take place in uniquely designed interiors like Arkham Asylum, ACE Chemicals, the Botanical Gardens, and the Iceberg Lounge. These feature exciting set pieces, and several themed collectables. The big draw of these more linear missions is the special attention given to the level’s villain. Batman’s rogue’s gallery receives plenty of attention throughout the game, and much care is given to their appearances through creative boss fights and engaging cinematics. Heavy hitters like Penguin and Riddler appear, as you’d expect, but there’s also a host of lesser known foes that pop up during the story. The developers dug deep into the comic books and other media to pull out obscure jokes, which I won’t bother spoiling here.

The open world contains a staggering amount of side content. Players can hunt down Riddler puzzles, complete time AR trials in the Batmobile, chase down wanted targets for the Gotham City Police Department, or simply stop random crimes in progress. Batgirl can hack towers to reveal map icons, which usually point the way to hidden chests and WayneTech upgrade chips. Bat-Mite runs shops scattered across the city, and he will remind you of his new wares regularly. These let players spend studs to unlock tons of suits, many of which are sure to be nostalgic trips down memory lane. The game even features a fully customizable Batcave, a truly phenomenal addition for Batman fans. Players can decorate the underground lair with props and furniture. This truly makes for one of the most personalized dives into Bruce Wayne’s crusade on crime.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review Verdict

[Editor’s Note: Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was reviewed on PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]