As much fun as DC’s LEGO video games were, the series lost its shine around LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham. That isn’t to say it was terrible; however, it was evident that something fresh was required. Enter LEGO DC Super-Villains.
Smartly, Traveller’s Tales took things back to basics, expanding on one of LEGO Batman: The Videogame‘s best feature: the villain levels. It’s all about the rogues here and it’s good to be bad as you get to live out all your scoundrel tendencies. Really, this game is what we expected 2016’s Suicide Squad to be like.
Utilising typical LEGO humour, though, the villains are redeemed as they turn out to be the heroes at the end of the day. It’s a wild story that integrates a custom character into the main narrative as the Legion of Doom try to save the Justice League, who’ve been replaced by the Justice Syndicate, aka the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as A to Z and there are twists and turns (and betrayals) along the way.
Undoubtedly, the biggest talking point is the custom character known as “The Rookie”. You’re in complete control of how he/she looks, fights, and what superpowers are at your disposal. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock more options, so it’s worthwhile to invest some time into the Rookie, even if you’re having the time of your life causing havoc as Lex Luthor, Joker, and Harley Quinn.
Speaking of the rogues’ gallery, the villains have received upgrades to their abilities since the last time we saw them. Naturally, their abilities are over the top and humorous, but it makes sense in the context of the gameplay. In addition, you’ll need to switch between the characters regularly to complete the levels, as each one is paramount to various puzzles or sections. In the past, you might’ve only needed a character for a small task in a level; however, now, they’re far more useful and meaningful to the overall completion of the game.
If you’re expecting a radical adjustment to the gameplay, you’ll be disappointed. LEGO DC Super-Villains is the standard LEGO fare of smashing, building, and problem-solving. The difference is, the villains promote more destruction and chaos of the levels. While the Justice League will try to minimise the damage around them, their nemeses couldn’t care less. They’ll smash it up and grab the loot.
The game’s lifeblood, though, is the combination of the graphics and sound. The levels are gorgeous, as the likes of Gotham and Metropolis are replicated in brick format. Since it’s a LEGO world, everything is more colourful and striking, so you’ll spend a good amount of your time taking in your surroundings and exploring its secrets. Coupled with this is the all-star voice cast and unforgettable soundtrack. Popular actors from the DC Animated Universe, such as Clancy Brown, Mark Hamill, and Kevin Conroy, return to provide the voices of these iconic characters, giving this game even more likability. Furthermore, like with the other DC LEGO games, the soundtrack captures the magic of early ’90s DC, with its horns and strings. Honestly, I’d buy the soundtrack to this game and listen to it all day if I could.
In terms of negatives, there’s still the camera-angle issue that’s plagued previous titles. There are areas of the game that’ll frustrate you because the camera angle doesn’t allow you to see the section properly. While it isn’t a complete deal breaker or consistently a problem, it hampers the game from time to time.
Overall, LEGO DC Super-Villains is an excellent addition to the series. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it allows us to play from the viewpoint of the people we were beating up in previous games. It’s pure, unadulterated fun. What more could you ask for?
The Review
LEGO DC Super-Villains
LEGO DC Super-Villains is an excellent addition to the series. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it allows us to play from the viewpoint of the people we were beating up in previous games.
