LEGO Batman - The Videogame

LEGO Batman: The Videogame is a 2008 action-adventure game for Nintendo DS, developed by TT Fusion and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. This handheld edition tells an original LEGO Batman story rather than retelling a film: a mass escape from Arkham Asylum leaves Gotham threatened by three competing criminal crews.

The hero side follows Batman and Robin through three chapter-sized cases. They pursue the Riddler's attempt to raid Gotham's gold reserves, the Penguin's scheme involving remote-controlled penguin robots, and the Joker's plan to attack Gotham Cathedral with laughing gas. Each chapter is made up of five levels, with a corresponding villain chapter unlocked by completing its heroic counterpart.

Those villain missions are not merely alternate character choices. Players take control of the gangs themselves as they put their leaders' plans into motion, including allies such as Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Bane, Harley Quinn and Scarecrow. The overlapping hero and villain viewpoints fill in events from different sides, while every DS stage culminates in a boss encounter.

Exploration mixes simple combat, platforming and environmental puzzles with the series' break-and-build rhythm. Smashing scenery yields LEGO studs, and loose bricks can be assembled into devices, bridges, switches or other solutions. Characters have distinct skills, so progression often depends on changing to the partner whose gadget or movement ability fits the obstacle.

Batman and Robin also gain specialized suits from suit-switch stations. Batman's equipment includes options such as a demolition suit for planting explosives, while Robin's costumes open up functions such as using technology panels or reaching otherwise inaccessible routes. On DS, the stylus is used for tasks including operating switches, selecting characters, pulling certain background objects with Batman's grappling hook and handling detonation capsules; Batman also has a double jump that the console editions lack.

Story Mode initially assigns the characters required by the plot, but cleared levels can be revisited in Free Play with unlocked characters and abilities. That makes it possible to return for hidden routes, studs and other secrets that were unavailable on the first visit. The Batcave serves as the hero hub, while Arkham Asylum is the villain base and a place to access villain content.

This is a purpose-built DS version rather than a straight reduction of the home-console game. Its touch-screen interactions, altered attacks and jumps, comic-panel slideshow storytelling in place of cinematics, extra playable characters and exclusive Villain Hunt unlockable minigame give the portable release its own shape. Villain Hunt can unlock ten additional characters, adding another collection goal beyond the main campaigns.