When the opportunity arose to bring the caped crusader’s adventures into the world of LEGO videogames, Smith and his team responded like Catwoman in a jewelry store: they dove in to dig up some shiny new features. Given their track record — they’ve created two LEGO Star Wars games, along with the adventures of LEGO Indiana Jones — it wasn’t long before they took an old concept to new heights.

Bat Forklift. This vehicle may help you shut off the poisonous gas that prevents you from continuing.

“We always focus in the early stages of a game on the new features and mechanics that really distinguish its gameplay from the titles we’ve produced in the past,” Smith notes. “And so it was with LEGO Batman: We worked hard early on to build and tune new features, like cool new suits and such gadgets as the manually targetable Batarang.” With the Batarang, Batman can eliminate multiple targets from afar, whether they’re enemies or physical obstacles.

“[Batman is] a unique character in comic book lore: the world’s greatest detective, surrounded by the most colorful villains of all time.”

- Jonathan Smith, development director

Smith adds: “We also set out to make Batman and Robin our most athletic LEGO characters ever, with a focus on a new hand-to-hand combat system that enables you to pick up enemies and beat them down or throw them. All the villains also have their own special fighting moves, along with unique individual abilities, like The Riddler’s mind control cane, which enables him to take direct control of other characters from a distance.”

Cat vs. Bat. A boss battle against Catwoman. Be careful: she likes to jump around.

Many Embodiments in One

The game employs the same playful sense of humor found in previous LEGO adventures, striking a tone somewhere between the brooding hero of such works as Frank Miller’s “Batman: Year One” (1987) and the campy Batman of the 1960s TV show. The music consists of Danny Elfman’s score from Tim Burton’s hit 1989 film “Batman.”

The storyline, however, would fit the Batman of any era: Groups of villains led by Joker, Riddler, and Penguin have broken out of Arkham Asylum (“An establishment more porous than a tea strainer,” says Alfred) and are devising three separate attacks on Gotham City. As you traverse the game’s 30 levels, which are split equally between the heroes’ and villains’ perspectives, you’ll meet and unlock over 40 characters, including Nightwing, Batgirl, Clayface, Mad Hatter, and more.

High Wire Act. No matter what costume he’s wearing, Robin can walk along wires.

“We based the game on ‘LEGO Batman,’ a character derived from a myriad of different individual embodiments across decades of comic books,” explains Smith. “As we’re totally immersed in the LEGO world, that particular definition of this character always felt totally natural to us.”

DC Comics’ input, according to producer Loz Doyle, consisted of “telling us things like ‘This character is likely to work with that character,’ ‘These two would kill each other if they were put together,’ and so on. They also provided a lot of reference materials with detailed backgrounds on all the characters, which helped us create the right animation styles for them.”

“We worked hard early on to build and tune new features, like cool new suits and such gadgets as the manually targetable Batarang.”

- Jonathan Smith, development director

Such Wonderful Toys

Batman’s gadgets and vehicles, which rival James Bonds’ collection in their scope, are also a major part of the character’s history, so Smith, Doyle, and the rest of the team worked them into the puzzle-solving that’s long been a hallmark of LEGO videogames. The hero levels feature special stations where Batman and Robin can change into one of eight new costumes designed for specific purposes, such as Batman’s glider outfit and glass-shattering sonic suit, or Robin’s water and magnet costumes. Unlocked costumes become available in the Batcave, so you can enter a completed level in free play with the necessary abilities to access previously unreachable areas.

Frigid Fright. Mr. Freeze and Scarecrow prepare to take on the dynamic duo.

Many levels also require the use of land, air, or sea vehicles to complete objectives. You’ll get to fly the Batwing and Joker’s helicopter, steer the Batboat and Penguin’s submarine, and drive the Batmobile and Two-Face’s armored car. There are over 30 vehicles in the game.

As in previous LEGO games, the currency of choice is LEGO studs, which you’ll find generously spread around each level; collect enough of them to achieve Super Hero or Super Villain status for that level and earn a special bonus. Cash in your accumulated studs to purchase story videos, special gizmos, upgrades for Batman and Robin’s suits, and more.

Top Flight. Batman and Robin swoop in to save the day.

Each level also features 10 LEGO canisters that unlock a minikit model, which you can view in Wayne Manor or Arkham Asylum, depending on whether you accomplished the feat in a hero or villain level. And don’t forget to save hostages when playing as a hero — rescue all 25 to unlock the character Hush, a criminal mastermind who is jealous of Bruce Wayne’s success.

You’ll encounter not only the best-known characters from Batman’s pantheon but also many who are familiar only to hardcore fans. “I love the sheer variety of different characters in the game,” Smith muses. “The heroes and villains are all really colorful, distinctive, and full of personality.”

If you liked this game, check out:

• LEGO Bionicle
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
• LEGO Star Wars
• LEGO Star Wars II
• Spider-Man 2
• X2: Wolverine’s Revenge