LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Goes Above and Beyond

TT Games’ LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is nothing if not complete. It features a rather staggering 150 DC Comics characters, which should satiate the appetites of even the most hardcore DC fans. Characters include the likes of standard favorites such as Superman and Wonder Woman, alongside outsiders like Condiment King, Mister Mxyzptlk and Polka-Dot Man. It’s a virtual A-to-Z of DC characters – a LEGO tour de force of the DC canon.

Beyond Gotham sees the caped crusader join forces with DC heroes to counter the villainous Brainiac’s plan to shrink the world and add it to his collection of miniature, bottled planets. As the title implies, players will be going beyond Gotham City. The game includes a variety of hubs, ranging from the Batcave and the Justice League Watchtower to… well, the moon and beyond.

Most importantly, the characters feel distinct from one another, with players able to choose from among a wide variety of special abilities. There’s also the usual Free Play mode, which lets you play as anyone you’ve unlocked to run through previously finished story missions. In the months after release, Beyond Gotham will get several downloadable character packs featuring new DC heroes, villains, and missions beyond the main game. And, of course, there’s cooperative play, which has always been one of the LEGO series’ most essential features.

In case you’re wondering, the gameplay is still the classic LEGO style: bash baddies, smash scenery, assemble blocks, and trigger special sequences to advance to the next level. The game features a ton of collectibles, as well as plenty of vehicles to commandeer. When the Justice League Watchtower gets overtaken by the Joker, for instance, you’ll destroy the outer defenses with your Batwing. Ultimately, the game attempts to speak to two audiences simultaneously: younger player who are down for anything LEGO, as well as older comics fans who are looking to dig deep into the DC Universe’s characters and lore.

No matter which camp you fall into, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is the most fun and feature-packed LEGO game to date.