Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight builds a joyful Gotham adventure

The Caped Crusader gets a brick-building and -destroying return to Gotham City through a third-person, open-world action adventure that delivers a surprisingly deep and loving journey through almost 90 years of his comics, television and cinematic mythology in Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Warner Bros. Games and TT Games Studios Limited, reviewed on Xbox Series X/S, $69.99).

Up to a pair of players cooperatively take part in Bruce Wayne’s evolution from traumatized heir to Gotham’s protector, with the story drawing from the familiar plot points and stylized Lego visuals.

Influences include the hero’s origins as seen in Christopher Nolan’s movie “Batman Begins”; the theatrical enormity of Tim Burton’s immersive urban deco Gotham seen in his pair of 1980s Bat films; and the rogues-gallery lunacy of the comics and cartoons with appearances by The Joker, Penguin and even Condiment Man (to name a few), all combined with the stealth and close combat rhythm of the “Arkham” video game series.

Sure, the Bat history can become overwhelming to younger fans, but the developers mostly find the right balance between dark vigilante drama and plastic-brick shenanigans.

Batman can brood, grunt, glide, punch and interrogate, but he is still an authentic Lego figure, down to his shiny molded cowl, embossed abs and cloth-textured cape, so the grimness never gets too heavy before something explodes into studs or a villain gets undercut by a sight gag.

The main adventure spans roughly 22 story missions, generally presented across six chapters plus a prologue, though the more important number for parents and casual gamers becomes tied to the addictive time suck.

A straight run through the story will consume about 10 to 15 hours, depending on skill and how easily one resists smashing every glowing object in sight to farm studs currency.

Those determined gamers can collect or buy a wide variety of over 100 suits for the characters (from the 1966 TV Bat suit to the Knightmare suit from 2016 film “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” to Catwoman’s “Batman Returns” 1992 costume) and roughly 30 vehicles (the “Batman: The Animated Series” Batmobile to Batgirl’s 1966 TV motorcycle).

Now add in also discovering Batcave trophies, red-brick-style secrets and other scattered rewards and players should expect closer to 25 to 35 hours of immersion.

Worth noting for beginners, complete the story first to appreciate an epic adventure, then return with unlocked characters for the collectibles.

I made the nearly sleep-deprived mistake of busting up everything from restaurant tables to porta-potties and phone booths early on to collect studs and lost 16 hours before I blinked and barely got into the fun narrative.

By far the game’s best superpower makes this Batman game feel a lot like the Arkham Batman franchise without losing the Lego formula.

Combat includes counters, combo chains, use of gadgets (Batarangs, Batclaw and explosive gel); some stealth, detective work; and seamless swooping and gliding from rooftop to rooftop or swooping down on enemies and even beefy bosses to let younger players feel empowered and older players feel nostalgic.

The attacks are not as precise or punishing as Rocksteady’s best efforts. This is Lego Batman with guardrails, not button-mashing training for a migraine.

Players can control Batman on missions with a key ally, including Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and Talia al Ghul, each equipped with specific abilities to open up puzzles and hidden areas.

Yes, a much smaller roster than some past Lego superhero games, but the trade-off works because the characters feel more involved with more vivid animations. Catwoman’s whip, Gordon’s foam sprayer and Robin’s rope-tethering gadget all have uses beyond merely changing costumes.

The massive, rain-soaked Gotham City, broken up into four islands, also makes a wonderful-looking and interactive Lego playground.

The open world arrives filled with landmarks (from Ace Chemicals to Shreck’s Department Store) and offers crimes to stop, Riddler’s puzzles to complete, rooftops to scale, vehicle courses to conquer and enough shiny distractions to derail a player heading toward the next mission.

The impressive and detailed Batcave serves as the hub and trophy room, letting players customize and admire the growing collection of suits, props and vehicles.

Of course, the formula still has some familiar annoyances. The collecting can become obsessive busywork, some open-world tasks feel repetitive, and families hoping for online co-op will be disappointed.

The game supports couch co-op only, which is great for two players in the same room but less useful for scattered friends or cousins trying to team up from different houses.

Still, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight succeeds because it understands both halves of its title. The story and action lovingly respect Batman’s legacy while remembering that Lego games should be fun, funny and crazy chaotic.

Equally important, the game arrives polished enough for adult fans to recognize every inside joke, rare vehicle and costume of the Batman canon and accessible enough for kids to just understand why Bob Kane and Bill Finger’s superhero has become one of the most beloved icons in the history of pop culture.