Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

LEGO Batman: The Videogame on the DS offers a remarkably faithful adaptation of its console counterparts, while cleverly integrating the handheld’s unique hardware features. You’ll find yourself tagging between Batman and Robin at the tap of a button, exploiting each hero’s distinct skill set to progress through the game’s platforming challenges and environmental puzzles. The dual-screen layout serves as both map and inventory – a seamless way to switch characters, view objectives, and manage unlockables without breaking the flow of action.

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The game’s structure revolves around two parallel campaigns: heroes and villains. Starting in the Batcave hub, you tackle fifteen story levels as Batman and Robin, solving puzzles, thwarting goons and collecting studs along the way. Once you complete a level in story mode, you can return in free play with any unlocked character to access secret areas or studs you missed, adding major replay value.

On the villain side, Arkham Asylum stands as your command center. Playing as the Joker, Harley Quinn and other baddies provides an alternate perspective on the same levels, but with different object placements, enemy types and puzzle mechanics. This clever design doubles the game’s length without creating entirely new assets, making each villainous romp feel fresh yet familiar.

Graphics

Visually, LEGO Batman on DS retains the bright, blocky charm of the LEGO universe, all neatly rendered in crisp pixel art. The character sprites are instantly recognizable – from Batman’s cowl to the Joker’s manic grin – and the levels brim with colorful set pieces that pop across both screens. Dynamic lighting and occasional weather effects (like ice crystals in Mr. Freeze levels) add depth to the often straightforward backdrops.

The comic-book–style cutscenes that tell the story between levels are a standout. These still-frame panels emulate the feel of a printed page, complete with speech bubbles and exaggerated facial expressions, giving the narrative a fun, quirky presentation. Each scene loads quickly on the DS hardware and avoids lengthy animations, ensuring you’re back to the action without delay.

As you smash foes and break scenery, LEGO studs scatter across the screen in satisfying showers of color. The HUD clearly tracks your stud count, and the bottom screen highlights hidden areas or minigame triggers. While the resolution on the DS limits fine detail, the art direction stays true to the source material, making the game feel like a true LEGO comic adventure in your hands.

Story

The narrative premise is delightfully straightforward: Batman’s rogues gallery has joined forces and unleashed chaos across Gotham. As Batman and Robin, you must hunt down villains, restore order, and ultimately put a stop to the nefarious plots laid by the likes of the Joker, Penguin and Mr. Freeze. The story unfolds one level at a time, with each chapter peeling back new layers of the villain alliance.

Villain Hunt, a new minigame exclusive to the DS port, works as both a fun diversion and a plot tie-in. You pursue villains through twisting, trap-filled corridors, racing against the clock to capture them. This minigame not only breaks up the main campaign but also reinforces the cat-and-mouse dynamic between heroes and villains, adding an extra narrative twist to the overall experience.

Switching to the villain campaign reveals hidden motivations and alternate outcomes. Unlocking that secret path to Arkham Asylum lets you explore the darker side of Gotham’s underbelly and engage in mischief from the other side of the law. The differing object and enemy placements ensure you’re not simply replaying levels by rote – each playthrough offers fresh story beats and new environmental interactions.

Overall Experience

LEGO Batman: The Videogame on DS is a robust handheld offering that marries the series’ signature humor and creative level design with platform-specific innovations. Collecting studs to unlock dozens of characters in the Batcave or Arkham Asylum hubs drives a rewarding sense of progression. From the first stud you collect to the final boss battle, the game maintains a steady pace, balancing action, puzzle-solving and exploration.

Vehicle segments featuring the Batmobile and themed transports inject variety into the standard on-foot missions. Maneuvering around obstacles and taking down enemy vehicles puts a satisfying twist on the LEGO formula, while hidden collectibles in these levels encourage careful navigation rather than simple speed runs. It’s a clever way to break up the on-foot gameplay loop without feeling tacked-on.

With its blend of hero and villain campaigns, character-specific abilities and an addictive stud-collecting incentive, LEGO Batman on DS is ideal for both newcomers and series veterans. The game’s bite-sized levels are perfect for on-the-go sessions, yet deep enough to warrant multiple playthroughs as you hunt every secret. Ultimately, this DS version stands as a shining example of how to adapt a console favorite to handheld hardware without losing any of the original charm.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10