Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes features an open world setting, where full exploration of Gotham City is granted. The gameplay is similar to its predecessor, , but allows players to play as classic Batman characters and other various DC Comics superheroes, such as Robin, Batgirl, Green Lantern, Superman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman. There are 75 playable characters. New gadgets such as Robin's Hazard Cannon, Green Lantern's Power Ring, Superman's heat vision, and a Power Suit for Batman were introduced. An optional 2-player cooperative play mode is also present. However, a split screen is used, due to the game having an open-world environment. The Wii U version allows the use of the gamepad's screen instead of a split screen, allowing both players to have independent screens. Most of Gotham City can be broken into "bricks", as players can use the broken bricks to build new suits or construct objects that can help solve puzzles.
Plot
In Gotham City, an award show attended by the city's finest is being held. After Lex Luthor loses the "Man of the Year" award to Bruce Wayne, much to his frustration, a band of villains led by the Joker attack the ceremony and rob the audience, with the Joker stealing the award. Sneaking out, Bruce dons the Batsuit, before he and Robin defeat the villains - Harley Quinn, the Riddler, Two-Face, and the Penguin. The Joker attempts to escape via motorboat, but is ultimately defeated at a nearby carnival. The villains are imprisoned at Arkham Asylum, while Superman arrives to congratulate Batman and Robin, much to the former's frustration. Later, believing he could use the Joker's mind controlling gas to be elected President, Luthor breaks him out of Arkham using the "Deconstuctor" - a kryptonite-powered weapon which deconstructs unbreakable black objects. The Joker then uses the Deconstructor to release more inmates, before he and Luthor make their escape. Batman and Robin respond to Commissioner Gordon's distress call and round up the Penguin, Two-Face, Harley, the Riddler, Catwoman, Bane, and Poison Ivy after chasing them through a maze in the asylum's yard, as well as Scarecrow inside the asylum. However, Batman then realizes the Joker has escaped, and finds some bricks affected by the Deconstructor, which emit an energy signature. While responding to a break-in at Ace Chemicals, Batman and Robin realize it was the Joker's work and seach for clues as to what he is planning, but the factory is destroyed by a series of explosive chemical reactions provoked by the villain. The duo are rescued by Superman, who puts out the fire, before learning that the chemicals Joker stole can be used to create synthetic kryptonite. Using the Batmobile's on-board computer, Batman and Robin track down the signature to Luthor's armored vehicle, but fail to prevent them from escaping, as the Batmobile is destroyed by the Deconstructor. Shortly after, Luthor and the Joker track down the Batcave via a transmitter placed inside one of the pieces of synthetic kryptonite that Batman took, as their plan all along was to steal Batman's supply of kryptonite - which he holds in case Superman ever turns evil. As the villains destroy the Batcave and escape with the kryptonite aboard Luthor's aircraft, Batman and Robin escape with Superman's help. While Robin stays behind to salvage what's left of Batman's equipment, Batman reluctantly goes with Superman to Metropolis, where they fight their way through LexCorp and stumble upon a giant Joker-esque robot piloted by Luthor and the Joker, which they use to subdue the pair, before flying to Gotham. Batman and Superman follow them, but upon exposing the robot's kryptonite power source, the latter is weakened, causing the pair to crash in Gotham. The pair make their way to the city hall, where Luthor attempts to use the Joker's gas to influence the public and win the Presidency campaign, only to discover the gas causes people to only adore the Joker. After Superman damages the robot's power source, causing it to leak liquid kryptonite, Batman and Robin have it chase them around Gotham, creating a giant Joker face, which is seen from the Watchtower by Martian Manhunter. He calls the rest of the Justice League - Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Green Lantern and the Flash - to help, causing Luthor to attempt to destroy Wayne Tower in a final act of retaliation. As Superman struggles to prevent the tower from collapsing, the other heroes battle the Joker robot on top, causing it to fall down below. With the robot destroyed, the Joker and Luthor - wearing a power suit armor - attempt to battle the heroes on their own, but are ultimately defeated, while Green Lantern helps Superman save Wayne Tower. With the villains on their way to jail, Commissioner Gordon thanks Batman for saving Gotham once again, to which he admits he couldn't have done it without his friends' help, and that he is glad to have friends that he can always count on. As the League prepare to rebuild the Batcave, Green Lantern shoots a beacon from his power ring into space in victory, which is seen by Brainiac, who utters "I have located it", hinting at.
Development and marketing
A promo for the game was leaked online by Lego fansite, Bricktuts. On 15 March 2012, the game's first reveal trailer featuring gameplay for Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was released to the public. During the 2012 Game Developers Conference a 45-minute demo of the game was limited to eyes-on only. A demo was later released on Xbox Live on 19 June, the day of the game's release, and PlayStation Network on 26 June 2012, while a Microsoft Windows demo was released on 20 June 2012.
Voice cast
Lego Batman 2 is the first game in TT Games' Lego series to feature full voice acting, as opposed to the mime acting and the grunts, mumbles and gibberish of the previous titles. Cam Clarke was the voice director of the game. Clancy Brown reprises his role as Lex Luthor from the DC Animated Universe. Troy Baker reprises his role as Two-Face from the game '. Steven Blum reprises his role as Captain Cold from '.
Soundtrack
The game's background music consists of Danny Elfman's score from Batman, John Williams' score from Superman, and original music written by Rob Westwood. It has been described as "just right".
Film adaptation
released Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, a direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the video game produced by TT Animation. The film uses cutscenes from the game as well as new scenes to replace gameplay. The film, produced and directed by Jon Burton, was released on 21 May 2013.
Reception
The game was well received, with critics praising its refined gameplay, story, and voice acting, although it was criticized for some minor and sporadic technical glitches. Game Informer gave it an 8.25 out of 10. The game holds an 80 on Metacritic for the Xbox 360 version, and an 81 for the PlayStation 3 version. Andrew Laughlin, of Digital Spy reported that Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was the best Lego game yet, admiring the game's new features, and original story.
Sequels
On 27 May 2014, it was announced that the third installment in the Lego Batman series would be called . The game was released in November 2014. Also a spin off to the Lego Batman trilogy called Lego DC Super Villains was announced on May 30, 2018 and released on October 16, 2018
Downloadable Content
Exclusively on the console versions of the game were released 2 Add-on Packs: The Heroes pack and the Villains pack. The Heroes pack included 5 new characters: Nightwing, Katana, Shazam, Zatanna and Damian Wayne. The Villains Pack included as well 5 new characters: Bizarro, Captain Cold, Black Adam,Black Manta and Gorilla Grodd.
