Thursday 5 January 2012

The Least Surprising Announcement of 2012


It’s official – the first LEGO Super Heroes tie-in video game will be released this Summer, entitled LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Exciting times! The press release is out of the bag, so let’s put it through the Bat-computer and see what comes out of it…



First it’s my usual ramblings, and I have provided the press release below if you scroll right down. 


So everyone knew that the new LEGO Super Heroes line would inevitable have a video game tie-in (or more likely two- one for DC and one for Marvel). But what is perhaps a surprise is it being called LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes rather than just ‘DC Super Heroes’ or ‘Justice League’. Should it have been a surprise though?


Since the re-invigoration of the Batman franchise with the Nolan films, the lack of Superman and the lukewarm reaction to the Green Lantern, headlining the game ‘Batman’ seems the right decision. Further to that, the original LEGO Batman is the best-selling LEGO video game from Traveller’s Tales. That’s right, it even outsold Star Wars. The reason for that is probably that there are four LEGO Star Wars games to choose from, but it’s still impressive. The new game will also tie in with the July release of The Dark Knight Rises, and as Batman: Arkham City just sold in huge numbers it’s really all about the Bat when it comes to DC’s character roster. 


So with the game suitably titled, it returns to the Gotham City but with additional villains running amok such as Lex Luthor, and additional heroes to defeat them including Superman, Wonder Woman and probably more that only comic fans will have heard of. Playable vehicles are also to be included this time around, such as the Batmobile and Bat-wing. This all sounds promising, and could lead to spin-off games if the new characters prove popular enough.


The timing is also so much better than when LEGO Batman was released in 2008. Many LEGO fans accept that the reason LEGO Batman toys shot up in value after they were retired was largely due to people playing the video game, and realising how awesome Batman in LEGO form was. But by the time the game was released the sets were on the way out, and it was too late for the line. Now, four years later, the sets and video game will be available together and each should boost the other’s sales. 


So once we’ve enjoyed the dark, foreboding The Dark Knight Rises, we can settle down to the cheeky fun of a new LEGO video game. This looks to be a great Batman Summer!  


Original press release:


WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES AND THE LEGO GROUP
ANNOUNCE LEGO® BATMAN™ 2: DC SUPER HEROES

The Highly-Anticipated Sequel to the Best-Selling LEGO® Videogame of All Time Returns with
Help from Super Heroes including Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern
Burbank, Calif. – Jan. 5, 2012 – Batman is back to save Gotham City and the action will only build from here! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group are teaming up once again to announce that LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes will be available beginning Summer 2012 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii™ system, and Windows PC, as well as the Nintendo DS™ hand-held system, Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system, and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system. The game is the sequel to the best-selling LEGO® Batman™: The Videogame, which to date has sold more than 11 million units worldwide.

LEGO Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes complements the brand new, recently released LEGO® Super Heroes: DC Universe toy collection. The line includes five construction sets, such as The Batcave and three buildable, detailed action figures.

In LEGO Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes, the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin join other famous super heroes from the DC Universe including Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern to save Gotham City from destruction at the hands of the notorious villains Lex Luthor and the Joker. Batman fans of all ages will enjoy a new and original story filled with classic LEGO videogame action and humor as players fight to put the villains back behind bars.

“LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes builds upon the action and cooperative gameplay experience established in our best-selling LEGO video game to date, LEGO Batman: The Videogame,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “We’re offering fans a rich and expansive Gotham City environment filled with cool characters, great customization options and plenty of surprises that families, young gamers and DC Universe fans can enjoy together.”

“LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes further extends and combines both the Batman and LEGO videogame experiences to create very fun gameplay,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Development and Production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Fans of all ages are going to enjoy the action and light hearted humor that TT Games and LEGO provide.”

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes allows players to explore all new areas of Gotham City utilizing a variety of vehicles including the Batmobile and Batwing. In addition, they’ll be able to fight for justice by mastering new gadgets and suits, such as Batman’s Power Suit and Robin's Hazard Cannon, and using all-new abilities including flight, super-breath and heat vision.

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes is being developed by TT Games and will be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. For more information, please visit www.videogames.LEGO.com.

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