After Traveller’s Tales delivered two very successful titles in LEGO Batman and LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, it seemed a forgone conclusion that the developer might soon tackle Marvel’s heroes and villains. But, there loomed a major conflict over whether DC owner Warner Bros. would be able to secure the rights to their biggest competitor, Marvel. Thankfully, the licensing rights gods have smiled upon us and helped make LEGO Marvel Super Heroes a reality. And thank TT Games, because they have delivered yet another successful LEGO adaptation, one that does justice to its massive cast of Marvel characters. The set-up in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is fairly straightforward: a group of villains, led by Doctor Doom, set out to steal Cosmic Bricks that have been inadvertently scattered around the universe after the Silver Surfer has a run in with Galactus. But, while Doom’s henchman (Loki, Doctor Octopus, Magneto, etc.) work to collect the Bricks, various members of The Avengers…the true Avengers…try their best to stop them in a sprawling adventure befit of the Marvel universe.
Not to mention, the game boasts the type of team-ups and battles that, due to rights issues, we will never see on in a feature film. At the same time, while LEGO Marvel absolutely understands these characters and what makes them appealing, the game is slightly lacking when it comes to its writing and voice acting. Aside from brief vocal appearances from Clark Gregg (a.k.a. Agent Coulson), the rest of the cast is filled out by soundalikes that are mostly hit or miss with regards to tone and delivery. Similarly, the sharp, comedic writing that usually makes these LEGO games so charming is sorely lacking here. The dialogue between the game’s various heroes, while sometimes chuckle-worthy, is especially disappointing, especially considering how well TT nailed the dynamic between Superman and Batman in LEGO DC. As most fans know, LEGO games are only as good as their playable characters. Luckily, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes has all the requisite heroes and villains that fans could want.
Everyone from Loki to Black Panther to more obscure characters like Squirrel Girl and Beta Ray Bill makes an appearance. Obviously, some characters — like Iron Man, Spider-Man, and many of the X-Men – get more time in the spotlight than others, but chances are your favorite character is playable in some respect. What’s more, the game does well to recreate the various powers and abilities of the Marvel heroes, from Spider-Man’s “Spidey Sense” to Hulk’s combination of intelligence (in human form) and pure strength. Each hero feels unique in certain aspects, but most fall into a few straightforward roles. For example, there are those heroes who are strong, those who are smart, those who can dig, and those who climb. Players will have to mix and match these various abilities to progress through the game’s dozen or so levels, and to defeat the many villains peppered throughout, but, in most cases, the necessary combination is fairly obvious. That doesn’t diminish the gameplay’s appeal, though, because there’s nothing like switching between various Avengers team members.
The game also features many of Marvel Comics’ iconic locations from the Daily Bugle to Stark Tower, all of which are well represented in LEGO form. TT Games has perfected their signature brand of level design, combining more traditional CG elements with those that look like handcrafted LEGO pieces. And if you have the opportunity to play LEGO Marvel Super Heroes on a next-gen platform, we highly recommend it. If there is one word to describe the LEGO franchise thus far it’s consistent. The experience from one game to the next is certainly familiar, but no less appealing, especially with the right brand bolstering the end product. Some might argue that the past few LEGO games have honed in on a formula that doesn’t change much from game to game, and while those criticisms are certainly valid, it’s hard to deny these LEGO games are hugely popular. And by partnering that solid LEGO brand with Marvel, TT Games has found what is likely their most successful formula: combining a diverse cast of characters with their tried and true gameplay tropes.
Fans of anything Marvel has created in the last 75+ years will come away from LEGO Marvel Super Heroes satisfied, as will those who regularly turn up for and enjoy TT Games’ LEGO releases. The game by no means introduces any fundamental changes, but it’s charming, well designed, and endless engaging all the same. LEGO Marvel Superheroes is out now for the 3DS, PC, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Game Rant was provided a PS4 copy of the game for this review. Follow Anthony on Twitter @ANTaorminaWhat would LEGO be without its many licenses? Would it be the billionaire genius that Tony Stark embodies without his Iron Man suit? Or would it be Steve Rogers before he took the super solider serum? It’s fair to say that, however popular LEGO own branded stuff is fun, the licenses, from Star Wars to Marvel are doing incredible work for the toy company. This is especially true in the field of video games. Once upon a time, LEGO released its own video games, and I remember playing one mining on in particular and being completely enthralled.
No longer are these games available, and now you’ll have to settle with playing as your favorite superheroes. Wait a minute, that sounds pretty fun. LEGO Avengers might sound like it was released a few years ago, but that was actually Marvel Superheroes. This one, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers, follows it namesake films as well as some of the standalone hero stories too. Be warned, although this is a LEGO game I may or may not accidentally drop spoilers for the films below if you still haven’t gotten round to watching them. Rather than the older LEGO titles like Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones, where you jump from hub world to linear levels following the films, LEGO Marvel’s Avengers is an interesting, albeit not original blend of open world and levels. Much like Lord of the Rings, you can explore the world in your own time or just plough through the levels. What is nice, is that the story itself doesn’t progress linearly. You’ll jump back and forth between the films in a way that makes a surprising amount of sense.
Going from the Avengers to the Captain America film as he’s introduced, for instance. It’s a nice touch that means you won’t completely expect what to come next, although this can fall a little flat. The first level of LEGO Marvel’s Avengers introducing you to the team is actually the opening sequence of Age of Ultron, including the image that was used in all the marketing. It’s a pretty explosive set-piece with the heroes dashing in and out of the fray as you fight your way towards the Hydra castle. At least, that’s how it was in the film. The LEGO adaptation doesn’t have any of that wow factor. Maybe it’s the quiet music, or the way it starts without any real exposition, but despite the colorful explosions everything feels a little underwhelming. Luckily, this is just a minor misstep in the game that isn’t repeated frequently, but it’s just a shame that it was the first level that slips up. Unlike the last game, LEGO Dimensions, you won’t be required to have the real life toys to use them in the game.
This is a more traditional LEGO game that has the characters unlock organically through the levels. You can also unlock the surprisingly vast cast of characters in the open world sections to as you’ll meet them needing assistance. There are a lot of familiar faces to collect, including some that only the most diehard of Marvel fans will be aware of. It’s fun to find the ones you know and collect them, while the other ones at least offer an amusing distraction. And like with every other LEGO game by Traveller’s Tales, the mechanics are simple and enjoyable. This is a kids game first and foremost, so expect no complex puzzles that can’t be bested by destroying everything in a given room. That being said, some characters have multiple abilities the game may not tell you about. It’s worth making sure you know exactly what your character can and can’t do when it comes to wanton destruction before you get stuck. Naturally, when most of the gameplay involves breaking things, the solutions and the overall tone of the game is the same trademarked LEGO humor.
Part slapstick, part pun and surprisingly physical for a virtual game. It is the kind of comedy that is best shared. Playing LEGO Marvel’s Avengers on your own, while still pleasant, can be a bit of a lonely experience. When Coulson fires the experimental weapon at Loki, you’ll want someone there to share in the situation. On top of that, while moving from level to level it’s nice to have someone else control one of the pair, rather than having to swap between them over and over to progress. Moreover, this game also introduced cinematic team combos that are a lot of fun to execute with a friend. Unfortunately, only local co-op is available, so you won’t be able to play with anyone who can’t come over to your house. It’s a shame, honestly, because it would have been a great little feature to add. There is a lot to do in LEGO Marvel’s Avengers, but you won’t find many new elements if you are familiar with this franchise. It’s an extremely huge game, with levels that guide players through an amusing story, as well as the open world to explore, destroy and captivate as you see fit.