Review

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2

I haven’t had the luck of reviewing a game that I can play when my son is around. Because of what’s been released as of late, I’ve been assigned games like L.A. Noire or Elex – can’t take the risk investigating a murder while my toddler is still awake. Thankfully, that changed with TT Games’ latest title, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2…

Offering a light-hearted journey through multiple realities as some of my favorite comic book characters, Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 is the latest in the TT’s lineage of excellent licensed games. Like Telltale, TT Games is one of the few developers able to create great experiences for multiple franchises. Whether it’s Star Wars, Jurassic Park, DC Comics, etc. they are always to be fun and easy to pick up and play. They’re also great for introducing said franchises to younger audiences; as my wife and I played, my son gleefully watched…at least, until something else caught his attention.

Moving past the family friendly trappings for a bit, this latest LEGO adventure takes place after the last super hero team up. Taking Doom’s place as head villain is Kang the Conqueror, a time traveling scholar/egotistical maniac, who’s looking to take over world (or rather, parts of it). As he travels to different timelines and dimensions, he takes famous locations from each place and combines them into a world called Chronopolis. This provides a bit of a Secret War vibe, with multiple heroes from different dimensions all converging on one place made from a hodgepodge of different realities to do battle. Fun times!

Kang the Conqueror is one of the Avengers most formidable foes. He has a time traveling throne that he uses to find cosmic beings, dinosaurs, etc. to use against his enemies. His name alone explains the level of threat he is to the world, yet, he is one of the most hilarious characters in this entire game. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a true LEGO game (for better or worse), meaning that the plot sounds more serious than it is. Thanks to a witty script, some campy moments and charismatic voice acting during cutscenes, it plays more as a spoof of the comics it’s based on. The gameplay follows suit with adorable LEGO bodies being tossed about until they fall apart, light puzzles that often require destroying objects within the environment to secure bricks for building new items, and Stan Lee in peril cameos. Basically, it’s all about having fun with the legion of Marvel characters at your disposal.

With that said, I do have to note how similar this is to older LEGO games. If you’ve grown tired of puzzles that briefly pause the action once solved, characters with a limited move list, and other dated features that tend to show up in these games, then LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 might not be for you. While it’s true that TT Games always seem to improve on this successful formula, it’s also true that they haven’t reinvented the wheel in sometime. The biggest addition this year being the fun yet ultimately forgettable four player competitive modes. It’s still offers an enjoyable time for younger members of the family and it never gets bad enough for a parent to forgo playing with their kids. Just know that you’ll be getting roughly the same game despite the franchise. As a diehard Marvel fan, I’m good either way!

I am always blown away by how great these games look. As a child, you grow up thinking that you can literally build anything with LEGO bricks. That wonderment has stayed with children for generations and even my toddler has already grown infatuated with constructing whatever monstrosity he can imagine. Games like LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 continues to wow us as adults by presenting LEGO based worlds that feel real. And by real, I mean lively versions of made up places; as if what we saw in our heads as kids had manifested onscreen. It was great to be able to share this type of game with my son. Even with some glitches here and there and the been-there-done-that mechanics, we had a wonderful time. Here’s hoping that TT Games can continue to deliver family fun while improving on what’s come before.