It’s good to be bad

While Lego games generally let you play as the heroes of the story, Lego DC Super-Villains, as the name suggests, allows you to go through a story through the villains perspective. The set up of the game is immediately noteworthy. Different versions of the Justice League from a parallel universe called Earth-3, have warped away the Justice League we know and love. Proclaiming to be working in their stead, it is clear that they are up to no good and it is now the responsibility of the villains of the universe to thwart their plans.

The change in perspective is what really sets this game apart. I had a blast controlling Joker, Malcolm Merlyn, Killer Frost and all of my favourite villains from the DC universe. The fan service was mostly well done and there were more than enough memorable character interactions littered throughout.  

At the start, the game asks you to create a character who helps Lex Luthor break out of prison. It don’t seem out of place due to the smart ways they have incorporated your character within the group interactions. As an example, they keep referencing the fact that your character doesn’t speak much.

What follows is the standard formula of Lego games where you play as a variety of characters in different levels, while completing the required objectives in the open world that connect these missions. The world is more layered and complicated to navigate, and the obtuse map doesn’t help. The mission design itself is fun but nothing you haven’t seen before.

If you have not played a Lego game before, they are simple and straightforward. Combat boils down to mashing one button for attack while another for a special move. All characters have unique skills and abilities, and you must figure out how to solve the various puzzles by utilising the villains at your disposal. Puzzles again are simple, but complexity is never the point of these games. They mostly consist of tracing lines, collecting the required objects, timing the attack button, holding your special ability until you can get rid of the obstacle and so on. At some points, I did get annoyed as the characters are written with kids in mind, but they were limited to only a few instances throughout the story.

Even if you are bored of the Lego formula, Lego DC Super-Villains is interesting enough for fans that haven’t picked up any of the recent games. The shift in perspective is well executed and endearing, and there are a lot of funny interactions and memorable locations to please long-standing DC fans.