Game Review – LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

I played a demo of the very first LEGO game, LEGO Star Wars, it seems like forever ago.  Since 2005, Traveller’s Tales has created similar games in numerous licensed worlds (DC comics, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter among them), but the latest game, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, is definitely the pinnacle of the series.  Though that may be my inner Marvel fanboy talking.

The story is a humorous spin on the major comic events that are more and more prevalent nowadays – Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds is coming, and he’s hungry.  The Silver Surfer, his herald, is taken down by SHIELD and Iron Man, but his surfboard is taken by Loki and Dr. Doom, who plan to use the power from it to create a Doom-Ray of Doom (or so Doom thinks anyway).  But never fear, the vast majority of the top tier and second tier Marvel heroes are on the case!  X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers and more are covered, and while there are some power overlap, each character has it’s own unique charm.  It helps greatly that most, if not all, have their current voice actors from the cartoons voicing them, along with Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson.  The puzzles, for the most part, are inventive and fun.  The years of experience in this style of game show, and the addition of the varied powers makes sure a wide range of characters get used on a mission.  Is it difficult?  Not particularly, though the flying missions and races give me trouble – but those aren’t important to the plot, just side content.  It IS a game for kids, after all.

There is a LOT to find and do.  I’ve finished the main story line, but I’ve barely collected 25% of the things to find.  There are dozens of unlockable heroes and villains, and many have more than one costume.  You have to rescue Stan Lee once in each level, as well.  There are Deadpool bricks to find, and the Merc with the Mouth appears frequently, narrating the bonus levels found in the buildings in NYC.  You can freely roam the city as well as the Helicarrier, too.  Some of the best funny moments are found that way.

I played this on PC, and it looked amazing.  Tons of fun for the Marvel comics fan in your life.