Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £59.99) receives a verdict of plastic fantastic with a star rating of 4/5. A friend who adores Batman and enjoys tinkering with Lego describes this release as the game of his dreams. He has waited years to rappel around a plastic Gotham, pummeling bat-baddies in brick form, and now that he can, it is the most fun he has had in ages. While some might consider this a loser's perspective, the game's ambition is undeniable.
Ambitious and Humorous
Legacy Of The Dark Knight is much more ambitious than previous Lego Batman games and much better as a result. It effectively serves as a child-friendly version of the brilliant Arkham series, offering an entire city to explore by foot, cape, or Batmobile. The combat is similar too, featuring a free-flowing dance of punches and counterpunches. Unlike the Arkham games, however, LOTDK is funny. It delights in referencing the movies, TV shows, games, and comics that make up Batman's 87-year history, then putting an endearing Lego spin on them. For instance, the Joker's blowing-up of a hospital in The Dark Knight becomes a rainbow explosion of different-coloured paints.
Gameplay and Appeal
This is joyous for nerds of all ages, but the gameplay itself might be too straightforward for older players. There is very little challenge in LOTDK, which is fine considering it is mostly for children. However, the lack of any friction does make all the missions and side-missions blur into one. Still, gliding around a beautiful recreation of Gotham City in Lego makes the missions seem less important. As the reviewer admits, that friend was actually himself.
Forza Horizon 6 (Xbox, PC, £59.99 or included with Xbox Game Pass) earns a verdict of speed tourism with a star rating of 4/5. Players will see a lot of Japan in this game, but at such high speeds that it can seem like an erratic slideshow rather than a true getaway. This is not really a problem, though, because FH6 is mostly about speed. After recent stops in Mexico and Britain, this irrepressible driving series has landed in the country that gamers have been demanding all along. An abridged version of Japan now forms the backdrop to its street races, off-road contests, and daredevil jumps.
Tremendous Fun
As always, it is tremendous fun. There are few better experiences in gaming than getting behind the wheel of a Forza vehicle and heading wherever you fancy, through day and night and different seasons, to encounter another automotive challenge. Even at high speeds, the scenery and the music on your car radio contribute to one hell of an atmosphere. Some things are different this time, though, returning to how they were in Forza Horizon instalments before numbers 4 and 5. Rather than doing whatever you want, whenever you want, you now have to work towards the fastest cars and fastest races. This might sound constraining, but it adds a nice sense of structure and progression to what is otherwise a freewheelin' game.
Iteration and Distractions
Is this enough? This is not the first Forza Horizon that is basically an iteration on the previous release—the same game in a different location—but it is the first to really feel that way. However, there is always something to distract you from any such concern, like a paddy field.
