LEGO Batman review says closest to Arkham

EPG Gaming 247 circulated an X post on May 24 that pushed a familiar line now appearing across multiple reviews of *LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight*: TT Games’ new release is being framed by critics as the nearest thing to a modern *Batman: Arkham* game. The post pointed readers to a deep-dive review and highlighted three features — an open-world Gotham, Unreal Engine 5 visuals and classic combat mechanics — that have driven that comparison. The reaction on X centered less on whether the game is good than on whether a LEGO release should now be carrying the Arkham comparison at all. VGC’s review, published May 18, used the starkest wording. The outlet said *Legacy of the Dark Knight* is “a new Arkham game in all but name,” and said it combines Rocksteady-style combat with the open-world structure of *Arkham Knight*. ### Which review set off the “closest to Arkham” talk? VGC reviewer Jordan Middler wrote on May 18 that TT Games had built a Batman game with “the combat of the Rocksteady series” and the “open world of Arkham Knight.” The review said Gotham was “great fun to explore” and described the influence of Rocksteady’s Batman series as the clearest point of difference from earlier LEGO Batman games. (videogameschronicle.com) Destructoid’s review, published six days before May 24, used similar language in its headline, calling the game “Brick by brick, Arkham is rebuilt.” MSN’s review roundup also said early notices suggested the title was what Arkham fans had been looking for. ### What features are reviewers tying to the Arkham comparison? (videogameschronicle.com) Game8’s review, published May 19 and updated May 22, said the game “combines the good elements of the Arkham series” with the usual LEGO formula. The outlet gave the game an 88 score and said the “massive open world” and combat helped make it one of the stronger Batman games in recent years. (destructoid.com) Search results and review coverage repeatedly point to the same package: Unreal Engine 5, a large Gotham City hub, melee-and-counter combat, stealth takedowns and co-op play. VGC said the combat is “almost exactly the same” as Rocksteady’s structure, with combos interrupted by counters, while also noting gargoyle-based stealth sections that echo the older Arkham games. (game8.co) ### How close are critics saying it really gets? VGC’s review said the game is doing “Arkham karaoke,” but added that it is still “not actually an Arkham game.” That distinction runs through several reviews: the influence is strong, but the tone, difficulty and family-friendly structure remain rooted in TT Games’ LEGO format. (videogameschronicle.com) Game8 made a similar point in different terms. Its review praised the way the game blends “two different identities” and said the result was cohesive even if stealth and difficulty were weaker than other parts of the package. ### Why did the X post draw debate from Batman fans? The May 24 X post landed in a gap that Batman players have been discussing for years: Rocksteady’s Arkham series remains the benchmark for many fans, and there has not been a widely embraced direct successor in that style. (videogameschronicle.com) When a LEGO-branded game is described as the nearest match, the comparison itself becomes part of the story. VGC added another detail that helped fuel that discussion. (game8.co) The review said Rocksteady is credited as a co-developer on the project, though it said the extent of that contribution was unknown. ### Where should readers look next if they want to check the claim? Reviews published between May 18 and May 22 are the clearest record of how the Arkham comparison took hold. VGC, Destructoid and Game8 all described some version of that influence, while later roundup coverage on MSN and Yahoo amplified it. (videogameschronicle.com) Game8 also put a concrete consumer marker on the release, listing a $69.99 price and saying the main campaign lasts at least 12 hours, with open-world exploration potentially doubling that. (game8.co) (videogameschronicle.com)