For more on LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, check out our full LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham review. Or, for more of the best Playstation 4 games for a 7 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
What is Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham?
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a co-op adventure game that puts you in the boots of the caped crusader himself - and over 150 other characters from the DC Universe. When the slightly OCD collector Braniac turns up in his giant brain shaped spaceship, with an eye on shrinking the Earth to add to his collection of planets, it's up to our heroes to team up with the villains to unite against a common foe, in a story that'll see you playing as both sides.
How do you play Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham?
If you've ever played a LEGO game before, you'll be in familiar territory here, as LEGO Batman 3 is a similar mix of platforming goodness, with plenty of bad guy bashing, puzzle solving and collectible hunting to be done. Letting you and a friend (or AI-controlled character if you're all on your lonesome) suit up and play through the universe-spanning super hero adventure, you'll need to mix and match super heroes and villains in order to progress, as each character has their own unique blend of special abilities. Whether it's zipping up to a higher platform with�Batman's grappling hook, blasting your way through Silver Lego with The Joker's demolition suit or unleashing Brainiac's mind control powers on a poor, unsuspecting Lego dude, simple puzzle solving is at the heart of Lego Batman 3.
How easy is Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham to pick up and play?
With easy to pick up and play controls, unlimited lives, full support for drop-in, drop-out co-op, and save points mid level (although perhaps not as evenly spaced as we'd like), this is a great game for younger kids to get going with. However,�there are a few things parents may want to keep an eye out for, as, while you don't need to be a DC fan to appreciate this, there can be a lot to keep track of when you first start playing.
Each character has their own special powers (although many characters share powers, as few are exclusively theirs), and certain characters also have several suits they can switch between at any time, granting them a whole host of extra powers to boot. While that's great for variety (and fan service if you're a comic fan), it does mean it can sometimes be a bit confusing to tell which character you have to use where to solve the levels many basic puzzles. Whether you're having to use magnetic suit Joker to pull a giant blue LEGO brick around, or taking to the skies in Lex Luthor's space suit, you'll sometimes find yourself in areas where you aren't really sure what you're supposed to do, only to find that a character has a helpful power, but the game hasn't prompted you to switch to them. While experimentation can often help you find your way through these sections on your own, it's something that may be a bit tricky for younger super heroes.
As a LEGO game, there's nothing at all for parents to be concerned about here - no sex, swearing, and very little in the way of violence. While you have to beat up other players, sometimes with lasers, freeze rays, or other elaborate weaponry, you are only ever beating up little LEGO people, and there's nothing in the way of realistic impacts, with your foes instead flashing red when hit, and falling to pieces when defeated.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Playstation 4
