LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is a title that is a fun way to spend your time if you’re looking for some lighthearted fun. This title has you experiencing a lot of enjoyable superhero adventures with the chill appearance of a LEGO title.

Synopsis

Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 roughly follows the events of 2013's Lego Marvel Super Heroes but does not necessitate substantial series knowledge. The plot joyfully cribs from Marvel's 2015 summer extravaganza, Secret Wars - simply replace Doctor Doom with Kang the Conqueror. It's a complex notion, but Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 explains it remarkably well.

Kang the Conqueror sets out to conquer the universe, this time with the help of the Infinity Stone of Time, which allows him to summon forces from across the Marvel multiverse. Kang also mixes a number of physical landmark locales into Chronopolis, the game's open environment.

Gameplay

It's the same fundamental premise as every LEGO game released in the last 12 years, though creator Traveller's Tales has altered things in that time. Each type of hero has the ability to influence various level aspects, and the required interplay between each of your team members is frequently extremely clever indeed. She-Hulk can smash through thin walls, Thor can charge up engines, Black Panther can chop through tendrils, Cap can ricochet his shield off various attack spots, and Star-gravity Lord's bombs may be used in a variety of ways. Of course, all of the characters can construct with LEGO, and there's a timeless thrill in breaking up one level object and utilizing the pieces to build another. With this many characters, don’t expect any detailed mechanics like we got with the LEGO Batman or LEGO Star Wars series.

A few bouts of clunkiness

The way LEGO games really play has always been a fascinating conundrum. They're frequently hailed as the most approachable and inviting games available, yet when examined from certain perspectives, they may be clumsy and even arcane. This was brought home to us when we were joined for some multiplayer co-op by a gaming-savvy adult who had never played a LEGO game before. They found the experience befuddling and unwieldy, failing to get into the 'destroy everything' rhythm of play and missing the little cues that the rest of us take for granted.

It's impossible to argue against that argument when LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 has you plummeting to your death again and over again due to inaccurate and overloaded controls, or because you can't see what's going on. The game also alternates between spoon-feeding you directions and being excessively unclear about your aim, leaving you bewildered. Meanwhile, precision flying is a dark art that this writer has yet to perfect.

Verdict

LEGO games have always gotten over this clunkiness by using a super-forgiving respawn system and a generally slapdash tone. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is no exception, but it's worth noting that there's still a lot of space for development in terms of how these games actually play.

Pros

• Fun cast of characters
• Unique Marvel story

Cons

• Clunky gameplay
• Not as accessible as presented