We also have some details on characters who are very likely to show up in the game. The list includes: The Thing, Juggernaut, Sandman, Green Goblin in a OsCorp Tower level, and Magneto.

Traveller’s Tale took on the DC universe in Lego Batman 2: Dc Super Heroes, a result of the studio being purchased by Warner Bros. in 2007. Because WB owns DC and the gaming company, many thought a Lego Marvel videogame was all but impossible. The fact TT is working on a new Lego game featuring over 100 Marvel characters came as quite the surprise to fans and the game’s developers alike.  In a recent write-up in the newest issue of Game Informer, thanks to our friend Llama for some scans, the company talked on the new project and teased new details for the upcoming game.

Jonathan Smith, TT Games head of production, touched on the seemingly impossible task of WB making a Marvel game:

The experience we’ve had with massive media organizations is that they’re not entirely stocked by bad people. This may come as a shock to people on the internet, but it turns out that big media organizations are capable of making really good decisions with players’ best interests at heart.

The article reveals that the game will feature The Avengers as an important part of the game, but it will work in other characters, factions, and groups inside the Marvel universe. The game’s story will be written by Mark Hoffmeier. The writer is no stranger to big franchises having written some for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, and Marvel Super Hero Squad.  The story is still under wraps but it appears Loki will reach out to an unnamed villain to create a “bad-guy alliance to defeat the heroes who stand in their way.”

Two of the game’s most unique characters will be Spider-Man and Hulk. The city of New York will be destroyed in part and rebuilt by players, but gamers can cause destruction of their own with Hulk. The game developers had to work a lot of things around the green behemoth who will be a major focus of the game. Objects have to be destroyable and react to Hulk’s hyperstrength. While the Lego game will have the skillset characters of the previous game, Spider-Man seems to be in a class of his own. Instead of having isolated areas for web use like Batman’s grappling hook, the web slinger can use his webs to stick to any surface and swing wherever players want. Spider-Man’s webs can also be used to tie up bad guys and grab/pull objects. The trademark Spider sense is also in the game. According to one developer “Spider-Man is quite possibly the most difficult of the characters we’ve worked on, but he’s becoming the most satisfying from a design perspective.”

You can learn even more about the upcoming Marvel Lego game by picking up the newest issue of Game Informer. It sounds like this will be going well beyond the usually superhero Lego game fare. With the level of detail and free playing ability to Hulk and Spider-Man, it will be exciting to see what they bring for the other 100+ characters. What do you think? Will you be picking this game up?

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, UPDATE: New Details For The Lego Marvel Super Heroes Game

For my first recommendation I chose a game that any gamer can enjoy: Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4.

“But Zenith,” you say. “Isn’t that a kids game?” Well, yes and no. Lego Harry Potter is a game that was aimed at children but can be enjoyed by gamers of all ages. This game, developed by Travelers Tales, is pure, unadulterated fun. Whether or not you like Harry Potter, there is just a certain charm embedded in this title.

Based on the first four Harry Potter films, the game takes Hogwarts (and everyone in it) and gives it a complete lego makeover. You will find yourself trekking through the forbidden forest, fighting dementors on the Hogwarts Express, and drinking lots of Polyjuice Potion but the transition to Lego makes each experience much more engaging and hilarious. Cut-scenes contain abbreviated versions of scenes from the film, albeit without character dialogue and with much more emphasis on humor. Instead of characters getting killed from powerful spells, they simply burst into smaller Lego pieces. Instead of the villain being cloaked in mystery, the protagonist of each film is revealed from the very beginning as he twirls his mustache and cackles maniacally. It definitely takes some liberties with the source material but it will get quite a few belly laughs out of you.

In addition to it’s impeccable sense of humor, Lego Harry Potter has excellent gameplay. The emphasis here is on exploration, collecting, and interacting with the environment. As you explore each corner of Hogwarts, you will soon find that you can interact with just about everything. Zapping objects will either destroy that object or cause it to undergo some kind of transformation, causing hundreds of Lego studs and other collectibles to appear from thin air. As you go to lessons and gain new spells, you will find new ways to interact with the environment and new items to add to your collection. You will find yourself searching every nook and cranny to unlock a new character or discover a new gold brick. In addition, if you get tired of exploring the castle alone, you can always play through the entire game cooperatively with a friend. The combat of the game is also very engaging. At specific points in the story, you will have to fight against a number of bosses and they are all very creative. You’ll find yourself dodging the branches of the Whomping Willow, dueling against Draco Malfoy, and hurling spells at Lord Voldemort himself. Each encounter is unique and adds a new layer of fun to the experience. Although you do respawn fairly quickly, each time you die you lose many of the studs you have gathered in the level which adds penalty for hardcore gamers while keeping the game accessible to younger audiences.

There is a lot to like in this game. The humor, the exploration, the combat, and the musical score (which is taken directly from each Harry Potter film) are all top notch and are a perfect fit for just about any gamer. Even if you’re not a fan of Harry Potter, the charm of seeing Lego characters being blasted into tiny Lego bits will keep you coming back for more. Make sure to keep this game on your radar because Christmas is coming and the game will only cost you $20.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for further Christmas recommendations, have a happy holidays, and happy gaming.

ZenithWillRule, Zenith’s Christmas Recommendations: Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4

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