Long time Lego developers Traveller’s Tales return with Lego Marvel Superheroes 2, a continuation of the series, packing in as many iconic Marvel characters as possible for an over-the-top adventure.

Story

Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 starts strongly, throwing players straight into the action as they join the Guardians of the Galaxy on a mission to save Xander from the evil, time-travelling villain Kang the Conqueror. Traveller’s Tales nailed this opening section, as it plays just like a scene from Guardians, complete with back and forth banter and epic teamwork.

This focus on teamwork is a running theme throughout the game, like in other games in the Lego franchise. It works well with Marvel, as the player is able to make their dream team of heroes, and can use their individual powers and abilities to achieve victory. These can vary from shrinking, to flying, and even expanding into a giant rubber ball. Characters such as Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America and She-Hulk team up in order to save the now transported Manhattan from Chronopolis, Kang’s “World of Worlds.”

The plot, however, becomes buried in drawn-out side missions, which, while adding a fun distraction (especially in two player) and an excuse to include more enemies, dilutes the game down, and takes the attention away from the main villain Kang. As you would expect from a Lego game, there is a vast array of characters to choose from. Some are taken from comic book renditions and others from the Marvel cinematic universe. This adds to the replay value as characters are unlocked after completing missions for use in ‘free play’, although due to the large cast the story suffers. From what is a solid opening section, the game falters in trying to connect seemingly every superhero to every supervillain, muddying the plot and weakening the overall experience.

The iconic cast of Marvel heroes include; Star-Lord and the Guardians (including a baby Groot that can fast-forward time and turn into adult Groot), Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, a Medieval Hulk and a Cowboy Captain America. There are even lesser-known characters such as Spider-Gwen, Ms. Marvel, Wasp and White Tiger (plus loads more) that all make appearances, and can be unlocked for use in free play by playing through the story.

Multiplayer

Most Lego games follow the same winning formula. They include a large cast of playable characters, and are both charming and funny. Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 is no different, and makes up for some of its shortcomings with multiplayer. Couch co-op returns, adding new, incredibly fun elements to missions as you try to take down countless bad guys. A stand-out moment includes an early mission where a team consisting of Spider-Man, White Tiger and Ms. Marvel has to fight through Spidey’s catalogue of arch-enemies. Battling with the likes of; Shocker, Mysterio, Vulture, Kraven the Hunter and Doc Ock in rapid succession was simply epic, and is perfect for multiplayer.

Hilarity then ensues when the inevitable team kills start, with Iron Man “accidentally” shooting Thor, and then Spider-Man in the face, multiple times. This is kept fresh by players using the characters that they want, each with unique special abilities; such as Star-Lord’s ability to fly and play awesome tunes. The freshness fades when playing through in single player unfortunately, as after a few missions the gameplay becomes repetitive to the point of almost being boring, and the story does little to make up for it.

Something that stands out instantly is the way in which the game opens up, showing off the unique combination of several iconic Marvel locations, melded together by the sinister Kang. Going through Manhattan Noir, a ruined Asgard, Hala, and then an odd twist on the Old West is extremely fun as each area feels alive. Free roam shines here, as Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 is intentionally made for co-op play, whether going through missions, heading to the above places to complete challenges, or simply just messing about.

Final Thoughts

Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 has everything that can be expected from a Lego game, and is genuinely one of the best couch co-op games available in a world dominated by online multiplayer. What negatively impacts the game however is a mixture of the déjà vu-inducing setting, frustrating camera angles, and that the game does a poor job of communicating to the player. Some puzzles are not only character specific and difficult, but can be missed altogether, which is surprising considering the main focus of Lego games is on a younger audience.

Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 is, at its core, a simple and fun way in which to live out superhero fantasies with friends; whether it’s by creating your own hero, or by teaming up as your favourite characters in an endearing Lego world.

The games’ ambitious size and aesthetic tweaks combined with fun multiplayer gameplay, make for an enjoyable experience. This is let down somewhat by tediously drawn-out side missions which take away from the main story, but at the same time allow for more multiplayer action. A definite purchase for die-hard Lego/Marvel fans and for those wanting a local multiplayer game to tide them over, though those wanting a more immersive, story-driven experience may have to wait.

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