Batman: The Brave and the Bold isn’t my Batman. I’m pretty sure I’ve said something along those lines before. That said, any Batman at all is better than none and the recent success of Arkham Asylum has raised my spirits when it comes to seeing the Dark Knight in games.
This Wii version based on the currently running animated series game follows a format similar to that of the TV show. It’s broken down into four “episodes” which WB Games equated to being the equivalent of a feature-length story in the show. Each has Batman teaming up with another DC hero to perform a pummeling on evil.
Clearly aimed at a youth market, the game is a 2D, flat-plane brawler which is really simple in its control scheme. Basic attacks are all performed by a single button and the nunchuk’s analog handles movement. That said, there’s still plenty which can be accomplished with the basic controls, including grapples and air juggling.
A few other special moves are available for each character and each has an assist move where they call in a reinforcement. There’s certainly the opportunity to apply skill, but things remain simple enough for anyone to be able to drop in.
Speaking of dropping in, the game’s co-op play is a simple affair to get into and out of. Grab the second remote and press the A button and you’re in. Dropping either player can be done at the pause menu and the character is instantly picked back up by the AI.
That’s not the only sort of multiplayer available, however. Players who have a DS and Batman: Brave and the Bold for the handheld can bring Bat-Mite into the mix. After connecting the DS to the Wii, Bat-Mite can be moved around the screen using the touch display on the DS. Pressing the directional pad causes Bat-Mite to drop bombs, power-ups and so forth into the screen to help or hinder.
One of the primary elements in the cartoon series is demonstrating the relationship between Batman and whomever he teams up with from show to show. Similarly, the game will be exploring these elements by using a running dialog throughout each stage. More than quips, the pair will create narrative through their conversations instead of relying on cutscenes between levels to carry all the weight.
Batman: Brave and the Bold will probably be too simple for me in the long-run, but it isn’t really meant for me. Kids should have plenty of fun playing with the simple controls and vibrant characters. There should be no shame for the rest of us in joining in for a bit of fun as well. I just wouldn’t expect it to hold much interest to players of more sophisticated brawlers.
