“Batman: The Brave and The Bold” is a video game where you play as Batman and you beat up bad guys. It should not take very long to figure out the appeal for the game.The 2D sidescroller developed WayForward Studios is exclusive to the Nintendo Wii, although a handheld version is also available for the Nintendo DS.

Being based off the cartoon show with the same name, it features all of the same characters and voice talent from the ongoing series.

You take control as Batman or one of his superhero partners (such as Robin or Blue Beetle) and fight through hoards of thugs and villains from the show. The game plays similar to an old school beat-em-up from the 16-bit era of gaming.

It has a very “old school” vibe that brings you back to games like “Streets of Rage” or “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” games from Konami.

The only control scheme offered is with the Wii remote and nunchuk.

Anyone who has played a beat-em-up game in the past can easily figure out the controls on their own.

Motion controls are only used with one swift gesture when you need to perform a special attack.

You also have the option to hit the 1-button to call upon a helping superhero (such as Aquaman or Green Arrow) to come and assist you temporarily.

A huge appealing factor to this game is the multiplayer. Almost each episode of the cartoon has Batman and a fellow superhero companion working together to fight a supervillain. This formula plays out the same in the game.

The length of the game is surprisingly long for a beat-em-up. Each “episode” can last you anywhere from 45 minutes to almost two hours.

With four unique episodes in all, it’s near impossible to complete in one sitting.

The visuals are never sore on the eyes, except for when navigating through the Batcave. The Batcave serves as as a menu screen in between levels where you can upgrade your weapons and change game options. It really looks like the background for this part could have been on the Nintendo 64.

No one should expect some visual masterpiece out of this “point-and-click” Batcave, but it’s clear some corners were cut.

There’s not much to complain about concerning the controls. It would have been nice if they would have given you the option to customize the controls yourself or even give players an extra control scheme at all.

The game doesn’t do anything groundbreaking or new. It takes a formula that has worked well in the past with superhero games and applies it to today’s generation of consoles.

Adult players will feel a wave of nostalgia overcome them as they play this game, while young players can easily pick this up and enjoy it in all its simplicity.

“Batman: The Bold and the Beautiful” never tries to be anything more than what it is on the surface.

This is based on a cartoon where the Dark Knight and his superhero companions go to every corner of the DC Universe to take on the most colorful villains around.

WayForward Studios managed to make a game that is good enough to be associated with the show and also be a fun video game on its own. Even at the $40 dollar price, this is a game you can return to again and again.

And did I mention it’s a game with Batman beating up bad guys? How can you go wrong?

“Batman: The Brave and The Bold” for the Nintendo Wii gets an 8.0 out of 10.

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