Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012) (PC) (Traveller's Tales)
2I've never played a Lego game before, but from reading reviews of various entries in this long-running series over the years it's long since become clear that Traveller's Tales aren't in the business of cranking out overtly cynical cash-ins like most other developers of license-based kids games, and that these titles can also offer plenty of entertainment for more grown-up players.
At its core, the Lego gameplay formula revolves around compulsive, collectibles-driven exploration of linear (but replayable) levels in which a number of environmental puzzles provide the main "challenge". There are gazillions of hidden areas, objects and characters for diligent players to unlock, so getting through the "story" is only half of the attraction here. New to LB2 is a fully fledged open world inbetween the main missions, which appears to be a pretty big change from less expansive, more hub-based structure of previous titles in the series.
Graphics-wise LBA2 is characterized by a curious combination of some predictably low-tech character models (it's Lego, after all!) and comparatively more advanced level geometry with a couple of neat visual effects. And. as I was hoping it would, the PC version really "pops" in NVIDIA 3D Vision.