Easter Eggs & Secrets — LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

The game's opening cinematic recreates the iconic Batman: The Animated Series intro beat-for-beat. Watch for the gothic skyline pan, the bat symbol emerging from the clouds, and Batman silhouetted against the full moon. The cel-shaded aesthetic of the original 1992 series is referenced in the "Gotham Noir" filter unlocked after completing the story.

The Adam West era is everywhere. During combat, on-screen "POW!", "BAM!", and "ZOWIE!" onomatopoeia pop up as a style option. A side mission titled "Holy Rooftop, Batman!" features a campy villain monologue with a literal cliffhanger — the mission ends on a "To Be Continued..." screen reminiscent of the 1966 series. You can even unlock the classic 1966 Batsuit for Batman.

The 1989 Batmobile appears as a drivable vehicle variant. The Joker's chemical vat scene from the 1989 film is recreated in the Axis Chemicals section of Chapter 2. Prince's "Partyman" plays on a radio in the background of one Joker-themed hideout. The Burton Batwing is also unlockable via a Red Brick found in the Amusement Mile district.

Christopher Nolan's trilogy gets extensive nods. The Tumbler (the military prototype Batmobile from Batman Begins) is one of the earliest vehicle unlocks. The League of Shadows training sequence in the Prologue directly mirrors Batman Begins. A graffiti mural in the Bowery shows the Joker's "Why so serious?" face. Most amusingly, one of Batman's combat quips is "I'm not wearing hockey pads" — a direct callback to the infamous line from The Dark Knight.

True to the 2017 LEGO Batman Movie spirit, the game is loaded with self-aware humor. Batman occasionally turns to the camera and deadpans. Robin says, "I thought this was a video game, not a movie." A collectible description reads, "This is the 47th time you've picked up a golden brick in a LEGO game." The "Party Music" Suit Pack explicitly references the "I only work in black" gag from the film.

The armored "Knightmare" Batsuit from Batman v Superman is an unlockable costume. A WayneTech memo references "extraterrestrial threat contingency planning." A destroyed satellite in the Industrial District has a readable WayneTech label that reads "Code: Doomsday." The Bat-Signal projection occasionally shows a Superman crest in the sky — though it flickers out after a moment.

The first appearance of Batman is commemorated in the Batcave. A display case holds a framed recreation of the cover of Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). The Golden Age Batsuit — Batman's original purple-gloved look — is the pre-order reward and can also be unlocked through gameplay. Reading the framed comic in the Batcave triggers a brief trivia popup about Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Frank Miller's seminal 1986 work is referenced heavily. The bulkier "Dark Knight Returns" suit is available as a pre-order bonus and through an in-game challenge. Batman's internal monologue during the final Joker confrontation nods to the iconic "I want you to remember the one man who beat you" speech. A news ticker in the Bowery reads: "Batman: symbol or vigilante? Gotham divided." — a reference to the public debate in The Dark Knight Returns.

The main story arc heavily borrows from Batman: A Death in the Family (1988). The Red Hood's identity reveal is a major plot point. In the Batcave, a memorial case holds a Robin costume with "Jason Todd" engraved on the plaque. A flashback sequence recreates the infamous crowbar scene — though with LEGO-appropriate comedic timing that makes it less grim than the source material.

Chapter 5's climactic Bane encounter directly homages the 1993 Knightfall storyline. Bane's iconic back-break move is fully animated — and yes, Batman's spine makes a satisfyingly absurd LEGO crack sound. A defeated Batman must crawl to a Bat-Signal to summon help, mirroring the comic panel. The "Knightfall" achievement name is a direct nod to this storyline.

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's holiday-themed mystery is referenced in background details across Gotham. Calendar pages on walls show dates corresponding to major holidays — Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day, etc. A side mission involves investigating a series of holiday-themed crimes. The unlockable "Long Halloween" suit features the distinctive gold belt and purple gloves from Sale's character design.

Alfred is not a playable character but appears throughout the game. He mans the Batcomputer, brings tea during cutscenes, and offers sarcastic commentary over the comms. If you idle in the Batcave long enough, Alfred will appear with a tray and say something like, "I believe you missed breakfast, Master Bruce. Again." His best line: "I do not recall 'brooding' being listed as a required skill on my job application."

In the GCPD headquarters (accessible after Chapter 2), Commissioner Gordon's desk is covered in photos and case files from previous cases. Look closely and you'll see references to "The Long Halloween," "Hush," "The Court of Owls," and "No Man's Land." A sticky note reads: "Call Barbara — 3:00 PM." Gordon's coffee mug says "World's Okayest Dad."

Batman's faithful canine companion makes an appearance. Ace the Bat-Hound can be found sleeping in a corner of the Batcave. If you approach, he wags his tail and a prompt appears: "Pet Ace." Doing so triggers a unique animation and a short "Good boy" from Batman. Ace also appears in one side mission where you must rescue him from a trap set by the Joker.

Julian Day — Calendar Man — appears in the background of several city scenes. He stands silently in the park, loiters near the courthouse, and can be spotted in the Iceberg Lounge. His appearance changes depending on the in-game date (if your system clock matches a holiday, he wears themed gear). He is purely an environmental detail and cannot be interacted with — true to his creepy comic portrayal.

In the Joker's hideout beneath the abandoned Amusement Mile funhouse, a giant animatronic Joker head — a direct reference to Scott Snyder's Batman: Death of the Family (2012) — looms over the main chamber. The head cackles and spews purple gas during the boss encounter. Its eyes glow green, and the mouth opens to reveal a slide that serves as the arena entrance.

Behind a breakable wall in the Batcave's garage area (requires the explosive gel gadget), a hidden room contains early concept art for the game displayed on digital frames. The art rotates through 24 pieces showing early character designs, environment concepts, and unused ideas. One sketch shows an alternate design for the Batmobile that was cut during development. Interacting with a terminal in this room unlocks the "Behind the Mask" achievement.

The rooftop of Wayne Tower in Uptown appears on no map but is fully accessible. Using a specific grapple point (hidden behind a gargoyle on the east face of the tower), Batman can reach a penthouse balcony. Inside: Bruce Wayne's personal study with a locked safe containing 10,000 studs, a unique Batman suit display, and a letter from "Rachel" — a heartbreaking Batman Begins reference. A telescope on the balcony provides a stunning 360-degree view of Gotham.

In the Industrial District, behind the large waterfall near the power plant, a hidden tunnel leads to an underground smuggling operation. This area is not marked on the map and requires you to actively swim behind the waterfall. Inside, you will find a rare vehicle part, a Red Brick, and a graffiti mural of the Bat-Signal left by local fans.

Replaying chapters in Free Play mode with specific character combinations unlocks unique dialogue exchanges. Bring Catwoman to a scene where Batman is interrogating a thug and she will complain he is "doing it wrong." Use Robin in the Batcave with Alfred and the butler will ask if he wants tea. Most amusingly, play as Joker (via a cheat) in any serious cutscene and his dialogue is replaced with manic laughter and ad-libs.

In the corner of the Batcave, a small pile of gold bricks sits next to a "Property of LEGO Star Wars" sign. If you interact with it, the stud counter briefly multiplies by 10, and a voice clip of C-3PO saying "Oh my!" plays. This has been confirmed as a direct tribute to the LEGO Star Wars franchise that started the LEGO game phenomenon in 2005.

In the Bowery district, a narrow alley houses a trio of LEGO musicians playing the iconic Cantina Band theme from Star Wars. They are completely optional to find and do not trigger any quest — they just play in the background. If you drop a stud near them, the band picks up the tempo for 30 seconds. A small sign reads: "Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes — Every Thursday."

On the highway leading out of the Industrial District, a road sign has been humorously modified. Below "Gotham City Limits" someone has spray-painted "Bricksburg — 1000 km" — a reference to the setting of The LEGO Movie (2014). A second sign below it reads "Middle Zealand →" for fans of LEGO City Undercover.

The Batcave's Hall of Justice wing features framed portraits of character designs from the previous three LEGO Batman games (2008, 2012, 2014). Each portrait is labeled with the game title and year. It is a charming museum-like tribute to the series' evolution. Behind the portraits is a hidden switch that opens a secret compartment containing the classic 2008-style Batsuit.

Throughout the game, Batman delivers perfectly deadpan responses to increasingly absurd situations. When Robin excitedly points out a giant penny in the Batcave, Batman responds: "Yes. That is a penny." When Catwoman asks if the cape comes with a wind machine, Batman says flatly: "It comes with my shoulders." The delivery is consistently spot-on and rewards players who pay attention to optional dialogue.

Commissioner Gordon has a running gag about his coffee consumption. In every GCPD scene, he has a different coffee cup. His desk has a "Caffeine: Because a ton of criminals need catching" mug. During a cutscene where the Bat-Signal activates, Gordon takes a long sip before saying, "Guess the night shift is starting early." If you visit GCPD repeatedly, the empty coffee cups on his desk multiply.

Robin (Tim Drake in this game) has a tendency to fill silence with terrible puns and dad jokes. When grappling across a gap: "I really need to work on my pull-up game." After a stealth takedown: "Guess he didn't see that coming. Because I was behind him. That's the joke." Batman's responses range from a long silent stare to the occasional "Focus, Robin." Catwoman actually laughs at one of his jokes, which shocks Robin into silence for the rest of the mission.

Catwoman never misses an opportunity to comment on Batman's intensity. During quiet moments, she asks, "Do you practice brooding in the mirror, or does it come naturally?" When Batman gives a grim monologue about Gotham's darkness, she interrupts: "We get it. It's dark. You're dark. The city is dark. Can we move on?" A post-mission idle animation shows Catwoman trying to make Batman laugh by making silly faces — he does not respond.