For the first time ever a LEGO game is getting the open-world treatment on handhelds.

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Steve Thornton, game director for the Vita and 3DS versions of LEGO Marvel's Avengers wrote a blog post with all sorts of details about his team's versions of the upcoming game. Included was the promise of the same, open hub world as on consoles — something WB hinted at during our LEGO Marvel preview More than that: the full-sized portable versions will come "with no breaks, cuts or loading screens."Thornton further acknowledged that size wasn't the only factor in his team's digital version of Manhattan. As if to underscore the parity, the director added that the handheld versions will also be "fully populated with traffic and pedestrian systems, props and Free Play content," and even 15 challenges only available on portable devices.These include collectible trading cards, as well as bigger content like a separate storyline featuring Doctor Strange, Daredevil, and Moon Knight.You can purchase LEGO Marvel's Avengers on Vita and 3DS — as well as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC — starting on January 26.

Steven Strom is a freelance games writer whose name and face are plastered across the internet. One such place you can find him is Twitter