GAMES: GameSpot GameFAQs MOVIES: Metacritic Movietome Comic-Con
Saturday, Aug 8, 2009

Only played it on the PS3 so far, will try it on the PC too. It really has it's own unique feel stylistically and looks every bit as good as the screenshots suggested. The environments are suitably detailed conveying the dark, grimy atmosphere of the comic material. The group combat reminds me a bit of Urban Chaos, a little of Oni, but MUCH tighter, easier, incredibly visceral and very satisfying. Stealth take-downs have been well implemented and are necessary as Batman is very prone to swiss cheese impersonations in a matter of seconds.

All of Batman's movement is brilliantly captured and feels "right", adn oh that cape! He has the manoeuvrability of a ninja coupled with the stopping power of an artic lorry. Taking a goon out from above, leaving the sod hanging by his feet before swinging across the room to observe is executed fluidly with no complications. Observing his rightfully nervous mate (detective vision shows peoples BPM) stumble up to his friend while The Joker (Mark Hamhill) cackles away in a suitably omnipresent and creepy manner teasing the poor guy, "he's only a man, like you, in a bat suit!". The poor dude is put out of his misery when Batman silently glides across the room like a human stealth bomber, planting both boots into his face, a sickening crunch as his head cracks off a steaming pipe.

The demo doesn't really show off any of the puzzle elements of the game, and it's a bit short, however......I'd recommend playing it. The is very possibly "the" Batman game some of us have been waiting for.

Comments

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i agree whole-heartedly.
Posted Aug 9, 2009 6:06 am PT
Yeah, it's the best batman game I've tried in a while. I agree.
Posted Aug 10, 2009 3:24 am PT
I've been tracking Batman Arkham Asylum for quite some time now. I can't believe I'm saying this but it might actually be the first movie/comic based game that has the potential of being slightly worth a damn. Sadly I haven't gotten my greedy hands on it yet, but I expect it won't be long till I do. I'm quite curious about the stealth sections and the difficulty of the game. From what I gather, BAA is supposed to have a stealth mechanic implemented into the game play that would also be mandatory for your survival as you progress. What do you think about it? How does it work? Is it really effective or just a gimmick? How necessery is it for game play? I know I raised a lot of questions, but I'd appreciate if you could answer as many as possible. Thanks.
Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:42 am PT
Only a few seconds after posting I remembered that you've already answered a few of my questions. Silly me. But would you like to elaborate on the matter?
Posted Aug 10, 2009 7:58 am PT
Well, I've played the PC version as well now plus a few more times on the PS3. Graphics aside they play identically which I can only speculate as to if it will be the same in the full title. The PC version does benifit from excellent physics effects in the demo such as smoke, cobwebs, waste paper lying around (getting whipped up by characters movements) and Batmans cape, naturally. You really need the Nvidia cards to do it though, offsetting the physics to my Core2 was chugtastic. It doesn't change the gameplay at all but adds to the atmosphere and overall feel of the game.

The stealth "area" is my favourite section of the demo. You are given a 3D puzzle basically involving a multi-stored, but small area to eliminate 5 goons as you see fit. Charging in fists flailing gets you killed pretty sharpish, so planning and patience is the key. Silent take downs by sneaking up behind foes is easily the most effective method as it doesn’t alert the others. However, you're Batman! You can hang on the side of a walkway, grab a dude as he passes and drop him over the side, causing screams and shouting a plenty. You instantly nip up into the rafters and watch the others mill about trying to work out what happened. Detective vision will show that they're all "nervous" at this stage, and will group together for security.
Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:23 pm PT
This is the really fun part. Sneaking around, trying to pick one of them off without the others seeing. Maybe smashing through a glass ceiling ontop of one, or possibly the inverted takedown from a gargoyle (my personal favourite). Nothing better than listening and watching the frantic screams of: "oh my god! How did he get up there!?!", "HELP ME! *faints*".

The remaining dudes will be cracked by this stage and start running around like headless idiots shooting at the shadows and generally making it easy for you to pick them off at your leisure. It is truly excellent fun. Empowering, satisfying and most importantly, makes you feel like the Batman. Why are you still reading this?!? GO AND PLAY IT, NOW!
Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:24 pm PT
That's what I wanted to hear. Finally, after so many years, a potentially good stealth game. No offense to Splinter Cell but the game just didn't appeal to me at all. Stealth game play should be in my opinion, mostly focused on CQC and rely less on ranged combat. Ambushing an enemy from behind, below or above or just stabbing him in the back is what I call proper stealth game play. It's good to see batman as a character, he really does look like the real thing in the game, and the joker is played by a fantastic voice actor from what I've seen.
I'm going to buy the game for sure!

Also, I don't know if you heard but Eidos is working on Thief 4. I can't wait.
Posted Aug 20, 2009 2:07 pm PT
Indeed, was never fond of Splinter Cell (well, Chaos Theory was good, but mostly for the focus on actual stealth). I loved Thief 1 and 2, have played them countless times and despite what people say, it was "the" first proper stealth game. MGS has elements but nothing like the observation and planning required in Thief. I always liked the advert that was out for Thief 1:

"Your weapons are deadly, your I.Q. is lethal."

Yes, I was one of the guys that liked to play on Expert difficultly and ghost missons. Didn't like Thief 3 though, demo put me right off with that nasty Unreal engine, yuck. Still, I should play "The Cradle" level at some point, it's meant to be fantastic.

Thief 4 and Deus Ex 2 both so far, very "meh". But I might be wrong! Time will tell.
Posted Aug 20, 2009 6:50 pm PT
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