The best game based on a comic property ever made.
The story has Batman bringing Joker back to Arkham Asylum, a prison/mental facility based on an island, where Gotham locks away the baddies and loonies. Joker had escaped, and inexplicably let himself get caught doing something stupid. As it turns out, it was all a plan to get Batman back to Arkham where Joker has taken control. Batman must now survive and take back control of the island.
This game looks great, sounds great, and plays great.
I can't say enough for the look and the feel of this game. It's exactly what you'd expect from a Batman game/comic/movie. It's night, there are shadows everywhere, and the levels physically change in accordance with storyline events.
The sounds are fantastic, particularly all the voice acting. Nobody does the Joker better than Mark Hamill. There are ambient noises all over the place and they're perfect at setting the mood. The best comes in Killer Croc's lair...
The game play is outstanding. Everything flows naturally. The only thing that ever affected my immersion was using the control pad to select items. The only reason it does is because it reminds you that you're not thinking and grabbing the item you need, you're controlling a character and telling him to...
Seriously, from the way Batman gets around levels to the fighting, everything is damn near perfect. Fighting can be as simple as button mashing or attempting to pull off trick moves. Either way works. The real fun starts when you begin to chain together hits. (Hint: Don't miss a strike. If you keep hitting each time you swing or kick, your points skyrocket as does the power of your hits.)
The story isn't too short, although I would have loved to see it go even longer because I was having so much fun. It also has a nice pace, and you can break off of it to do some exploring of your own.
You'll do that because there's a lot of hidden things to find. The Riddler has hidden question marks everywhere (both physical and non-physical...) that you need to collect or "scan" (take a picture). He also has challenges that he'll give you in new areas. This requires you to scan a specific thing to answer this riddle. there's also a mystery that can only be solved by finding all 20 or so headstone looking items and listening to the story that goes along with each one. Almost forgot the entertaining recording of therapy sessions for some of the big name villains. All are optional, but it's fun to find them.
Honestly, I cannot recommend this game enough. There's no replay value, so you might want to wait until it drops a bit in price, but it is worth playing through once. Even if you're not into Batman, you'll have fun if you like games.
A sequel is now inevitable, and I'm praying that other people are paying attention on how to make this type of game correctly.
9 out of 10.
Batman: Arkham Asylum - X-Box 360 version reviewed
$30 at Microsoft store.
Free ground shipping, but do have to pay tax.
Edited By TheCatt on 1260025673
Free ground shipping, but do have to pay tax.
Edited By TheCatt on 1260025673
It's not me, it's someone else.
Points? How cute. Just like in Space Invading, or Pac Mens.Leisher wrote:The best gammoves. Either way works. The real fun starts when you begin to chain together hits. (Hint: Don't miss a strike. If you keep hitting each time you swing or kick, your points skyrocket as does the power of your hits.)
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
The points come during a different game mode where you play against the rest of the world. You're given different challenges and you attempt to obtain the highest score in completing your goal.
The main game itself doesn't have a point system.
The main game itself doesn't have a point system.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
The Microsoft store has this game for $30 with free shipping. You can see the offer at slickdeals.net.
Beatles Rock Band and Band Hero are that price also.
Beatles Rock Band and Band Hero are that price also.
I played it a couple of times. The graphics/environment/etc are everything Leisher said. But I dont think it's my kind of game, so it's going up on Goozex.
I'm not really sure what I want in a game any more. But a co-op RPG I could play with the wife might be fun. Any of those exist?
I'm not really sure what I want in a game any more. But a co-op RPG I could play with the wife might be fun. Any of those exist?
It's not me, it's someone else.
Co-Op RPG? I'll have a look around, but I know there are a lot of co-op games out there right now. Just not sure if they're RPG.
If you and the wife like FPSs, check out Left 4 Dead (1 or 2) or Borderlands. Lots of fun to play through with someone else.
If you and the wife like FPSs, check out Left 4 Dead (1 or 2) or Borderlands. Lots of fun to play through with someone else.
"Happy slaves are the worst enemies of freedom." - Marie Von Ebner
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell
"It was always the women, and above all the young ones, who were the most bigoted adherents of the Party, the swallowers of slogans, the amateur spies..." - Orwell