Batman: Arkham Asylum [360/PS3/PC]

[ezee ryder]

Woah! I think saying he is mouthing off is a bit harsh. Even though I might not agree with Eight Rooks, for the most part he put across his points in a decent manner. What's wrong with 8/10?! It is still a really good score and, criticisms aside, he does say he is enjoying the game. Chill man.

[merf]

I'd agree that this is a good 8/10 game, maybe even a 7 if being picky.

I suspect that the score may go up a bit if you are a massive bat fat. Its very polished and well done but for me it is still just a linear walking beat-em-up, a very good one but beyond atmosphere how is it any different from say Wolverine ?

When I've seen in reviews it being compared to games like GTA I think people have got caught up a little in the hype. For me personally its not even as good a game as Infamous.

I'm enjoying it a lot but don't quite understand some of the higher review scores and proclemations of greatness.

[mr_woo]

I'd agree that this is a good 8/10 game, maybe even a 7 if being picky.

I suspect that the score may go up a bit if you are a massive bat fat. Its very polished and well done but for me it is still just a linear walking beat-em-up, a very good one but beyond atmosphere how is it any different from say Wolverine ?

When I've seen in reviews it being compared to games like GTA I think people have got caught up a little in the hype. For me personally its not even as good a game as Infamous.

Apologies if that sounds like a bit of a fanboy rant but I genuinely believe this to be one of the best games in the last few years. It just does everything so right and with great style too. This game would be brilliant even without the Batman name which is the bigget compliment I can pay it.

I'm enjoying it a lot but don't quite understand some of the higher review scores and proclemations of greatness.

How is it any different from Wolverine ? Better production values, better story, better writing, better voice acting, better level design, better set pieces, lots of polish and little details. I really enjoyed Wolverine but it didn't really do very much beyond jumping around and tearing people apart (in a really fun way )

To call it a linear walking beat em up does it a great disservice as well. It takes a number of different genres and mixes them up well. It's part platformer, it's part beat em up, part stealth, it's part adventure and even part metroid. It's no one thing really, it's its own thing but the best thing being that it mixes them up in a really coherent and seamless way which isn't easy to do. I'd personally take it over GTA and Infamous (which is great but needed more time in the pot) any day of the week.

Apologies if that comes across as a bit little fanboyish, I just genuinely think it's one of the best games to come out in the last few years. This would be a great game even without the Batman name which the highest compliment that I can pay it.

[Shozuki]

well im simply buzzing from my first play session last night. Simply brilliant.

As a fan of the 90's show (perhaps even moreso then the comics/films) I love the fact Conroy and Hamill have reprised their roles and to me Dini can do no wrong, he clearly understands the material he's working with.

As for the game itself I think its been a brilliant mix of game styles that are engaging and interesting whilst being intuitive, Im so pleased Rocksteady didnt go down the path of 'standard action game X'. The game is extrememly well paced and the banter between the characters adds to the already brilliant atmosphere. Quite easilly the best game so far this year and possibly this gen so far...

I certainly hope for a sequel and look forward to it (or an Batman Beyond game...).

[Spatial]

I agree that Hamill is absolutely superb in this.

Released from the confines of the cartoon, which had to adhere to certain boundaries, and with the games darker approach you can feel him running loose with The Joker in a way he couldn't before.

One of the best ever performances he's put in as Joker and a fitting swansong for his efforts.

[Number45]

Started this on hard last night. It's hard. Took me a few attempts just to get out of the the tutorial area.

Glad I did though, I really can't approach any combat situation and expect it to be easy; and I really have to watch for incoming attacks.

Also,

->Open Spoiler<-

that Bane fight was great. I started out by evading him and looking for an opening, nothing appeared so I closed in and tried to take him one on one... he pummelled me close to death so I rolled away and thought I'd try my luck with the Batarang - down he went!

Hats off to whoever thought of that encounter, gave me a nice chuckle.

[Largo]

im sure theres a bug with the joker teeth like if you leave it to long thats it they just disappear, ive been around the zones where im missing 1 or 2 for riddler challenges and they just arnt here

[Eight Rooks]

Again, by way of comparison I'd probably put it slightly ahead of Bioshock and Infamous; Bioshock had staggeringly good writing and voiceovers, but the gameplay (though a lot of fun) wasn't really the work of genius we were led to believe and the pacing took a bad hit at the halfway mark. Infamous was a solid enough game but the unlocks could have been handled better, karma system felt alternately inadequate or insulting and while the idea was good enough the story was very badly laid out.

So far, as far as I'm concerned Arkham makes you feel like a badass right from the off; while you can pick other games with the same or similar mechanics there's none that used them quite like this; they're easy to get to grips with yet need a fair amount of skill and concentration to show off with; and while the story isn't the one I really, really wanted it's obviously had a lot of attention (and money) spent on it. Doesn't quite hit the heights I was looking for, but it's a rock solid game nonetheless.

I'll be interested to see what Edge give it. At the moment I could see a 7 if you were being really harsh, but any lower than that would baffle me.

[mr_woo]

Edge gave it an 8. No idea what the content of the review is but that's the score.

[Largo]

You know after playing this, why didnt mark hamill at least get a screen test for dark knight? that would of been freaking awesome

[Spatial]

I'd dunno if he'd make a convincing enough Joker in the flesh. The voice and lack of grip on sanity is spot on though.

[SuperBeatBoy]

Have you seen Mark Hamil lately.

[Largo]

exactly

want to know how i got these scars? i was smacked by a flipping wampa

thats not the whole reason those i was just being daft

i was thinking more character experiance, anyway it was never going to happen but would of been interesting in bizzaro world

[Spatial]

edit: never mind, just stumbled across a spoiler

[rmoxon]

Ok Maybe i was a bit harsh with Eight Rooks, though i still think hes trying to appear all grumpyish about the game for some unknown reason. He also seems to be down on Infamous which, while not as good as this, I feel is one of the better games released this year.

But compared to people saying that this isnt much different to Wolverine he could actualy be considered to be talking sense (despite that fact that i dont really agree with his overall opinion of the game).

As for this game, it is without a doubt the best ive played this year, the combination of varied and sucsesful gamplay mechanics, wonderful storytelling and breathtaking presentation take it beyond anything ive played in a long while.

Where as, despite the fact that I enjoyed it for a few hours, it has to be said that Wolverine was a quickly thrown together and buggy mess that was repetative and uninspired to the point of near hilarity, comparing the two is a joke really.