Batman: Arkham Asylum [360/PS3/PC]

[drmick]

Hi Folks!

Head over to this thread to tell us about your previous favourite Batman game:

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=98409

[rmoxon]

Well we're going to have to agree to disagree mate. If I could only have one of the two, I'd probably pull my pants down and lay a fu*king great big cable on the desk in protest of such a ludicrous suggestion.

Batman kinda gets it easy though, the fiction is already there, the fans are already there...they just had to make a good game. Bioshock was a new IP, from scratch they had to create the world, the fiction, the gameplay, the ideas were not there for them to explore, they created it all.

I've not played a game with atmosphere as good as Bioshock before or after, though this approaches it. For me this is a really really good game, but it has faults like the camera, I actually even think the riddler stuff is a bit too much and causes distractions too often. It has some design that I find a bit obvious, you are continuously walking past "hidden" things that you think "Hmm, I guess I'll be back here later then with a new toy so I can get that".

Like I said, it's a high 8/10 for me, maybe even a 9, but it's not the flawless game of the decade it's being made out to be in my opinion. It's a very, very good game indeed.

I will say though, saying things like "Bioshock wasn't really a game, it was an experience" kinda makes you look a bit silly. It's most definitaly a game, and a game that was universally (except you) praised as being one of the best games of the generation.

I seriously doubt everyone else in the WORLD except me praised the game and collectivley jumped up its bum. But yeah it was well recieved.

If my opinion makes me look silly so be it, its still my opinion thoughm, Bioshock aint a great game, and that is that.

I understand where youre coming from with your points about the story though, but at the end of the day its gameplay reasons why I think Arkham Asylum is so much more sucsessful than Bioshock.

[spagmasterswift]

When does this start becoming the game that everybody is pissing their pants over? I'm at the bit with

->Open Spoiler<-

Harley Quinn electrifying parts of a room while you have to fight goons and avoid the areas that are being electrifyed - tho Batman would rather roll against a fence instead of leap over it.

. I'll admit to enjoying the

->Open Spoiler<-

Scarecrow

sections I've come across so far but the rest seems rather unoriginal and dull. I really want to like this game, but its leaving me flat at the moment.

[Jebus]

I must admit, aside from the camera issues, I've had a few irritating moments with the context sensitive "A" button doing run, jump, climb etc as well. Having to kinda run at something, have Batman not go over it, walk backwards, try again it works...

I still love it though.

[Malc]

Bioshock had a great atmosphere and setting, but the gameplay sort of fell apart half way through with repetitive gameplay mechanics which ruined the rest of game. Batman so far for me has held up in gameplay and atmosphere, which I hope will continue to the end.

[Spatial]

I'm at the bit with

->Open Spoiler<-

Harley Quinn electrifying parts of a room while you have to fight goons and avoid the areas that are being electrifyed - tho Batman would rather roll against a fence instead of leap over it.

You just have to stop pressing forward for the button prompt to appear otherwise he'll do a (barrel) roll.

I loved that bit. It was comedy gold for me every time the

->Open Spoiler<-

floor started charging up

and every one started legging it up over the railings.

[SuperBeatBoy]

You just need to hold the run button if i remember correctly. You can just run and leap over it. Works on all areas batman can reach.

[abigsmurf]

I'm loving this game so far. The atmosphere, the dialogue, the voice acting, the combat. It's great. The little touches, like The Riddler patronising you when you complete a challenge and the way thugs get more and more panicked as you pick off their comrades.

There are some negatives : too many button combinations! Constantly firing a batarang when I want to go into detective mode, I forgot the takedown button combination you do to someone after gliding as the prompt suddenly stops appearing.

Also, I'm not a fan of the unreal 3 engine. It gives every game that uses it a similar look and really struggles to deliver varied environments. It's only the incredible attention to detail (stuff like LCD monitors in the patient parts, CRT in the old dusty records building sticks out) that stops Batman AA succumbing to the bland look so many U3 engined games have.

But anyhow I'm still loving this. Unless things take a nosedive, this will be among my 'game of the year' nominations.

[Dazzyman]

Yea its a hold A button for all job susposed to be hold it down then just run off a ledge. It does go wonky sometimes though and Ive fallen off a few ledges on 360 version for it forgetting this (even swapped pads incase it was that lol). Id much prefer a proper jump button (not roll button before anyone says a proper press A to jump and climb etc...).

Least the double tap X to jump over in combat works really well.

Definetly not a fan of the camera though in the outside areas. Ive read the PS3 version aint as zoomed in so I dunno if its that but its giving me serious motion sickness outside (and turning off snap to follow makes no difference).

[rmoxon]

You just have to stop pressing forward for the button prompt to appear otherwise he'll do a (barrel) roll.

I loved that bit. It was comedy gold for me every time the

->Open Spoiler<-

floor started charging up

and every one started legging it up over the railings.

You dont need to stop at all, you just need to keep the run button held down, and you only roll by double pressing it anyway.

Oddly enough

->Open Spoiler<-

I didnt even realise there were any railings to jump over and avoid electricution at first, luckily though I's already maxed out the Armour upgrades so just managed to survive the fight in the end.

[Spatial]

Oh well, learn something new every... yadda yadda

[rmoxon]

When does this start becoming the game that everybody is pissing their pants over? I'm at the bit with

->Open Spoiler<-

Harley Quinn electrifying parts of a room while you have to fight goons and avoid the areas that are being electrifyed - tho Batman would rather roll against a fence instead of leap over it.

. I'll admit to enjoying the

->Open Spoiler<-

Scarecrow

sections I've come across so far but the rest seems rather unoriginal and dull. I really want to like this game, but its leaving me flat at the moment.

As has already been said it dosnet do anything really new so much as what it does do it does better than most other games. Everything comes together so well, its just a joy to play really. Its a terrific Batman tale too, which is a great thing anyway, but an even better one if youre actualy a fan.

One of the best things about the game is its gameworld and the way you can spend hours just exploring it, working out the riddles ect, I take it you are doing this? becuase if you arent youre missing out on a massive part of the game.

The way you can openly tackle situations in different ways is a plus to, its a game yoiu know you want to play through again and do certain parts in different ways.

The Challenge modes also add alot to the experience I feel, the silent predator ones are great fun, and the medal system is a great way of making use of the games many different ways to talke out an enemy.

Overall theres just alot to love here, its a shame you seem to be missing it.

[merf]

I've nearly finished it and I'm a bit in the 'meh' camp on this too, its ok but for the life of me can't understand the fuss and review scores its getting.

I guess this is really the idea behind licensed product, I believe that the setting and characters are adding a good 20-30&#37; to the review scores and good vibes for this over and above if it were exactly the same game but for a new unlicensed IP.

[rmoxon]

I've nearly finished it and I'm a bit in the 'meh' camp on this too, its ok but for the life of me can't understand the fuss and review scores its getting.

I guess this is really the idea behind licensed product, I believe that the setting and characters are adding a good 20-30&#37; to the review scores and good vibes for this over and above if it were exactly the same game but for a new unlicensed IP.

I dont belive thats true at all, it has fantastic gameplay that has quite a bit of depth to it. Its also a very rewarding game too if you talke the time to explore it. The review scores are simply reflecting the fact that even if it wasnt a Batman game it would still be considered great.

If what you said was true every batman game (and most other liscened games) ever made would have got the same kind of scores.

As I have said a few times now, people are loving it becuase theres a heck of alot about it to love.

[Jebus]

Sometimes I wish that when you jumped off a ledge, Batman actually jumped.

He kinda just "runs" of the ledge and starts gliding, whereas I want him to LEAP off the ledge and glide, getting that extra momentum.

rmoxon I think you are going to have to accept that not everyone is going to love the game the way you do, just like I can accept you don't like Bioshock the way I do.