Batman: Arkham Asylum

GamerMan316 · August 25, 2009, 11:59:45 AM

Gamesradar gave it 9 out of 10, saying that Gotham is the new Rapture, praise indeed.

They started the review with this

We're frequently disappointed by games based on our favourite licenses because we and the people making them usually want very different things. We want to live the essence of our favourite movies, comics and heroes. We want to directly experience what we love about them and by doing so make them more real. Developers and publishers usually just want to use a recognisable brand name to sell a few extra copies of something, and it doesn't really matter what that something is. Thus the strong, layered, nuanced worlds we love are squashed into convenient-to-make anygame templates and we usually end up with something like this:

Full Review

nCogNeato · August 25, 2009, 01:37:23 PM

Yeah, I've been seeing positive reviews everywhere these past few days. I'm picking up my reserved copy tonight after work.

Me = Happy

TaraJayne · August 25, 2009, 01:43:19 PM

Aww he has been waiting a long time for this

But wait and see how excited he gets when Mass Effect 2 is out

GamerMan316 · August 25, 2009, 03:20:28 PM

after playing the Batman demo, i'd rather play the Columbo game

nCogNeato · August 25, 2009, 10:35:19 PM

Well, I'm home now with a new sealed copy of Batman.

The box included a couple downloadable challenge maps. Out of curiosity, I started playing around with the URL to see if perhaps the Joker challenge map existed but not yet released for Xbox 360.

Sadly, I did not find the Joker map, but I did find a new addon - Armored Batsuit. Only 99,999 MSP!

GamerMan316 · August 29, 2009, 09:34:47 AM

Batman: Arkham Asylum receives uninspiring Guinness World Record

Okay, we like Batman: Arkham Asylum and all, but our goodwill has limits -- and they stop right at the acceptance of a Guinness World Record for "Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever," which was announced today. It's a nice achievement for the game (and especially notable for a Batman game, given their history), but that's not a Guinness World Record. That's a marketing blurb. In fact, we're awarding it the Joystiq.com Award for Most Transparent Marketing Effort of the Day Presented by Windex™. Now, when Batman: Arkham Asylum lifts more than 160 pounds of weight with its ear, that's a Guinness World Record.

Who decides what a superhero game is anyway? Plenty of people don't consider Batman a superhero, given that he has no superhuman abilities beyond super-wealth.

Jaynestown · August 29, 2009, 04:03:12 PM

So has anyone played this yet? I played the demo this morning but got bored after 10 minutes, it looks a bit bleak and somewhat repetitive.

nCogNeato · August 29, 2009, 07:55:27 PM

Quote from: GamerMan316 on August 29, 2009, 09:34:47 AM
It's a nice achievement for the game (and especially notable for a Batman game, given their history), but that's not a Guinness World Record. That's a marketing blurb.

Agreed. Cheap marketing gimmick. Shame on you Eidos for soiling Guiness and Batman.

Quote from: GamerMan316 on August 29, 2009, 09:34:47 AM
Who decides what a superhero game is anyway? Plenty of people don't consider Batman a superhero, given that he has no superhuman abilities beyond super-wealth.

That's a good point. Master Chief is more of a "super" hero than Batman. And the Halo franchise has recieved far more critical acclaim than Arkham Asylum.

I guess you could translate "superhero" with "comic book hero". But then again ... Master Chief does have his own comic ... $:-\$

nCogNeato · August 29, 2009, 08:02:51 PM

Quote from: Jaynestown on August 29, 2009, 04:03:12 PM
So has anyone played this yet? I played the demo this morning but got bored after 10 minutes, it looks a bit bleak and somewhat repetitive.

I've only played the game for a couple of hours, but I'm loving it so far. The combat system is a little like Assassin's Creed, which is easy to use / hard to master.

The use of the Batman and DC comic universe is very appealing to me, so I'm a little biased in that regard. But despite that, I think the funnest thing about the game so far is the environment and exploration. The world does have a quasi BioShock feel to it. I've seen some critics and reviews say the same thing, but I would not dare directly compare the game to BioShock. BioShock is far superior.

I love looking under every rock when I play a game, which drives my friends crazy when we play co-op games. Batman Arkham Asylum rewards you for being a throrough "detective" without making the process horribly tedious (ie. Assassin's Creed).

I guess the bottom line is ... if you ever imagined what it would be like to be batman when you were a kid, this game is FANTASTIC. If you're not a big fan of Batman, the game's lack of constant action would probably feel dull.

GamerMan316 · August 30, 2009, 10:29:19 AM

Quote from: nCogNeato on August 29, 2009, 08:02:51 PM
Quote from: Jaynestown on August 29, 2009, 04:03:12 PM
So has anyone played this yet? I played the demo this morning but got bored after 10 minutes, it looks a bit bleak and somewhat repetitive.

I've only played the game for a couple of hours, but I'm loving it so far. The combat system is a little like Assassin's Creed, which is easy to use / hard to master.

The use of the Batman and DC comic universe is very appealing to me, so I'm a little biased in that regard. But despite that, I think the funnest thing about the game so far is the environment and exploration. The world does have a quasi BioShock feel to it. I've seen some critics and reviews say the same thing, but I would not dare directly compare the game to BioShock. BioShock is far superior.

I love looking under every rock when I play a game, which drives my friends crazy when we play co-op games. Batman Arkham Asylum rewards you for being a throrough "detective" without making the process horribly tedious (ie. Assassin's Creed).

I guess the bottom line is ... if you ever imagined what it would be like to be batman when you were a kid, this game is FANTASTIC. If you're not a big fan of Batman, the game's lack of constant action would probably feel dull.

Good stuff Neato, i only tried the opening section of the demo before going out one night & have since deleted it, but i enjoyed what i played, it's already on my rental list but it'll be months before it comes so i might get a pre-owned copy in a few weeks.

GamerMan316 · September 08, 2009, 03:11:22 PM

Free Batman: Arkham Asylum DLC coming next week

We haven't spent much time at the main menu of Batman: Arkham Asylum, largely because those are precious seconds we could spend actually playing. But if you can hold out for just a few moments and watch the news ticker at the bottom of the screen, you'll see the totally exciting news that free DLC for the game is coming in 9 days (or Sept. 17 by our count).

We're trying to find out what, exactly, this content infusion entails, but in the meantime we'd like to know what you're hoping for. Will you be satisfied if it's just another challenge room?

Lukehi · September 08, 2009, 04:45:16 PM

Quote from: GamerMan316 on September 08, 2009, 03:11:22 PM
exciting news that free DLC for the game is coming in 9 days (or Sept. 17 by our count).

I read earlier that the DLC may be PS3 exclusive ATM as September 17th is a Thursday...PS3 Home Store thingy gets updated on a Thursday!

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

nCogNeato · September 08, 2009, 05:33:41 PM

Quote from: GamerMan316 on September 08, 2009, 03:11:22 PM
Free Batman: Arkham Asylum DLC coming next week

We haven't spent much time at the main menu of Batman: Arkham Asylum, largely because those are precious seconds we could spend actually playing. But if you can hold out for just a few moments and watch the news ticker at the bottom of the screen, you'll see the totally exciting news that free DLC for the game is coming in 9 days (or Sept. 17 by our count).

We're trying to find out what, exactly, this content infusion entails, but in the meantime we'd like to know what you're hoping for. Will you be satisfied if it's just another challenge room?

I'll have to have a look when I get home tonight. For the first few days I patiently stared at the marquee hoping it would say something other then "Free DLC Coming Soon!".

RedMaster11 · September 09, 2009, 07:50:35 AM

Played this on my mates xbox last night. I instantly loved it, and it must be mine. Maybe I can sell a kidney.... $:-\$

GamerMan316 · September 09, 2009, 11:36:18 AM

Eidos Confirms Arkham DLC is for PC, Too

The PS3 news ticker this morning said Batman: Arkham Asylum is due for some free DLC on Sept. 17. In its forums, Eidos has confirmed the package will also arrive for PC and the Xbox 360.

An Eidos forum admin said simply, "I'm happy to inform you, it will arrive at the same time," when asked if the DLC would coincide with the PCs Sept. 15 release and be available for the 360 as well. You can read it here. So, it's a three platform simultaneous release. No other word what the DLC drop contains yet.