Aimless Posted August 9, 2009 Posted August 9, 2009 I think you're being rather reductionist. It's easy to do great games a disservice by taking the strawman route, like so: In the beginning of BioShock you learn the one-two punch of electrifying an enemy and then hitting them with a wrench, the only move you need for the entire game because you can't die. All the fights are exactly the same, all the levels have the same art deco look, and the enemies keep repeating themselves and constantly respawning. If all of your fights in the demo were exactly the same I think you only have yourself to blame, to be honest. The first few bouts are unavoidable tutorial fisticuffs, fights which you could win just by waiting to hit Y as none of your enemies have melee weapons at that point. Or you could punch one guy in the face, zip across to an adjacent enemy, stun a third with your cloak, take another's legs out with a Batarang before pounding his skull into the floor and topping things off by grabbing the final guy's leg as he tries to kick you. The latter is quicker, nets you bonus XP and is simply more fun! You're Batman, a couple of thugs don't pose a threat to you; it's a question of how you're going to take them down, not if. Likewise you could approach the stealth section simply by taking one guy out, waiting in the rafters for a minute or so until another becomes separated before rinse and repeat. Or you could challenge yourself to take out every enemy with a silent takedown without any of the others noticing, much like a classic Splinter Cell. Or you could string one guy up, swing to a different vantage point and then drop him on his investigating buddies when they're underneath him. Or you could choose to stun an enemy with a Batarang whilst you take on another nearby using the usual fighting mechanic. Or you could make as much noise as possible to get the enemies on edge, crashing through glass ceilings and winging down from the rafters to kick bad guys in the face — several abilities not in the demo, like the explosive spray and ability to latch onto enemies with your grapple, would help a lot with this approach. Demos are like movie trailers: they can give you a good idea of whether you'll like the full thing or not due to a general feel, but if you fixate on trying to second guess the ultimate direction and minutia of the finished product based on them then you'll be doing both it and yourself a disservice.
Shorty Posted August 9, 2009 Posted August 9, 2009 I think you're being rather reductionist. It's easy to do great games a disservice by taking the strawman route Except that I didn't just do it for the sake of making a statement in words on a page, that's simply how I felt in myself whilst playing the game. I can't change the fact that it basically didn't excite me the way many great games did in the first ten minutes. Maybe all that proves is that my expectations are set too high.
Cookyman Posted August 12, 2009 Posted August 12, 2009 Demo - Unimpressed. Demo - impressed. But only as a rental - dont think the game has the legs for a purchase.
Chris the great Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 seeing as how daft has basicly given PS3 owners the game for half price, i happy to take a chance. also, ive just read the dark knight returns, and began batman year one, and im getting very drawn into batman right now.
Daft Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 seeing as how daft has basicly given PS3 owners the game for half price, i happy to take a chance. also, ive just read the dark knight returns, and began batman year one, and im getting very drawn into batman right now. Sadly, The Hut have put it back up to £35 but if you got the order in on time you're sorted! I'm half way through Year One and over the past week I've read The Killing Joke, Arkham Asylum and The Long Halloween over the past week. I've totally been sucked in and I can't wait for this. I think what I really enjoy is how well the narrative is done. Even the random thug banter is entertaining to listen to. I hope there is plenty more of it.
Oxigen_Waste Posted August 13, 2009 Posted August 13, 2009 Demo - impressed. But only as a rental - dont think the game has the legs for a purchase. Well, we don't have rentals. So... deal breaker.
Dante Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 (edited) Reviews: [English] Games Master UK: 96% Playstation Official Magazine UK: 9/10 PlayStation Beyond: 90% OXM Australia: 9/10 Total Film: 5/5 Game Informer: 9.5 (Second Opinion: 9.5) [French] Jeux Vidéo: 19/20 [German] Consol Plus: 91% Maniac: 90% 360-Live: 90% (Reader Review: 88%) Play³: 90% [Finnish] Pelaaja: 10/10 "Batman: AA is not only the best Batman game to come out on consoles, it's a contender for Game of The Year" +inhabitants of Arkham Asylum feel like living, breathing characters. Converse w/ one another, interact with Arkham's geometry, and create their own self-contained stories +Melee system highlights brutal efficiency. Even when odds are stacked against you, you feel as if you can take everybody out. +Areas of the Asylum are blocked off until new gadgets are obtained (zelda/metroid style) - The final confrontation is a MAJOR letdown. A good idea gone to waste. In this scene an outrageous concept is squashed by Batman's mortality. The fight that follows is easily the game's worst. Goes on to say: "Regardless, Batman: AA is this year's Bioshock...delivers an adventure unlike any other" Edited August 14, 2009 by Dante
The Bard Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 Well, we don't have rentals. So... deal breaker. Which is the good thing about Isohunt and Daemon tools. Not that I endorse piracy in any way. I was fairly happy with the demo actually, but that could be because I've always had a love of Batman. I really would much have preferred it though, if it was in the same vein and art style of the original animated series. Perhaps like Batman Vengeance. I feel that with the current steroid enhanced game engine, and next gen sheen it's lost a sense of atmosphere that would have been better conveyed with solid colours rather than hues. BUT VATEVAR.
Daft Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 +inhabitants of Arkham Asylum feel like living, breathing characters. Converse w/ one another, interact with Arkham's geometry, and create their own self-contained stories +Areas of the Asylum are blocked off until new gadgets are obtained (zelda/metroid style) These two make me super happy. Which is the good thing about Isohunt and Daemon tools. Not that I endorse piracy in any way. I was fairly happy with the demo actually, but that could be because I've always had a love of Batman. I really would much have preferred it though, if it was in the same vein and art style of the original animated series. Perhaps like Batman Vengeance. I feel that with the current steroid enhanced game engine, and next gen sheen it's lost a sense of atmosphere that would have been better conveyed with solid colours rather than hues. BUT VATEVAR. I think the look is spot on, except on Batman is a bit off. Like you said he has been properly roided up but Batman is HUUUGE. From what I've seen of everything else it looks great imo, especially the Joker. Both Batman and Joker looks like something Tim Sale would draw.
Ganepark32 Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 Getting some good reviews, and Game Informer could well be right about it being this year's Bioshock. Was at a small event and the amount of attention and positive feedback coming from this was phenomenal. You literally couldn't get a go on the game, as all 10 kiosks were constantly occupied. Was basically the same demo available on the XBL Marketplace and the PSN but you could play through some of the challenge rooms. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a go of the game to play them but saw what was available and looks like it'll add a nice little side track from the main gameplay.
Shorty Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 So much for that Gamesmaster rant eh! Did anyone say they'd eat their hat? I have spare hats. Well, I think these reviews are enough to put my mind to rest, despite the polish of the demo, no reviewer (or at least, not all of them) would give it scores like that if it just repeated that formula until the end. Cool. *doesn't cancel pre-order*
Dan_Dare Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Eurogamer- 9/10 most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star. Fans of the caped crusader really shouldn't hesitate - this isn't just the best grown-up Batman game, it's the best superhero game, bar none.
LegoMan1031 Posted August 21, 2009 Posted August 21, 2009 Sweet, ive had the demo downloaded for ages but i have been yet to play on it. My mate played the demo and was unsure about it, however after reading these reviews im getting quite excited now! Bout time there was a good proper batman game!
Ryan Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 GameTrailers gave it a 9. Comes out on Friday, can't wait!!! How good are TheHut for deliveries?
Babooo Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 Will deffo be trying to borrow this off my cousin....been getting rave reviews!
DiemetriX Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 I got this game yesterday, and it's AMAZING. I dont care if you like batman or not, this game is still worth buying. It's much better than the demo. What surprised me is how much of the game is exploring and solving riddles and clues to get to the next story part. The game is not linear but still feels tight. And I do love the fighting system. I play on hard and you don't get help countering, but it's still smooth and intuitive. Only bad thing so far is the collision detection when fighting. BUY THIS GAME
McPhee Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 I got this game yesterday, and it's AMAZING. I dont care if you like batman or not, this game is still worth buying. It's much better than the demo. What surprised me is how much of the game is exploring and solving riddles and clues to get to the next story part. The game is not linear but still feels tight. And I do love the fighting system. I play on hard and you don't get help countering, but it's still smooth and intuitive. Only bad thing so far is the collision detection when fighting. BUY THIS GAME What are we talking then? A 9/10 for you? Well hyped for this, not long now! Not been this excited over a game release since Street Fighter IV (and believe me, i was bouncing off the walls on the days running up to it).
Ryan Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 I got this game yesterday, and it's AMAZING. I dont care if you like batman or not, this game is still worth buying. It's much better than the demo. What surprised me is how much of the game is exploring and solving riddles and clues to get to the next story part. The game is not linear but still feels tight. And I do love the fighting system. I play on hard and you don't get help countering, but it's still smooth and intuitive. Only bad thing so far is the collision detection when fighting. BUY THIS GAME You're the second person I've seen with a copy. Did your preorder arrive early, or a review copy or something?
Daft Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum Joker Hands-on Sounds ace. I love the Joker.
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