Batman: Arkham Asylum (Demo Version)
Publisher: SNK Playmore, Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Konami, DC Comics/ Warner Bros Interactive, Square Enix Europe (formerly Eidos Interactive),
Released: August 7, 2009
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, players begin by entering the shadowy metropolis known as Gotham City. Cruising through the rainy streets in his sleek, shiny Batmobile; Batman races to deliver the Joker back Arkham Asylum, an institute for the criminally insane that houses many of his personal rogues galley. Arriving with the package and meeting up with his ally, Commissioner Gordon, things go on smoothly until the Joker busts loose and causes chaos inside the institution. With the Asylum under his control and plenty of madmen at his disposal, Batman has no choice but to venture inside the facility to confront every evil he has brought in and stop the Joker once and for all.
So what can I say about the game so far? It's pretty awesome, that's what it is. It does a good job of simulating the Batman experience, and for the short time I've spent playing it yesterday, it's a sure bet that this game is going to be a day one purchase. This is just a review of the trial demo, and my assessment won't be complete until the real thing arrives. My friend Kei also posted his review for the demo, so if you need a second opinion of how awesome it is, read his stuff. For now, here's my take on the Arkham Asylum demonstration:
Powered by the impressive Unreal Engine 3 and PhysX (Physics Engine) gaming engines, the only word that comes to mind when I have to describe the look of Arkham Asylum is "Stunning". The game unleashes powerful visuals the mind cannot ignore, and since it's a Batman game, the graphics go well together with the dark atmosphere this comic book game promotes. As for gameplay, you ARE the Batman. Everything from his combat prowess to his hones detective skills are simulated brilliantly in this game, and the latter boasts a sonar device from the cowl that replicates the one used in last years batflick, The Dark Knight. Being Batman also means you can kick ass with style, from unleashing timed Batarang shots to pummeling the living crap out of baddies with Matrix-like moves. It's these kinds of feats that make the game so enjoyable, especially when you use stealth to your advantage. Crouching through gargoyle statues and sticking to the shadows is what makes Batman even more dangerous, and if timed right, you can execute Metal Gear Solid-esque stealth blows to incapacitate goons. Awesome stuff, and fear is always a powerful motivator when striking it to the hearts of the criminals.
The learning curve for Arkham Asylum isn't so bad, and in fact, the controls are layed out pretty neatly for the PS3 version. I enjoyed trampling through bad guys with the simple press of an attack button, and activating/ prompting certain actions isn't too hard to do. It plays very much like MGS, only with direct action elements added to the mix. Allies like Oracle help you out with clues about Arkham and it's inner workings, and this can be useful, especially when you need tips on how to defeat certain enemies. Also, the camera follows Batman from a third person perspective, so there are moments where it stays in a Tomb Raider position or pans forward to a Resident Evil 4/ Gears Of War over the shoulder angle. Learning how to play isn't too hard at all, and in preparation for the real thing coming at the end of the month, this demo will guide you through and make you soar high... like a bat.
What can I say about the concept of this game that I'm sure many haven't said said already? Utilizing the continuity already established in the comics, Veteran Comic writer Paul Dini is the man handling the story, and given his current stint at Detective Comics, it couldn't have fallen in better hands. Arkham Asylum is also blessed to have the finest talents voicing the characters in the game, and legendary voice actors Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin return as Batman, Joker, and Harley Quinn respectively, reprising the roles they have done since 1992's Batman: The Animated Series. It is these elements, and more, that make Batman: Arkham Asylum a true and worthwhile game to play for any Bat fan.
As a demo, there's not much else to talk about, but I can truly say, again, that THIS is the definitive Batman experience. You will fight injustice and be a symbol, turning fear against those who prey on the fearful. Go check out the demo if you have time... and find out what it means to be a Dark Knight.
Score - 10/10
An interesting thing that could spawn from this would be that possibly, in the future (and owing to the intertextuality marketing bent that some franchises like Blood and Weiß in the late-90's has started), comic canon will go the way of video games X3
ReplyDeleteI'm saying that these will supplement canon comic outputs massively, thus inducing readers to buy the printed comics AND play the game. XD
Indeed it shall. Anyway to generate a wider fanbase and make more profit is the way to go. DC and Marvel have already expanded their resources to various mediums over the years, but the fact that continuity plays an important part in the scheme of things should be taken into consideration when producing a game. I liked Arkham Asylum for this fact alone, and even Marvel is following suit with Ultimate Alliance 2, which takes place during the Civil War storyline. While it won't be completely faithful to what's happening in the books now (like Batman being dead and Dick Grayson taking over the role), this is a good start for DC and WB.
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