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Batman: Arkham Asylum
16 years ago
...is the bestest stealth/action/superhero video game evar.
I really wrote this off when it was first announce. Blah blah blah Batman blah blah blah another bad game blah blah cocks.
But then I started hearing "Rapture" thrown around in early gameplay reviews, and considering that I walk around 24/7 with an erection for BioShock and all things Rapture, that's a pretty good way to get my attention. The demo sold me. The game is fucking awesome.
I even shelled out for the fancy collectors edition that came with a leather Arkham journal and a 14" Batarang display, because I am a huge Batman nerd and cannot resist having a GODDAMN BATARANG. :O
I really wrote this off when it was first announce. Blah blah blah Batman blah blah blah another bad game blah blah cocks.
But then I started hearing "Rapture" thrown around in early gameplay reviews, and considering that I walk around 24/7 with an erection for BioShock and all things Rapture, that's a pretty good way to get my attention. The demo sold me. The game is fucking awesome.
I even shelled out for the fancy collectors edition that came with a leather Arkham journal and a 14" Batarang display, because I am a huge Batman nerd and cannot resist having a GODDAMN BATARANG. :O
Oh yeah, I got the collector's edition too. It's awesome how the Batarang even comes all scratched up like it's been used, too. XD
But yeah, they really hit this out of the park. My only complaint is that Detective Mode has no timer so I basically walk around in it all the time which A) Kind of makes things a little easy and B) sometimes makes me miss awesome environmental visuals.
Oh, and being a big Riddler fan, I think it's awesome that they found a way to get Riddler in here without trying to wedge him into a combat scenario. If Mad Hatter makes a cameo, I'll call it GotY for sure.
Anyhow, concerning the Detective Mode thingie, I don't mind that there's no time limit to it. I mean, the game doesn't FORCE you to use it. It's all a matter of how observant you are. About the only time I use it is to keep track of armed enemies, since they can obliterate Batman quickly if you're not careful. I'm so used to games that make you search tirelessly for hidden objects or minute details in the background that I don't really NEED the Detective Vision; it's actually kinda useless in some parts (like the Scarecrow segment >_>) anyhow.
What's the leather bound journal got in it?
The stealth is done surprisingly well in this game. The only time you really NEED to be stealthy is when you're in a room full of armed enemies, because firearms can make quick work of the Bat. You can move stealthily by crouch-walking about, or just grapple and move about effortlessly from above on high walkways or from gargoyles that're helpfully scattered about the walls in some places.
Frankly, you don't "need" stealth against simple unarmed thugs, since Batman can easily wipe the floor with 10-15 of them in hand-to-hand combat. You CAN usually at least thin out their numbers a little or at least take down one guard with a Batarang or gliding kick from above before the shit hits the fan though if you wanna be fancy.
I hate stealth games, and I'm enjoying the shit out of the stealth segments in this. They're enough to challenge you, but not enough to annoy you.
There's a demo out for 360, PS3, and PC, so give it a try. There's a stealth sequence at the end of the demo that gives you a pretty good feel of things.