I waited a while to pick this one up, was it worth the wait?
Before even putting in the disc, I had very high expectations for this game. Having seeing the numerous awards and amazing reviews together with my LOVE of everything Batman, I was very very excited.
I pop it in and begin playing, which honestly takes a little while to get in to. They set up the story VERY VERY well and that takes some time. But once you get in, you really get in. The controls are simple and enjoyable and it makes the game really really fun to play. I do wish that there was some variation in combat controls. Repeatedly pushing the X button in random directions gets a little old. The addition of takedowns during the combos makes it a little more fun, but you have to wait to level up until you either get those. The gliding controls work amazingly. It's fun to soar over Arkham and see what you can find. All of the bat toys work great, from the batarangs to the explosive gel. But the most exciting one to unlock is the cryptic scanner so you can FINALLY get past those annoying security doors.
Visually the game is stunning. Everything looks amazing. I knew I loved the graphics when I entered the bat cave, went through a waterfall, and the screen changed to make it look like the water was on top of me. But it was great! Everything looks great. This also applies to character design. Being a fan of Batman, I think anyone would appreciate the different looks and takes on classic Batman characters and villains. It's also really cool in the character bios that they use the classic art of each character which is then complimented by the updated look of the game.
Overall, the game is great. It's a stealth-puzzle-action game. That's what makes it really fun. You can choose how you want to play it. You can stick to the shadows and stealthily dispose of each enemy, or you can fly in guns blazing and try to take on all hordes of enemies. Imagine a little of splinter cell, with a little god of war, and I'd even say some dynasty warriors only because the button mashing gets a little repetitive.
BUT it lives up to all of the hype. If you haven't played it yet, I highly recommend that you do. With the upcoming release of AA2, playing the first one probably isn't "necessary" but I bet it would make the new one more fun.
Gameplay: 8.5
Visuals: 9.5
Controls: 9
Story: 10