Batman: AA Demo Impressions - Keep it here in the Batcave!!

I've got about 12 (and that's not an exaggeration) amazing games on my shelf that I've neglected (I STILL haven't finished Far Cry 2), and what do I do, I spend the day playing with the Batman demo.

Did anybody else notice, in the medical wing, that the intravenous drip, with the blood in it, is actually functioning? When I see detail like that in a game I know that the developer cares a great deal about their software.

I've been looking forward to this game since I heard about it last year. And from the demo I am relieved that it is living up to expectations. This is shaping up to be the sleeper hit of the year that nobody saw coming just a few short months ago. The gameplay does seem dynamic as advertised. The combination of stealth and combat moves works well. It's refreshing to not have to rely on guns to take down all the enemies. I'm liking it more than the Splinter Cell games so far. The production values are top notch. Now only if the entire game is as good as the demo. .

this is basically the game assassins creed should have been. perfect combo of stealth + action. my only annoyance with it is that the gargoyles feel out of place. aren't they usually on the outside of buildings? i don't know how it will be handled in the full game, but it seems kind of simplistic/unrealistic. despite that this is great.

this is basically the game assassins creed should have been. perfect combo of stealth + action. my only annoyance with it is that the gargoyles feel out of place. aren't they usually on the outside of buildings? i don't know how it will be handled in the full game, but it seems kind of simplistic/unrealistic. despite that this is great.

jon2jon

this is basically the game assassins creed should have been. perfect combo of stealth + action. my only annoyance with it is that the gargoyles feel out of place. aren't they usually on the outside of buildings? i don't know how it will be handled in the full game, but it seems kind of simplistic/unrealistic. despite that this is great.

jon2jon

The game will be bogged down with boring repetitious levels. Other than that the games not bad.gamer082009

[QUOTE="crazyfist36"]

[QUOTE="REforever101"]

does anyone know what monster that was, that was released at the end of the demo. it wasn't bane, but i can't recall what villain that is

REforever101

the story invovles weird genetic experiments being conducted at arkham. the beast at the end is the result of such god-play.

nope, not even a lesser known villain.

[QUOTE="jon2jon"]

this is basically the game assassins creed should have been. perfect combo of stealth + action. my only annoyance with it is that the gargoyles feel out of place. aren't they usually on the outside of buildings? i don't know how it will be handled in the full game, but it seems kind of simplistic/unrealistic. despite that this is great.

biggest_loser

That's true, Arkham Asylum used to be a mansion before the owner went insane. It's in one of the Batman graphic novels.

So after my first time through the demo, I was extremely impressed. A second time through, although I am still generally happy about the game, there are a few concerns. First, I hope that the use of vents to find your away around is not overused. They are obviously placed, and not very secret. This was a big problem in Deus Ex 2. Which leads to my second point, the game holds your hand a bit too much. It often indicates which key to press for every action. Third, for a game that claims to have good physics, no objects in the asylum move, they are all glued to the floor, and you can't interact with anything. Last, I just hope every set piece does not become repetitive (grapple gargoyle, glide attack, wash, rinse, repeat).This game will no doubt get high marks for its theatrics, but the jury is still out on some other things.

The game will be bogged down with boring repetitious levels. Other than that the games not bad.gamer082009

So after my first time through the demo, I was extremely impressed. A second time through, although I am still generally happy about the game, there are a few concerns. First, I hope that the use of vents to find your away around is not overused. They are obviously placed, and not very secret. This was a big problem in Deus Ex 2. Which leads to my second point, the game holds your hand a bit too much. It often indicates which key to press for every action. Third, for a game that claims to have good physics, no objects in the asylum move, they are all glued to the floor, and you can't interact with anything. Last, I just hope every set piece does not become repetitive (grapple gargoyle, glide attack, wash, rinse, repeat).This game will no doubt get high marks for its theatrics, but the jury is still out on some other things.

Qixote

The game will be bogged down with boring repetitious levels. Other than that the games not bad.gamer082009

Downloading it off steam right now :P

One thing that concerns me about the game is the potential lack of replayability.

Looks pretty linear.

2 Gb for a demo O_O ill passGazaAli

LOL @ people passing on a demo because its 2gb. Just be glad there is a demo! Sheesh!

One thing that concerns me about the game is the potential lack of replayability. Looks pretty linear.HaloEleven

The only thing that concerns me is that by having it all take place in the asylum, it makes it seem as if this is a level from a larger game - that you never get to see.

The thing that amazes me is how people will pull out the 'it's too linear' argument, or worse, the 'it's too repetitive' argument - and yet these same people will happily ignore that COD 4 is one the most repetitive, linear games ever made.

COD 4 is one long corridor, and is the very definition of linear gameplay: the whole thing is one scripted firefight that takes you by the hand and leads you through an amusement park ride. And its gameplay is completely repetitive: you pull the trigger and you shoot people.

That's it. There's nothing else.

I replayed the demo twice.

The second time i found both hidden trophies and kept reseting the final room, taking the bad guys down in different ways.

I can not wait for the final product.

The second time i found both hidden trophies and kept reseting the final room, taking the bad guys down in different ways.

Meejoe27

thsi, i've maybe replayed it 3 times, but at the end i just reload the last checkpoint or let the last guy kill me. because of this, i've found corner takedowns, takedowns through the glass roof, upside down takedowns from gargoyles. and many different silent takedown animations. if there's any others please tell me so i can try them lol.

The previews I've been reading suggest that the gameplay itself will become more complex as the game progresses, but that the controls themselves are deliberately simple.

You've got the X button for a punch, the Y button for a counter, and the B button for a stun. The difficulty in the gameplay, it appears, is not going to be in learning all sorts of tricky combos, but rather in determining how to take down the NPCs in a clever manner without alerting them of your presence, or being swarmed by them.

The final area we played in the demo is the starting off newb area. The developer obviously didn't want to overwhelm us with too much to do, and was just giving us a taste of the game and the controls, which is what newb areas are all about. Did anybody here ever play Commandos? There's a bit of that in this game. It's a cross between Riddick, Thief, and Commandos.

I think that the people who are looking for a complex fighting mechanic, such as what you might find in the Devil May Cry series, are looking for something that was never intended by the developer - and that's a shame. People should judge a game on what was provided, rather than on what they wanted. I read too many posts these days in which a person will say that this feature wasn't added, or that that feature wasn't added, when the developer clearly had no intentions of adding those features to begin with.

I've played the demo maybe seven or eight times now.

I'm convinced that Batman is the Dead Space of 2009. If you had said to me that one of the best games of the year would be a Batman game from Eidos I would have told you that you were barking mad.

This game has me so excited. In the demo I've just been swiveling the camera around Batman - this is one of the most awesome character models I've ever seen in a PC game. The detail and the clarity is just mind blowing. Day one, for me - there's not doubt about that now.

It's too bad the game wasn't being released on time - it would've been fantastic for the labor day weekend. Oh well, as it is, it's shaping up to be one of the best games of the fall.

The thing that amazes me is how people will pull out the 'it's too linear' argument, or worse, the 'it's too repetitive' argument - and yet these same people will happily ignore that COD 4 is one the most repetitive, linear games ever made.

COD 4 is one long corridor, and is the very definition of linear gameplay: the whole thing is one scripted firefight that takes you by the hand and leads you through an amusement park ride. And its gameplay is completely repetitive: you pull the trigger and you shoot people.

That's it. There's nothing else.

Charles_Dickens

The only thing that concerns me is that by having it all take place in the asylum, it makes it seem as if this is a level from a larger game - that you never get to see.

Born_Lucky

Enjoyed the demo, the combat was simple yet entertaining and satisfying. I could see it becoming a bit repetitive, but really slow-mo bat-elbows to the head never get old. The stealth/detective gameplay was done well and allows for a bit of freedom with how to tackle encounters, and the full version will only offer more. I think my favorite thing however was the fact that they got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to voice Batman and Joker, the originals.

My only real concern is how long the game will be, and replayability. If it's 5 or 6 hours with no replayability i'll wait for it to go on sale. If it's 10-12+ hours this may be my first release day purchase in quite some time.

Enjoyed the demo, the combat was simple yet entertaining and satisfying. I could see it becoming a bit repetitive, but really slow-mo bat-elbows to the head never get old. The stealth/detective gameplay was done well and allows for a bit of freedom with how to tackle encounters, and the full version will only offer more. I think my favorite thing however was the fact that they got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to voice Batman and Joker, the originals.

My only real concern is how long the game will be, and replayability. If it's 5 or 6 hours with no replayability i'll wait for it to go on sale. If it's 10-12+ hours this may be my first release day purchase in quite some time.

PTMags

[QUOTE="PTMags"]

Enjoyed the demo, the combat was simple yet entertaining and satisfying. I could see it becoming a bit repetitive, but really slow-mo bat-elbows to the head never get old. The stealth/detective gameplay was done well and allows for a bit of freedom with how to tackle encounters, and the full version will only offer more. I think my favorite thing however was the fact that they got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to voice Batman and Joker, the originals.

My only real concern is how long the game will be, and replayability. If it's 5 or 6 hours with no replayability i'll wait for it to go on sale. If it's 10-12+ hours this may be my first release day purchase in quite some time.

biggest_loser

Check this out.

For those people who fear repetition.

www.gametrailers.com/video/gadgets-trailer-batman-arkham/54109

This game just keeps on looking better and better.

One of the early magazine reviews has the editor writing this:

"Every moment feels new, and most of these will leave your jaw on the ground.

Final quote:Batman Arkham Asylum is this year's Bioshock, not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover deliver an adventure unlike any other. Final Score: 95."

Wow. Non-repetitive. Innovative. And outstanding. This is going to be one of the best games of the year - and definitely the sleeper hit, by a country mile.

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"][QUOTE="PTMags"]

Enjoyed the demo, the combat was simple yet entertaining and satisfying. I could see it becoming a bit repetitive, but really slow-mo bat-elbows to the head never get old. The stealth/detective gameplay was done well and allows for a bit of freedom with how to tackle encounters, and the full version will only offer more. I think my favorite thing however was the fact that they got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to voice Batman and Joker, the originals.

My only real concern is how long the game will be, and replayability. If it's 5 or 6 hours with no replayability i'll wait for it to go on sale. If it's 10-12+ hours this may be my first release day purchase in quite some time.

Charles_Dickens

Sweet, I would have settled for 15 but if it's 30 that's a nice surpirze. I did only get it for $6, but beating Mirror's Edge in under 6 hours was a bit of a letdown, considering the game was a refreshing change of pace from your standard fare nowadays. I would have been pretty upset if I paid $50 for it.

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"][QUOTE="PTMags"]

Enjoyed the demo, the combat was simple yet entertaining and satisfying. I could see it becoming a bit repetitive, but really slow-mo bat-elbows to the head never get old. The stealth/detective gameplay was done well and allows for a bit of freedom with how to tackle encounters, and the full version will only offer more. I think my favorite thing however was the fact that they got Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to voice Batman and Joker, the originals.

My only real concern is how long the game will be, and replayability. If it's 5 or 6 hours with no replayability i'll wait for it to go on sale. If it's 10-12+ hours this may be my first release day purchase in quite some time.

Charles_Dickens

wow BL, looks like your Batman thread is going prime time. The Wayne Corporation should pay you for this.

wow BL, looks like your Batman thread is going prime time. The Wayne Corporation should pay you for this.

Jinroh_basic

This quotation is from G4:

"Of course for the game to actually herald a sense of reprieve it also needs to overcome a legacy of 15 years worth of appalling interactive adaptations of the Dark Knight. Given the amount of game available on the disk(the first 25% of the game clocking in at around 6-7 hours), I'm confident to say that Arkham Asylum is not only on track to be a solid game but may very well reset the bar on what to expect from a superhero title."

So if it took them 7 hours to complete the first quarter of the game, then the computation is a simple one: 7 times 4 = 28 hours.

This quotation is from G4:

"Of course for the game to actually herald a sense of reprieve it also needs to overcome a legacy of 15 years worth of appalling interactive adaptations of the Dark Knight. Given the amount of game available on the disk(the first 25% of the game clocking in at around 6-7 hours), I'm confident to say that Arkham Asylum is not only on track to be a solid game but may very well reset the bar on what to expect from a superhero title."

So if it took them 7 hours to complete the first quarter of the game, then the computation is a simple one: 7 times 4 = 28 hours.

Charles_Dickens

Just played the demo on 360. PC version is so much better imo.

I haven't tried the 360 version. But I have played the PS3 one, and I have to admit I liked it a bit better than the PC. Graphically they were the same, and perhaps a bit more smooth on the PS3. The PC version doesn't have all the graphical extras as claimed (as least not in the demo.) The controls were also a bit better suited for console playing.

Although I want to try the PC one again, but hook up my PC to my 52 inch hdtv. I wonder if my opinion would change.

The thing that amazes me is how people will pull out the 'it's too linear' argument, or worse, the 'it's too repetitive' argument - and yet these same people will happily ignore that COD 4 is one the most repetitive, linear games ever made.

COD 4 is one long corridor, and is the very definition of linear gameplay: the whole thing is one scripted firefight that takes you by the hand and leads you through an amusement park ride. And its gameplay is completely repetitive: you pull the trigger and you shoot people.

That's it. There's nothing else.

Charles_Dickens

This quotation is from G4:

"Of course for the game to actually herald a sense of reprieve it also needs to overcome a legacy of 15 years worth of appalling interactive adaptations of the Dark Knight. Given the amount of game available on the disk(the first 25% of the game clocking in at around 6-7 hours), I'm confident to say that Arkham Asylum is not only on track to be a solid game but may very well reset the bar on what to expect from a superhero title."

So if it took them 7 hours to complete the first quarter of the game, then the computation is a simple one: 7 times 4 = 28 hours.

Charles_Dickens

After playing many Batman games in the past, from watching demo gameplay videos it looks just like another Batman game I've already played. Linear levels with the same old mash em up'. Visually the game looks fantastic, however the gameplay indeed detracts me. I certainly can understand why some gamers are excited for this, but I'm passing on this one. Next stop World Dominance from the outer galatics.

After playing many Batman games in the past, from watching demo gameplay videos it looks just like another Batman game I've already played. Linear levels with the same old mash em up'. Visually the game looks fantastic, however the gameplay indeed detracts me. I certainly can understand why some gamers are excited for this, but I'm passing on this one. Next stop World Dominance from the outer galatics.

OoSuperMarioO