Anyone else played the demo yet? I downloaded it on the PS3 last night, and played it through six times or so. It's AWESOME (imo). Exactly what I've hoped a superhero game would be.


I just hope that the full game lives up to what the demo has setup for us. It certainly has a lot of promise. It's exactly what I would have expected out of a demo.

Like most batman things, I just can't wait to see what the joker does.

I'm guessing its more of a console-oriented game because the PC version of the demo feels clumsy. I can't even find the way to change resolutions or anything.

Watched some of the videos on Gamespot about a month ago, definitely looks promising. I liked the look of the free-flow combat and the ambush tactics were cool.

I'm waiting on the demo to download as we speak, it certainly does LOOK entertaining.

The demo certainly shows a lot of promise. I'm not really a fan of stealth games but this one seems well implimented and action-oriented enough to warrant my attention.

What's up with Batman's neck though? It looks like he swalled a coat hanger.

I'm more concerned with Commissioner Gordon. The guy looks like he's pumping steroids.

I enjoyed the stealth part. If you hang a guy from a gargoyle, the others start to get to nervous. If it's one guy left, he starts to panic and shoots into the dark. I wonder if there will be a way to move bodies though. The enemies notice fallen comrades, and it would be good if you could be infiltrate without them knowing they are losing people.

I'm not sure what to think about the hand-to-hand combat though. I mean, the animations are indeed very fluid, but I'm just button-mashing and that gets the job done. Maybe with XP, I get more attacks?

The demo was excellent, but I'm a little bit concerned that the demo gameplay was pretty much as good as it gets. Apparently the main problem with the Wolverine game was that it was loads of fun at first, but the gameplay never developed.

I'm hoping the same thing; however, from the trailer, and the on-screen information it looks like you'll have other tools available besides just the batarang, which could easily make the game much better.

That's quite true, actually. I downloaded the demo of the Wolverine game over Live and was hugely impressed. Seemed like we had a game that actually portrayed Wolverine like he should be: regeneration done right, and the ability to slice a guys arm off and stab his friend in the head. Then you hit a big set piece (lunging at a helicopter, smashing through the cockpit window and thrusting the pilots head into the propellers). A bit later the demo ends and you think the whole game must be one adrenaline soaked gore-fest.

Then you actually play the full game and you find out that it's actually just more of the same. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but definitely gets repetitive over long stretches.

Since Arkham Asylum is getting marketed as something more than a button-mashing beat 'em up I'm hoping it'll have a great deal more depth than the Wolverine game. One of the Gamespot videos demonstrates a ton of different ways to incapacitate and play mind games with guards, so I think I have cause to be optimistic.

I blame that on the U3 engine. I swear most of the games that use that engine have guys who seem a bit too jacked up.

The demo was definitely impressive though. It felt like the old Tenchu game except you're controlling Batman, better controls, and improved combat flow. I believe in the full game there is suppose to be more puzzles to interact with so that should be fun.

Yes, because the choice of GRAPHICS ENGINE determines how buff the characters are.



It's not the art at all.

If you buy it at TRU you get a $20 gift card.

Got my reserve in. Going to pick it up at my local Gamestop tonight. Of course, I have to get off early to do so.

I think I'll pick it up. From what I've heard, it's very similar to Metroidvanias, and after my bliss playing Shadow Complex, I'm really into the genre right now.

I hear you fishie. I sure wish I had more money available. I'd pick it up in a sec. But I'm more concerned with finishing to paint my apartment right now.

Amazon also has a $5 off discount code, but I think it's only for preordering. By the way, the game has been garnering fantastic reviews that score generally in the 9/10 range.

I found out today that my gamestop (and MANY others) are doing a midnight release. I traded in a few games, 2 gameboy micros, and a DS, and managed to get $73 towards the game (thanks to a 25% increase for putting it towards the game) and now I'm waiting to be able to go pick it up at midnight.


So excited! It sucks that I have to work tomorrow so I won't really get much time with it tonight, but I'm just happy I was able to find some stuff to preorder the game just 4 hours before the midnght release. Awesome.

Boo, I just checked over my game collection, I've already traded in all the titles I could part with. XD

Played through a bit last night and today. This game is freaking awesome.

I played the demo and PC and had no problems with it whatsoever. In fact, it didn't feel much like a console port at all. You should be able to change the resolution from going to settings from the main menu, too (just like in almost any other game).

Damn. Rip-off much?

If you're canadian you can get the game for 50% off on Walmart.ca, BestBuy.ca or Futureshop.ca... Ordered my copy and it came to only 47.00 after tax and delivery.

Holy ****, I'm dropping by Walmart after work to check it out.

Future shop here is out of stock.

Is that price only for shipped games or instore also?

I am fairly certain it's for online orders only. When I ordered mine Bestbuy was the only one that had it in stock to even order, and there wasn't an option to pick it up in store. Actually come to think of it, it had a note at the top saying "In store pick up of this item is not available". So it would have to be shipped. But that's still a fantastic deal.

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10123505&catid=24358

Says sold out online here and on futureshop.

NOTHING ON WALMARTS might still be in stock

http://walmart.ca/Canada-FeaturedPage.jsp?selection=listingDetails&assetId=51979&imageId=71725&departmentId=180&categoryId=1024&tabId=22

I'll drop by walmart after work just in case (in 20 mins) and if its not available, I'll check it out. Otherwise I'll just pass up on it until I can afford it. I have so many games I want to play this year.

Dragon Age
Borderlands
Marvel Alliance 2
Bioshock 2
NHL10
Halo 3 : OSDT

yarg

Yeah its a good thing that some of the other 2009 releases got pushed back. I know a lot of gamers are crying about that and while it sucks, my wallet will welcome the breathing opportunity between purchases. Last fall was crazy.

Agreed.

I don't get why people piss and moan when a game is pushed back. I mean come on, people, use some sense: were it not pushed back you'd get a lousy, unpolished release for a potentially good game.

Exactly. I would rather have a completely finished game with all the bells and whistles that took a long time to develop than a half assed rushed piece of turd that I just wasted 60 bucks on.
*cough*ageofconan*cough*

The only exception to this rule is DNF.


Dragon Age also got pushed into 2010 I believe.

Did it? Last I heard it was pushed back from October 20th to November 3rd

Game websites list it as Nov 3rd still

Well just an updated for interested canadians without a copy, Walmart lists and sells the game instore for 38$ plus tax. I got my copy and once I'm sick of it, I'll lkely be able to get the full money back from ebgames.

Apparently the word on the street is that Arkham Asylum is the best comic book game ever made, and it's fantastic.

I'll get it as soon as someone buys my damn 360 off gumtree.

Maybe people would just rather have a completely finished game on time. You know, rather than developers saying that it'll be ready for whenever when they know it won't be.

Edit: I know game development doesn't really work on a linear scale where developers can accurately say "this game will be available on this exact date". But I can understand frustration when a "Q2" game is postponed until "Q3" because it wasn't ready. I, like the majority of games players, don't work in the industry, so we have no idea of what holds these guys up. But I do know it's frustrating as hell when these games are, in the publics' eyes to all extents and purposes, delayed "just because".

**** happens. It's technology/business. Movies, Games, Products of all kinds get their release dates frequently pushed back. People just need to stop *****ing about not being able to play said video game RIGHT NOW and go outside. There is always a legitimate reason to push back a game, they don't just decide to do it because they want to make their customer's wait.

Doesn't matter to me. I usually buy singleplayer games like 8 months after they were released at reduced prices. What's the hurry?

I just got Dead Space recently!

The game had a very Thief-like feel to it in the sense that all the NPCs had the same kind of vision/reaction range as the AI in Thief. Not Thief III though, that doesn't really count as a real game.

Ben Kuchera at Ars Technica loves it:

http://feeds.arstechnica.com/~r/arstechnica/index/~3/Kc3ROzV_39E/welcome-to-the-ha-ha-hacienda-batman-arkham-asylum-review.ars

I might have to spend money I can't afford on it

I liked Thief III....

It is the first time I am graced by Mark Hamill's Joker. Pure brilliance. He is both haunting and hilarious, deranged and brilliant. I could totally see Hamill being cast to pick up Heath Ledger's Joker in the movie series as an older Clown Prince of Crime. That aside, I find myself stopping and intently listening to Joker's every eccentric quip over the intercom. "Whats your greatest fears Batman? Death? Killing? Me in a thong? GYAHAHAHAAHA!"

Oh ya and Harley Quinn's hot stuff. She is right up there with the Joker.

The game itself has its ups and downs so far. I'm dissappointed that there is no bonus to not being in detective vision mode, which pretty much voids the game's beauty. You're all too compelled to spend the vast majority of your time in blue xray lala land.

The combat in and of itself is acceptable but nothing extraordinary in terms of controls. The animations on the other hand are worthy of hollywood boombastics. The stealth action is great and you're given a lot of ways to pick your enemies off one by one. However, I find myself employing the same tactics each time (reverse takedowns and glide kicks and a few corner takedowns) making it a touch repetitive. Maybe I'm just not exploring the possibilities, but then the game doesn't compel me to do so, I've not found strategies as effective. Enemies don't look up at gargoyles.

Outside of combat, I often feel too slow to be batman. Outside of grappling up to stuff, the b-man takes sweet forever to ascend and climb. One particular elevator shaft was particularly painful. I never pictured Batman as a constant vent crawler yet it feels like every other minute I'm crawling through one. The overall control scheme also takes some getting used to. I'm not certain why they made him walk by default and have you hold a button down to run instead of just using the controller's thumbstick sensitivity. That's a whole ancient era of game controls right there.

Edward Nigma's riddles are fun, finding all his junk is interesting but so far, short of the interesting patient interview tapes, I don't really find looking them up / solving them as rewarding or interesting as it was in 15$ Shadow Complex. Essentially, you're left with the challenge of finding 100% of items, unlocking useless character trophies and the (luckily) more interesting challenge maps. From what I can tell, in terms of gadgets, armor boosts, health boosts, etc. they all come from either experience upgrades or scripted into the main storyline. I keep hoping I'm wrong though.

Oh and I suck terribly at riddles.

Last night I got to Scarecrow and the haunting bit in the morgue. That was f'ing creepy and well designed!



I've touched mostly on what I feel is wrong with the game, because for the most part, the rest of it is perfect.