Batman: Arkham Asylum - Game of the Year Edition

[Goodsport]

Just as I was pretty late to the party finally buying a PS3 recently (my first console system since I had a PS2 years ago), I'm similarly as late to the party getting this game, having just bought the Game of the Year Edition yesterday after having really enjoyed the game's demo for a while.

Though I still plan on purchasing a PS3 RPG at some point soon, the original version of this game is one I had my eye on since it first hit stores last summer - basically, my "if I finally get a current next-gen console system, that'll absolutely be the first game I get for it" (though as it turned out, it ended up being the second, after Red Dead Redemption).

In any case, is it too late for me to fully enjoy it considering that just about every one else has already seemed to finish it and the sequel is apparently right around the corner?


-G

 

[fba827]

my comments based on the original game, not the game of the year edition.
(also, i have the xbox version - if i understand correctly, you can do -more- stuff on the ps3 version like play as joker and a couple extra combat mode maps.. or maybe that is download content, i don't know for sure).

i am still enjoying the game despite having finished it several times over and over (with some grace period between plays). every time i play, i manage to find some other little thing that makes me go "wow, that is really well done" -- sometimes this is how it looks when you do a crash-through-the-window take down, or yanking someone over the ledge, or the way the combat system is simple to learn even for someone as clutzy as I am.

my interest doesn't usually last beyond a couple months with most games i get, but i can say i have no regret with this game and no plans to trade it in for store credit towards another purchase.

it has lots of batman lore peppered in (mostly via the riddler mini-game stuff where you find things hidden around, either scenes or physical items like patient interview tapes which are entertaining little anecdotes themselves when you see how really twisted all the patients really are).

i'm not coordinated enough to ever beat the game on hard difficulty (mainly because of a couple key battles that are physical rather than predator/stealth/pick them off one at a time type). nor am i able to ever complete all the challenge mode maps that are combat oriented. but i have lots of fun with the predator style aspects of it all.

it's an open world style, but with the caveat that areas are blocked off until you progress far enough to get the bat-gadget necessary to get in. i.e. you can't get through a secret door right at the begining until you get the explosive gel to blow up the wall, etc. so you get to roam around and revisit areas and such.


what don't i like about it? well, there is hardly ever reason not to be in detective mode (it helps you see key features easily) but when you have that on, you see outlines and colors, making you miss lots of the really nice graphics. also, there are one or two parts where it stretches it a little too much in terms of 'why didn't batman just pick up that gadget earlier rather than waiting until later in the game.'

of course, your personal taste and preferences will vary. just sharing my thoughts.

to be honest, i don't expect the sequel to be "better" than this original. But I do expect it will more of the same fun.

 

[Welverin]

my comments based on the original game, not the game of the year edition.
(also, i have the xbox version - if i understand correctly, you can do -more- stuff on the ps3 version like play as joker and a couple extra combat mode maps.. or maybe that is download content, i don't know for sure).

The Joker challenge maps aren't anything special, they're just like Batman's, except you play as the Joker. And while the Joker does play a little different he pretty much have the same type of abilities.

I never even played all of them, and this is despite starting a second play through immediately after the first because I liked the game so much I wanted to keep playing even though there was nothing else to do.

As far the hard difficulty, it's actually not that different from normal. The two differences are no spidey sense for the villains, warning you of impending attacks, and they do more damage. So if you can learn to avoid enemy attacks well, and just focus on defense you could probably make it through.