Batman: Arkham Asylum Catch-All

SommerMatt wrote:

I'm normally not one to totally nitpick gaming conventions, but using "gargoyles" in this game is pretty ridiculous. Why on earth would they be INSIDE a building, and in such copious quantites?

Believe it or not, the lore actually supports their inclusion.

Apparently the asylum is very, very old. According to the original design the gargoyles were part of the original master plan to strike fear and obedience into the early inmates.

I didn't know this myself, but read it after hearing similar questions.

SommerMatt wrote:

I'm normally not one to totally nitpick gaming conventions, but using "gargoyles" in this game is pretty ridiculous. Why on earth would they be INSIDE a building, and in such copious quantites?

IMAGE(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9255/goddamnbatman.png)

JoeBedurndurn wrote:
SommerMatt wrote:

I'm normally not one to totally nitpick gaming conventions, but using "gargoyles" in this game is pretty ridiculous. Why on earth would they be INSIDE a building, and in such copious quantites?

IMAGE(http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9255/goddamnbatman.png)

Sigh... this is exactly why Frank Miller is the best comic writer in the business. [/sarcasm]

I am convinced that ASB&R was an elaborate prank to show that comic fans will literally buy ANYTHING.

Aaron D. wrote:

Believe it or not, the lore actually supports their inclusion.

Er, what lore, exactly?

SommerMatt wrote:

]Er, what lore, exactly?

Dude, the entire concept of Batman requires an incredible suspension of disbelief and it's the indoor gargoyles that bother you? Stop poking holes in our superhero fantasies!

Still sort of annoying that is seems to be the only damn thing you can swing from/to.

FedoraMcQuaid wrote:

Still sort of annoying that is seems to be the only damn thing you can swing from/to.

You can grapple to ledges and tops of "buildings"(or that final room) as well.

FedoraMcQuaid wrote:

Still sort of annoying that is seems to be the only damn thing you can swing from/to.

Actually if you poke around a bit on the last playable section of the demo, you can grapple up to the roof of the central building. Why the hell an interior area has a central building, tons of walkways and giant gargoyles is still anyone's guess though. So it's not quite as limited as you think, but it's still more limited than something like Tenchu.

Latrine wrote:
SommerMatt wrote:

]Er, what lore, exactly?

Dude, the entire concept of Batman requires an incredible suspension of disbelief and it's the indoor gargoyles that bother you? Stop poking holes in our superhero fantasies!

It's not that big of a deal, but it just looks kind of stupid to see them all over the place. They could have mixed them up with a few other objects... like, Prince of Persia's RINGS even. Anything that wouldn't seem so out of place.

As I said, it's not a major dealbreaker or anything.

Certis wrote:
FedoraMcQuaid wrote:

Still sort of annoying that is seems to be the only damn thing you can swing from/to.

You can grapple to ledges and tops of "buildings"(or that final room) as well.

True... just noticed this on my 3rd playthrough-- Bats shot his grapple and hit the ledge to the next level of the structure.

As for Harley's weird outfit, well, give the girl a break. It's difficult to manufacture a supervillain costume out of materials found inside an insane asylum!

SommerMatt wrote:

It's difficult to manufacture a supervillain costume out of materials found inside an insane asylum!

Is it really? Seems like inspiration for a few of them.

TheCounselor wrote:

I played the demo on the PS3. It was OK. I'm a bit confused as to why people are so excited about it, though. Did anyone else feel like Batman was a bit stiff?

Of course, I'm a new game whore, so if I find myself in a Best Buy the week it releases, I'll probably grab it.

Same here. I'm wondering if I played the same demo...

I'll definitely rent it, but this doesn't feel like a game I want to spend $60 on.

DSGamer wrote:
TheCounselor wrote:

I played the demo on the PS3. It was OK. I'm a bit confused as to why people are so excited about it, though. Did anyone else feel like Batman was a bit stiff?

Of course, I'm a new game whore, so if I find myself in a Best Buy the week it releases, I'll probably grab it.

Same here. I'm wondering if I played the same demo...

I'll definitely rent it, but this doesn't feel like a game I want to spend $60 on.

I think the amount that you enjoy the character/setting is a determining factor here. If you like Batman, and want to be Batman, this game finally does that right. If you substitute the setting with something generic then this would be a more "blah" game for everyone. It's the setting that sells it, and your ability to imerse yourself into the character. It's a total package, and non-Batman fans will likely be left wanting.

Not to say it's a bad game, it isn't.

A small Spoiler alert

If you turn on Detective Vision after taking out Zasz, you can see a wall that can be taken out with an explosive charge. I was wondering if anyone found a way to open that wall?

Nevin73 wrote:

A small Spoiler alert

If you turn on Detective Vision after taking out Zasz, you can see a wall that can be taken out with an explosive charge. I was wondering if anyone found a way to open that wall?

Nope I looked around for something and couldn't find a single pickup item for it.

TempestBlayze wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

A small Spoiler alert

If you turn on Detective Vision after taking out Zasz, you can see a wall that can be taken out with an explosive charge. I was wondering if anyone found a way to open that wall?

Nope I looked around for something and couldn't find a single pickup item for it.

I didn't find a way to open that wall, but while looking around I did find...

Spoiler wrote:

[color=white]A Riddler Statue. In the very first room, there is a vent in the back that you can open up.[/color]

Tkyl wrote:

I didn't find a way to open that wall, but while looking around I did find...

Spoiler wrote:

[color=white]A Riddler Statue. In the very first room, there is a vent in the back that you can open up.[/color]

Spoiler wrote:

[color=white]There's another one on the room where you take down Zasz as well, I think it's in there. If you follow the wall from the vent you use to get out of the room, on the opposite side of the room from the exit vent, there's another vent with the statue in it.[/color]

SommerMatt wrote:
Aaron D. wrote:

Believe it or not, the lore actually supports their inclusion.

Er, what lore, exactly?

Hey, I'm not saying I don't think it's stupid either. I'm just pointing out that I wondered the same thing and read that the interior Gothic design (gargoyles and all) was put in place decades ago in the comic. I do agree though that design-wise it's redundant and fiscally/aesthetically unrealistic.

Rafters would have worked just as well, but you have to admit that a 'bat' crouching atop a gargoyle or conversely hanging upside-down from one does look totally badass. :p

TempestBlayze wrote:
Nevin73 wrote:

A small Spoiler alert

If you turn on Detective Vision after taking out Zasz, you can see a wall that can be taken out with an explosive charge. I was wondering if anyone found a way to open that wall?

Nope I looked around for something and couldn't find a single pickup item for it.

I noticed it too and think the little explosion icon on the wall indicates that you have to come back after you've gotten your explosive upgrade (it's like a foam spray, from looking at the post-demo movie).

That's where I got the Metroid vibe from. I also noticed a hidden "?" pickup in a ceiling vent that I couldn't access in the demo and I'm assuming that you need to upgrade to the grapple-pull before getting access.

There's a lot to like in the demo, but there's a lot that rubs me the wrong way. I'm with a poster from a page or two back: I know he's a bad-ass and all, but shouldn't he crouch just a little bit when he's fighting 4 or 5 baddies?? You know, keep the center of gravity low, be prepared to spring, all of that? Instead he stands there like a fricking statue. Assassin's Creed got things right in this regard.

Indeed, when he walks or runs, it's hard to see over him. I know they spent some time on the character models, so why couldn't they spend a bit of time to make him bend at the knees and midsection??

Also: horrible lip syncing. Argh. It hurt my brain.

Hey, try this.

Do a reverse takedown on some dude. He'll scream and attract everyone else to him. With enough people gathered below the guy, throw a Batarang and cut his rope.

I enjoy Batmanning!

There's a lot to like in the demo, but there's a lot that rubs me the wrong way. I'm with a poster from a page or two back: I know he's a bad-ass and all, but shouldn't he crouch just a little bit when he's fighting 4 or 5 baddies?? You know, keep the center of gravity low, be prepared to spring, all of that? Instead he stands there like a fricking statue. Assassin's Creed got things right in this regard.

Agreed with this statement.. it seems weird the devs didnt realize that his entire posture in combat is just way off.

I figured they were doing the "stiff Batman suit" thing and keeping him upright kind of like Batman from the first (recent) movie. They just overdid it.

To compensate, Batman should fight with an old timey fisticuffs style.

IMAGE(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8407/fisticuffs.jpg)

firesloth wrote:

There's a lot to like in the demo, but there's a lot that rubs me the wrong way. I'm with a poster from a page or two back: I know he's a bad-ass and all, but shouldn't he crouch just a little bit when he's fighting 4 or 5 baddies?? You know, keep the center of gravity low, be prepared to spring, all of that? Instead he stands there like a fricking statue. Assassin's Creed got things right in this regard.

This is comic book Batman, not The Dark Knight.

Certis wrote:

I figured they were doing the "stiff Batman suit" thing and keeping him upright kind of like Batman from the first (recent) movie. They just overdid it.

To compensate, Batman should fight with an old timey fisticuffs style.

IMAGE(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8407/fisticuffs.jpg)

I still say there should be a mode where the fights play out like on the old Adam West show. Cheesy 60s music with *BAM* and *POW* flashing on the screen.

Modders are already at work; With the demo, you can now change Batmans suit to Batman Beyond, 1989 Tim Burton Batman, some crazy multicolored Al Zul (or something like that) suit, and some others on the official forums.

I'm guessing modding will probably be somewhat prevalent considering this game uses the Unreal Engine 3. Maybe we'll see custom challenge rooms, new levels or missions based on existing lore, etc. from the fan community.

Faceless Clock wrote:
firesloth wrote:

There's a lot to like in the demo, but there's a lot that rubs me the wrong way. I'm with a poster from a page or two back: I know he's a bad-ass and all, but shouldn't he crouch just a little bit when he's fighting 4 or 5 baddies?? You know, keep the center of gravity low, be prepared to spring, all of that? Instead he stands there like a fricking statue. Assassin's Creed got things right in this regard.

This is comic book Batman, not The Dark Knight.

Fine, but surely even comic book Batman doesn't look this silly.

Plus, his huge fricking (bat) ears nearly keep me from seeing over him when walking down the hallways!!

MrCompletely wrote:

Modders are already at work; With the demo, you can now change Batmans suit to Batman Beyond, 1989 Tim Burton Batman, some crazy multicolored Al Zul (or something like that) suit, and some others on the official forums.

I'm guessing modding will probably be somewhat prevalent considering this game uses the Unreal Engine 3. Maybe we'll see custom challenge rooms, new levels or missions based on existing lore, etc. from the fan community.

....aaaaand the PC version is back on top of my "which version do I buy" list.

Certis wrote:

I figured they were doing the "stiff Batman suit" thing and keeping him upright kind of like Batman from the first (recent) movie. They just overdid it.

To compensate, Batman should fight with an old timey fisticuffs style.

IMAGE(http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/8407/fisticuffs.jpg)

Demo sold me though.. I really like the combat so far.. I wasnt going to buy this right away now I am.

MrCompletely wrote:

Modders are already at work; With the demo, you can now change Batmans suit to Batman Beyond, 1989 Tim Burton Batman, some crazy multicolored Al Zul (or something like that) suit, and some others on the official forums.

I <3 the PC.

Nightmare wrote:
MrCompletely wrote:

Modders are already at work; With the demo, you can now change Batmans suit to Batman Beyond, 1989 Tim Burton Batman, some crazy multicolored Al Zul (or something like that) suit, and some others on the official forums.

I <3 the PC.

Any direct links to pictures or footage of these skins?

Enjoyable demo and easily the best Batman game in years but not worth my $60. I'll be getting it through Gamefly and I think that will be good enough.