andPOP » Batman

Gaming at a Glance: What you should be playing

sarge-ak47 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:20:03 +0000

I drew this.. really I did!

Hello readers, it has been a while since I’ve gone on a rant. Truth be told I have been thinking of different ideas to write about. I figured since most sites talk about what is out these days and what our dear readers played, I will go the opposite route in a segment called “What you should be playing”.

The idea is to look at whats been happening around us in the wild world of video games and then pull out a title from the past(or future if possible) and tell you why a certain game is worth your time and money.

Take Halloween for example, all the horror movies around you and the constant imagery of ghoulish characters would make you want to play a good horror game right? YES!
Hey I’m not asking you to conform! Just suggesting that with the themes around us what game takes the best advantage of that.

So if Halloween is about scary things (and candy)then a good horror game is due right? Right!
Halloween just passed I thought I would give out my person take on what you should be playing..er..should have played.

Scary games are a dime a dozen these days but finding a good one is a hard task indeed. Fall has always been an odd season in my book, just the dreary atmosphere can be quite suited for staying inside and playing a good game.
What you should be playing this week is a good scary game just because Halloween is over doesn’t mean your scary game quest should be. Here are my picks

1 Dead Space – PS3/XBOX 360/PC- released October 14 2008
This was my game for Halloween last year! Quite possibly one of the most scary games out there.
The graphics and production values are second to none, developed by the fine folks at Visceral games, Dead Space had a crew respond to a distress signal aboard the USG Ishimura – a large interstellar mining ship.

Those creatures are messed up.

You take on the role of an engineer name Isaac Clarke who arrives to find most of the ship abandoned and eerily quite. Turns out most of the crew have been stricken by a virus that turns them into monsters known as necromorphs. this virus has some occult origins and soon enough it is your task to go through this insanely large vessel and reactivating its key functions as well as trying to decipher what went horribly array.
The mood and ambiance of this game is just amazing. Truly playing this alone in the dark (after 1 am) with the sound turned way up is scarier than any horror movie out there. Whats even more cool is that you end up utilizing mining equipment as weapons to take out these truly hideously freaky creatures. Think a head shot will stop them? Think again. Dead Space builds on what Resident Evil 4 started, by decapitating their dangerous limbs you have a better chance of killing them.

Notice how the ammo count is an in game hologram

This is a true Scifi horror game- it almost feels like a dreary version of event horizon. Tons of enemies and an amazing variety of locations aboard the ship will leave you at the edge of your seat. This is survival horror at its best.
You can probably pick it up for real cheap these days since it has been a year old.

Tons of tense momments.

It is all these factors combined with a smart HUD that increases the level of immersion and forces you to be compelled by this beautiful title.
Go get this!

2. Resident Evil 4- GameCube, PS2,Wii edition(recommend) Jan 11 2005 & May 31 2007

Yea I've heard of Lord of the rings, whats your point?

Maybe you don’t want the full blown horror and want a bit of action in your gameplay. Or maybe you just don’t care for futuristic settings and weaponry. The RE series has been the true innovators of horror games and the fourth installment is a series is quite possibly the best. With a new over the shoulder view a better inventory system and some truly interactive environments this is the horror game that inspired a whole lot of next gen shooters.

You know this was actually toned down for the Japanese version.

Would you believe Cliffy B of Gears of war fame was in love with this installment so much that it is one of the games that inspired the critically acclaimed shooter.

It is true, RE 4 was a last gen title that played out like a next gen game. It had some of the most atmospheric environments ever seen in any game, dreary villages, murky swamp lands, Gothic castles, ambient cavers- the list can go on and on. The visuals still hold up today as a testament to the artistry at Capcom. Compared to this, RE 5 is a step backwards. This title had copious amount of gore and horror packed into it and an action packed campaign that lasted almost 16 hours. RE4 is the best Resident Evil in the series if not the genre of survival horror. So why don’t you revisit this gem? Play it again! If you haven’t? Where have you been for the last 5 years? Go now and play this!

Your numbers mean nothing to my rocket launcher

So which version you ask? The Cube version may be the original but I will tell you nothing compares to the Wii edition. Not only does it pack the additional content of the PS2 port of the game (released after the Cube version) It retains the stunning look of the Cube version. Oh and did I mention it uses the IR sensor and revolutionizes your aiming? Well it does!
RE4 is still the gold standard for action horror games

Honorable mentions
Hey those two up there are my personal picks, but if you don’t want to dive into them because they don’t tickle your interest then how about renting Dead Space Extraction for Wii- a co op on rails shooter take on the franchise that isn’t as scary as it is action packed. Not that? Then try out Resident Evil, the remake version for the GameCube (Now out for the Wii as well)This remake takes that old formula and uses some of the most realistic pre rendered backgrounds ever. Truly awe inspiring! Or maybe go with a game that has the autumn theme going for it like Batman Arkham Asylum, it’s one of the biggest and best surprises of this year. Truly excellent title that even has a couple of chilling moments.

Either way GO FORTH AND PLAY!

Game Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Brett.Caron — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:43:33 +0000

Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman.

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? It’s something I ask of all my readers… I just like the sound of it.

And with that not-so-obscure reference, we begin our review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, which is the best game of 2009. Yes, I am saying that in October.

I have been drooling over this game for months now, and anxiously anticipating doing this review. Now, as much as I would like to give an unbiased and honest review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, that is impossible. I am a huge Batman fanboy (Batboy?) and although this will be a fair and balanced review, I am obviously biased in some respects. I mean, I am literally wearing a Batman T-shirt right now, and not even for the purpose of this review. Just ‘cause, suckers.

But I digress. This game is set over the course of one night on Arkham Island. Batman has apprehended the Joker, and hauls him back to the asylum. Joker doesn’t really mind though, and proceeds to take over the asylum and release the inmates. Great. Now Bats has to pick up all the pieces.

Quite possibly the coolest feature of this game is the nature of the gameplay itself. You don’t just run into rooms to find a group of baddies and subsequently dispatch them. Okay, you do – but not all the time. You don’t just prowl from room to room in the shadows, sneaking up behind guys and taking them out without a sound. Okay, you do – but not all the time. You don’t just solve puzzles and riddles. Okay, you get the point.

I'm totally going to win that giant stuffed gorilla.

The seamless transition from the gangbang combats to invisible predator rooms to the riddles and whatnot in between really make this game flow exceptionally well. That’s actually the primary element of this game -flow. The combat is actually called Freeflow Combat – using your various attacks to open up a can of Bat-Whoop-Ass on the various miscreants you encounter throughout the game by seamlessly landing blow after blow on opponent after opponent rather than one at a time. You can even mix in attacks from the various gadgets you acquire over the course of the game – the Batarang, Batclaw and Shark-Repellant Bat-Spray. Okay, not that last one.

There are some games out there that have alternative modes of play that are not exactly the greatest thing to ever happen to gaming. Arkham Asylum is not one of these games. The challenge modes are amazing – each of which is basically one of the different combat rooms you will encounter throughout the game. This allows you to pick up Arkham Asylum anytime, and run through as much or as little of the different facets of this game at your leisure – which I have done ad nauseum. Even more awesome – there is downloadable content that allows you to go on a murderous rampage as none other than the one and only Clown Prince of Crime – the Joker, however, only on the PlayStation 3. The lack of grappling hook and gliding is made up for with the awesomeness of walking around the challenge rooms dispatching guards with kicks to the nuts, exploding-chattering teeth, kicks to the nuts and a legit gun. Yes, Joker straight-up murders people with a gun. Also, he kicks them in the nuts – did I mention that?

In this reviewer’s not-so-humble opinion, the pinnacle of the gameplay is the Invisible Predator mode. When I think of Batman, I think of moments like the scene in Batman Begins where the criminals are being picked off one by one, growing ever more terrified as their numbers dwindle. This is the epitome of Batman and also the core element of the Invisible Predator style of gameplay. For me, it just doesn’t get any better than grappling from gargoyle to gargoyle in the shadows, gliding down behind a gun-wielding psychopath and choking him into unconsciousness, then hanging upside-down in the shadows and grabbing his buddy when he comes to help. If the criminals are terrified, then bonus – more on that later.

Hello, my name is Joker. And this is my friend, Obscenely Large Revolver.

The Detective Mode is more likely than not the mode you will view the majority of the game in. Although sacrificing the gorgeous graphics somewhat, you can see everything that is pertinent to the mission at hand and more, from vent covers that can be removed and entered, to lingering bad breath or tobacco traces in the air. While reducing the challenging element of problem solving, it doesn’t really matter – the game remains moderately challenging puzzle-wise with the ever-narcissistic Riddler hitting you with clues to the hundreds of enigmas and brain-teasers throughout Arkham Island. Detective Mode also allows you to view enemies through walls, and examine their armament and status – status meaning whether they are Calm, Nervous, Terrified or Crazed. Try to keep the enemies Terrified – they start shooting at noises in the darkness, and basically turn into whiny 8-year old girls.

As I mentioned earlier, the graphics in Arkham Asylum are gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. The dark, gothic atmosphere of Gotham and Arkham (hey, did you ever notice those are spelled similarly?) are captured perfectly. The environment almost has a personality – brooding, dark and malicious. The animations on the enemies are smooth and functional at worst, disturbing and frenetic at best – exactly what you would expect from the psychos and maniacs stalking the halls of the asylum. However, they tend to fall limp in unrealistic ways when you knock them out, but it’s a minor issue. The animations on the main characters are even better. By main characters of course, I mean Batman – and his cape. The cloak is almost a character unto itself, flowing behind you when you run, snapping out into a wing-like profile when you glide, and gradually becoming more tattered and ripped as Batman’s night gets worse.

Where the hell did I park the car?

The sounds of Arkham are also very conducive to the mood – the only way the soundtrack could be better would be if it had a bit more variety to it – low strings and baritone throughout – or if Danny Elfman just did the score. Speaking of nostalgia, the voice acting is superb, with the quintessential voices from the DC Animated universe coming on board – Kevin Conroy as the Dark Knight, and the amazing Mark Hamill as the Joker. Heath Ledger, step aside – for this incarnation of the Joker, the Force is strong with this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed Batman: Arkham Asylum. It combines all the elements of an exceptional game – graphics, solid and intuitive gameplay that isn’t oversimplified or overly complex, and an atmosphere and story that draws in the gamer allowing them to fully appreciate all the other elements of the game. All these elements come together to stomp more face than a professional face stomper – wearing stompin’ boots.

You didn’t think really I’d end my review of a Batman game without mentioning face-stomping, did you?

Cheers.

Gameplay – 5/5

Graphics – 5/5

Sound – 5/5

Replay Value – 5/5

Outer Panel Haven. 15

sarge-ak47 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:31:19 +0000

Ok, we all knew this was coming so I ask you, of all the super heroes out there who is the most lethal one?? I’m talking marvel and DC… the whole lot!

I know it’s been done in that whole Marvel vs DC series of comics and we all remember Amalgam comics (when DC and Marvel characters were combined in an alternate universe) but my point is this- I believe Batman to be the most lethal hero out there, simply put he is a man at the top of his game. It’s the same reason Lex Luthor is such a threat to humanity, in the end the most righteous and villainous characteristics emerge not from super human beings but simple human nature. Anyhow there are peeps out there who thought Wolverine could best Batman… sure… but why don’t we let the comic do the talking.

Oh and a special thanks to April and Staci for this one.

Click on the image for a full sized version.

Outer Panel Haven. 13

sarge-ak47 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:03:07 +0000

Let me explain where this one is going… You see back a month ago or so there were rumors coming from Europe that Eidos had a disclaimer attached to all review copies of BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM. That disclaimer read that if you score the game 90% or had the cover of your magazine devoted to BATMAN ARKHAM ASYLUM that you can run an early review on this summers MOST ANTICIPATED GAME.

Naturally the game came out and despite its rumored controversy I can tell you its a BATMAN DREAM COME TRUE! SO since everything was proven wrong and the game was stellar I thought Id submit a work that I almost ran but decided not to until there further confirmations. Anyways Its ALL IN GOOD FUN! And expect more BATMAN COMICS Arkham Asylum spoofs in the future. HAHAHAhahahaHAHAHAhehehehehAhAHAHAH

As always click on the image for the full view

Gamer’s Mind Blog: Infinite Ammo

Brett.Caron — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:32:52 +0000

This is what's known as a bad day.

Batman vs. Punisher: Arkham Asylum vs. No Mercy Impressions

I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up by giving the impression this is a review of Batman: Arkham Asylum. It’s not. But I’ve been doing some research into the game, and wanted to rant a bit about the character of Batman as compared to other heroes, specifically the Punisher. A friend of mine recently compared Batman to the Punisher as being very similar, and I couldn’t disagree more. Why? Let’s take a look.

Batman, as we know, began life as Bruce Wayne. The privileged child of Thomas and Martha Wayne, billionaire from birth. He never really got the chance to enjoy his good fortune, however. His parents were killed in a random mugging right in front of his eyes. I remember Batman at some point saying “I haven’t been a kid since I was 8 years old”. He never gets over the loss of parents, but not in a whiny-personal “I-miss-Uncle-Ben” kind of way. More of a fix-the-corruption-and-criminal-environment-that-allowed-this-to-happen way.

What has two thumbs and needs a Redbull? I'm too tired to point at myself but, this guy.

So Bruce disappears off the face of the earth when he’s old enough to actually do it, gains focus on his goal of crime-fighting, and trains his mind and body to do what must be done. Years later, he reappears in Gotham City as the Dark Knight. In Arkham Asylum, you will be able take advantage of Batman’s training as a detective and martial arts master with the abilities of a kind of Assassin’s Creed “Eagle-Vision” (but far more in-depth), great combos and other techniques to fight groups of enemies en masse or divide and conquer.

Frank Castle, on the other hand, had a family until they were killed during a picnic in Central Park after witnessing a gangland execution. After that traumatic event, he dedicated his life to destroying criminals and murderers. Not fighting crime, but destroying criminals. He put to use his experience as a war veteran – special operations, infiltration, obviously his mastery of firearms and close combat in his relentless personal crusade.

The Punisher’s skills set (guns, knives and fists) is well expressed in his video games. In fact, the latest title is a download from the PlayStation Network called Punisher: No Mercy. A nominally better title could have been Nothing New. A generic, first-person-shooter that brings nothing to the table except maybe a half hour or so of story play (that’s not a joke), and however many hours of online play you can stomach. Fire your weapon at thugs until the clip is empty. Reload and repeat. So like the Punisher himself, who is kind of a one-dimensional character, we have a game that reflects this. Although to be fair, I wasn’t expecting a racing game – you don’t get Speed Racer. You get the Punisher.

I think that’s a very important note that a lot of games are overlooked for. The subject content to begin with can more often than not determine how complex, how deep and interesting the rabbit hole can go, or how dry, banal and downright boring a game can be, regardless of how good the mechanics are, if the subject matter is paper-thin.

Batman just won a bet over whether he could kick the Punisher's ass.

As for why Batman and the Punisher are dissimilar, the point is very simple. The Punisher doesn’t fight crime. Yeah, I said it. Punisher kills criminals, takes their money and uses it to finance killing more criminals. Oh yeah, and that “funding” goes towards black market weapons. So not only does he do what many criminals already do (rob and kill other criminals) but he’s the black market’s best customer. How can he possibly ever finish his crusade if he perpetuates the system himself? Of course, that doesn’t matter to the Punisher. It’s not like he’s worried about crime. He just wants to kill bad guys.

If Batman and the Punisher existed in the same universe, Batman would track down and capture the Punisher without a second thought. Why? Batman fights crime. Not criminals, but crime – organized and systematic. He takes down mob bosses, putting them through the legal system so that the entire organization can go down with them. The Punisher uses a chainsaw to weed his garden, but all he does his create mulch for new weeds to grow. Batman pulls them out by the roots.

Finn, the exploding furnace clearly says "Caution!" Now you're just being careless.

Don’t worry, this all has a bearing on the games. When you slide a Batman game into your console, you’re not just expecting a punch ‘em up, one-dimensional game. Hell, even Batman for the Sega Genesis had more depth than Punisher: No Mercy. But would you ever expect to see a Punisher game as innovative and intense as Batman: Arkham Asylum? Maybe. But I doubt it. The subject matter of the game almost always determines the quality of the game, providing the execution doesn’t suck anyway. If you make a game about ducks, expect it to quack.

So that was my excuse to rant a bit on the Batman/Punisher comparison. If anyone thinks I’m completely out of my mind or if you think I missed something that you’d like to mention, then let me know below! Also, I’d like to know who likes Batman more than Punisher and vice versa.

Better than any Punisher game.

Also, some of you might think I’m bat-biased. Well, of course that’s true. Batman rules – who could argue to the contrary?

Cheers!

‘300 Director’ Eyes Batman Movie

Eva Lam — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:43:57 +0000

Zack Snyder is interested in bringing Frank Miller’s comic book “The Dark Knight Returns” to the big screen.

Snyder, who previously directed a film adaptation of Miller’s graphic novel “300,” told iFMagazine he has already approached studio Warner Bros. about the project.

The story, which the director says is his favourite comic book, follows an ageing Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to once again defend Gotham City.

Snyder added that it is unlikely he would be able to make the movie because of potential conflict with Warner Bros.’s highly successful Batman franchise starring Christian Bale.

“The studio has this massive franchise and I don’t think they’ll let me make a Batman movie where he’s 50 years old and Ronald Reagan is President,” he said.

Snyder also helmed the 2004 remake of “Dawn of the Dead” and the comic-based movie “Watchmen,” which hits theatres March 6.

L.A. Critics Name ‘WALL-E’ Best Picture

Eva Lam — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:15:42 +0000

A bug-eyed robot has edged out the Caped Crusader for top movie of 2008 according to the Los Angeles Critics Assn.

The group chose Pixar’s “WALL-E” as the year’s best picture in its annual voting Tuesday, marking the first time in the association’s history that it has given the title to an animated film.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” fell just short of the honour, taking the runner-up spot instead. However, the blockbuster did earn a win in the best supporting actor category for the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker.

Penelope Cruz won in the supporting actress category for her work in two films: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Elegy.”

Overall, no one film dominated the winners’ list. Sean Penn was named best actor for his portrayal of late San Francisco gay politician Harvey Milk in “Milk,” while Sally Hawkins won best actress for her role as a free-spirited schoolteacher in “Happy-Go-Lucky.”

Best director went to Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire,” which was named best film of 2008 last week by the National Board of Review.

The awards will be presented Jan. 12 at the critics’ annual banquet.

Cher to Join Batman Franchise?

andPOP Staff — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:59:42 +0000

Could Cher be the newest addition to the Batman franchise?

The UK Telegraph reports that the singer is in talks to star as Catwoman in the upcoming sequel.

“Cher is Nolan’s first choice to play Catwoman,” said an unnamed studio exec. “He wants to her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years. The new Catwoman will be the absolute opposite of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry’s purring creations.”

Johnny Depp is also reportedly being signed on as the Riddler for the sequal, tentatively titled “The Caped Crusader.” It should begin filming early next year in Vancouver.

“The Dark Knight” is expected to gross $530 million.

‘Tropic Thunder’ Tops Box Office; ‘Dark Knight’ Falls to Second Place

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:53:37 +0000

It seems that Ben Stiller can take down The Batman.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” finished the weekend box office in second place while Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” took first place with an opening of $26 million – per studio estimates complied by Exhibitor Relations.

Although “The Dark Knight” failed to remain in the number one spot for the fifth weekend in the row, the Christopher Nolan film became the second all-time ranking movie by bringing in a total of $471.5 million dollars to date – beating out “Star Wars” which grossed $461 million domestically, including re-releases.

“Going in I would have been happy with $250 million,” Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman said today. “…We went for a ride like the public.”

The movie is expected to reach the $500 million landmark by the Labour Day weekend and it is likely to tap out at about $530 million – making it just about $70 million shy of Titanic’s $601 million domestic record.

“Titanic is king of the box office, and will remain that way forever,” said Fellan.

Christian Bale in the Clear over Assault Allegations

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:34:36 +0000

Christian Bale is a free man.

According to E! News, “The Dark Knight” star will not face any charges in regard to his highly-publicized arrest on suspicion of assaulting his mother and sister last month.

“We can today confirm that we have advised the Metropolitan Police Service that the actor Christian Bale should not face any charges,” the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement. The CPS also said there was “insufficient evident to afford a realistic prospect of conviction” on the charges and that “the police have been advised that no further action should be taken against Mr. Bale.”

Bale has denied the allegations set against him. After the star was arrested and questioned, he was released by police on July 22.