Batman: Arkham Asylum - First Look (PlanetXbox360)

How many Batman Games do you remember playing? I can remember one on the Sega Game Gear years ago and possibly one on the Atari, but other than that, I got nothing. Imagine my surprise to find out there's been 22 different batman video game titles. It's unbelievable that there are not many memorable ones, out of all those. The only conclusion is that they were all poor games. This is about to change, with the upcoming release of Batman: Arkham Asylum. There are a few videos and screenshots knocking around the internet and based on first impressions it looks excellent. The style of the characters, especially Batman himself looks plain awesome. It's the kind of dark, menacing Batman that everyone wants to be in control of. The Asylum environments looks dark and atmospheric, all in all very detailed. It reminds me of a less colorful Rapture from Bioshock.

[Valkyrie83]

Played the demo up at GameStop this weekend and Batman: AA is freaking awesome, can't wait for it to be released later this year......FINALLY!!!!

[UltimaEnder]

Have to agree 100%, everything about the title gets me excited, nice preview BTW.....

[FamilyGuy]

I gotta say that game looks F'n PRETTY!

I mean to say there are a lot of details in the character models. I'm not actually interested in the game itself though but I AM impressed at how this multi-platform title is coming out. effort and multi-platform don't often go hand-in-hand.

I might end up buying this if there's a demo and it's fun.

"it’s only their first release on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, so anything could go wrong"

This just made your preview great, this is VERY useful information and an explanation if something DOES go wrong. Unreal Engine on PS3 is not the greatest thing to here and neither is it being their first release for this gen (basically) but maybe they'll put more effort in to it than previous users of the famous game engine.

[PepperJack]

loving the preview, this game wasn't on my radar until now

[UltimaEnder]

I totally know what you mean, with so many games out there how can we keep up with all of them.....thankfully there will be a LOT more previews on PlanetXbox360.com to help!

[Valkyrie83]

That's gonna be great, sites have not been focusing as much on previews recently so it will be nice to see them atop the page each week!

[hoplo]

I haven't played the demo, but the preview makes it sound really good. I like how dark and vengeful Batman is in this game. I'm really looking forward to it.

..and 22 previous titles...that's crazy

[KingKionic]

this game looks great!

[Valkyrie83]

Go check out the demo if you got a GameStop nearby, easily worth the trip!

[CBaoth]

guess you've made some new friends w/ your phantom disagrees. But you're 100% correct. Gamestops do have this demo on the new demo disk for their kiosks. The manager at my local one is a huge Batman nerd and has been gushing over this title for months. After trying the demo, it may end up indeed being the best comic book videogame in a LONG time. I never buy CEs, but that edition is just so sick with the batarang, I may have to splurge.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

Can I get a damn Green Lantern game with these type of graphics??????

[UltimaEnder]

DUDE, didn't think about that but a GL game would be epic.....need original voiceovers though!

[Neurotoxin]

Batman Returns - Snes. Classic

[kingme71]

I saw a playable demo of this at Target about 2 weeks back on a PS3 they had setup.

[1ikedamaster]

I'm holding back on frivolous spending just to get the CE version of this game. I know a good deal when I see it. http://screenshots.teamxbox... ($99)

[Grown Folks Talk]

My favorite to date was the SunSoft version on NES. Batman Begins wasn't great, but decent enough that I finished it. This 1 looks real promising.

[111111]

This game like many others based on franchises looks like very interchangeable. Come on, its the damn batman, he doesnt have eyes.

[Valkyrie83]

Hope you are wrong!

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Wait. It uses the Unreal Engine.

It has to be garbage and not pushing the tech to it's limits.

Why would we buy it? Just because it's a fun game?

[CaseyRyback_CPO]

The unreal engine is underwhelming when it comes to its technical abilities, which is proven by its engine features, and is definitely not pushing any hardware capabilities. Thats not to say that the unreal engine can't make good graphics, but nothing thats going to stand up to MGS4/Killzone2/Uncharted at a technical or overall performance level.

Bioshock/Mirrors Edge/Batman:AA(PC versions)look F`ING GREAT! its good to see them put extra work into the character models versus the Gears of war style Use-normal-maps-for-everything -and-add-specular-highlights-t o everything so it looks shiny pipeline.The unreal engine is overused by the industry by talentless developers who create the same type of sub par visuals because of its ease of use.

The problem with your comment, is that it misses any point ever made about the unreal engine, and you're pretending as if people say unreal engine is garbage period. Thats not the case, when you compare it to more advanced engines, it can't keep up. But that doesn't mean it cant hold its own and deliver some good graphics.

Another thing, no one has ever said that you have to choose gameplay or graphics. But having both for instances like Motorstorm2/Gt5p/R2/Killzone2 is pure gaming bliss. Gameplay > graphics. But Gameplay + Graphics > gameplay + meh visuals as far as "NEXT GEN GAMING" is concerned. Its a bit contradictory if you make comments about graphics, then try to downplay their importance by saying you're going to play something just because its fun. I think thats inherent to gaming.

Hope this helps.

Also,

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blo...

direct feed hD video, amazing graphics right?

[GiantEnemyCrab]

My comment was tongue and cheek and yes every day I read blanket statements that the UE engine is sh*t period, full stop when I know it is NOT.

You are preaching to the choir on the UE engine and I agree with some of your statement.

"The problem with your comment, is that it misses any point ever made about the unreal engine, and you're pretending as if people say unreal engine is garbage period."

So every point ever made about the Unreal Engine is more of a technical critisism that while the Engine is perfectly capable of making great games it cannot match the technicals of the engines powering PS3 titles (per your examples).

Gotcha.

"direct feed hD video, amazing graphics right?"

Good yes, amazing no.