Batman: Arkham City

[AnonymousBroccoli]

I loved the original, and counted on getting this at/near launch (even forgot I pre-ordered it), but the Catwoman lockout turned me off altogether. I just can't bring myself to support that stuff.

That, and WB charging $70CAD for games (Arkham City is $60) when the Dollar was consistently above par, and the part where I'm not playing games much lately.

 

[bps21]

What Catwoman lockout?

 

[AnonymousBroccoli]

From what I understand, the game's version of the online pass is locking out playable Catwoman. Buy new and use the code, or pay an extra $10, or don't play as her.

 

[bps21]

Oh. I'm already used to those online passes so it doesn't bother me anymore. It did at first...but it's already just another thing.

 

[daileyxplanet]

I still have to play Arkham Asylum, but soo excited for this.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

I can't say I've noticed WB games costing more in Canada (I only have Mortal Kombat and this as references).

Anyway Amazon isn't shipping this until Friday for some reason (it says "in stock" but with a shipping estimate of the 21st, which is weird) so I'll wait. I didn't play Arkham Asylum until February/March of this year anyway.

 

[AnonymousBroccoli]

F.E.A.R. 3 launched at $70, and Mortal Kombat still is. Both also have online passes.

 

[Mik]

From what I understand, the game's version of the online pass is locking out playable Catwoman. Buy new and use the code, or pay an extra $10, or don't play as her.

If this is stopping you from playing then get ready to never play a game again... this is the future.

I started this... pretty fun but identical in game play (so far!) to Asylum. I'm 45 minutes in and I've already run in to a ton of villains.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

F.E.A.R. 3 launched at $70, and Mortal Kombat still is. Both also have online passes.

I swear it was $60 when I got it on Amazon but I'll take your word for it.

 

[AnonymousBroccoli]

If this is stopping you from playing then get ready to never play a game again... this is the future.

I don't generally play a wide variety of games, but yeah, games that are somewhat, or totally digital-based are not my thing. (Rock Band excluded, because I genuinely enjoy it that much.) I definitely don't buy them at full price, and I'm reluctant to otherwise as well. I don't like the caveats and restrictions that go along with it.

F.E.A.R. 3 launched at $70, and Mortal Kombat still is. Both also have online passes.

I swear it was $60 when I got it on Amazon but I'll take your word for it.

The MSRP laid out by the publisher was, and still seems to be $70, but I've seen MK for as low as $40, likely dictated by the retailer.

 

[Sabre]

I have loved every single minute of this game. The open map gliding to and from various rooftops to get to destinations is a tad tedious at times but an epic game.

 

[Angle-plex]

This is pretty awesome so far. Afraid I'm going to miss a sidequest or something though with the open world.

 

[bps21]

I only got to play for a short time before going in to work. But what I played was excellent and I can't wait to get back to it.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

The biggest concern I had (which a friend of mine echoed) was how to recreate one of the best aspects of the original game: the atmosphere. You were limited an island with a storm outside and lots of creepy stuff, or inside creepy buildings - it was Resident Evil: Code Batman.

So, in this game:
1. Does it manage to retain said atmosphere even though you're now in "a city"?
2. Does it do the above without feeling forced (ex. the video game trope of a 3 foot high barrier meaning you can't possibly access an area)?

Now in all honestly that's a bit nitpicky because the game mechanics themselves were also awesome and I'm sure it's fun either way.

 

[Dandy]

Picked this up at Walmart today. They have an exclusive deal there where you get a free copy of Arkham Asylum (Special Edition) with the game. Comes in a separate, sealed case. I can't decide if I want to play the additional four maps and stuff that comes with the Special Edition, or sell it on Ebay to effectively lower the price of this game.

And what I have played so far is the greatest game I have ever played in my life. A major part of that is admittedly how much of a Batman geek I am, but I love the story, the detective work, and the open concept. Copy that with great game play, awesome graphics, and probably the best voice cast ever, and this game knocks it out of the park.

 

[NoCalMike]

I'm a Batman fan, not a Batman-uber geek, but I freely admit I loved Arkham Asylum. Everything I've read and seen so far makes me think I need to find a way to scrap up $60 asap.

 

[909]

You should.

 

[Mattdotcom]

Hey Bank I got to play the first twenty minutes and felt like the atmosphere they established this time was "Shit, there's crazy people everywhere if you land on the ground" and it seems to start you in the middle so barriers are hard to find.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

I'm Banky now?

 

[Mik]

Fuck the advanced AR training missions. Fuck them.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

I was watching the Reviews on the Run review of this - they also voiced concerns about a new setting, but from what they said it just means "even more places to hide" and more detail given to the game areas.

Victor concluded the review by giving the game "12 out of 10".

 

[Sabre]

And now im stuck unable to play the game.

Seems the game suffers from a currently unfixable random problem of the dlc being registered as damaged at any point in the game and boots you back to the dashboard.

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

Hopefully that's just because you're a thief, or will soon be fixed.

 

[Sabre]

I havnt thiefed the game, i r le imported.

 

[treble]

Best Buy told me they shipped this yesterday, but Canada Post tracking tells me it wasn't picked up until this afternoon. Hopefully it comes tomorrow, really glad I pre-ordered...

 

[DrVenkman PhD]

I havnt thiefed the game, i r le imported.

Not the game itself but you have had previous problems with your 360 operating properly due to modifications or a cracked XBL Gold account or something, right? Just wondering if this is one of those "screw you, modders!" deals.

 

[Sabre]

Ahhh no, the xbox which i had pirated got banned then got RROD, i replaced it and have been legit ever since.

Retail copies of the game are suffering from the problem also, it failed for 2 gamespot staff members reviewing the game.

 

[Mik]

Just got through the Penguin/Mr. Freeze portion of the game. An insane amount of fun and the surprise boss Penguin unleashes on you was pretty fantastic as well.

Loving this game.

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

I played an hour and a half of this last night, and regretfully had to put it down for South Park. This is about as fun as games get. Everything is perfect from the controls to the graphics. The only gripe I can come up with is I wish the camera wasn't quite so close to Batman, but it hasn't marred my enjoyment of the game in any way, shape or form. THIS is what developers should strive to achieve with the games they make! Good luck to anything topping this as game of the year!

One of my favorite fight scenes came when

Spoiler

saving the doctors that Harley Quinn and Joker's goons had locked up in the cathedral. I crawled under the grating in the floor to sneak up behind one goon for the stealth kill. Batman leaped out of the floor, grabbed the guy in a facelock and Tornado DDTed the SHIT out of him!!!

 

[bps21]

I got to put a few more hours in last night. Man this game is fucking great. With the caveat that I'm a huge Batman geek...this is up in that upper echelon of games I love. KOTOR/Resident Evil 4 level (which are the two games I've probably had the most fun playing in the last whatever many years)