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'Batman: Arkham Asylum' (PS3/X360/PC) Officially Announced

T

TheOddOne

Member
http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=54711

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics’ detective to life with stunning graphics.

“In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. “Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks.”

“Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham’s worst villains with Batman’s physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Eidos on expanding DC Comics’ world-renowned character Batman in the game space with a noticeably different feature set in an incredibly dark interactive environment.”

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will co-publish Batman: Arkham Asylum in North America, Eidos Interactive will publish the game in all other territories, scheduled for 2009.
Click to expand...
 
B

Busty

Banned
So it would appear the delay of a new Batman game was because WB wanted to let the clock run out on the rights deal they had with EA.

Or vice versa. I imagine they might be in a similar situation with Harry Potter.
 
P

permutated

Banned
FightyF said:
:lol What the hell is that?
Click to expand...

It's a bat, Fighty. A bat. :lol

I thought Eidos was going under? Did they come into some money? Anyhow I've liked some of their recent games and I have high hopes for the new Batman title (as 99% of us will after seeing TDK)

Everyone should give their properties to Capcom so we can stop all this half-assed gaming BS and finally get some proper titles like they did with the Marvel fighters.
 
A

Another_visitor

Member
Busty said:
So it would appear the delay of a new Batman game was because WB wanted to let the clock run out on the rights deal they had with EA.

Or vice versa. I imagine they might be in a similar situation with Harry Potter.
Click to expand...
The comic license is a separate deal to the film one. I seem to remember SunSoft pulling the same trick back in the day.

This is obviously riding the coat tails of the film but I think that Batman is open to a wide degree of interpretation so there is room for more than one game. Especially as the writer behind the animated series has been working on this.
 
Jinfash

Jinfash

needs 2 extra inches
Bodom78 said:
I thought to myself, how bad can a countdown timer be. Then I clicked the link ...:lol
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if you convert that correctly you'll get 2 years on the clock :/
 
G

Ghost

Chili Con Carnage!
:lol just realised they changed the countdown since this thread was started, it was a really crappy looking Arial font javascript timer on a batman logo. It's a flash thing now.
 
B

Bodom78

Member
Ghost said:
:lol just realised they changed the countdown since this thread was started, it was a really crappy looking Arial font javascript timer on a batman logo. It's a flash thing now.
Click to expand...

Boss forwards this thread to the web development team, were getting bad feedback... DO SOMETHING!
 
F

FightyF

Banned
permutated said:
It's a bat, Fighty. A bat. :lol
Click to expand...

Heheh.

I was talking about the counter, the whole thing changed. Now the bat is shaking all over and the counter number is much smaller and is in a different font.

They've changed things.
Forever.
 
S

speedpop

Has problems recognising girls
This game is going to stink regardless. Why do people continually give movie licensed games any sort of attention?
 
MMaRsu

MMaRsu

Member
speedpop said:
This game is going to stink regardless. Why do people continually give movie licensed games any sort of attention?
Click to expand...

Did you even read the fact sheet? I guess not.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

1 Player Action Game, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC

Publisher: Eidos

Developer: Rocksteady Sudios

Release: 2009

- Clever choice of location moves the game away from an open world Spider-Man clone and more into the dark and gritty realm of The Chronicles of Riddick.

- Packed with Batman's most dangerous archenemies Arkham Asylum boasts a brand new story reminiscent of the depth and twists of Bioshock

- Story is written by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Detective Comics)

- Wildstorm is crafting the authentic yet distinct new look for all the key characters

- Gameplay places just as much focus on Batman's role as a detective as his combat prowess.

- Game isn't being rushed to tie in with any TV/Film marketing cycles.

- Game runs on Unreal Engine 3

- Most of the game is played through an over-the-shoulder perspective

- You're going to see and get to fight against all the big super villains. Seen so far. Joker, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Zsasz, Penguin, Riddler, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze and others the magazine doesn't want to spoil.

- Allies revealed so far are Commissioner Gordon who plays a big role and Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle) who is your radio contact in the game.

- Game opens with the Joker surrendering himself and subsequently taking over Arkham because of some secret the facility holds

- Magazine teases that this game will be the ultimate Batman experience so the voice cast will reflect that (Think Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill).

- Arkham was chosen as a location because of its limitations including the fact that it's an island prison. It's a persistent location so you can visit any location at anytime including Batman's secret on site Bat Cave etc. Don't think that just because this is an island prison there will only be small hallways. The developers have taken into account all the construction/destruction of the facility over the years so locals will vary.

- Eidos' Batman license includes all 70 years of comic book fiction so they're pulling from all of that.

COMBAT

- Boss Battles won't necessarily be a series of straight pugilistic fights. Each enemy represents a different side of Batman and not all of them can match his wide skill set. Some battles are focused on combat others will focus on gadgets some are similar to giant Zelda style bosses.

- Combat description in the magazine talks about Batman perched on a high ledge in a wide open room as he watches some of the Joker's thugs rifle through drawers. Batman switches to investigation mode using a blue tinted visor that among other things lets Batman see his enemies through walls and identifies things like guns and knives. One thug is carrying a machine gun so Batman jumps of the ledge, spreads his cape and kicks him in the face. He then swipes his cape in a large arc to stun his other enemies and then goes to work on them with a stylish blend of punches, kicks, a knee to the face here a behind the back elbow there. Combat has a gymnastic flourish and is accomplished using only three buttons. Attack, Stun and Throw.

- Combat is only one element of the game so the developers didn't want a bunch of button combos that you'd forget because you'll be doing other things besides fighting.

- During battle a combo multiplier at the top of the screen will increase with every strike. Once the combo expires a colony of bats will swirl around Batman and then contribute to an experience bar on the left side of the screen. In an RPG like skill tree system players will be able to distribute points where they prefer. Think Combat moves, faster takedowns, or gadget upgrades like the ability to throw multiple batarangs at the same time.

- Gadgets are revealed by collecting items in secret rooms. You'll need gadgets to survive as there are very tough enemies in the game that you can't just go head to head with (Think Killer Croc, he's 10 feet tall in the game and super tough)

- There are sections that involve sneaking but the developers call them Predatory gameplay sections as stealth tends to imply weakness, they prefer to think of it as picking off the weak people or people you wouldn't last too long in direct fight with from strong positions. The example they give in the article is Batman creating distractions with bodies and victim's yells and then stalking the guards as they go to inspect.

DETECTIVE

- Developers have come up with a very "sexy" CSI style for forensic puzzles because Batman will always have the very latest gadgets.

- Investigative mode is the centerpiece in Batman's arsenal. The visor can highlight points of interest and much like the Metroid Prime games will scan items into your database.

- They also mention another forensic gadget, a fingerprint tracker that allow Batman to follow trails of fingerprints.

OTHER

- Magazine hints at the ability to play as the villains in the game. Not sure if this is inserted directly into the game or available as a second playthrough option.

- Magazine lists a few suggested reading items. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, Batman: The Last Arkham, and Arkham Asylum: Living Hell.

GRAPHICS

- Game is very gritty looking. The screens in the mag are all inside Arkham and show case a few hallways, The Riddler's cell, A sewer etc. Lots of great lighting going on.

- Character redesigns are pretty good for the most part. Joker looks like classic Joker only with Heath Ledger style make up (long drawn on red lipstick etc.) he still has a the bright purple suit and bright green hair. Definitely more sinister looking than say the TAS Joker. Killer Croc is huge and looks more like Jim Lee's Hush redesign as opposed to some of the more human renditions of him.

- Batman is in the Black and Grey costume. It looks more like armor however his gauntlets in particular look like the ones from TDK. Overall it looks very awesome.

- They show screens of fights and predator segments and all look very interesting and very Batman in scope. Lots of classic poses etc.

- You can control Batarangs from first person mode.
Click to expand...
 
G

Ghost

Chili Con Carnage!
speedpop said:
This game is going to stink regardless. Why do people continually give movie licensed games any sort of attention?
Click to expand...


this isn't a movie licensed game.

thanks for paying attention.
 
T

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
If Mr. Freeze isn't modeled after the Governator this game will blow.

Edit- Wait, what's this-

- Magazine teases that this game will be the ultimate Batman experience so the voice cast will reflect that (Think Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill).
Click to expand...

(Think Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill).
Click to expand...

Mark Hamill
Click to expand...

MARK HAMILL
Click to expand...

FUCKING SAVED.

GOTY

Wait, UE3? Damn, no Wii release. :( Damn those bastards at Epic.
 
B

Busty

Banned
Another_visitor said:
The comic license is a separate deal to the film one. I seem to remember SunSoft pulling the same trick back in the day.

This is obviously riding the coat tails of the film but I think that Batman is open to a wide degree of interpretation so there is room for more than one game. Especially as the writer behind the animated series has been working on this.
Click to expand...


Ahh yes, that makes sense. I assume this could (or would) be one of the main reasons that EA halted (or cancelled?) development of the Dark Knight game.

Curse those loop holes in licensing agreements.
 
R

Ramenman

Member
Ghost said:
:lol just realised they changed the countdown since this thread was started, it was a really crappy looking Arial font javascript timer on a batman logo. It's a flash thing now.
Click to expand...


You mean that is BETTER than what was before ?
 
R

RJT

Member
MMaRsu said:
Did you even read the fact sheet? I guess not.
Click to expand...
So it's a mix of The Chronicles of Riddick, Bioshock, Zelda, Metroid Prime, with an RPG like skill tree system and CSI style forensic puzzles, persistent world but not open world Spider-Man clone, UE3 game with an over-the-shoulder camera?

I can't see how they can fuck this up...
 
L

legend166

Member
I was talking with my friends the other day and we decided a true Batman game should be Splinter Cell + Playboy: The Mansion.

Batman and Bruce Wayne, combined.
 
T

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
Has there been a bad/mediocre Unreal Engine game this gen yet?

I'm asking because to me it seems when companies go through the trouble of sucking Mark Rein's dick licensing it, it usually means that they mean business.
 
S

Sean

Banned
Andrex said:
Has there been a bad/mediocre Unreal Engine game this gen yet?

I'm asking because to me it seems when companies go through the trouble of sucking Mark Rein's dick licensing it, it usually means that they mean business.
Click to expand...

200282b.jpg
 
P

Pezking

Member
- Allies revealed so far are Commissioner Gordon who plays a big role and Barbara Gordon (aka Oracle) who is your radio contact in the game.
Click to expand...

Codec chat with Oracle and Gordon?

- Arkham was chosen as a location because of its limitations including the fact that it's an island prison. It's a persistent location so you can visit any location at anytime including Batman's secret on site Bat Cave etc. Don't think that just because this is an island prison there will only be small hallways. The developers have taken into account all the construction/destruction of the facility over the years so locals will vary.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a prison version of Shadow Moses...

So: Metal Gear Batman confirmed?

Awesome, if so.
 
R

Ramenman

Member
- Game isn't being rushed to tie in with any TV/Film marketing cycles.
Click to expand...

Best thing that could happen to this game.


Also the game seems to have a lot of meat to it, I'm surprised. Definitely looking forward.
 
K

Kung Fu Jedi

Member
Mecha_Infantry said:
Aslong as I can jump off a building and glide, I'm good :D
Click to expand...

You're most likely out then, because it's based at Arkam, which means a fairly small, limited scope, and you won't likely be going from rooftop to rooftop or anything.

Reading through that information, I see very little to get all that excited about here.
 
D

Defuser

Member
Andrex said:
Has there been a bad/mediocre Unreal Engine game this gen yet?

I'm asking because to me it seems when companies go through the trouble of sucking Mark Rein's dick licensing it, it usually means that they mean business.
Click to expand...
Denis Dyack doesn't seem too happy.
 
S

squatingyeti

non-sanctioned troll
good that it's not tied to a movie. At least they should be able to take their time and make it right. No excuses now.
 
B

borghe

Loves the Greater Toronto Area
Another_visitor said:
The comic license is a separate deal to the film one. I seem to remember SunSoft pulling the same trick back in the day.
Click to expand...
nope. actually sunsoft did BOTH versions of batman. the problem was in the US, Nintendo paid for an exclusive release on the NES. So the vastly superior Genesis version had to remain an MD import.

actually shit.. now that you reminded me, the Genesis import would be a fuck awesome release for the VC if you can iron out the sunsoft/warner rights.
 
L

levious

That throwing stick stunt of yours has boomeranged on us.
borghe said:
nope. actually sunsoft did BOTH versions of batman. the problem was in the US, Nintendo paid for an exclusive release on the NES. So the vastly superior Genesis version had to remain an MD import.
Click to expand...


you mean the Batman game based on the first Burton movie? Pretty sure that got a US release.
 
A

Another_visitor

Member
borghe said:
nope. actually sunsoft did BOTH versions of batman. the problem was in the US, Nintendo paid for an exclusive release on the NES. So the vastly superior Genesis version had to remain an MD import.

actually shit.. now that you reminded me, the Genesis import would be a fuck awesome release for the VC if you can iron out the sunsoft/warner rights.
Click to expand...
Looking at Wikipedia, there's been a mass of BM games released, but this is the one I was thinking of:
Batman: Return of the Joker(Revenge of the Joker)(1991)-(1992)


A Sunsoft game released for the NES, Genesis (Revenge of the Joker) and Game Boy; a Super NES version was planned but later canceled. It is a typical platforming game, with specialized boss fighting at the end of the level. It has nothing to do with the movies, and was possibly canceled due to the bad performance of the NES and Genesis versions.
Click to expand...
Edit: & this is the one you're thinking of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(NES)
It would appear that we're both correct. Splendid.
 
J

Joseph Merrick

Member
Andrex said:
Has there been a bad/mediocre Unreal Engine game this gen yet?

I'm asking because to me it seems when companies go through the trouble of sucking Mark Rein's dick licensing it, it usually means that they mean business.
Click to expand...
You're kidding? American McGee's Grimm, Army of Two, Blacksite, Fatal Inertia, Fury, Hail to the Chimp, MoH Airborne, Stranglehold, RB6 Vegas/Vegas2, TurningPoint Fall of Liberty, Turok.. pretty much all of them are bad/mediocre

Regardless this is rocksteady and the game will be awesome.

Also :bow :bow metric time (y)
 
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