Batman Arkham Asylum - Does my Bum look big in this cape?

Batman Arkham Asylum

Xbox360
PS3
PC

Welcome to Gotham, home to the strangest bunch of psychos in America where the costume business is recession proof. It’s home to one of the most popular caped crusaders of our time, The Batman. This time round he is taking a trip to the nut house and thankfully he left the bat brat Robin at home. For a character that was born in the late 1930’s Bat's is looking pretty good for his age. Being pimped and exploited in all popular mediums the franchise has touched every youngster’s life at one stage or another, becoming a household name.

A man who wears his nickers over his tights while being disguised as a rodent may sound crazy but it has thrilled the fantasy universe right up to present day. We will try to forget the terrible times of poor Batman games and more than a handful of really cringe worthy movies because Batman has come into his golden age… again. Whether you are on the side of Tim Burton’s dark vision or prefer the grounded Chris Nolan adaptations it is fair to say that the character has moved into a more adult arena. Thankfully and at last, this can now also be said of the Dark Knight’s most recent gaming appearance form Eidos and Rocksteady: Batman Arkham Asylum. So, first off, is the hype deserved? Absolutely is the short answer! But here’s the long version…

Visually the game is stunning regardless of the platform, the unreal engine does have a strong ‘Gears of War’ look about it, especially in terms of lighting and atmospheric effects but this is no bad thing. Every area of the map is littered with minute detail wrapped up in well structured, nicely varied and brilliantly convincing environments that really set the tone for the adventure. Characters ooze personality while moving to some of the most fluid and impressive animation to date. The game mechanic works great with few problems, and the control system, although not perfect does a good job of allowing you to access the numerous options needed to keep Bats kicking criminal ass. Let’s just say that the whole production is quality! The love and dedication that went into the science of the game is evident from the get go, sound, visuals, and level design are one of the best to date in my opinion so there is nothing major to criticize in this department.

Where the game really comes alive is with its narrative and personality. Joker is acting up again and has tricked Batman into bringing him to Arkham where he can get down and dirty with his bad plan to smash Gotham and the Bat… the usual stuff really but the array of characters and lashings of dark humour make the story very real. Anyone familiar with graphic novels and movies will see unnecessary but delightful subtle nods and winks to the various stories that are part of the Bats past, making it all the richer for a fan. Combat is satisfying with simple but timed controls and there is a real weight behind the thumps and kicks dished out. Stealth is often the best approach, this has the familiarity of ‘Splinter Cell’ or Thief’ and leads to some very gratifying situations. Sometimes a frontal assault may be unavoidable, so time to access the batbelt and open a good old fashioned can of whoop-ass! Bosses are encountered at various points and generally require a method or strategy in order to defeat them, this has a wonderfully old school type game feeling and shall remind the mature gamer of the big boss fights in many of the early games from their SNes or arcade days.

There are great gadgets as you might expect and their uses are clever and satisfying to implement. Want to hang an enemy upside down from the rafters or perhaps just blow em up as they check on a fallen comrade, easy peasy! The sense of speed as you zip up the grapple line onto the eaves above your enemies is also great. As you progress weapons and abilities are upgradeable giving you grater scope in combat and making Batman that bit tougher.

As well as playing through the main story there are many hidden gems to find and the Riddiler himself sets puzzles for you to uncover which are fun and beneficial to unlocking abilities, this feature feels like you are playing a second storyline parallel to the main quest. All this is well balanced with scenarios that require stealth, brutal force and investigation in equal measure. You also have the ‘Detective Mode’ at your disposal. This is a type of forensic x-ray vision that allows you to see enemies and important items or clues more clearly and you will find it your most useful ability in the game. As you progress through the story mode you will unlock the excellent mini game aspect of Arkham Asylum, the Challenges. These are separate from the storyline and involve you taking down or defeating rounds of enemies, results are then displayed on world wide leader boards so you can compare stats with friends or just in general.

Criticisms are few and it is a rare thing to say, but Batman Arkham Asylum is a near flawless game. The camera can be annoying now and then when obstructed by a wall or structure during combat, but this is rare and minor compared to other similar games. Targeting a ledge for the grapple can also be slightly annoying when in a rush to escape and sometimes the enemy AI can be a bit slow but is overall very sharp. That’s it… yep, really! Its then comes down to whether you like Batman the character or just this kind of game in general, but the title itself does everything it tries to do, it kicks ass!!

For every player there is a point in a game that you just know it is a title to get your teeth into and bond with, for me it was when I was first introduced to the Arkham Assylum graveyard area, its gothic beauty was disturbingly and amazingly stunning. Followed closely by the areas where you must conquer your fears in the face of Scarecrow… the bat shivers went down my spine! I love this game, it ticks all the boxes I need and as a reviewer all I can really give is some facts and an opinion. It’s Bat-tastick and a game not to be missed, the hype got it right for a change so get on those bum hugging tights and strap on those bat boots, its time to kick some Jokers ass! Time to enter the nut house… Good Luck!

Reapers Verdict: Buy it now, don't wait for it on the second hand market! DLC on the horizon so renters will loose out...

Assassins Creed - Show us your Dagger Luv!

Assassins Creed

Xbox 360
PS3
PC



If you have ever wondered where the idea of dying as a martyr and then getting the seventy something virgins came from then wonder no more, this is where it all started. Look up the word Assassin and you will find a deep an interesting history that now you can experience for yourself thanks to Ubisoft. You are now the hunter, and having a load of chicks around to cook, clean and give foot rubs is quite the bonus.

The year is 1191, actually… it’s not, its just a few years from now… actually it’s both. Confused? Good, then let me explain. You are Desmond Miles, and you’re also Altair Ibn La-Ahad… more confusion eh? Ok, let’s begin again. Desmond Miles is a modern day assassin turned barman and he is our main character in the not too distant future. A nutty professor and his hot sidekick working for a secret bunch of secret people have kidnapped poor Desmond and all because his genetic code contains the memory of his ancestors. After he is hooked up like a lab rat to some fancy gadgetry he can access these memories, and here comes the best bit… you play the memories of old as his ancestor Altair… simple really. Ok, so it all seems a bit mad, but it works and it works good!

For most of the game you are the assassin Altair and your enemy is everyone you piss off, especially the westerners. The setting is in the crusades of the holy land around the twelfth century when King Henry went to war with the Arab world. This means for us lots of French and English solders to hunt and kill in attempt to boot the crazy Eurotrash out of your land… an age old story really.
When you first begin the game it is fair to say that it is a dazzling sight and the dedication that went into making this title is apparent straight away. It looks amazing and you will be totally absorbed into this historic setting. The cities are immense and the people walking the streets are very convincing, beggars, holy men, and mentalists that smack you on sight, it’s like a weekend in Galway. But the real heart of the game is in your character Altair, despite his dodgy American accent, he’s one cool customer, a real angel of death. The main story line has you hunting various cities form Damascus to Jerusalem in search of specific targets, this hunt is your redemption for making a mess of a serious mission involving the Ark of the Covenant. You go from hero to zero in the opening part of the game and there after it’s all up hill. As you do progress you are rewarded with new weapons, fighting skills, acrobatic abilities and increased health and this serves as one of the ambitions to complete missions. There are also side missions like saving civilians from corrupt solders, pick pocketing secret information and finding look out posts giving you a good view of the city along with making you mission objectives that bit clearer. You can also collect flags that are scattered throughout the game or hunt down every Crusader Knight in the land.

There is great open-endless in what approach you take to a task, when trying to get through a guarded doorway for example, there is the stealth approach where you can sometimes climb around or over the obstacle and take out any roof guards quietly with the blade hidden up you sleeve, or you can try to blend with some holy men and walk right past the guards. Then of course you can just hack your way through, and although this can be enjoyable it can also be dangerous and could end in you having to flee for your life trying to shake off the chasing swordsmen, this too is of great enjoyment.

The actual fighting method is good and you have several options at your disposal, the sword being one of the best for straight out scraps. During a battle with solders timing is the key to success and with the help of some well earned fighting skills you will be able to take on large groups of enemies with little trouble, all of which is bloody and enjoyable to witness in the form of mini cut scenes that flow with your direction. For the most part you will be galloping around on your horse or running on rooftops and hanging from ledges that would give Lara Croft vertigo. This is allot of fun and the fluid motion and character animations make it a seamless ballet of dangerous stunts and jumps.

Criticisms are few, the odd bug here and there can be easily forgiven, of which there are a good few. The cut scenes, although somewhat interactive can ramble on a bit till you catch yourself snoring, because you are unable to skip them. The areas of the game based in the near future can slow the overall pace, not in a good way, and at times you might find the tasks a bit repetitive, but the good points of the game overshadow all this and the atmosphere alone can carry these negative elements and make them minor problems.
Assassin’s creed has the feel of a Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones type game with more than a touch of a medieval GTA element. That combined with stunning visuals excellent sound and atmospheric music not to mention the realistic and immersing environments that make this an excellent title for all adventure platform lovers.

Take a trip to the holy land and see where it all began… maybe you can even score with one of those hot virgins!!

Reapers Verdict: Class Act! Bit repetitive but well worth the play time... A must for 3rd person gamers. Get it!