Ouch... i started playing it last night for about half an hour and i have to say i'm disapointed. Could it be over hyped??? Or maybe i just haven't gone far enough into it but so far i have to say i enjoyed Batman Begins a bit more.
Of course the graphics are great but i would have settled for better skills and game play if it meant getting graphics similar to "The Batman: emmy award winning animated series". And the only improvement aside from graphics that i've noticed was the fighting controls being slightly quicker and sleeker. Of course there's also the fact that you can gain levels of experience. But, with all the attention to detail in the surroundings, i feel there's not enough that you can do with it. I'd like to be able to open every locker door for an example and read any bit of paper on any desk. There's not nearly enough items to pick up so far. They could have given it a dash of "resident evil" in those needed items that could be hidden everywhere in the place. Things you wouldn't see the purpose of at first but would need later on.
The paths are way to obvious, either ground ducts or straight up doors. They could have made it much more like a maze of different opportunities. I also thought that the stealth factor would be more elaborate but it pretty much only consists of grappling some gargoyles and looking from above. You can't use shadows and i haven't gone to the point where i can actually perform a "stealth kill" or knock out. And the character makes a shitload of noise for someone that isn't supposed to be seen or heard.
My MAJOR peeve with it is the action controls. I HATE a game where i can't jump when i want to even if it's not necessary!!! I really don't feel like i'm in control that much. There's no "action" button to read or do anything unless the screen tells you to. I mean, i'd love to be able to figure out things on my own. I can't grapple to anything BUT "specificaly identified" ledges or gargoyles. The "glide" effect engages just before you touch the ground so it's almost insignificant. But i do like the quickness used to aim and shoot batarangs which seem limitless, btw. Batarangs IMO are like a ninja's shurikens or spidey's web. Not necessary to "run out" of them but it would've added. I really dislike the "detective mode" type of vision. It's unnecessary. You're supposed to be the world's best detective yet you can't seem to figure out anything without your "x-ray vision/clue giver upper" in your cowl.
As for the voice talents, so far i've heard Gordon's which sucked when compared to the animated series. Harley's which is the same voice actress as in the animated series but for some reason, her voice doesn't lend itself that nicely to her character in the game. Mark Hamil as the Joker is by far the very best voice!!! That man still blows my mind every time! So much so that i can't figure out why he's never portrayed the Joker in the movies!!! He'd be an amazing addition to Nolan's vision and a great follow up to Heath Ledger. I know a lot of people love Kevin Conroy but after watching the kick ass opening scene of the game and seeing the best batmobile concept i've seen yet since Burton's, also after noticing how gritty the road to Arkham seemed, i was actually expecting to hear a much deeper and rougher voice "à la" Keaton. Not as rough as Bale's but Conroy doesn't have that deep of a voice when it's coming from a 6'7, 350 pound mamouth which is pretty much Batman in this game LOL :P
The rough concept of the game is actually very well thought but concidering EVERYTHING they could have done with it, it's actually a waste. If i wanted a straight up "bash and trash" action game, i would have bought Wolverine which has limitless combo options, adamantium claws to slice and dice AND a healing factor which always kicks ass. I actually bought King Of Fighter's 12 at the same time and to my surprise, i had more fun playing it than Batman. Could it be because KOF-XII recieved bad reviews and didn't over-hype my expectations? That game was everything i expected and more. So far, Eidos seems to be pulling a "James Cameron: Avatar" on me. Coming from the guys that brought us "Soul Reaver", it is a disapointment.
So to finish, this game better get... well, "better"... or else i'll trade it in for my old copy of Batman Begins on the PS2. I think concept & graphic wise, Eidos seems to be taking a step in the right direction but this is in no way The Ultimate, "blow every other one out of the water", Batman Game it's been fluffed up to be. And to my greatest disapointment, it's NOWHERE near Tenchu's league!!! I've said it before and i'll say it again, Tenchu is my favorite game EVER and Batman could greatly benefit from Tenchu's stealth skills and controls as long as they keep Arkham Asylum's grittiness they've established. As i've said, they should use Resident Evil as a reference for the "detective aspects" that the character lacks. And while we're at it, Sucker Punch came up with the best "free roaming game" ever made and Eidos could take a few pointers from "InFamous" for their sequel to Asylum.
So for a "half hour into the game" review, i'll have to give it a 2.5 stars out of 5!!! Hopefully i'll be so wrong it wont even be funny, and then i'll come back to write a way better review of it next week.