Fall 2011 is going to be a big year for gamers. Perhaps bigger than usual because an onslaught of some of the industry's top franchises are getting new games in the upcoming season. Shooter fans should have plenty to chew on, but I'm a 3rd person action guy, and the two biggest names dropping are Uncharted and Batman Arkham City. While most people are salivating for the chance to get their hands on Drake's Deception, I might be one of the only people who thinks Arkham City might end up the better game.
Here's 5 Reasons why.
1. ITS NOT A THREEQUEL
Let's look at the upcoming lineup: Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Resistance 3, Saint's Row the Third, Assassin's Creed Revelations, Dues Ex, Gears of War 3, and of course Uncharted 3. Wow. That's a lotta threes. There is nothing wrong with this at all, but it should be noted that by a third game, players pretty much know what they are getting, and new features/fresh experiences tend to be a little light the third time around.
Batman Arkham City is only the second game in the potential franchise. So it had the advantage of making a name for itself in Arkham Asylum, but still has the benefit of being new and exciting for gamers because its not as old as the other series yet. The novelty factor is still strong (at least for one more game), and it seems like playing this one will be virtually a brand new experience with all the new additions, which I'll get to next.
2. ITS OPEN WORLD
Uncharted is designed specifically to give players a brilliant storytelling experience. And they do. But I can't deny that I'm a gamer that will always prefer a little more choice and freedom to linearity. Be it Mass Effect's branching dialogues or Infamous' good v evil choices, there's something instantly more replayable about these aspects to games.
The thought of being free to roam Arkham City at my leisure is literally something I've wanted from a Batman game since the sandbox was defined by Grand Theft Auto III. Even Naughty Dog must admit that having Drake in a free-roam environment like a jungle or mountain would be awesome.
3. RIDDLER CHALLENGES > TREASURES
Fact. Done. Next.
4. NO MULTIPLAYER DISTRACTIONS
I know I'm not speaking for everyone, but around me, it seems that Uncharted is more anticipated for the multiplayer than the actual core game. The beta last month reached a million, and everyone is wondering what weapons and skins they will be able to toy around with online. This is great and multiplayer is a lot of fun, but I worry that this enthusiasm might pull future Uncharted games away from what this series was when it started out.
Fans wondered if Arkham 2 would get multiplayer and thankfully, Rocksteady steered clear. Could Batman use online play? Maybe (in the same way Uncharted could use an open world) but multiplayer compliments shooters (all Uncharted really is) whereas Batman's games aren't just one thing. It's more of a brawler. It's a stealth/predator game. It's detective based. Arkham City has no use for multiplayer, and imo, doesn't need it shoe-horned in. I'm more than happy with the challenge rooms (and awesome new skins) than to get smack talked to by some random 14-year olds.
5. THE CHARACTERS, BY GOD, THE CHARACTERS
Uncharted's got some memorable and lovable faces. Sully, Elena, Chloe, and undoubtedly a few more. They will serve their story well. But that roster pales next to Batman's Catwoman and Robin, who, by the way, you're getting to PLAY as!
That's not even mentioning the villains. Is it a fair comparison? Probably not, but there it is. Batman's villains are the best in comics, and we are getting nearly all of them. I am seriously excited to go toe to toe with Hugo Strange, Two-Face, Penguin, The Riddler, Mr Freeze, Talia, Zsasz, Bane, Harley Quinn, Joker and even surprises like Solomon Grundy and Calander Man. (and rumors of Black Mask) And before you worry that they've blown their load here, remember Ra's Al Ghul, Clayface, Lady Shiva, The Mad Hatter, and Scarface, Man-Bat, and Killer Moth are all being saved on the back burner going forward. Uncharted's Katherine Marlow (or is it Helen Merrin?) will be great, but can she even compete?
I guess I came down on Uncharted 3 a bit harder than I expected to. Still love those games, and will pick up UC3 on launch day. But Batman is a game to get at midnight. Arkham City is available to more people (its on PS3 and XBOX360, and PC), offers more play styles, more bonuses than I can remember, and seems to be the biggest step forward from its predecessor since Assassin's Creed II improved on AC1 in every way possible. If everything is as great as it looks right now, Batman should be the game of the year. Not the usual multiplayer shooters we always get.
Of course, I could be wrong. Batman may be full of bugs and Uncharted will completely own all. What do you think? Does Arkham City have what it takes to topple the champ?