[CAT] Scratching Post

Got this the other day and while its GFWL which is shitty the game itself is superb for some nice gameplay. Story isnt too short and plods along at a nice pace. Graphics were nice on my card (9800GT) and pretty much maxed out. There is an assload of challenges and achievements for those of you with OCD, the challenges have extended the life of the game for me and Im on my second play through which is rare for me.

Voice acting is pretty superb with Batman pretty gritty and the Joker superbly done by Mark Hamill. Its fairly well influenced by the Tim Burton movies and style and in general works with a nicely dark flavour.

The game has RPG elements in that you earn points for fights and achieving mission objectives, once the rising threshold is met you can unlock one special ability or an upgrade to a pre-existing gadget.

There is some downloadable content at the moment in the form of two additional challenges (you get 20 odd as a default) with another DLC coming out at the end of this month iirc. Challenges com in the form of fights or 'Predator Challenges'. The fights are self-explanatory and they come in waves of henchmen, some wielding weapons.

The predator challenges are a reflection of some of the best parts in the game. These involve dispatching henchmen while running around undetected taking them out one or two at a time.

Anyway its out on the PS3, XBox and PC. Probably the best superhero game there has been, certainly the best I have played though I havent played much. Characters in the game are Gordon and Oracle, Joker, Harley Quinn, Zsasz, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Bane and Ivy...feel like I have forgotten one. Wont go into any spoilers other than that...

http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/

Lots of gameplay and trailer vids on youtube, would recommend having a gander at them.

I'm about 30% of the way through this on the Xbox. It's totally compelling gaming. I need to have a crack at the challenge rooms to improve my combat, though. I always seem to fuck up my combos by throwing a punch in a direction where nobody is standing.

I'm not sure this game would play as well on the PC. At least not the 'beat-em-up" parts. The exploration and detective shit would translate well, but the fighting is definitely console style. Well, it would feel odd to be mashing buttons on a keyboard to fight, I'll put it that way.

Well, the combat system is console button mashing at it's best. X for attack. B for stun attack. Y for counter. Double-tap A to dodge/evade. I'm sure it works OK on the PC, but it just might not be as fluid.

The fighting on GTA4 is alright but you need lots of buttons on your mouse...I'm sure this is the same.

With this its:

LMB - Strike
RMB - Counter or Unblockable Combo Grab (+shift)
Middle Mouse Button - Cape stun
Dbl tap space - Evade

I found it fine and not to awkward once I was used to the controls. Evade was fine although it took a few tries vs Bane to get that right.

Occasionally throw a punch in a direction where someone is standing but it doesnt seem to register which is annoying but I learnt to link combo's with the grab/put-down for opponents that were further away. Was a bit annoying that sometimes you would leap across the room to face kick a bad guy and other times you swing at air.

I just learned that using evade continues your combo. Doing MUCh better in combat now!

As does a quick batarang if you have purchased that upgrade.

Tbh I found that upgrading the batsuit was a waste and meant I missed out on some of the funkier and more esoteric choices like the door decoder thingy that can let you access more areas for the riddler trophy collections which open up new options in the challenge menu. Also you can use the explosive gel as a proximity mine which sounds pretty lulzy.

Just got the new DLC thing a few days ago and the predator challenges make me moist, stoned off my tree muttering about how I am the Bat.

I beat it once and i'm going through it again.

Just got it on Thursday. It is Assassins Creed with a Bat suit. The hand to hand combat is cool the first 4 or 5 times you do it, after that repetitive. The riddles are lame and easy to figure out even more so once you have the map. Just the same it is an entertaining story line. I haven't tried the challenges yet. I will do those after I beat it. I am about 50% now.

It's on my Xmas want list for PS3.