A Walk In The Park: Gotham City
Game Review
Batman Begins
Publisher: EA Games/Warner Bros. IE
Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software
Batman Begins, the game, is based on the upcoming Batman Begins movie. As a game, it borrows a lot from other games' mechanic. It borrows Metal Gear and Splinter Cell's 'sneaking-quietly-behind-an-enemny' mechanic, Metal Gear's Soliton Radar (showing the enemy's field-of-vision cones) and Burnout's engine (during the racing/chase gameplay with the prototype Batmobile).
Most of the time during the course of the game, what you have to do is sneak around a group of enemy (no, you can't go at 'em head-on, since some usually carry guns, and this time around the bat armor is not bulletproof), try to find some means to scare the enemy so that they drop their guns in panic, and then you go head-on, fist-to-fist, with 'em. These means of scaring are sometimes within plain view, and sometimes you have to sneak around so that your batarang/grapling hook will be within reach. And most of the time, when you find a group of thugs and some of 'em are carrying guns, you could bet that the game developer has created some means of scaring them off around the area. All you have to do is look around, walk around, and a pointer will show up to guide you to these means (these pointer points to doors, ventilation shafts, grappling points, objects that you could smash by throwing the batarang, etc.).
Usually, to scare them off, you could blow things up, make things drop, make a lot of noise. And if you succeed, the thugs will drop their guns in panic and a fear meter will go up, making it easier for you to beat the hell outta 'em. Also, a reputation meter will go up whenever you succeeded in scaring them. Depending on the scenario, usually one of these thugs (the last one standing, most of the time), has some crucial information for the continuation of the scenario. You have to grab him (no, you couldn't go fist-to-fist with 'em, the game won't allow you) and 'interrogate' him. These information are usually codes, passwords, or other specific information.
These things are broken up with occasional lock-pickings (the mechanism is so simple) and hacking (ditto). Aside from that, this one is a very simple stealth-action game. A sort of watered-down Splinter Cell, coupled with some fancy jumping and gliding mechanism (with the cape, of course). There are some cool moments in the game, such as when you are hanging on a pipe or at a grappling point, and an enemy is right below you, you could 'finish' him off by pushing the circle button (a context-specific button) and you will rappel upside down a-la spiderman, behind the enemy, grabs him and pulls him up and beat the crap outta him. Another added bonus to the reputation meter.
The graphic is quite good. It tries hard to imitate Splinter Cell's graphic engine. There are lots of dramatic lighting in the game. It's too bad that that's not the case for our Caped Crusader's shadow. The shadow doesn't follow the lighting. It shows where it's not supposed to show, sometimes even AGAINST the source of the light. Like, when the light's coming from left, the shadow's supposed to be on the right side of Batman, right? But noooo, it shows on his LEFT side, towards the light. I guess they didn't work too hard on the shadowing. But really, great job on the lighting and the characters' models (which is based on the actors and actress of the movie). They even lend their voice talent for the game.
So, yeah, it's a good game. I would give it a rating of between 7.5 and 8. The only bad thing about it is that it has quite a spoiler. So for those who has not seen the movie (I'm one of 'em), don't even think about playing this game before you've seen the movie. It could really spoil the movie for you. Rent this game if you like. It's a worthy rental. Don't buy it though. It's not worth your money. If you want real stealth action, go get Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell. And if you want real arcade driving, go get Burnout 3. They're much better games. I'm not saying this Batman Begins game is bad, it's not. It's actually a fun 5-hour game. Did I say 5 hour? Yes, it's short. But it was fun, alright. And it successfully implemented various game mechanics into it. Which work quite well for the overall game.
Batman Begins
Publisher: EA Games/Warner Bros. IE
Developer: Eurocom Entertainment Software
Batman Begins, the game, is based on the upcoming Batman Begins movie. As a game, it borrows a lot from other games' mechanic. It borrows Metal Gear and Splinter Cell's 'sneaking-quietly-behind-an-enemny' mechanic, Metal Gear's Soliton Radar (showing the enemy's field-of-vision cones) and Burnout's engine (during the racing/chase gameplay with the prototype Batmobile).
Most of the time during the course of the game, what you have to do is sneak around a group of enemy (no, you can't go at 'em head-on, since some usually carry guns, and this time around the bat armor is not bulletproof), try to find some means to scare the enemy so that they drop their guns in panic, and then you go head-on, fist-to-fist, with 'em. These means of scaring are sometimes within plain view, and sometimes you have to sneak around so that your batarang/grapling hook will be within reach. And most of the time, when you find a group of thugs and some of 'em are carrying guns, you could bet that the game developer has created some means of scaring them off around the area. All you have to do is look around, walk around, and a pointer will show up to guide you to these means (these pointer points to doors, ventilation shafts, grappling points, objects that you could smash by throwing the batarang, etc.).
Usually, to scare them off, you could blow things up, make things drop, make a lot of noise. And if you succeed, the thugs will drop their guns in panic and a fear meter will go up, making it easier for you to beat the hell outta 'em. Also, a reputation meter will go up whenever you succeeded in scaring them. Depending on the scenario, usually one of these thugs (the last one standing, most of the time), has some crucial information for the continuation of the scenario. You have to grab him (no, you couldn't go fist-to-fist with 'em, the game won't allow you) and 'interrogate' him. These information are usually codes, passwords, or other specific information.
These things are broken up with occasional lock-pickings (the mechanism is so simple) and hacking (ditto). Aside from that, this one is a very simple stealth-action game. A sort of watered-down Splinter Cell, coupled with some fancy jumping and gliding mechanism (with the cape, of course). There are some cool moments in the game, such as when you are hanging on a pipe or at a grappling point, and an enemy is right below you, you could 'finish' him off by pushing the circle button (a context-specific button) and you will rappel upside down a-la spiderman, behind the enemy, grabs him and pulls him up and beat the crap outta him. Another added bonus to the reputation meter.
The graphic is quite good. It tries hard to imitate Splinter Cell's graphic engine. There are lots of dramatic lighting in the game. It's too bad that that's not the case for our Caped Crusader's shadow. The shadow doesn't follow the lighting. It shows where it's not supposed to show, sometimes even AGAINST the source of the light. Like, when the light's coming from left, the shadow's supposed to be on the right side of Batman, right? But noooo, it shows on his LEFT side, towards the light. I guess they didn't work too hard on the shadowing. But really, great job on the lighting and the characters' models (which is based on the actors and actress of the movie). They even lend their voice talent for the game.
So, yeah, it's a good game. I would give it a rating of between 7.5 and 8. The only bad thing about it is that it has quite a spoiler. So for those who has not seen the movie (I'm one of 'em), don't even think about playing this game before you've seen the movie. It could really spoil the movie for you. Rent this game if you like. It's a worthy rental. Don't buy it though. It's not worth your money. If you want real stealth action, go get Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell. And if you want real arcade driving, go get Burnout 3. They're much better games. I'm not saying this Batman Begins game is bad, it's not. It's actually a fun 5-hour game. Did I say 5 hour? Yes, it's short. But it was fun, alright. And it successfully implemented various game mechanics into it. Which work quite well for the overall game.
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