Batman - Arkham Asylum
 

Anyone else excited about this game? Other then being on a big Batman kick lately I'm excited because of the amount of effort that's gone into it's story production alone. It's based in the comic universe but Paul Dini wrote the story and Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamil, and Arleen Sorkin are reprising their roles from the animated series as well. Clancy Brown is also doing Killer Croc*He was Lex Luthor* and James Arnold Taylor is voicing the Riddler*He was Leo in the new turtles movie*.

The graphics are also pretty stunning I think. They captured the gritty look of the comics perfectly. I try not to let shiny graphics pull me one way or another but in this case I can't help it.

Now a potential good story, great graphics, and an awesome voice cast hardly make a good game. The studio making it is called Rocksteady and they only have one game under their belt, Urban Chaos: Riot Response. I've never heard of it so I looked up some reviews to see how it was received. It seemed to get average reviews for the most part but I didn't dig around too much. I'm still excited none the less. I might actually pre-order this one.

Some leaked screen shots
http://kotaku.com/5037545/batman-ark...um-in-pictures

www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/

All I know is the first gameplay shown made the combat look weak as hell. Every time a game uses some kind of glow or spark to signify a hit connecting with an enemy, it's going to have average beat-em-up controls.

I'm hoping I'm wrong, though, cause I'd love a good Batman game.

And why link to "leaked" screens when GT has HD footage:
http://www.gametrailers.com/game/10111.html

If it's even half-assed passable, I'll be happy. I was obligated to buy it upon inclusion of the TAS voice cast. If this and Ghostbusters both kick ass, I'll be set for the year.

I just hope it's REALLY good. It'd be nice to have a great Batman game.

I'm not going to allow myself to get excited about it. There have been 3 other Batman games that looked good from screenshots and trailers only to be ass upon release.

Don't care about the cast and the writing. The gameplay looks weak.

It sounds interesting. The 'detective mode' stuff sounds like crap though; they should not be talking that up.

I really am looking forward to this game. It could just be the Batman fan in me speaking, but my god I'm actually looking forward to this. Fingers crossed that it won't be a dissapointment...

It worked well in Condemned 2 if they used that system here it could be great.

I've not played Condemnded. All I've read about the B:AA one is that you press a button and then things are highlighted to show you can use them. Not exactly worth boasting about.

Having Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and The Joker is a must have game. The game play looks amazing by seeing screen shots and the trailer.

Lately I've been getting pumped for the game. Rewatching old Batman episodes, looking at trailers and screenshots...

Oh god, I feel all giddy and fangirly again.

I'm loving the look and feel of this game. The fact that this won't be some traditional beat-'em-up is what's intrigued me. They're making stealth a huge aspect in this game.

the look is awesome, its gritty and dark as batman should be, its in Arkham and the madness and insanity are well made.
And I love the idea of sneaking around rather than just being a beat'em up.

You guys might wanna watch this over at GT. There's a link to an HD stream there, too.

All I can say is whomg! It's like Splinter Cell style stealth, but with Batman. This is the stuff they should have shown from the start. It looks fantastic.

Is it Hamill? Sounds more like Kevin Michael Richardson.

It's definitely Mark Hamill.

This does look pretty ****in' sweet all the sudden.

That was actually pretty cool. I hope it plays well.

Oh damn! It's like the game is teaching you the art of being Batman. I was just excited because of the writers and the cast, but now it's looking like the complete package. I'm going to have to push aside whatever games I was going to play during the Summer and give this 100% attention.

Want. Now.

Like I said, it was already amazing that we were getting the best Batman actors ever (Conroy, Hamill, Sorkin ect.) in the context of the original gritty comic book mythos. No adaption from an existing adaption. And on top of that, you've got the god of Batman writing, Paul Dini (Batman TAS, Superman TAS, Batman Beyond, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Justice League, and LOST) penning the plot. It was sold whether the game sucked or not. But now the atmosphere and gameplay are shaping up to be KILLER. This is definitely a front-runner for my game of the year hopes.