Batman: Arkham Asylum

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Unfortunately, I have to wait another three weeks to play the full game due to the postponement of the PC version. I've played the demo and the thought running through my head as I was playing: best game ever.

You ARE Batman. Kevin Conroy from The Animated Series as Batman. Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, as the Joker. Having some voices from Batman: The Animated Series is awesome, but icing on the cake.

Creeping up on your enemies. Silently eliminated all the gun-toting goons and leaving one left, scared shitless as you stalk him from above. One reviewer called this a Batman simulator and that seems right, but it makes you giddy and four thugs come at you and you systemically beat the shit out of them.

I did get a bit of playing time in on a friend's PS3 as well, but am waiting for my own copy in a few weeks. But from everything I've seen, the game is just awesome. Seeing the cape and cowl as you strut around, or crouch, or peer around the corner for a corner takedown is amazing. Descending from the ceiling to crab a thug is so satisfying. As a Batgeek, I'm thrilled at the prospect and certainly further firmed up in my belief that Batman is the alpha and omega of comic characters.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Were can I get the PC demo? And if you know, what are the system requirements?

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Were can I get the PC demo? And if you know, what are the system requirements?

http://www.batmanarkhamasylum.com/demo

It's the first two levels.

The minimums are Windows XP SP2 or Vista SP1 (or Win7, which I'm running). 2.8GHZ for XP or 3.2 Ghz for Vista. 1GB of memory or 1.5GB for Vista. Graphics card with 256MB of memory or better. nVidia 6800 or better or ATI X700 or better. DirectX 9.0c and a DVD ROM drive with 12GB of free HDD space for the full game.

At least a dual core is recommended as is 512MB of video memory, a nVidia 8600 or better and 2GB of RAM.

The demo is 2GB in size.

I've played the demo through twice. Just wish the PC version didn't have the delay.

[HoodooMan]

[jb]

Hoodoo, dawg! U being too hard on these cats!

http://www.bizrate.com/kids-costumes/batman/

[HoodooMan]

Hoodoo, dawg! U being too hard on these cats!

http://www.bizrate.com/kids-costumes/batman/

That's it.

If this isn't macphisto's avatar by the end of the day, I quit.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Hoodoo, dawg! U being too hard on these cats!

http://www.bizrate.com/kids-costumes/batman/

That's it.

If this isn't macphisto's avatar by the end of the day, I quit.

Nice knowing you.

[TIMMAH]

can't wait to play this game. might have to wait till xmas though

[StewieG]

I'm hearing "Best Video Game of All Time" thrown around about this. Anyone who's played it have any thoughts?

[Cerebral_DownTime]

My laptop isn't that powerful, going to wait to borrow a copy for the 360.

[Bill the Butcher]

Checked it out from work. Just got done playing it for about 2 hours. Pretty cool stuff. I've grown fond of the sneaking around and performing silent take downs as well as the fighting system itself, reminds me of Assassin's Creed.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

I'm hearing "Best Video Game of All Time" thrown around about this. Anyone who's played it have any thoughts?

I've gone beyond the demo on a friend's PS3 and that thought crossed my mind. Most of it has to do with the epic coolness of actually BEING Batman in the game. Do silent take downs, grabbing thugs by dropping down from the ceiling. And the awesomeness of stealthily taking out baddies one by one and then luring them to where their unconscious buddies are and causing them to freak out because they have no clue where you are and if they're next.

But there are also the detective bits as you have to use Batman's tools to figure out how to get around Arkham. You also get to visit a mini Batcave that Batman has at Arkham and get to add Bat gadgets to your utility belt throughout the game.

I don't think you even have to be a huge Batman fan to appreciate it. The game is a lot of fun and has a good skill curve, so as you get better the game gets harder.

Plus there's the voicecast of Batman: The Animated Series that adds to the game and the fact that Paul Dini, a guy who scripted quite a bit of that show and knows Batman, was the man who plotted the game. Anyone who has read the Batman comics for any period of time will recognize quite a bit in the game, but that's not necessary to enjoy it.

[Bill the Butcher]

I'll be honest... the Scarecrow really spooked me in this one. Doesn't help I was playing in the dark with the surround sound all the way up.

Great game.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

It's been getting great reviews. As for "best game ever", i'll wait to play it befire I crown it. It's going to have to be really stellar to beat Fallout 3, Oblivion, Mass Effect, GTA IV or Bioshock.