Episode 6: Video Game Month part 1
Disclaimer: as before I own nothing involved in these previews or reviews.
"Hello I'm the Classic Critic. I remember it so you're not required to." Airnaruto says. "Now if you're thinking what film I'm going to review today well guess what? YOU WERE WRONG!" Airnaruto answers before explaining, "This month I'm going to review or preview a month's worth of video games, some I may have and some I may not have and I'm going to kick it off in style with one of last years best games." Airnaruto reveals.
"Hey wait for me!" Someone shouts.
"Who's there?" Airnaruto asks.
"It's me!" said the voice as the person or creature crashed through the window again.
"Well folks looks like I have the honor of once again having Mistress of the dawn aka the Irate Werewolf as my guest co-reviewer for the month." Airnaruto says as the audience claps.
"Hi I'm the irate werewolf, I play them so you'll know what to avoid." Dawn says before turning to Airnaruto. "So what game are we reviewing anyway?" Dawn asks.
"Well once again it's a video game based on one of my favorite superheroes Batman. Now I'm sure we've all played Batman games before in the past I mean the Batman video game on the NES and Batman Returns on the SNES and Sega CD respectively are considered classic Batman games but as the series moved on the game quality was pathetic whether it was on the 4th, 5th, or 6th generation videogame consoles the best of this bunch being Batman Begins which tied into the 2005 blockbuster film of the same name but even that game was considered decent at best." Airnaruto says before continuing, "However in 2008, Rockstar game studios finally managed to get back to basics by asking Paul Dini one of the producers of the Batman animated series to aide him with developing the story line for a new Batman game that was to be released for the Xbox360 and Playstation3 game consoles, it took a little over a year but the wait was well worth it." Airnaruto says before turning to Dawn.
"You got that right Classic, released on August 25 2009 the game is Batman: Arkham Asylum." Dawn said as we see the title flash across the screen.
"Now before we begin there are two things I want to point out. First I only possess the 360 version of the game so don't get on my case for it please, and second even though I have beaten the game I'm not going to spoil the ending and neither will Dawn, now on with the review beginning with the storyline." Airnaruto says.
Story:
"The game opens up with a cut scene of Batman having captured the Joker yet again and returning him to Arkham Asylum, the infamous psychiatric hospital in Gotham City." Dawn says as Batman opens the door to the asylum with the Joker in cuffs.
"As the Joker is being returned to his cell under Batman's watchful eye, you immediately notice that the Joker doesn't look to upset with being caught." Airnaruto says.
Batman to Commissioner Jim Gordon: He surrendered almost without a fight. I don't like it.
"Oh just so you know some of the voice actors from the animated series returned to reprise their roles for the game, with Kevin Conroy donning the cowl of the dark knight detective and Mark Hamill doing what he does best as the clown prince of crime, and even Harley Quinn's voice actor returns to reprise her role as the Joker's main squeeze." Dawn says before continuing with the review.
"Anyway the minute the Joker is out of Batman's custody all hell breaks loose and for that matter so do all the inmates from Arkham and Black gate prison Facility and then the adventure begins as it now becomes apparent Joker wanted to get himself caught to throw this huge party of some kind with Batman as the guest of honor." Airnaruto explains before going into further detail. "I mean you have almost the entire rouge's gallery gunning for you or referenced in the game ranging from villains such as Bane, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Clay face, Two-face, Poison Ivy, Ras Al-Ghul, Catwoman, the Ventriloquist, Scarface, Mr. Freeze, The Rat catcher, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Mad Hatter, Hush, Black Mask, Prometheus, Killer Moth, Firefly, the Penguin, Victor Zsasz, The Great White Shark, Calendar man, and The Riddler." Airnaruto explains before mentioning one bit of info, "Of course aside from the Joker and Harley's voices over the PA system you're also going to be hearing the Riddler's voice a lot throughout the game as he hacks into your communication system and has hidden 240 puzzles and riddles for you to solve all over the island which unlock trophies, character bios, patient interviews, and challenge mode levels." Airnaruto explains before turning it over to Dawn.
Batman to Gordon: Joker's loose! Alert the warden!
The Joker: Welcome to the madhouse Batman! I set a trap and you sprang it gloriously!
"However you won't be alone, throughout the game you'll get upgrades to your arsenal whether you get to throw multiple batarangs at once, lay a bit of explosive gel on the ground to stun an enemy the minute he steps on it, or even throw a batarangs that gives off a sonic emission that disrupts an enemy or explodes the minute you detonate it, also you'll get help along the way from The Oracle." Dawn says before looking confused.
"What's wrong Dawn?" Airnaruto asks.
"Who's the Oracle?" The werewolf asks.
"Oh right…For those who don't know who the Oracle is basically, she's Barbra Gordon aka the original Batgirl who ends up getting shot in the spine by the Joker which paralyzes her from the waste down and ends up in wheelchair, unable to fight crime as Batgirl she moves into the Gotham clock tower and sets up her own headquarters and takes up the name Oracle an hacker who serves as an information broker to Batman and other DC superheroes." Airnaruto explains to Dawn.
"Oh so that's why Cassandra Cain is in the costume now." Dawn realizes.
"Now let's move on to the game play and graphics." Airnaruto says.
Graphics and Game Play
"The graphics and design of the game are flawless and they give you the dark and eerie atmosphere of the entire Arkham Island and the Asylum has many places to explore. The combat system is so simple that anyone could pick up the game and play and in the beat them up challenges you'll never get bored kicking the crap out of dozens of thugs whether they're unarmed, armed with lead pipes, knives, stun batons, or guns but be careful with the gun wielding thugs because Batman may be a badass, but if a few shots end up hitting you you're as good as dead because in this case bullets are Batman's kryptonite." Airnaruto explains.
"You got that right Airnaruto and it's especially true with Detective vision mode and silent assault missions. With Detective vision mode, you can locate hidden trophies, puzzles, see through walls and discern armed and unarmed thugs as well as setting up crime scenes, finding good hiding spots, weak surfaces you could either blow up or pull down, and following trails however this is where one of the game's few flaws pops up because you might end up playing the entire game in detective vision mode and it takes away from the experience, this is especially true with the Invisible predator challenges where you have to take out a certain number of armed thugs in certain ways." Dawn explains.
"The only other major flaw this game has is that the final boss is too easy but I won't go into detail about that." Airnaruto says since he wants to stay true to his promise.
Final verdict:
"All in all Batman: Arkham Asylum is the focal point of what to aim for when making a Batman videogame with great graphics, intriguing plot, and a simple combat system that will keep playing it over and over again." Airnaruto says.
"I agree Airnaruto, despite the few flaws the game has the compelling plot and puzzles you need to solve are more than enough to keep your interest in the game at its peak though I will say one thing never try to cross paths with super mutated thug in a dark alley." Dawn says as we see a photo of a Titan enhanced Black gate thug. "Yikes!" Dawn screams.
"To conclude this review if you love Batman games or video games in general you'll love Batman: Arkham Asylum, we give it a perfect rating of 5 gold grinning stars and personally I can't wait for the sequel." Airnaruto says before wrapping up the review. "Well that's it for this part folks; tune in next time when Dawn and I do a review of a more recent game to hit the shelves." Airnaruto says.
"So until next I'm the irate werewolf, I play them so you'll know what to avoid." Dawn says.
"And I'm the Classic Critic; I remember it so you're not required to." Airnaruto finishes.
Final critique:
Pros: Great storyline, never get bored action, intricate puzzles, great voice acting and as true to the comics as you'll find.
Cons: Might have to play the whole game in Detective vision mode, and an easy final boss battle.
Final rating: ***** gold grinning
A/N: Well folks video game month has begun so until next time read and review folks