Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Format played: PS3 (also available on xbox 360)
Players: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Gametime needed: Not too many - probably less than 10 hours though challenges can keep you going a bit longer







What on earth?! A licensed game that is actually GOOD? And not just good, more like absolutely outstanding. How many times have we seen film tie-ins and the like fall way short of expectations? Lord of the Rings games, Transformers, Bond (well, Goldeneye excepted of course) - all have seen huge success in the Box Office, but all the games play like a damp squib. But tag an 'official' label on it, and it'll still sell. It's clever marketing - spend less time and effort on a game because it'll sell regardless of how good it is.

I've kept a close eye on Arkham Asylum over the last few months. I love Batman - so iconic, so cartoony, so much fun. The Michael Keaton films did their job and pleased me, and after two poor follow-ons, Christian Bale has brought the character and Gotham City back into the limelight.

However, Arkham Asylum isn't based on the film universe - instead, they've gone to the best source for true Batman fans - the DC comics. And boy have they got it spot on!

Batman looks on over Arkham Asylum

As the title suggests, the whole game is set on Arkham island - home of the infamous Arkham Asylum, where the most notorious and demented of Gotham City's criminals are housed and monitored 24 hours a day. The story sees Batman return Gotham's most dangerous villain - The Joker - to Arkham. However, Joker has a plan, and as soon as he's through to the holding cells, all hell breaks loose, and it's up to you as Batman to thwart Joker's evil plan. Joker isn't working alone though - his devoted sidekick - Harley Quinn - also plays a large part in the well crafted plot.

The Joker is brilliantly voiced by Mark Hamill (of Star Wars fame)

The controls are extremely easy to pick up, and you're soon thrust into close hand-to-hand combat with the first bunch of goons Joker sends after you. The combat is extremely satisfying - it's not too difficult to chain a decent combo attack together. Although the combat sections are arguably a bit of a button masher, you will need practise and skill to get the BIG combos (20 +) to unlock those more taxing trophies/achievements.

One of the best features of the game for me was without doubt the 'stealth' sections. Again, you have to take out the goons sent after you. Except these guys are armed with guns. Batman is handy when charged at with a metal pole, but ranged weapons require a different approach. Tapping the L2 button brings up what's called 'detective mode' in which clues as to which secret passage/shortcut to take to the required destination. But it also shows you exactly where your enemies are, and if they're armed or not. A blue shape indicates an unarmed enemy, red indicates an armed enemy. Using the environment is essential to take out these armed goons. You could use the batarang to knock them out, but that might alert other goons. You could sneak up behind them and press triangle for a silent take down. Or you could hoist yourself up onto a vantage point, wait for the unsuspecting goon to walk underneath you and truss him up like a chicken onto the ledge you've just been occupying. Or, if you want a bit more carnage, you could attach exploding gel to a fragile looking wall, jump to a safe point and detonate it remotely, knocking the poor fellah out through the debris. Put simply, there are MANY different and fun ways to get your kill count up, and all of them have different consequences on the rest of the enemies around you. It's fantastic stuff - you really are in charge.

Detective mode - Batman hides from 3 armed goons - marked out as red

As you travel around Arkham island (which is a pretty big place by the way) you will come across new tasks. It might be that Joker has blocked off your route (he's always around you via the TV links on the security monitors spread all around the island - Mark Hamill's superb voice acting means you're never annoyed by his presence - on the contrary - it's great wondering what he'll say next!), or you might meet some other deranged inmate or even some of the guards who need your help. Whatever your current task, it's not just the same sort of task every time you encounter someone. It's varied, yet all challenges feel fun and don't detract too much from the main story. Because rest assured that a boss fight will always be just around the corner.

No Batman game would be complete without a vast array of gadgets. Luckily, Arkham Asylum hits the spot. As you progress, you'll unlock more and more clever gadgets, and even upgrade existing ones. By the end of the game, Bats will be pretty formidable. From the batarang to the batclaw, from exploding gel to the security codebreaker, the variety is commendable. They're great fun to use - especially when your batclaw is strong enough to pull unsuspecting goons over a ledge.

Batman's batarang primed and ready

Another great little touch to the game is the countless bonuses you can pick up as you go along, presented in the form of riddles set by The Riddler himself. Although you never actually see The Riddler, he has left around 250 things for you to find, from small trophies (with a question mark on top), to interview tapes of various famous inhabitants of the asylum to actual riddles where you have to find a certain object in a certain room using only the cryptic poser The Riddler gives you. Some are quite obvious, some devious. But it's a nice touch and one that you can go back to if you've completed the main quest. After all, riddles = trophies/achievements that boost your gamerscore.

Several goons charge Batman - they'll wish they hadn't.....

Speaking of featured characters, I think Eidos have got it spot on with the number of featured enemies. The Batman universe is so big now that it would be impossible to include ALL his better-known foes and do them justice. Joker is absolutely superb as I've said, but also keep a look out for Killer Croc, Bane, Poison Ivy and the quite magnificently spooky Scarecrow. Scarecrows' levels are set in Batman's mind, as Scarecrow's hallucinagenic dust affects his deepest, darkest fears. It's brilliantly done, both graphically and atmospherically. The Scarecrow reminded me of Freddy Krueger by the way.... Just don't expect to see The Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face et al. Maybe there's a sequel. We can hope, eh?

The story mode is a pretty decent length. It's not a huge, scrolling GTA/Oblivion type world, but there are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you hooked. If you're someone who looks for quality rather than quantity, Batman: Arkham Asylum is just the game you're looking for. You should get through the story in under 10 hours, admittedly not the longest but the quality never recedes.

Then you have the challenge modes - as you move through the story and collect some of The Riddler's goodies, you'll unlock special levels selectable at the main menu. These are either hand-to-hand combat battles in 3 bouts. The aim is to achieve a certain number of points by beating your opponents to a pulp using the longest combos possible. PS3 owners can even play as The Joker on these levels via an exclusive download on PSN. The other challenge is a stealth challenge, as I described earlier. Take out your opponents using whatever apparatus you have in as quick a time as possible.

This game is quite superb - as I keep saying, it has variety and the high quality is evident from start to finish. It looks amazing, the voice acting of the highest standard, the sound effects perfect. Any faults? If I was being picky, I could say the length could have been longer. Otherwise, the only thing that springs to mind is a poor save system. All you have is an autosave, and as the save points are so seamless, it's hard to know when it's safe to turn the machine off after a few hours' play. But it doesn't hamper the quite exceptional experience that is Batman: Arkham Asylum. A quite brilliant game, and one that finally makes use of a license brimming with potential. No jokes, no riddles, this is a must-buy game.

Ian's Score: 9.1

Killzone 2 (PS3)

Killzone 2

Format played: PS3
Players: 1 on campaign, up to 32 online
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Gametime needed: 20+ hours, and plenty more via online multiplayer









Much was expected of Killzone 2 when it was first unveiled as one of Sony's great hopes even before the release of the PS3. The stunning set pieces wowed the public and game critics the world over, but many were sceptical as to whether Sony could replicate such heights for the actual game.

KZ2 was the first game I bought for my PS3. I was already very impressed with the interface of my new toy, but I hadn't yet been able to test any software for it until I bought KZ2. So, I loaded it up and WHAM. The graphics hit me. Let's not beat about the bush here, you won't find a better looking game probably anywhere. It's breathtaking - like watching a film. The first thing you're shown is quite a maniacal looking dude ranting Hitler-style at his memorised minions. I don't think you're supposed to like him - this is Visari, the big bad guy and leader of the Helghast - the evil, wicked, horrible and naughty inhabitants of the planet Helghan. The entire game is set on Helghan, and it really ain't a nice place. War torn is putting it mildly. Think of Millwall on a match day.


The plot isn't exactly original, but neither are the plots for KZ2's closest rivals, namely Halo 3 and Gears of War 2. Yes, there's a war on. You're playing as one of the goodies, there are lots of explosions and it's not a good idea to go running into the middle of it like a madman. You play as Sev, and there are plenty of sections of 'going it alone' as well as fighting alongside your fellow ISA (Interplanetary Strategic Alliance) troops. Unfortunately, some of your closest buddies who stick with you throughout most of the game are bloody annoying, and the urge to turn around and unleash a clip into them is quite strong at times. Especially bloody Rico. Tit.

There's not really much point in going into the plot too much - you're a goodie, the Helghast are evil (they've got red eyes for a start). You have to kill them and accomplish certain missions. It's not rocket science, it's not original but you've not bought this game to play anything other than a good old fashioned blaster, right?

Gameplay - it's enjoyable. Just walking around marvelling at arguably the most impressive visuals seen in a game is rewards enough. Gun fights are frantic and cut scenes dramatic. The Helghast look like pretty mean chaps, the explosions incredible, the weapons look great, as do the vehicles. So far, so good. But here comes (for me) the main 2 flaws of the game.

The Helghast - red eyes + large weapon = bad guy. In case you hadn't already worked it out.

Although the missions you undertake range from powering up deserted power supplies to bloody revenge against the Helghast, the way you accomplish them is almost exactly the same from the first to the last levels. The weapons might look nice, but nothing beats the rifle. It's either the rifle is too good or that the other weapons are unimaginative and too weak. There are a few nice sniping points, but it's hardly the exceptional Chernobyl level from Call of Duty 4.

Another problem is the severe lack of enemy. Bog standard Helghast cannon fodder is pretty much it, save a few evil droids and some super-armoured Helghast with rocket launchers. Where are the big bosses? Where are the giant creatures? Very disappointing indeed. Even Halo's Covenant have varying forms. The Helghast seem to be clones of each other.

If you hadn't guessed, 85% of this game sees you versus bog standard Helghast warrior version 1, using the assault rifle.

Killzone 2 can get quite tricky at times, and clearing an area does feel like quite an achievement. The levels are well thought out, but never once did I think 'hmm, I wonder what's behind THAT door?'. More like 'hmm, a door for Helghast to burst through. Time to take cover and flush them out with my assault rifle'.

But my main gripe unfortunately takes a lot of the fun out of the extremely promising multiplayer mode - it plays so unbelievably sluggishly. Yes, I have amassed a ridiculous amount of time on Call of Duty over the past 2 years, but I also loved Halo 3, both Gears of Wars games and am basically a fan of the FPS genre. But Killzone 2 handles very poorly indeed. It feels unresponsive and clunky. A major gripe is when I've locked on to an enemy, and R2 (shoot) is being hammered down to the plastic. But the bugger just doesn't drop. Then he turns around and kills me with one single shot. VERY frustrating. And I've found it's worse in multiplayer.

I don't want to take anything away from the thought put into Killzone 2's multiplayer modes. The game types are excellent, varied and well structured. It's also HUGE - 32 people per game. A good idea is the bots that make up any team not filled with the full 16-man compliment. It holds up fairly well too - the maps are gigantic, with plenty of scope for sniping and close combat. But if it plays so sluggishly, what's the point? Ah well, at least grenades look good and are guaranteed a few kills if you managed to chuck them in just the right place.

Multiplayer mode

To summarise - it's very, very frustrating. Killzone 2 could - and perhaps should - have been one of THE great games of the current genre. Visually - it's without doubt the most stunning game I've ever seen. The sound is also excellent. Watching it on a nice, big tv with surround sound would - I imagine - be quite an experience. So why oh why did Sony ruin all this with a very clunky, unresponsive control system and a samey campaign mode?

I hope that the inevitable Killzone 3 learns from their mistakes, because this franchise truly has so much to offer.

Ian's Score: 7.2

Prince of Persia (xbox 360)

Prince of Persia

Format played: xbox 360
Players: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Gametime needed: Around 12 hours. Double that if you want all the achievements/trophies available.





Prince of Persia - a title that has been around as long as the early games consoles. I had an early PoP game for my Megadrive back in the early 1990's - the general idea remains the same - some platforms to cross, some puzzles to solve, some bad guys to kill. However, times have changed. Whereas the Prince once looked like this:

He now looks something a bit more like this:


I guess that's what they call 'progress'.... And yes - that is an actual in-game screenshot. It looks fantastic.

Anyway - onto the 2009 version of the game Basically, it's your standard 'leap from wall to wall' platformer with a nice bit of combat thrown in. Your character - The Prince (I don't quite 'get' why it's still called Prince of Persia. Sure, the main dude is called the Prince but otherwise it's a bit of a headscratcher. Maybe I haven't reached the point in the game when all is revealed) is helped by a mysterious Princess called Elika who has some pretty nifty moves. Elika is with you right from the start and is your constant companion - difficult jumps can be solved by pressing 'Y' midjump, and she has her own individual combat style. So the Prince won't get lonely. You won't die in PoP - if you incorrectly judge a jump, Elika's hand plucks you out of the air and returns you to your last safe, sturdy bit of ground.

Basic plot - some evil, dark demonic-style bloke has arisen from the depths and the whole world - once sumptuous and verdent is now covered in horrible, dark, hellish matter called 'corruption'. Elika is a sort of tree-hugger who can heal all the world one by one (once healed they are called 'Fertile Grounds'). The idea is to turn all the separate worlds back into Fertile Grounds. Each world has a boss character waiting, kill them and Elika can do her stuff. Once she's healed the worlds, there are 45 energy balls called light seeds. Collect enough of them, and you can unlock new worlds. Easy.

But be prepared to spend a LOT of time either scaling walls, wall-running, jumping to ledges and posts etc. But that's not a bad thing, because it's bloody good fun. The prince is a nimble little bugger, his moves seamlessly blend together and you look extremely cool to any observer as you pull off grab after slide after leap after roll etc. The levels are pretty big too, so it makes for some excellent little trips from one side of a world to another. And it's all seamless - unless you teleport from one world to another, there are no loading screens and I'm yet to experience any slow down in between worlds as a result.

Onto the good - it looks absolutely incredible. Many people don't like cel-shaded graphics but it works a treat here. Some of the best visuals I've seen in a game. Corrupted worlds looks spooky, empty but atmospheric, and healed world are marvellously coloured, fresh and full of life. The characters look excellent too, with superb animation throughout. The visuals are probably the stongest part of the game.

The combat is quite satisfying, though I do think it's a bit of a button basher. You don't actually partake in as much combat as you'd expect, but put together a few combos and it can become quite fun.

The Prince regretted offering to cut Daisy's toenails

Now the bad - the main character is probably THE most annoying character I've ever played as in a video game. Quite why Ubisoft saw the need to cast a stereotypical yank as the prince I don't know. His dialogue is shockingly bad, corny, and just plain irritating. Elika isn't quite as bad, but she too grates after a while. Unfortunately, as 80% of the game is just the two of them traversing the landscape, it's inescapable. And you end up sometimes hoping the bad guys win just to shut him up. But of course - you can't die with Elika around (it's not like it makes it that easy - if you're fighting a bad guy and he knocks you about enough for Elika to intervene, the enemy just recuperates some energy. It works quite well actually).

Elika

Overall, I was impressed (especially for a tenner). My new TV makes it look bloody lovely on 720p, and leaping around is rather good fun once you get the basics right. There are many similarities between Prince of Persia and Assassins Creed (they're both made by Ubisoft so it's hardly a shock) and whilst I think AC is the better game, you could do a lot worse than PoP to enhance your game score and show off how amazing your 360/PS3 can look. Like it's middle-eastern-based cousin, Assassins Creed (which probably suit the title 'Prince of Persia more) repetition can and will set in. The formula of 'find world, traverse world, find boss of world, kill boss, heal world' is pretty much it. Luckily doing all that can be pretty good fun.

Ian's Score: 7.5

Welcome!

I play plenty of games, but never really find the time to discuss them, so what better way is there for me to ramble on about them than via the t'interweb?

Whenever I get chance, I'll give my thoughts on my games collection and give them a score out of ten.

Why not, eh? It'll be fun.