New Batman: Arkham Asylum trailer is deceptively good

by Justin McElroy on Dec 8th 2008 3:25PM

Being able to tell if a game is going to be good or not from an exquisitely edited trailer is a tough skill to hone, like picking out the faint hints of chestnut in a fine wine. That said, we like to think we're fairly good at it, and this new trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum actually has us a little concerned about the game.

There's no one single thing we can point to; heck, we might just be sad this isn't The Dark Knight. It's possible we're completely wrong, in fact, we hope we are. But, all things considered, it's tough to blame us for being cautious.

Help us out guys. Let us know what you think, so we can rip off your opinions and sound really smart the next time we post about it.

Source

Tags: batman, batman-arkham-asylum, eidos, PS3, rocksteady, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (96)

I must say, I agree.

the trailer says for PS3, XBOX360 and Games for Windows. I fould the Wii version!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZqUSQzukOI

Please be awesome, Batman. I know you have it in you.

it looks good but they still aren't showing any actual gameplay here. I want to see how the combat works more than anything. Is this just a straight up beat-em up? Or is there going to be more to it?

Sure is pretty though.

Its supposed to be more like a stealth action game than anything else.

Splinter cell + Thief is the best description I can think of right now.

I was looking for gameplay myself and about the only thing that looked like it fit the bill was a glimpse of batman pressed against a wall while a grenade(?) went off nearby.

Visual stylings are good. I have a good feeling about this game, but it has nothing to do with the trailer.

Hmm. Too much cutscene, not enough gameplay.

I must say that I'm looking forward to seeing more on this game. The thing that I'm concerned about is the combat. Given that it takes place in Arkham, I think they need to do a good job of making you feel kind of powerless. Unless they take the game in a different direction that I'm thinking they will...

I hope that it's like a superhero, semi-survival horror game.

Also does anyone else get a big vibe of Riddick from this?

why should you feel powerless? Batman has a friggin auxiliary Batcave in Arkham, and most importantly, he's fucking Batman.

Well, I misspoke, I suppose. Not powerless, but I want it to feel tense. Even if he's Batman, he seems to be isolated in Arkham with a shit-ton of villains. I don't want it to seem like each villain will take their turn to get him and wait politely until the other has been trounced before they move in. (Like in the old school martial arts movies...)

But I haven't read too much about it. I'm just making assumptions from what I've seen in the videos. I just want it to be a little more on the stealth and avoidance side than the action side. But that's me.

Dark Wayne:

And you would know this because...?

J/k.

The perfect Batman game would be 1/2 Stealth 1/2 Action and all awesome.

With the story and setting they are going towards I'd say they have a chance of pulling it off.

That is only two halves. A good Batman game would have more than just two halves.

Actually, you can only have 2 halves. But I guess that's besides the point.

It doesn't really matter how much stealth or action there is. What matters is if the story is good, and then how it's delivered. You can have an awesome game to play but have the story suck, then you wouldn't be really happy now would you? Unless you don't are about plot.

@kusanagikei,

Actually I think it was more the joke than beside the point. I mean, we all know Batman is greater than 100% awesome.

Exactly - a perfect Batman game would be 1/2 stealth, 1/2 action, 1/2 detective work, 1/2 great storyline and 1/2 gadgets-not-being-used-in-a-stupid-way. Also, 1/2 great villains.

And 100% Awesome.

And no Robin.

how dare you mention the word "story" in a Justin Mcelroy post?!? That's blasphemy! You could get shot for saying things like that. Careful...

They're using the classic joker image, not the new Heath Ledger joker.

Anyway... I can't see anything negative to say about the game, I can't say it's looking particularly good either.

Them's fightin' words...

The game will feature Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy,that alone means i will buy it.

Indeed. That will make the game so much worthwhile.

Don't worry, it will be terrible. It is based on a movie after all.

sarcasm?

Anyways, its not base on a movie.

Loads of it. : )

I thought it was based off the awesome graphic novel Arkham Asylum?

I recommend it to anyone who doesn't think books are worthless.

Just because it's named arkham asylum doesn't mean it's based on that particular graphic novel. As far as I know the writing is original and Arkham Asylum has been featured countless times in the comics

Going to be awesome. It is Batman. Really wish we would get a free roam Batman game already. The Dark Knight has such promise. But then they canceled the game. Still, best movie of 2008 and one of the best ones of all time

I watched it a few times until I was finally able to determine what it was that made me uneasy - it was the Eidos logo. Definitely the Eidos logo. And the fact that it's a Batman game. I can't name a single good Batman game.

I can, good sir.

Batman Vengeance. Not only did it good pretty good reviews, it also happens to be a personal favorite of mine.

you have turned my world upside down. Never played vengance, but now I feel I must do so to experience a Batman game that doesn't make hurt my soul

err, I mean, "that doesn't hurt my soul"

Vengeance was pretty halfway decent. At least, as a Batman fan it didn't feel like I was suffering through it like with most Batman games.

I agree the Eidos logo is a pretty ominous thing to see however... gonna have to wait for reviews and possibly a demo and/or rental before committing to this one.

the Batman Begins game wasn't terrible, and although mostly just cliches from stealth and action games, it did try some cool stuff like the fear meter.

I'm pretty sure that Batman on the NES was also a very good game. I remember it being freaking hard. Of course I was only 12 at the time so I could be completely blind by nostalgia.

you sir, are the pinnacle of douchedom.

animation looks pretty stiff and dumb looking...otherwise it looks alright

/agreed.

I'd love for this game to be good. But the characters movements looked a little stiff. Not necessarily a game breaker though.

Its a must buy in my book.

I hope somehow EA ends up publishing it just so you won't buy it.

I'm not judging it on anything until i hear about the casting, gameplay, combat and story.

Pretty graphics are cool, and it looks the part, but lets not jump the gun.

im just saying if they one this game to sell they should get with the times, and make the joker recognizable(heath ledgers joker) not the old gay looking one( another reason why i dont like MKv.DC)

Killer Croc looks pretty cool. He looks like he did in the "Gotham Knight" animated movie, more croc and less man.

The Joker looks awesome, looks like The Killing Joke or The Man Who Laughs

You're such a damn tool.

I found those constant flashes in the video to be seizure inducing. It took two of my coworkers to hold me down and make certain I didn't swallow my tongue.

You see, to you, the day flashy videos came to your village and induced seizures was the worst day of your life.

But to me...it was Tuesday.

Here here. Lots of flashy flashy is a cheap way of distracting from content. I know this is because I use the same techniques when I have to create a 'good' commercial with shit for material.

That is what scares me about this game. However, being a dolt, I'll tie my crossed fingers together until I am, once again, left saddened and upset that one of the best possible video game scenarios has been trashed.

But maybe....

I take it that you haven't read the graphic novel The Killing Joke.
I like Heath's Joker, but in the Killing Joke the classic Joker in terrific form.

Plus did you watch the animated TV series? Awesome.

who cares about the comics..

the only reason this game exist its cuz of the success of TDK thats why the joker is always the front face of everything Batman... they are just trying to milk the cow but they arent milking it in the right way

Okay, this has become a farce.

@Marius

Heath Ledger's Joker is just one version (albeit a very good one) of the character, it's not (far from) the only legitimate one.

"Who cares about the comics" is an ignorant statement since without them Ledger's Joker would never have come to be; and as good as the Joker story was in TDK there are waaaay better ones in the comics.

p.s. It is accepted in many circles that the Joker probably is gay and Ledger's portrayal nodded to that many times ("you...you just couldn't let me go, could you?")

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New Batman: Arkham Asylum trailer is deceptively good

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