Batman: Arkham Asylum, Hubba Hubba Hubba, Who do you trust?

I bought into the hype of the "Guiness Book of World Records Most Critically Acclaimed video game" and got my hands on a copy of Batman: Arkham Asylum for PS3. I may be a few months late to the party, but the dust has settled and I wanted to find out for myself. I played a demo at the local video game retailer earlier in the summer and was somewhat confused. All I was experiencing at the kiosk was a button mashing brawler. I had my fun for 3 minutes, thought I understood what the game was about then went to the used PS2 game bin to check for copies of "Super Trucks Racing" for $1.99. A month or two closer to the game's release date, I downloaded the PS3 demo and got a little more in depth and found there was an art to the button mashing and detective mode/sneaking/puzzle solving elements I wasn't able to uncover in my previous Batman: AA experience. I was hooked, but low on funds and trying to clear my gaming schedule for another triple A release coming up in the fall.

Christmas came and went, and a copy of Batman: AA found its way under my tree. With little hesitation I hit the eject button and send MW2 shooting across the room. I put Batman in the PS3 and embarked on one of the most entertaining and fulfilling video game journeys in my time. The opening sequence sets the tone and pulls the player into a story he or she would want to play to the end. Once the ball gets rolling the player takes control of Batman and creeps,skulks,swings,crawls and brawls through various areas of Arkham in search of the Joker. The game utilizes a "Detective Mode" mechanic that uncovers clues and hints that the naked eye would not find. This implementation is crucial to following the trail left by an enemy or citizen in need of assistance. It also uncovers other objectives such as; Riddler Trophies hidden in every area of the map, Riddler puzzles, which are riddles that are solved by using the Detective Mode option and "scanning the scene", locations of Interview tapes, which add back story and content to characters mentioned in the game and other normally unseen elements like secret walls that can be broken.

The free flow fight system may seem like mindless spamming of the square button, but after some experimenting and practice the player can control the chaos of a fight but precisely timed button presses,direction cues, and using the other face buttons to perform a long combo
that chains moves together to keep Batman bouncing around the screen from enemy to enemy. This experience really puts the player in Batman's cape and cowl. I personally felt like a complete bad ass stringing together 20+ hits on enemies and clearing a room. After you master the system you can dictate the tempo of every encounter and escape almost everything unscathed, just remember the counter attack button is your friend.

On top of the engaging story mode, there are challenge modes to play. The player has the options to sneak around a level in the shortest time possible, other maps where the player has 4 rounds to defeat a wave of enemies and other variants. These add another complete game and an arena to practice your free flow fight skills. I am still chasing the trophy for 40+ combo. I reached 36, I know I can get to 40 and these challenge modes will keep me playing now that I finished the story.

I can only bring to light one down side to this game, length. I realize that if all trophies are found, all riddles are solved, all upgrades are made,significant time to exploring and playing the game are added. However, the end came very abruptly. I was telling Egan that I would beat the game by the weekend, expecting only to play an hour or so a night 2 or 3 nights this week. I ended up only have 45 minutes or so left, and didn't realize it was the end. I will keep this
spoiler free, but will just say you won't realize it is over until the credits roll. The game leaves you hanging on, waiting on a new objective to be added.

After all was said and done, I highly recommend this game. It is still $59.99 new, if you can afford it and look to add a solid game with replay value its worth it. The used market is still a bit expensive, I saw it for $54.99. If you can hold out until it drops to $49.99 new or
$39.99 used in the next 6 months, make your move. This is a must have for any gamer.

Elder Scrolls MMO, Notes and this weekend

I have been playing MMORPGs for years now, I played Everquest back in the day, switched to World of Warcraft upon it's launch. I took a little over a year off from WoW, where in that time I played Age of Conan, Warhammer Online, Tabula Rasa, and more than likely 2-3 other MMOs that I can't even remember anymore. Massively.com are reporting that Bethesda, the makers of The Elder Scroll Series and Fallout 3, have been working on an MMO for about a year now. There are rumors going around saying that it is based in the Elder Scrolls world, which pleases me greatly. If you read my Dragon Age: Origins post, you know that I am a huge fan of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, and I consider it to be the golden standard of single player RPG games. I have always thought, The Elder Scrolls world was tailor made for an MMO, and it seems that Bethesda agrees. I assume the game is still at least two years away, but until then, I will look forward to it eagerly.

Within the next week or so, Kyle and I are going to meet to get the Podcast going, which is going to be very entertaining, at least we hope so. I also purchased my PAX East ticket today, which should be a very fun time. Kyle and I are going with a camera to capture the ridiculous cosplay, as well as, to get some exclusive interviews that only the D-Pad D-Bags can get.

This weekend, I plan to continue working on a TF2 game play video, I have about an hours worth of play footage now. Unfortunately, there isn't a ton of highlights yet, mainly because I am just not that good. I still love playing the game, and I actually got decent at spy out of nowhere, and unlocked the Ambassador and the new watch, plus, I got Jarate for the sniper! If you are looking to play TF2 with me, add me on Steam, Phegan. Otherwise, you could always hunt down Kyle in COD:MW2. I am also working on leveling a healer in Warcraft, apparently, healers no longer like to play in my guild, so we are in dire need of them. So, I will definitely be spending time doing that. If you wish, come find me on Doomhammer, I should be on Phegan or Phezus...say hello.

This week, in gaming.

So, I figured that I would give an update of what I have been playing lately. A fair amount of my time has been taken up by World of Warcraft, I am raiding 3 nights a week, doing casual 10 mans with my old crew. We killed Festergut last week, and we are having trouble with Rotface, mainly because people are idiots and don't know how to run to the correct spot. I have a Festergut kill video, which I have included. The quality is shit, I will figure out how to get better quality on future videos, but we do have our "Lando Magic" logo in it. Lando Magic originated when I had missed a raid due to going to an Orlando Magic v. Boston Celtics game. When I mentioned it on ventrilo, someone thought I said Lando Magic. It eventually became our name for Heroism, so when I needed our Shaman to use it, I would tell "Lando Magic!" on vent. It also became our logo with Lando Calrissian swinging his cape and birds flying out of it...exactly what you think of when someone says "Lando Magic". Tonight, I am going to a Chicago Bulls v. Boston Celtics game, so I will be missing the raid again, but hopefully they can slay some bosses.

Here is the Festergut kill video:


I am still playing Plants v. Zombies, it's such an amazing game. I really enjoy tower defense games, and Plants v. Zombies is a great new take on the genre. I have finished story, puzzle and mini-game modes, and I am currently working on survival mode, which can get pretty hard. I also have a zen garden, that consists of me watering plants, them giving me coins, and a snail picking them up for me. There is an iPhone version of the game coming out this month, I highly recommend it to anyone who has an iPhone.

I am still playing Team Fortress 2 all the time. I really love that game. I am average, if not slightly below average at this point, but I am getting my groove back, similar to Stella. I have been playing a ton of Demoman trying to unlock the Eyelander. I also played some sniper, which I am decent at, most likely my second best class, Soldier being the best. If you are interested in playing with me, just add Phegan to your steam friends, and join the server I am on. The Rar gaming community had a server for a short period of time, but everyone has moved on to other games, and the server eventually died off. In other TF2 news, Valve just announced that they will be allowing players to make content, including hats and avatars, for the game and submit it to them. I need to make something good and submit it. Per usual, they made a funny blog post about it. If you don't follow the TF2 Blog, I highly recommend it.

To round out my week of playing, I have Defense Grid: The Awakening. I picked it up for 2.49 on steam when it was on sale. Another tower defense game, with a spin. The purpose of the game is to stop aliens from getting to your control center, taking your energy cores, and removing them from the map. Unlike most tower defense games, they don't remove a life the second they get to your base, they actually have to grab a core and get off the map to take a life. It's very fun so far.

With Mass Effect 2 coming out this month, I really need to finish Mass Effect. I might take some time and blitz through the story line this week to finish it up. I also still have Mirror's Edge to finish. Return to Ostagar, the first DLC, has been pushed back, released, unreleased and pushed back again, all this week. Once that comes out I am getting back into Dragon Age: Origins where I will play the Stone Prisoner, and Return to Ostagar.

In other news, I am taking part in a 4 week project challenge, where you take 4 weeks to work on something, and complete it within that time. My first challenge will be getting my browser game into super pre-alpha, I also plan on working on a script or two, shooting some sketches and figuring out other things I can do.

In other D Pad D Bag news, Kyle and I will be starting our podcast very soon, we are meeting within the next week or so to get that started. I plan on using fraps to capture the majority of my game play in the coming months. I need to figure out how to have it grab game audio, instead of microphone audio though. As much as I know you guys will enjoy hearing me breath into a microphone while watching me shoot rockets in Team Fortress 2, I figure you might enjoy actual game sound more. Plus, I will run out of funny songs to use over the action eventually. Joe has also been working on a logo for us. It should be popping up on the site soon, but it is excellent. You can also notice that my xfire and xbox live gamertags are not showing up at the top of the site, feel free to add me as a friend on either. I am working on a PSN gamertag for Kyle, and a steam one for myself.

Happy 2010, I am alive, and have been gaming!

Now that the holiday honeymoon of new games is winding down, I have some
time to sit down and share my thoughts. I got through Modern Warfare 2
on Veteran 100%, and I only need to finish Spec Ops and get another 60
stars and I will have all the trophies. I grew tired of the multiplayer
about the time I got some new games for Christmas so things have worked
out. I am cleansing my pallete with Batman Arkham Asylum. Holy Shit! The
free flow combat system has a bit of a learning curve,but once I figured
it out it is such a fulfilling and rewarding feeling completing a 20+
chain. The detective and forensic modes offer a unique feature I have
not scene in games before. The sneaking, stalking and hiding
elements,although not as intensive as the combat, are closer to what
Metal Gear Solid 4 should have been. I have been focusing on the story
mode mainly, but have played some of the challenges and am reminded of
brawler games that kept me playing for hours when I was young like Final
Fight, Streets of Rage, TMNT and Double Dragon. Waves of enemies coming
endlessly, and my only option to stay alive is to fight my way out. This
game gives you an glimpse of what it is like to be The Batman.
Especially when Harley starts some Japanese spin kick combo and Batman
shuts her down real quick @ the Penitentiary. Classic BAMF moments like
that are what all wanna be super heroes dream of doing.

I am waiting to complete Batman's story mode before I start back into
GTA: IV. I started on this a month an a half ago and was having a good
time. Im not too far into the game,but I am further into this than any
other game in the series between GTA 3 and IV. I look forward to what
goes on and have not read any spoilers. Call me a dipshit for being
entertained by the story of GTA IV, but I am interested in what happens
next.

News came out recently NBA Jam is getting a current gen release. Color
me excited, except for the rumor of the game being Wii exclusive. I
believe the NBA Jam franchise could have been lucrative for Midway if
they kept up with it after the 16-bit Era. As a non fan of pro
basketball, yet a fan of playing a video game version of it, there has
been a gaping void for myself, and others like me who want to break the
backboard after a half court dunk. I hope NBA Jam stays true to the
original formula on a Wii release. 2 on 2, fast paced arcade style, with
basic 2D graphics. Tinkering with that could turn the retro gaming
enthusiast or NBA Jam fan away. Some where between the 16-bit style and
the NHL Hits style on Xbox would be top notch.

Something else I am eagerly anticipating is the rumor of a public Sing
Star video library on PS3. Sing along Karaoke videos of oddities and
freak shows could supply hours upon hours of entertainment no actual
game could provide. This is along the same lines of watching American
Idol reject shows, or watching an On Demand dating channel. People
showing off in a public forum, with the intent of being noticed for
being talented is riveting when they are being noticed for embarrassing
themselves.

Stay tuned for some more insights. I have been tied up with work, MGS:
Peacewalker demo, MW2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and watching the entire
G.I.Joe cartoon boxset as well as other wastes of time on Blu-Ray and
DVD. Happy 2010