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Mass Effect 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum
#1
fade
fade
In my series of "Fade gets around to playing older games", I've played both of these.
ME2: Very nice. Beautiful art, immersive environments, excellent voice acting, and an intriguing story. They best parts about this game were the stories. It sat at a nice difficulty level on veteran (one up from normal), though perhaps a little too easy. The female Shepard voice actor was much much better than the male. I played through a female paragon adept with humans ruling the council, and started a male renegade engineer with the old council intact. Adept + sniper rifle was a sweet combo. Singularity + scope = dead baddies. A great deal of thought went into the background story, and the codex was fun to read. Not too many gripes, actually. LOAD TIMES, holy crap. Those were stupid. I don't understand this new gen paradigm of reloading after death. I don't get it. Is it intentional as a punitive thing? I mean, the level is already in memory, what's to load? Also, no real bosses until you get to the very end. The "bosses" before that are just regular joes with a tougher shield. Could've done without the hammerhead stuff, too. I know it was (free) DLC, but still, it was there. The mining mechanic got boring after a while. Starting a new game was fun, though, because they give you a ton of upgrades for a second play. I'd go so far as to give this a 9/10, with one point off for the load times. They were bad enough to be intrusive.
Batman: Arkham Asylum: Okay, I know I'll take a fade hit for this one, but I have to go against the grain, at least a little. It was nice seeing the old voice crew together again, but damn, the character models were not very appealing (except Harley, grrroowwl). Batman looked like Wolverine, and Gordon looked like a toothless Garfield the cat. They did the mo-cap shuffle to the point that I thought they looked like marionettes. I went from Uncharted 2 and ME2 where fluid motion and facial expressions were the norm, to batman action figures on strings. Especially the facial expressions. Nothing like watching a dead-faced Harley talking in Arleen Sorkin's awesome voice, but with an unchanging face. That's like PS1. Even on HARD, this game is easy. It punches for you, and gives a block AND a stun AND an evade. Plus, you can batarang the baddies! Cakewalk. Only the knives and stun batons ever really posed any challenge. That and the two Titans + assload of baddies pouring in in the endgame. Joker's fight was a ... joke. Speaking of easy, they give you a MAP for the secrets! A map! And detective mode practically spells out how to get the goodies, even if you forgot.
Still, it was fun playing Bats. The scarecrow levels were my favorite because they did the scary stuff well. I'm not saying it was a bad game---just really easy (and short, even collecting all 240 riddler puzzles, since they're on the way). It's fun having action and puzzles in the same game. The whole feel was like a nice, less frightening survival horror without ammo issues. Overall, good game. I'd give it a 7/10. Points off for dead character animation and unchallenging gameplay.
ME2: Very nice. Beautiful art, immersive environments, excellent voice acting, and an intriguing story. They best parts about this game were the stories. It sat at a nice difficulty level on veteran (one up from normal), though perhaps a little too easy. The female Shepard voice actor was much much better than the male. I played through a female paragon adept with humans ruling the council, and started a male renegade engineer with the old council intact. Adept + sniper rifle was a sweet combo. Singularity + scope = dead baddies. A great deal of thought went into the background story, and the codex was fun to read. Not too many gripes, actually. LOAD TIMES, holy crap. Those were stupid. I don't understand this new gen paradigm of reloading after death. I don't get it. Is it intentional as a punitive thing? I mean, the level is already in memory, what's to load? Also, no real bosses until you get to the very end. The "bosses" before that are just regular joes with a tougher shield. Could've done without the hammerhead stuff, too. I know it was (free) DLC, but still, it was there. The mining mechanic got boring after a while. Starting a new game was fun, though, because they give you a ton of upgrades for a second play. I'd go so far as to give this a 9/10, with one point off for the load times. They were bad enough to be intrusive.
Batman: Arkham Asylum: Okay, I know I'll take a fade hit for this one, but I have to go against the grain, at least a little. It was nice seeing the old voice crew together again, but damn, the character models were not very appealing (except Harley, grrroowwl). Batman looked like Wolverine, and Gordon looked like a toothless Garfield the cat. They did the mo-cap shuffle to the point that I thought they looked like marionettes. I went from Uncharted 2 and ME2 where fluid motion and facial expressions were the norm, to batman action figures on strings. Especially the facial expressions. Nothing like watching a dead-faced Harley talking in Arleen Sorkin's awesome voice, but with an unchanging face. That's like PS1. Even on HARD, this game is easy. It punches for you, and gives a block AND a stun AND an evade. Plus, you can batarang the baddies! Cakewalk. Only the knives and stun batons ever really posed any challenge. That and the two Titans + assload of baddies pouring in in the endgame. Joker's fight was a ... joke. Speaking of easy, they give you a MAP for the secrets! A map! And detective mode practically spells out how to get the goodies, even if you forgot.
Still, it was fun playing Bats. The scarecrow levels were my favorite because they did the scary stuff well. I'm not saying it was a bad game---just really easy (and short, even collecting all 240 riddler puzzles, since they're on the way). It's fun having action and puzzles in the same game. The whole feel was like a nice, less frightening survival horror without ammo issues. Overall, good game. I'd give it a 7/10. Points off for dead character animation and unchallenging gameplay.
#2
Ravenpoe
Just a quick note on Batman. The combat on Batman is easy to get through the fight, but the real challenge is in trying to get the highest, most awesome combos. Is it required to defeat the baddies? No, but you're the Goddamn Batman!
If you liked it even a little, though, be sure to check out Arkham City. HOLY CRAP!
Ravenpoe
Snip.
Just a quick note on Batman. The combat on Batman is easy to get through the fight, but the real challenge is in trying to get the highest, most awesome combos. Is it required to defeat the baddies? No, but you're the Goddamn Batman!
If you liked it even a little, though, be sure to check out Arkham City. HOLY CRAP!
#3
Bowielee
Bowielee
Also, if you hate the look of the Batman in Arkham City, you can get the skin packs and make him look better. The Dark Knight Returns skin fits particularly well into the tone of the game, while still looking like it came out of the comic books. I prefer 70s Batman with the blue and grey color scheme. The Batman Beyond skin just looks horrible, though because they didn't re-preportion him.
Another note on Arkham Asylum, the physical combat isn't really the greatest part of the game, I'd argue that the stealth/predator modes are what really make you feel like Batman.
On the downside, they didn't get Arleen Sorken to come back as Harley. I found it very distracting. It was close enough to be a good impression, but you could just tell that it was a different voice actor.
Another note on Arkham Asylum, the physical combat isn't really the greatest part of the game, I'd argue that the stealth/predator modes are what really make you feel like Batman.
On the downside, they didn't get Arleen Sorken to come back as Harley. I found it very distracting. It was close enough to be a good impression, but you could just tell that it was a different voice actor.
#4
@Li3n
Because it felt like a bunch of stories glued together...
As for the combat... yeah, you can just batarang people non stop, but i for one couldn't do it, because i stopped feeling like Batman... once you stop thinking "i need to take out these guys" and go with "i need to take out these guys liek Batman would" it's a lot more fun...being taken out of a combo is like dying...
@Li3n
For me that was a point against the game...ME2:They best parts about this game were the stories.
Because it felt like a bunch of stories glued together...
You went at it the wrong way... i found it pretty awesome for imagining you're playing with action figures... they certainly all look the part.Batman: Arkham Asylum: They did the mo-cap shuffle to the point that I thought they looked like marionettes. I went from Uncharted 2 and ME2 where fluid motion and facial expressions were the norm, to batman action figures on strings. Especially the facial expressions.
As for the combat... yeah, you can just batarang people non stop, but i for one couldn't do it, because i stopped feeling like Batman... once you stop thinking "i need to take out these guys" and go with "i need to take out these guys liek Batman would" it's a lot more fun...being taken out of a combo is like dying...
#5
fade
fade
Yeah, I heard she didn't want to play Harley again. It seemed like she meant ever. That's too bad.Also, if you hate the look of the Batman in Arkham City, you can get the skin packs and make him look better. The Dark Knight Returns skin fits particularly well into the tone of the game, while still looking like it came out of the comic books. I prefer 70s Batman with the blue and grey color scheme. The Batman Beyond skin just looks horrible, though because they didn't re-preportion him.
Another note on Arkham Asylum, the physical combat isn't really the greatest part of the game, I'd argue that the stealth/predator modes are what really make you feel like Batman.
On the downside, they didn't get Arleen Sorken to come back as Harley. I found it very distracting. It was close enough to be a good impression, but you could just tell that it was a different voice actor.
#6
Bowielee
Bowielee
On the plus side, Peter McNicol plays the Mad Hatter. I love his voice for villains, even if they do all sound like X the Exterminator after watching Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law.
#7
ThatNickGuy
ThatNickGuy
I disagree on the Batman Beyond proportions. If Bruce were wearing the suit, it makes sense that he wouldn't be the string-bean that Terry was in the show. In fact, in the very first episode, there was a flashback with Bruce wearing the suit and it was pretty close to what we saw in the game.
#8
GasBandit
GasBandit
... oh, what's the matter, Arleen? Voice a character so well that she became beloved by all and made people actually give a shit what the name behind the voice was? How horrible. Yeah, can't do THAT ever again. I know how much voice actors HATE to have an opportunity for a steady meal ticket.Yeah, I heard she didn't want to play Harley again. It seemed like she meant ever. That's too bad.
#9
Ravenpoe
Ravenpoe
That's ok, I heard John Dimaggio offered to do it. And any other character you want, he doesn't give a shit.... oh, what's the matter, Arleen? Voice a character so well that she became beloved by all and made people actually give a shit what the name behind the voice was? How horrible. Yeah, can't do THAT ever again. I know how much voice actors HATE to have an opportunity for a steady meal ticket.
#10
GasBandit
Added at: 18:01
Haven't played arkham city yet myself, but just saw a picture of the AC harley... it looks like she couldn't be arsed to put her makeup all the way on, and then just decided not to even bother with a costume... just throw on a bustier-vest, some leather pants, and done. Oh, and some halfassed pigtails.
Edit - ok, reading up on it, the scuttlebutt is she didn't quit, they just thought she was too old to do the voice any more? If that's the case, I take it back.
GasBandit
He could probably pull it off, too.That's ok, I heard John Dimaggio offered to do it. And any other character you want, he doesn't give a shit.
Added at: 18:01
Haven't played arkham city yet myself, but just saw a picture of the AC harley... it looks like she couldn't be arsed to put her makeup all the way on, and then just decided not to even bother with a costume... just throw on a bustier-vest, some leather pants, and done. Oh, and some halfassed pigtails.
Edit - ok, reading up on it, the scuttlebutt is she didn't quit, they just thought she was too old to do the voice any more? If that's the case, I take it back.
#11
Frankie Williamson
Frankie Williamson
I liked his Joker.That's ok, I heard John Dimaggio offered to do it. And any other character you want, he doesn't give a shit.
#12
fade
fade
Also Batman: AA needs a HISHE. Batman may not want to kill Joker, but a) when Joker gave him the free shot, couldn't he have just bataranged him into submission without killing him? b) maybe Batman won't kill Joker, but I'm fairly certain that one of the cops flying around the rooftop in the final fight could've picked him off as he stood there on the rooftop.
#13
Hailey Knight
Hailey Knight
His Joker wasn't bad; he was just no Mark Hamill.I liked his Joker.
#14
Frankie Williamson
Frankie Williamson
No, but I don't mind them trying different things with different styles.