Batman: Arkham City

[Midnite]

It was bound to happen eventually 

[MJB]

Been playing the game casually since it came out. I completed the story mode earlier today and it was quite rewarding.

[captmorgan72]

Been playing the game casually since it came out. I completed the story mode earlier today and it was quite rewarding.

Are you going to play it again?

[Alphanaut]

I'm planning to buy this game. From what I've read, it seems like Metal Gear Solid / Splinter Cell with a Batman makeover. It's been getting ridiculously good reviews from all-corners.

Funny you should mention Metal Gear Solid, because one of the cut scenes reminded me alot of it.
Walking down one of the corridors....

Spoiler

The game seizes up. I freaked out, as I thought my luck had run out and my 360 had finally RROD'd... Only to have the intro cinematic start playing again, and when you try and skip it, it asks you to push a mysterious "J" button...

I won't ruin the rest of it, but it kept me on my toes.

[MJB]

Been playing the game casually since it came out. I completed the story mode earlier today and it was quite rewarding.

Are you going to play it again?

Sure am. On hard this time to see how much of a challenge it is.

[captmorgan72]

I'm planning to buy this game. From what I've read, it seems like Metal Gear Solid / Splinter Cell with a Batman makeover. It's been getting ridiculously good reviews from all-corners.

Funny you should mention Metal Gear Solid, because one of the cut scenes reminded me alot of it.
Walking down one of the corridors....

Spoiler

The game seizes up. I freaked out, as I thought my luck had run out and my 360 had finally RROD'd... Only to have the intro cinematic start playing again, and when you try and skip it, it asks you to push a mysterious "J" button...

I won't ruin the rest of it, but it kept me on my toes.

Spoiler

This just happen to me last night. I too freaked out and thought my 360 died. Isn't this game the greatest.

[bredon7777]

Anybody else do the viral marketing game too?  Cute little twist at the end of that that explains how Joker got access to Arkham security and who helped him.

[Podmark]

Finished it last night. Ending was a little disappointing but otherwise I loved the game. I got most of the secrets but need to put some work into getting the last ones.

[The Phantom Eyebrow]

I'm really loving this game, the gameplay, the look, the story, the voice-acting... its all great!  I'm the stinky Batman!

It feels to me that there's quite a bit of Bioshock in there, as well as Metal Gear Solid.  My only minor quibble is the amount of hints and instructions it gives you as you go.  Although I suppose it makes sense seeing as Batman is such a great detective and all that, and I might have taken a while working out how to take down Bane without the help. 

How are people enjoying the Challenge maps?  I have two unlocked at this stage (go me!) and they're great for practicing your skills.  however, I CANNOT manage the stealth level with the Joker.  His gadgets are great fun, but not as good as Batmans.  The main problems I have are the lack of a rappling device (whatever its called) and the fact that you have to stand still while he uses his scanner glasses.  Also, due to the way his controls are set up I have on several occiasions when trying to scan the surroundings instead fired a gun into the wall, alerting all the guards to my presence.   

I'll probably leave this bit for a while until I've played the campaign some more.  I'm hoping that in time there'll be DLC allowing you to play the other characters in the campaign.  Someone like Bane or Croc might kick arse on the battle maps but have real trouble on the stealth one, whereas Harley or Scarecrow might have better stealth skills.  Each would present a different challenge if they would do this. 

[Midnite]

GameStop Conference:

-New 360/PS3 challenge map on Sept. 17th for FREE!
-New PS3 challenge map on Sept. 24th for Free.

[Talavar]

The challenge maps are fun, but I have no idea how the people at the top of the leaderboards for them have scores as high as they do.  I blame robots.

[Midnite]

Eidos Admin response to piracy 

[Uncle Yuan]

Eidos Admin response to piracy 

Clever!

[bredon7777]

Eidos Admin response to piracy 

Clever!

Clever, yes.

Effective, not so much.

As someone in the comments section points out, it was "fixed" almost as soon as it was discovered. They kept people from pirating the game for..oh..maybe a couple of hours.a day tops..and legitimate customers still have to deal with invasive security programs that accomplish nothing.

When are publishers going to learn that DRM crap DOESN'T stop people from pirating their game and only gives people who buy the game legitimately headaches?

Now to be fair, I got this for my XBox so I didn't have to deal with any problems caused by security software.  But then again, I stopped buying PC games altogether so I would no longer have to deal with problems caused by security software.  And there are a lot of others like me.

Given that a substantial chunk of pirates would never buy the game under any conditions, I really honestly believe the sales increase they would get from dropping stupid DRM schemes would dwarf the actual sales loss from piracy.

[Trelau]

Given that a substantial chunk of pirates would never buy the game under any conditions, I really honestly believe the sales increase they would get from dropping stupid DRM schemes would dwarf the actual sales loss from piracy.

I concur. Batman got me hooked, but i get minium wage and i can barely  afford my rent + food money; so i'm definitly not gonna buy that game (maybe in a few years when the price is more affordable). So even if they magically make piracy disapear (wich is impossible) i'm not gonna make the video game industry win a single penny more. Because it's entertainment and it's not vital. If they want to make video game an elite industry that's fine by me, i have enought 5? books at home to read one different every week for two years. But don't they dare say that piracy is the only reason their game don't sell. One of the most succefull game developper put their game on the internet with no DRM, and also sold it in box for 40? (in europe a new game is sold 60? at best, it's coming closer to 70-75? these days): that game was a hit.  i'll have to find an english translation of that article

[Sevenforce]

When are publishers going to learn that DRM crap DOESN'T stop people from pirating their game and only gives people who buy the game legitimately headaches?

This is so very true...

Fallout 3 - bought it the day it came out, rushed it home, tried to install it - seemed to install for a while, then stopped in its tracks. I eject the disk, try again. Same problem. I give up, and let the computer sit for a day, checking the task manager, seeing what can be the problem.

Starting the computer in safe mode - installs fine and dandy. I reboot back to normal system, and now it won't run. Now, I only have one disk drive, and its such a hassle ejecting, replacing, ejecting, replacing, all the programs that need CD's, especially when some of them, I need 2 cds running at once. Turns out, after some forum browsing, the DRM was having a problem with the legitimate CD spoofing software (Nero - yeah, I know -_-).

This meant the game wouldn't install, and I couldn't run it while Nero was running. So, if I want to play Fallout, I have to make sure I'm doing pretty much nothing else in the background. Very, very frustrating. Worth it, though .

Batman PC has been delayed here until the 29th, I think was the date, so I'm hoping that this problem won't be as prevalent with it.

[steamteck]

When are publishers going to learn that DRM crap DOESN'T stop people from pirating their game and only gives people who buy the game legitimately headaches?

I wish it would be soon but I have little hope. However if a publisher did they would be way more likely to get my money.

[Midnite]

Official Batman DLC details

[Tortuga]

When are publishers going to learn that DRM crap DOESN'T stop people from pirating their game and only gives people who buy the game legitimately headaches?

This is so very true...

Fallout 3 - bought it the day it came out, rushed it home, tried to install it - seemed to install for a while, then stopped in its tracks. I eject the disk, try again. Same problem. I give up, and let the computer sit for a day, checking the task manager, seeing what can be the problem.

Starting the computer in safe mode - installs fine and dandy. I reboot back to normal system, and now it won't run. Now, I only have one disk drive, and its such a hassle ejecting, replacing, ejecting, replacing, all the programs that need CD's, especially when some of them, I need 2 cds running at once. Turns out, after some forum browsing, the DRM was having a problem with the legitimate CD spoofing software (Nero - yeah, I know -_-).

This meant the game wouldn't install, and I couldn't run it while Nero was running. So, if I want to play Fallout, I have to make sure I'm doing pretty much nothing else in the background. Very, very frustrating. Worth it, though .

Batman PC has been delayed here until the 29th, I think was the date, so I'm hoping that this problem won't be as prevalent with it.

That's why I buy games for the 360 -- no installs (unless I want it to run off my harddrive, in which case the install is hassle-free), few wacky bugs, and when there are, they're often patched quickly and effortlessly.  Sure, high end PCs yield a better graphic experience (marginally, but better) but that ain't worth $2500 to have a kick-arse PC that'll be out of date within 6 months.

[Spe-Dog]

Y'know that really is cool, no sarcasm intended, but most of us also want alternate costumes and we kind o got hosed in that respect with this game.  I do hope that Eidos changes this down the line.

[Podmark]

There's two free challenge maps available online now.

[Flying_Fox]

Two words.... CUSTOM FREAKING SKINS!! Some of the great skinners from this site need to get invloved me thinks

http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=92752

[tommyboy]

Two words.... CUSTOM FREAKING SKINS!! Some of the great skinners from this site need to get invloved me thinks

http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthread.php?t=92752

Those skins only work in the demo version, not the full game, at the moment...

[Flying_Fox]

I think they work in the steam version, just not retail.

[tommyboy]

I think they work in the steam version, just not retail.

Interesting..I'll have to look/read more closely...

[tommyboy]

Anyway, been playing a few days, and its a demn fine game.
Beautiful graphics, good story, plenty of gameplay variety, and surprisingly good combat.
I'm trying wean myself off of perma-using "detective mode" as the xray specs make it a bit too easy. Maybe I should play through on "hard" after I finish.
And it's by no means just a "stealth-em-up", I've boldly strolled into packs of 8 thugs for some fun combat action, trying to pull off long combo strings and balletic martial arts move.
And when stealth and fisticuffs will not suffice, I amuse myself trying to solve all the Riddlers puzzles and find all the extra bits.
All in all, I'd give it a 9 out of 10 so far, (and bear in mind that I wouldn't give any game 10 out of 10 because I'm a curmudgeon).
I'm the golly-gosh Batman!

[detourne_me]

I couldn't agree more Tom!
could anyone lend me a hand?

Spoiler

I just beat Harley, and now I'm supposed to get into the room filled with gas, the 2 guards can't turn on the ventilation.  i'm kind of stuck. Should I just go outside and find the botanical garden?

[Podmark]

I couldn't agree more Tom!
could anyone lend me a hand?

Spoiler

I just beat Harley, and now I'm supposed to get into the room filled with gas, the 2 guards can't turn on the ventilation.  i'm kind of stuck. Should I just go outside and find the botanical garden?

Is that the one where Cash is and a doctor are stuck?

[Uncle Yuan]

I couldn't agree more Tom!
could anyone lend me a hand?

Spoiler

I just beat Harley, and now I'm supposed to get into the room filled with gas, the 2 guards can't turn on the ventilation.  i'm kind of stuck. Should I just go outside and find the botanical garden?

Spoiler

Basically you short the security lock that is feeding power to the flooded area just past Harley's bunker - it's the one on the wall right next to the windows H is behind.  At that point she triggers the timer on the trap.  In that first flooded area is the security lock that is charging the power to the flooded areas under the suspended guards.  Short that.  At this point Harley will shorten the timer.  Use batarangs to cut down the guards - if you are reasonably close to them the quick batarang will auto-target the ropes.  Run back to the main entrance and short the lock that is locking you in.  This is a very hard lock and can be kind of tricky. Once you do that you and the two guards will run out sealing the gas behind you.  There's a lot of trophies in that room, but you'll need some other gadgets that you won't get until later on in order to get them.

[Tomato]

finished my first run-through a week or so ago, once I finally got it (PC version being two weeks later to release and all...) and... wow. I kinda dreaded going through it because I typically hate stealth games, but honestly... there's so much versatility with what you can do I didn't ever feel cornered.

not that the game was sunshine and roses for me mind you... I'm thinking about going through again but the prospect of having to once again play through the Scarecrow and Croc stuff all over again annoys me. All in all though, I felt like this was finally a Batman game worthy of the character.