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(More customer reviews)I've never been a fan of movie-based video games. You either play the game before watching the movie, and get yourself spoiled, or the other way around. It's a similar story when I was deciding whether to get Batman Begins. This is especially so when reviews on major gaming sites have unanimously slammed this game as an also-ran. Still, I went with my gut feeling and bought it anyhow, and I haven't regretted since.
If you've watched the movie, you'd notice that the plot in this game follows the one in the movie closely. I won't call it an exact replica, but you basically play through the movie, with variations as to how some objectives are achieved. You begin with a prologue, which takes you through some of the basics of the games. This is then followed by the Himalayans training section, which teaches you even more controls. From then on, you pretty much spend your game in Gotham, and boy, what a beautiful city this is.
Gotham is a sight to behold because the graphics in this game are quite awesome. The game takes you to various locales from the movie, like the earlier mentioned Himalayas, the Gotham Docks where Batman downed Falcone, and the Arkham Asylum where the Scarecrow operates, etc. The characters faces are really lifelike, but this is of course expected, since they are modeled after the actors. You also get to see actual footage from the movie, which is a nice touch that pushes the story forward a little in between the levels.
The controls for the game are quite straightforward. With the PS2, you get to kick using the triangle button and punch using the square button. When your enemy is close to expiry, you can use the circle button to "finish" him off. The X button is used for jumping. The shoulders buttons allow you to equip items and use them, as well as blocking an attack and rolling on the ground. It's all quite basic, and overall adequate in undergoing the various missions.
The game itself has several elements. You can call it an action game, but it's also a stealth game. Since an unarmed Batman is often easily wasted by an opponent with guns, you will need to sneak up on these opponents by patiently waiting for your chance, before performing a stealth kill on them. You can also use fear tactics to scare these dudes into dropping their guns, and these include sending boxes of crates towards them, setting off a security alarm (for a few times) and using a crane to lift a car up in midair. All these sound rather confusing, but the design of the game makes it very easy to achieve, and the linear nature of the game means that you're almost always told what to do so you won't get lost.
The game also feels like a Prince of Persia game at times, what with all the jumping around. Finding a way from point A to point B requires a careful scrutiny of the environment, and choosing the only right way to proceed. Therefore, it's entirely possible to miss a jump and fall to your dismal death. The good thing is, you always begin at your last save point, so you won't need to backtrack too much. There are a lot of these save points too, so you can safely maneuver without worrying too much about dying.
There are also two levels in the game that turn the game into a racing game, albeit only for these levels. Much like the Burnout series (now wholly owned by EA), you get to control the Tumbler and set off a journey of taking opponents down (Road Rage), beating a time limit to a destination (Time Attack), and even finding a "boss car" to destroy using the Batmobile's weapons. Way cool, if you ask me.
The audios of this game are also awesome. Having voice-acting from the actual actors from the show is one thing. Making them sound like they actually care, and belong, to the game is another. The soundtrack is also dynamic, providing a really neat tribute to the dark nature of the movie.
My main complaint for this game is the quite frequent slowdown in frame rate. It almost always happens when I'm moving when a conversation by opponents is going on. It's quite frustrating because here you're trying to move quickly without getting noticed, yet the game doesn't let you. The camera angle is also quite clumsy at times, even though you've full control of what you want to see. Apart from these, I'm quite satisfied with the game on the whole.
So, here you have it. A review from a fan who actually played through the game twice. Ok, maybe I'm pleased because I didn't have high expectations. But seriously, for a game that provides so much fun, I think the bad reviews are perhaps a little too harsh. Don't trust me for that though. Get hold of the game and try it for yourself. You may end up being a fan too.
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Batman BeginsProduct Description: To be released on the same day as the highly-anticipated movie, Batman Begins follows the film as it explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city across 14 Gotham City locales.
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