Customer Reviews

Batman Begins

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

Batman begins is a title i have looked forward to for months. Both the film and the game. I have been a huge Batman fan for years, but always felt in game play, the developers were missing a huge oppurtunity.

When i purchased this game, i was not expecting much. This is for two reason, the poor games batman has had in the past, and also because many movie/game crossovers leave something to be desired for. This is obviously accountable as many games take years to make, whereas a film is done in about one year, and both have to be similar so they need to be made side by side, giving the game developers little time to create the desired game.

However, i now have to say i really like this game. This is a totally new angle to Batman, a secretive and silent stalker that preys on his victims fear. The premise for the game is also a very complex one, making your enemies afraid before you strike. This idea is a brlliant one, but i do feel the game has a lot more potential.

For instance, your trusty batarang. There is one real problem with it, its considered a swiss army knife, it is used for everything. It can be used in this way in real life i know, but it does make the game a very predictable one at times.

I also felt that creating the fear was not developed enough. I felt that the game gives you one chance to scare them. For instance, in one room you knock down a dinosaur statue. This scare four or five thugs and then you go and finish them. Unfortunatly, i think that this idea could be devloped further. If i were designing it, i would set Batman into a very open environment, allowing the gamer to follow his own path around obsticales. I would also make the fear factor lengthier, by gettin rid of the one big fear maker and replace it with having to introduce many small explosions and sounds, from a variety of places.This is what happens in the film and in many horror films.

One real plus is the batmobile levels. Theu were so well enhanced and were the funnest part of the game, giving a break from the slow secretive gameplay and breaking out into a faster mode. It was so good that the developers added another level, unheard of in the film, just to keep it in there for longer.

Overall, it is a good game that will be enjoyed thoroughly by Batman fans. However, more neutral parties will be disappointed and will compare it to more impressive games, such as Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell.

First and foremost, this isn't a bad game. I enjoyed playing it very much, but I wanted more.

The graphics are stunning. I loved the dark gritty look of Gotham City and it's inhabitants. The characters were well done and the principle players looked remarkably like their real-life counterparts. The lighting effects within the game were great. Fires, sparks, shafts of light sifting through dusty crawlspaces... it just blew my mind. I'm usually very XBox biased, but this game made me see that the PS2 can produce graphics that can compete.

Beyond how the game looks, the controls were pretty easy to learn and were pretty intuitive. I didn't read the instruction book, and was off and running with very little trouble. The in-game help pop-ups and the training level with Ducard were great and didn't feel like an "Intro to being Batman" course. It fit in pretty seemlessly with the story. Driving the Batmobile was a joy. So much so, that I was disappointed that there is only two levels within the story.

With all that said, there are flaws here. Unfortunatly, the game is very short. I bought it on Thursday and finished it on the following Monday. It took maybe 10 hours to complete the game on the normal difficulty setting. I wanted more! I was also disappointed in the way the game handles all of Batman's goodies. Why is it that I can only throw the bat-a-rang when the game wants me to? Why can I only use the grappling hook in a limited few places? I wanted so much more in this area. Your main weapon is fear, but the only fear you are allowed to unleash on your enemys is that which the programmers set up for you. My last complaint...I wanted more extras. I loved all the movie clips and the interviews with the people who worked on the game. That stuff is always great to see. The alternative costumes are a good touch, too. I just wanted MORE! Maybe, I'm greedy, but I pay 39.99 for a game, I want my moneys worth.

In the end, I felt like I was on a very limited path through the game. I enjoyed the path very much, but I would have loved to be able to step off the path and work out new ways to terrify the bad guys out there.

Rent this game. Or, if movies are expensive in your area, buy it and take advantage of the free movie ticket. Enjoy the game and then trade it at your local game store. That way you'll get a free movie and a chance to play the game, but you'll only spend about the same amount of money that you would have if you'd just rented it.

Note to EA and WBIE: Do another Batman game! This one was fun and beautiful. Next time...Just give us more!

I've just finished the game and i have to say this is really great!
It really fits in well with the film, using the same actors voices and the characters look very similiar to their real-life counterparts.

As well as Batman, you get to play as Bruce Wayne in training before he becomes batman and also as Bruce in a tuxedo in a level which has the Wayne Manor in flames. Very cool.

The driving bits are great fun as well, very Burnout, with extra racing modes being unlocked after you beaten those levels.

The main gameplay consists of a mixture of combat and stealth. If Batman comes accross a group of heavily armed enemies, he will end up dyingh if he tries to tackle them directly. you need to use stealth to sneak up on them or even beter use your fear-gadgets or a batarang on your surroundings (e.g throw your batarang at a gas-pipe to burst it), to scare them a bit beforehand, making defeating the enemies easier.

The game isn't too difficult (though the combat seems to be a lot tougher in Challenging mode) and took me about 9 or 10 hours to beat in Normal mode.

The graphics are simply amazing. The levels graphics are some of the best i've seen on a PS2 game and the Batman charcater looks very cool in his bausuit and cape.

The game could have had a bit less linear with more ways of solving the situations that you come accross but at least it means you never get stuck for too long.

The controls are pretty straight forward, with 2 butons for combat (punch & kick) as well as another button for soing special finishing moves and other buttons for batarang and fear gadgets.

I won't re-hash what other reviewers have said in too much detail: The game does indeed look great, the fact that they corralled the ENTIRE principal cast of the film (except for Gary Oldman) to provide the voices is a major bonus, and it's *just* different enough from the movie to leave you guessing at certain points. The game focuses on stealth, which means that, in most cases, bursting through a door without checking or barrelling into a group of enemies will get you killed. Fortunately, most of the levels contain several checkpoints, which allow users to forego the tedium of having to start from the beginning if they mess up toward the end.

However, this isn't really a game that invites the player to revisit it. For one thing, the environment is very directed: You can look at the scenery all you like, but at no point can you really deviate from the prescribed path and explore. Crates and pipes litter the game, but you can only climb certain ones. Your weapons and gadgets are only active when the game deems them necessary. For example, you're only allowed to use your batarangs to, say, cut a specific support wire or break a specific window -- you can't access them in combat, or while roaming around. And the gadgets that you *can* access in combat -- smoke grenades and flash-bangs -- aren't active unless you're already engaged in hand-to-hand. You'd think that a game which rewards stealth would allow you to snipe an enemy from safety (if not to damage them, at least to throw them into confusion), but this is not the case.

The paths you must follow, and the items you're allowed to interact with, are usually clearly marked, which is both a blessing and a curse. It essentially keeps the player from puzzling it out on his own, which makes the game go faster, but... well, put it like this: I'm an older, occasional video game player. It usually takes me about two weeks to finish one of these games. I finished this one in three days of intermittent play on the "normal" difficulty setting. Exactly how challenging, then, would this be for the average teen or pre-teen?

And what is the reward for finishing the game? Well, you have the option of replaying it in a different costume. The "bonus" Batmobile levels are actually ones you played earlier in the game, minus the urgency you initially felt to beat them.

All in all, it's fun while it lasts, but it doesn't last very long, and there's no real reason to go back and try it again.

I got this game a few days ago, and it has great graphics, and the music is creepy, but in a good way. when i first got this game, i thought it would be like the spiderman games: just action and roaming the city. i was wrong. In this game, there are certain levels where u can roam the streets, but not many. Also, this game is complete stealth. If u try to sneak up on a guy who has a gun, and get caught, 5 shots and your DEAD. Overall, the action is great, but the stealth part is EXTREMLLY hard and if u die, u have to start at your last checkpoint, and there are not many checkpoints in a level. I would only recommend this game to people who are great at stealth videogames, and enjoy waiting 5 fricken minutes for a guy to turn around, so u can use steath on him.

Batman Begins is great, short, but yet real fun! you can enter a stealth mode so that the bad guys cant see you then make an awsome combat move, you can use smoke grendans and a sonic bomb which can summon bats the scare the crap outta the bad guys. But whats fustrating is you have to scare the bad guys so that they drop their guns cause then your dead. you scare then by throwing your bat -a-rang at objects and doing other stuff that makes them frightned. it follows the story line from the movie nothing else. its a great game, i found my self playing it again and again, cause i beat it so quickly since its so short, since it was short i just needed more batman so i kept on playing it new game after new game, if your not a big batman fan rent this game, if you are a big batman fan buy this game other then that peace out...

I got this game on my 10th birthday and a playstation 2 with it and when I started playing it,it was amazing and it is better than the batman dark tomorrow game although I don't have the batman dark tomorrow because I only have playstation 2,playstation,and Game Boy advance.They didn't make batman dark tomorrow on playstation 2 because it was cancelled on the playstation 2,but here are the three batman games I like Batman Rise of Sin TZU,Batman Vengeance,and the Batman Begins.If you want this game buy it.It is so much fun to play it.I think I got this game along with the new playstation 2 look at fry's electronics located at Oxnard near Costco,eb games,and gamestop has it.This is the most best game I ever played.

this game is great it lets you jump straight into the action as soon as you start it up,the levels are long but the game itself is short, that may be one of the things that lets it down along with the fact that it is too easy, i say just rent you'll be done in under a week

It's about time that I play a Batman Game that allows me to really "be" Batman, in the sense that you don't just go running around using bad-balls equipment, and fighting bad guys. This game did for stealth action what Splinter Cell did, and I'm not the only person who thinks that, just read the other reviews, EA didn't do much with the NFS Underground series, as Midnight Club 3 easily out-weighed them in awesomness all around, but, when it comes to Batman, that's one series that is going to make consumers very happy with Electronic Arts. The only element that was lacking was free roaming, but I'll get into that later. Here are some +'s and cons (cons and not -'s because, - - what sucks..., would look wierd).


+ - Graphics are equally as beautiful on PS2 as on X-Box. Game mags., like Game Informer, usually use X-Box screens on reviews and previews for multi system games, but for Batman Begins, they used PS2 screens. That's a good sign.
+ - Controlls are easy and fluid, even on X-Box and Gameqube, but PS2 still beats them.
+ - The fact that you have to actually use your head. It's extremely smart to include the element of suprise. If you scare your enemies, you have a huge advantage over them before they ever see you. That's where the Area Fear and Reputation meteres come in, when you blow up someting or make different virtical objects collapse while hidden, you scare the crap out of you foes, and your Reputation goes up, and the thugs also have individual feat "meters" as well, different from the Area Fear meter located right under the Reputation meter. The individual thug's fear which shown by an EKG in the top-left corner of the screen. The more frightened they become, the faster their heart races, and the more fumbly they become fighting you, which, obviously, makes it easier for you to interrogate them, of course after beating the crap out of them. Blow up a near buy gas tank, distracting 4+ thugs and makin' 'em drop their guns, then sneaking behind one, takin' 'em out slinently, then the remaining thugs effortlessly, then sparing one thug for interrogation involving more violence, is just enormously entertaining. It's never gets old.
+ - Free-roaming isn't nessesarily a good thing, especially in a game like this, because the game already gives you a sense of Gotham City that is enough to make you happy with what EA did. The game keeps you with the story, instead of letting you wander off and start doing things that have nothing to do with Batman's main objective, in other words, things that keep you from completing the game, like Spider-Man 2. I like the fact that the game keeps you in the story throughout the whole thing because it would ruin the dark, surprising, bad-@$$ mood of bing Batman in the area which he belongs, the action, not the randomization. No free-roaming? No worries, here folks. Enjoy what you paid for, Batman, not Distractionman. Okay that was a little cheesey.

cons - None that I can really think of. Less is more, that's true with this game, less distraction, more Batman.

Point being, this is a long review, but also, this is a great game. Don't pass it up.