This game is so much better than what I was expecting, and I got it for £3.00!!!
This game was so much fun to play. It falls out of my typical first person combat (WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Tom Clancy) style shooter. I usually steer away from "movie makes" in the game areana... but in this case, I really took a chance. I wanted something different and a little quieter if you know what I mean.
Batman Begins is as much a joy to listen to and watch as it is to play. While I agree with the main focus of the review here, I don't think the low points are enough to deter anyone away from playing the game. Sometimes it is refreshing to play a game that does not require a tremendous amount of puzzle solving or running all over the galaxy to complete a quest. (IE: SW: KOTOR) This game fills that niche PERFECTLY. What it lacks in relative difficulty, it makes up in sheer gameplay enjoyment.
Fighting is not overly difficult but so FUN to watch. Batman kicks so much butt that I found myself saying aloud over and over again, "Look Honey, (to my wife), how much a** Batman is kicking!" The movement is so fluid and not overly exaggerated. To really get the most of the game, mastering the control is essential as in many games. Most all the buttons on the xbox controller are utilized and many of them during the fight sequences. Once you get used to it, there is much rear to kick.
As we know of Batman, his "way" is to strike fear in the hearts of his enemies. Since he does not have super hero abilities, he has to rely on his surroundings and Ninja style training to fill the gap. I would have liked a few more ways to strike fear in the hearts of the enemies, but that was not enough to deter me from playing to completion. When you do manage to REALLY SCARE the socks off of a combatant, the cut scene looking at Batman through the eyes of the enemy is nothing short of AWESOME.
The game itself is visually stunning to look at. Especially when Batman is high up in the city. The sound and soundtrack is theatrical in nature and really sets the mood in your current situation. I loved it.
I agree that the batmobile missions (2) were lack-luster at best. There was not near as much thought put into those missions as it should have been. You basically just have to drive as fast as you can blow things up either by running over them or using missiles.
The most fun is had scaling buildings, finding ways around the environment, and of course the character acting. It was refreshing to see such participation in the game from the real stars of the movie. And I must say the character likeness was amazing. Especially for Morgan Freeman's pixelated version.
I also come from a Splinter Cell style of stealth gaming. I love those games and BB is a nice combination of that "style" of gaming with a ninja third person fighter. I would find myself running to a corner to find shadows by habit, but not really needing to. As long as you are not close to the enemy's site path (as illustrated in your HUD) you are safe from view. (Spotlights are the exception) The same goes for sound in the way of footsteps or jumping/running on hard surfaces.
If you want a break from your normal style of gaming, GET IT. If you play often and for several hours at a time, rent it at-the-least. As it can be beat in just a few days. The game is not as short as they make it sound but it is not an epic.
Again, let me say, that I signed up just to share this with you hoping to deter the not-in-the-know gamer away from gamespot's main review. Get it, play it, and you will enjoy it. ESPECIALLY if you enjoyed the movie as it is basically the exact same.
I hope, for your sake, you take the time to rent, borrow, buy used or even new this game. It was a refreshing change of pace for me. I only hope they make another using the same style of gameplay.