Batman: Arkham Asylum Captures the Essence of the Mythos

There have been a lot of terrible Batman games over the years. Last year's LEGO Batman was actually one of the few ray of lights for the series, but Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive seek to change that with Batman: Arkham Asylum. Unrelated to the graphic novel of the same name, the game features some well-known figures in the Batman universe, including long-time comic book writer Paul Dini handling the story. Voice actors Kevin Conroy (Batman), Mark Hamill (Joker), and Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn) will be providing voice over for the game, whom have become the definitive voices for the characters from the '90s cartoon, Batman: The Animated Series. Arkham Asylum takes place in the insane asylum of the same name, in which Batman has to regain control of the facility after Joker escapes and wreaks havoc by releasing all of the prisoners.

Stylistically, the designs aren't based off of any specific Batman time period and the game will utilize Unreal Engine 3. The gameplay is one of the most exciting things about the game. Rocksteady sought out to make this game truly stand on its own by providing fun gameplay regardless of the property it's based upon. You will utilize all of Batman's skills such as detective work for puzzles, stealth, melee combat with an RPG-like progression system, and using various gadgets to facilitate any of your needs. I'm definitely excited about this game, as no other Batman title has managed to truly capture the feel and spirit of Batman or Gotham City. Having figures like Paul Dini and Kevin Conroy will insure the presentation's quality while hopefully Rocksteady can deliver in the gameplay department.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to release on June 9, 2009 on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows. Check out MTV's exclusive new trailer after the break.

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PSP Set For Big Year With Major Franchises

Sony's little engine that could is possibly set to be the must-have handheld this year. After constant complaints about the lack of good games for the system, Sony announced a truckload of major titles at their Destination PlayStation event today. Hot on the heels of Rock Band Unplugged, the official announcement of LittleBigPlanet for the PSP was confirmed to be in development. No real details have been revealed, though the game is set to include similar gameplay and features with its PS3 counterpart. Interactivity between the two games has not been confirmed.

A new game in the Assassin's Creed franchise is also set to debut on the handheld alongside a new PSP bundle. The original game released on the Xbox 360 and PS3, with a sequel confirmed to be in development. A prequel was released on the DS and ported to Symbian Mobile platforms, with a sequel to this series also in development. No details were released about the new PSP game, but it should be similar to previous titles.

Another PSP bundle set to release this year is the Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack. Obviously aimed at young girls, it includes a lilac-colored PSP, the Hannah Montana music/rhythm game, episodes of the TV series on UMD, and stickers. In support of this new demographic, Ubisoft is also releasing games from their Petz line.

MotorStorm is also finally set to debut on both the PS2 and PSP this year with MotorStorm: Arctic Edge. Developed by BigBig Studios, the ones behind the Pursuit Force games, it will take the series in the new icy terrains of Alaska. Add all that up together, and you get a very impressive list of games for the PSP. Add to that anticipated titles like Dissidia Final Fantasy, Resistance: Retribution, and a remake of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, and there's now a reason to play games on the PSP again. This may be what the PSP needed in order to get past this slump and achieve its untapped potential.

You can check out the trailer for MotorStorm: Arctic Edge past the break.


Sources: PR Newswire and Joystiq

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Metal Gear Solid 4 Meets, Exceeds Critic Expectations

If you haven't heard of the game or series, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the much anticipated title in the Metal Gear series. The original games had its start on the internationally popular MSX system, but was later ported and reworked on the NES. The Metal Gear Solid series is what most are familiar with, which started on the original PlayStation. Since then, the series has been known for its amazing stealth action gameplay, immersive storyline, and movie-like production quality. MGS4 has been touted as the definitive game in the series and the end of main character Solid Snake's story. With fantastic production values and movie-style trailers, the game is looking pretty good. It looks like series creator Hideo Kojima, Konami, and Sony delivered on their promises and presented one of the first true "killer apps" and must-have exclusive titles for the PS3.

With both standard and limited editions available as well as an 80GB MGS4 PS3 bundle, this may be the game to convince naysayers, doubters, and PS2 faithful to pick up the console. I haven't had a chance to go hands-on yet, but I'll give you a preview of some reactions from popular video game critics.

IGN: 10
Is it possible to give a game an 11? If so, this would be the game that would merit that score. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a title that exceeds all of the hype that was attached to the title.

GamePro: 10
The Playstation 3 finally gets its "savior", Kojima gets his masterpiece, and gamers get one of the best games of all time. [July 2008, p.72]

Playstation - The Official Magazine (US): 10
If you come to the game with no prior MGS knowledge, you'll still uncover one of the most absorbing stories ever told. [July 2008, p.38]

1UP: 9.1
The MGS4 conundrum is this: The further you play into the game, the less you actually play. Surrendering so much control to make way for movie sequences is galling, especially when the dialogue makes such a big deal about freedom and free will...Despite this gradual decay, though, MGS4 is absolutely a great game. The second half may lack sorely in comparison to the innovative, immersive brilliance of the first, but only because those early portions reach such inspiring heights.

GameSpy: 9
What's perhaps most impressive is the way you'll feel about Snake by the end of the game (be sure to watch through the credits!). His character is fleshed out here more than any of the other games combined, and seeing him during his quiet moments with Otacon and Sunny gives him a lot more depth than we previously thought possible.

The infamous storyline vs. gameplay argument has been disputed here, but it looks like there's an overall satisfaction about the balance and quality. Once I get my hands on the game, I'll be sure to give my impressions.

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Grand Theft Auto IV, Believe It!

I’ve been a casual fan of the series. While I had some playtime with the first two games during their initial release, they never really caught my attention. And then Grand Theft Auto III came along and basically invented the sandbox genre. Being able to explore the world freely and ignore missions or story events was what made the game so fun. While I played and enjoyed GTAIII, the subsequent games felt like more of the same. It didn’t feel like there was much innovation going on in the series, despite the continued improvements with each sequel. As hype continued to build for its debut on the current generation of consoles on the Xbox 360 and PS3, there was speculation that Grand Theft Auto IV wouldn’t be able to live up to its expectations. With critics giving the game nothing but positive reviews and even perfect scores, there isn’t any question that GTAIV is a good game. If the sales are any indication of consumer reaction, I don’t think anyone needs convincing. After finally getting in some solid game time with the game and story, I can definitely say it warrants the hype.

What is there to say that hasn’t already been said? The biggest thing I took away from GTAIV is the sheer expansiveness and scope of the game. Featuring a redesigned version of the NYC-inspired Liberty City, the map is huge. There is so much to do and to see, be it going inside diners, visiting various entertainment spots, driving around, or even watching TV in your own apartment. It truly feels like a living, open world. The actual gameplay itself feels much more inspired and improved than in previous games. The different car physics, improved combat system, new cell phone hub, and multiplayer modes are only a handful of features that make the game so great. It still looks and feels like GTA, but all of the little things add up to make the experience so amazing.

The green/blue circle around your radar indicates your health/armor, while the illuminated area indicates the new police search radius.

The storyline is truly enthralling. Focusing on recent immigrant Niko Bellic, he meets up his cousin Roman and gets quickly involved in his affairs. As you learn of Niko’s reason for coming to America, things quickly pick up. With a new morality system, this allows for even more freedom and two possible endings. The voice acting is top-notch, featuring characters of different ethnicities and authentic, believable portrayals that make you interested in them. The cell phone hub allows you to easily contact people you’ve met along the way, taking jobs, reading text messages, or even going out on dates. Used as the main communication feature, it allows you control the storyline more easily and choose when you wish to move on. With such a seamless and fantastic mix of both gameplay and plot, it will be hard to decide when to play the story or just have fun in Liberty City.

If there were any lingering doubts about Grand Theft Auto IV, then they should be shed now. If you weren’t a fan of the previous games, then this one may or may not change your mind. Even if the series hasn’t been your cup of tea, it’s worth experiencing. Although GTA has received a reputation of being about stealing cars, killing hookers, and constant violence, GTAIV is what you make of it. With a moral system integrated throughout the game, it allows you to play how you want to. And with the ability to play online with friends in multiple modes or just explore the map together, Grand Theft Auto IV deserves to be checked out.

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