BatManhunt: Arkham Asylum
 

I was surprised to see that a thread hadn't been made about this game. Anyway, Gamestop says June 23rd is the release date but others say it's June 9th. Here are some links to those awesome trailers, by the way.

Some of these trailers might contain spoilers, such as the villain revealed trailers. Don't click on them if you don't want to know who else is going to be in the game.

Breakout Trailer - Really freaking awesome. I love the music on this one.

Breakout Trailer HD


Invisible Predator Trailer

Invisible Predator Trailer HD





Also if you want some gameplay action, check this out.
It looks like Batman meets Metal Gear gameplay with some elements and twists that I've yet to see in a game (of course, I haven't played much compared to the rest of you).

Silent Knight Challenge Mode Extended Cut

Silent Knight Challenge Mode Extended Cut HD

There will be a collector's edition that totals about $100 and comes in a batarang shaped tin case. Here's the specs of the collector's edition from Gamestop:

I don't know if I'd be willing to spend another 40 bucks for all of that, but it's tempting.

All in all it looks like this could be a very epic game and this will definitely be a day one purchase for me. I'm pretty excited for it.

A huge selling point for me, is that there are at least 3 voice actors from Batman the Animated series who are reprising their roles.

Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as Joker, and

Gameplay also looks solid to me, using stealth and not just some brawling beat em' up, cause that's not who Batman is. I will very likely pick this up.

I never was a fan of video games based on something , since i prefer more original content but ill be sure to try this game out ,since it looks awesome.

THIS IS THE ONE BATMAN GAME I'M GOING TO DEFIANTLY BUY, NOT ONLY FOR THE FACT ITS THE FIRST ON NEXT GEN SYSTEM, BUT MARK HAMILL RETURNS HIS VOICE TALENT TO THE VILLAINOUS JOKER, SWEEET!

A playable demo (one or two of the combat-oriented challenge rooms) should be in the wild at any self-respecting GameStop; I took it for a spin and came away pleased with how the combat is handled. My one complaint about the demo is that it would've been nice to offer one of the stealth challenges as well.
Sonic-Dude, a minor point of order: given that the Wii, 360, and PS3 are in the retail space (and have been for a while now), it is no longer appropriate to refer to them as 'next-gen'. There's another point I'm tempted to raise, but I suspect others have done so in a more discreet fashion.

I often buy games in a defiant fashion, don't you?

Defiantly making purchases (in the face of common sense) is a common and necessary trait in your garden-variety Sonic enthusiast.

Sure, the cashier at Gamestop may try to tell you that Sega hasn't put out a decent game since the Dreamcast but by god you just have to push past that!

Looks interesting, I loved the comic itself. Curious how they will work the story aspect since the comic was a lot what Batman felt and experianced and not that much of batman fighting bad guys.. maybe they'll release a demo on live/psn.

I agree , I don't like it when video games are based on things , I like amorphous ideas badly implemented

Spore is the best game ever

I remember reading something where someone involved with the game mentioned combat being rather focused on using stealth to your advantage and not flat-out brawls. He cited that Batman is the 'World's greatest detective' not 'World's greatest fighter' which kind of made me wonder if they even have read Batman from like the last twenty years at all.

Who knows? Could be good.

Stealth doesn't necessarily mean MGS-style "hide all the time" mechanics. Lurking unseen until enemies let down their guard and then diving through a skylight is also a form of stealth. And that's kind of Batman's thing, isn't it? I mean I'm not 100% up to date (since as a rule I don't pay for Alan Moore's drug habit) but I don't think he's ever been a kick-in-the-front-door kind of guy.

That's why the developers have gone to such pains to refer to the mechanics as "predator mode" instead of "stealth"; because dozens of crappy I AM SUPERSPY games have made "stealth" a synonym for "HIDE FROM EVERYBODY OR GET KILLED IN ONE HIT".

I wish I could find the link for an exact quote. I get what you mean (and possibly how it was intended in the article), but the way it came off to me from that guy was that Batman wasn't able to handle fighting more than one or two people at once. While I wouldn't want a Batman game that IS straight-on beat-em-up style, it was more of a nerdrage thing than it was me being concerned for the potential gameplay.

Generally stealth either means simply attaching a silencer on your gun for mere visual effect, or arbitrary stealth sections, completely at odds with the rest of the game.

Exceptions abound of course, like that kleptomania one.

I like how Arkham is doing it, I felt it's closer to how Batman goes about than the usual games he's been in. It's not like he dresses in the suit because it's handy. Though I suspect I might tire of the mechanics a few rooms on if it merely repeats the pattern.

Jessy, if you watch some of the videos that show of what they mean by 'stealth' you might get an idea of what they're trying to do. Generally they seem to be saying that Batman is an excellent fighter, but he's still human and so if he gets riddled with bullets then he's pretty much fucked (which would be true), so he has to use his intelligence and gadgets to lure people into situations that put him at an advantage. I've seen clips of them having Batman swoop down and put explosives on a wall, and then detonate it when an enemy is walking past, taking that dude out, then when another runs over to see what's going on Batman swooped down and kicked him in the face before grappling back up into the rafters to go for another guard.

All in all this looks like it has the potential to be really good. Naturally it could still turn out to be absolute pap, but I've got my fingers crossed for this one.

Trailers, since not many seem to have watched them.

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/46638

Challenge room demonstration shows some gameplay:
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47317

Exactly. What there's a glut of is stealth mini-games, which are sort of half-assed by definition. There really aren't too many pure sneakers--most people just can't get excited over a game about hiding, I suppose.

That trailer looks better than anything in recent memory, though it's quite comical how Batman's firing a grapple gun and breaking chunks of rock, yet the guards don't raise their eyes above head level, even after they know he's around. I also hope there's more emphasis on shadows in the other levels; this room is awfully well-lit. It would add to the atmosphere, even if it doesn't affect the stealth mechanics.

I just realized I linked to the SD trailers and not the HD ones. Thanks, Qwarky. I'll have to update them.

Well about a day ago, there were some new videos showing off the gameplay in Arkham Asylum. Strangely enough, the videos were gone this morning from Gametrailers. Luckily, someone downloaded them and put them up on youtube.

Swarm Gameplay

Roundhouse Kick Gameplay

Gamestop had the demo set up and I was pretty much sold from what I played of it. It seemed to play more fluid than other games I've messed around with lately. I really enjoyed the feel the game had.

Also watched the Harley Quinn trailer for the game and I have to say I'm liking more and more that the game seems to be taking that darker "Tim Burton" style approach to it. Although I'll probably stick with getting a normal copy of the game than shelling out $100 for the CE.

Arkham Asylum has been delayed until the end of summer 2009.

Source: Batman: Arkham Asylum delayed - Confirmed - GameSpot Rumor Control

Sorry for the bump, but I figured Canadian gamers might wanna know that AA will be selling for $38.83 at Wal-mart, Best Buy, and Futureshop on Aug 25th! The price is only good from the 25th to the 27th at BB and FS, not sure about how long it's supposed to go on for at WM.

Can't wait, I'll be picking up the PS3 version for the Joker exclusive content. Hopefully there'll still be copies available, as I won't be back in town till the evening of the 26th.

I wish that was the price in America, shit. Then I'd HAVE to get it.

Americans have the Toys R Us sale. You get a $20 gift card with Arkham Asylum this week, or a $30 gift card if you buy it on Tuesday between 10am-2pm. It's arguably better than the Canadian deal, though I'd be picking it up myself if it was instant savings.

At Best Buy you get a free "Mask of the Phantasm & Mr. Freeze DVD." Still a pretty neat deal, since Mask of the Phantasm was a cool movie.

Amazon fucked up and my order got blocked from shipping. Got to the UPS joint too late :mad: Ass-hats. Now I hafta wait until tomorrow. Originally, after seeing this, I thought I'd swing by Stafford and pick it up at the UPS office, but it seems that it's STILL in fucking Delaware. Ugh.