EA tries to do Batman justice with its new videogame.
March 17, 2005 - Nothing is more frightening for a comic book fan than the sight of Arnold Schwarzenegger encased in plastic, smoking a cigar and attempting to deliver a deadpan line. Though it's been eight years since Batman & Robin, the scars remains as fresh as the first cut. However, with David Goyer's script and Chris Nolan's direction, it appears those wounds may finally be healed this summer with the release of Batman Begins. Electronic Arts has an even greater stigma to overcome this July -- The videogame adaptation.
If the movie's bad, you can almost guarantee the game will be even worse. And if that game happens to star Batman, well, forget it -- those games almost always suck. Talk about a monumental obstacle to overcome. Fortunately, EA is working with what appears to be a dynamite Dark Knight movie and has assigned former Splinter Cell designers to create a Batman game that may actually kick some ass.
The Shakedown
Batman Begins the videogame loosely follows the movie. That is, rather than going from point-to-point attempting to literally recreate every movie moment, Batman Begins selects the key plot points and extrapolates from there. The major characters are all voiced by their movie counterparts and the game version of Double B stays within the context of a Year One tale. That means no Joker, no Poison Ivy, no other big-name Bats villains outside of Ra's Al Ghul and Scarecrow. Unlike most movie adaptations, BB doesn't throw in a bunch of filler villains to fatten things up. This time around EA's decided to instead make the gameplay broaden the game. Novel concept, eh?
Know Fear
There is one major theme running throughout the new Batman movie: Fear. What is it little Bruce Wayne fears as a child? How does that fear drive him? How does fear affect others? The major villain, The Scarecrow, is an instrument of fear. Criminals are a cowardly lot, but in the comics Batman also fears. Nightmares of his mother's final scream, of pearls scattering across a back alley as a gun erupts wake Bruce Wayne even decades after the incident. Just as the film uses fear as a backdrop, so does Batman Begins the videogame.
Each criminal has a heartbeat that can be heard when targeted. As Batman defeats enemies or performs special actions, an enemy's heart rate increases. Each individual enemy has a fear rating and the entire area has a fear level, which affects that rating. The more Batman does to put the bad guys on edge, the easier it becomes to kick the crap out of them. Some will cower in fear, others may run in horror.
Picture Batman hanging from a rope and snatching up an enemy. His friends are suddenly on edge. Where's Eddie go? Another enemy falls unconscious. Then a gasoline barrel explodes and an awning comes crashing down. A silhouetted form drops from the sky wings spread like a demon. Sound like the comic? It's also in the game. By using his presence, Batman can quickly turn the tide of battle.
As the number of unconscious bodies rises and special Fear Events are achieved, Batman's reputation increases. The higher the rep, the more respect Batman garners. Remember, he's still new to Gotham, so at first many think the Bat is just some clown in a rubber suit. An increased rep increases the ethereal nature of Batman. Conversations go from, "You're just a guy in a mask" to "Batman, please don't eat my soul!"
As a Year One tale, it's important to have some sort of reputation function. There aren't many superhero games that allow the character's renown rise. By the end of Batman Begins, the Dark Knight should become a shadowy myth criminals fear without question. Getting Batman to that point is your task as a gamer.
Mayhem in Arkham
Grant Morrison's Arkham Asylum is one of the greatest Batman stories ever told. Batman Begins brings the experience of being trapped in an insane asylum to the forefront. One of the largest levels, Batman must battle his way through guards and mental defectives. Sure, this doesn't have the classic Bat villains seen in Arkham Asylum, but it is an incredible recreation of the famed institution for the criminally insane. Though you may miss out on Poison Ivy and the Joker, there are plenty of head-banging lunatics to mingle with.
Legendary Batman scribe Denny O'Neil claimed this was the best representation of Arkham Asylum he'd ever seen. Believe it.
Outlook
In terms of recreating a Batman worthy of his comics counterpart, EA is definitely on the right track. Just as the SNES The Adventures of Batman & Robin emulated the spirit of the animated series, EA's Batman Begins has captured the essence of the Dark Knight. The use of fear as a primary gameplay device and the ability to use stealth and strategy to take on enemies gives BB an authentic feel. It's still unknown if the gameplay can match the atmosphere, but this is certainly the most faithful Batman game in a decade.
There's quite a bit more going on with Batman Begins. There's combat, stealth and gadgetry as well. However, if you want a more in-depth look at the game mechanics, check out the full preview. If you're looking for more info on the movie, be sure to keep your eyes glued to FilmForce.
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