http://arkhamhasmoved.com/
Damn, that was QUICK! O_o

And looks like Joker's still messed up from the end of the first game in that video.

I think an open world Batman would be awesome to play...and as long as they have more interesting boss battles and much less freakin' BIG BUFF GUYS I'd be happy.

Actually I woudn't want an open world game. Most open world games (especially ones in big cities like GTA or Prototype) just start to feel very samey and boring, once the intial fun of moving around them wears off. One of the things I really liked about AA was that there was something to explore or stumble over, especially if you did the riddler quest. Those areas were packed full, and you wouldn't get that level of care in an open-world gotham. The world actually felt pretty big even though it was more or less an enclosed area.

I'd be very happy with the same sort of compartmentalized areas with open-roam within them (like we had with the open areas of Arkham), if those areas were different. A couple could be some city blocks, but maybe there's also factory areas, parks, etc.

I agree with SM. Open world environments sound good in theory but, in practice, they just lead to too much aimless wandering about.

I much prefer a game which leads you from one area to another as you work through a story which is plotted so cleverly that you hardly realise you are being led at all. You know ... like Arkham Asylum!

Now, if they could just get Bob Hastings to come back and do Commissioner Gordon's voice this time...

PhilWrede
Now, if they could just get Bob Hastings to come back and do Commissioner Gordon's voice this time...

I agree. There was something really weird about hearing all the voices from TAS except for Gordon's...

I would have been okay without the TAS Gordon voice, if they didn't end up using a voice that was so godawful.

It's just that it looked like they modeled Gordon in the game after Gordon in TAS, so not hearing what I think of as "his voice" delivering his lines was actually kind of jarring.

That was actually my biggest complaint about the game (somehow, despite myself, I actually enjoyed throwing down with super-Venom-infected Joker. I bet they can better themselves this time)...

I wonder if ANY more BTAS voice actors will come back for this....I sure hope so.

I second that; particularly Mr. Freeze.

This game sounds like exactly what I was hoping for. I do hope we see some of the other Gotham baddies for this next one. Batman has a wealth of fun villains, and the first game had a good mix of well-known and obscure ones.

Based on the endings I'm sure there are three more villains from the first game that will probably come back.

Interesting. I for one would be all for an 'open world' game. Sure, it may eventually get old, and may be too massive to keep ones thoughts together, but still -- I would enjoy to be able to go through some of the places on Gotham from the series, etc. Besides, too much side-screen-leading seems more like one of the classic fighting games for the Snes. Don't get me wrong, I can understand having environments. Those would be a must, but a bit of freedom would be nice aswell.
If anything, it could be something similar to "Lego Batman". Have a mix of scenarios. I'm not sure how many of you are fans of that game, but I for one enjoyed it.

Either way, to tell the truth I do not have AA1. I've considered buying the ps3 for sometime. It's just, this was the only game that seemed to interest me. Therefore, it seemed like a waste. I've read quite a bit about it though and have seen my fair share of YouTube videos; and I must admit, the game alone seems like reason enough to buy one(even if I have yet to).

As for your typical 'bad guys', I hear Quinn is suppose to debut(if she hasn't already) in this game and be a main sub boss. I'm not a fan of her costume, but -- it is the story that matters!

She was a pretty major character in the first one.

Yeah, Harley already featured in the first game, although I'm not sure you could really call her a sub-boss in fighting terms, she was definitely a plot antagonist.

I have no idea what you mean by 'side screen leading' - only a very small percentage of the game was 'sidescrolling' (the Scarecrow bits), all the rest was over-the-shoulder 3rd person. The environments they gave you were fully explorable, it's just that the environments were structured and designed.

I think you should play the first one before you make comments about what you think the second one should be. :] It's available on PS3, xbox360, and PC, so there's no need to buy a ps3 just for it.

I see, Isukun. From what I've read, if possible at all, she is suppose to have a more deserved role. That was then, of course. There is a bit more information about it now. -- I just realized this topic was made in December, by the way.


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Actually, Skoolmunkee. I was referring to the 'side-screen-leading' because it's what I saw from the comment: "a game which leads you from one area to another"

That is true however, maybe I should play the first one before I comment about the second one. Then again, this topic was formed for us to present our opinions on what we would like to see in the next game. Therefore, my opinion is still valid. Correct? -- I wasn't aware they had made it for the PC though, so thank you.

"More deserved role"? She had more screen time than the Joker and he was the main villain. Apart from making her the main character, I don't see how they could really give her a bigger role than what she had in the first game.

I_am_the_mad_hatter
Actually, Skoolmunkee. I was referring to the 'side-screen-leading' because it's what I saw from the comment: "a game which leads you from one area to another"

Ah, I get it. OK- there was a definite progression through levels, but that's what happens with any story-based game. Open-world games like GTA do the same thing, you still have to progress through the plot as normal, and different areas of the map open up to you. GTA is more sandbox-y, but that's only interesting for as long as you're interested in stealing cars and ramping them.

The nice thing about AA was that although you do only get to visit certain areas in a certain order, you can't fully complete them until you've gotten all the gadgets. The game encourages you to come back later and more fully explore a level, which adds a nice dimension to the environment and makes the game feel less linear. Don't want to move on to the greenhouse yet? Go back to the hospital and collect some more riddler stuff.

The only downside to going back and doing stuff was that enemies generally did not respawn. Normally I don't mind that in a game, but it was fun as hell to fight as Batman, I could have done with lots more fighting.

Then again, this topic was formed for us to present our opinions on what we would like to see in the next game. Therefore, my opinion is still valid. Correct?

I don't disagree with that. :] It was just when you were making statements in comparison to how things were in the first game, which you hadn't played. Watching a youtube video is different than playing it. You get the same visuals I guess, but the sense of exploration and real engagement with the environment and enemies is completely different.

-- I wasn't aware they had made it for the PC though, so thank you.

It's on Steam I think. :] It's old enough it will probably pop up in sales. I highly recommend playing it.


I think the key thing about the desire to have an open world is that people felt that AA WAS fun to explore, and it was fun to move Batman around in the environment and do batman things. I'm hoping the developers at least picked up on that and will give us even more exploration options and goals in the next game, open world or not.


Isukun- it's true she got a lot of screen time, but she was never threatening in the same way that some of the other enemies were. She was actually anticlimatic when it came down to it, you knew nothing she did was going to do more than inconvenience you a bit.

Very true. I guess it was my understanding of "area". It would just seem to me that an area is an area. Especially since you would be, as I assumed, confined to the one building of Arkham itself(my comment on freedom spawning from this).
Also true, but isn't it a part of that freedom that makes it a bit more interesting(completely rhetorical)?

I didn't figure it was too straight forward, but that is a good thing to know. Thank you.

Ha-ha! I hear you there. I've seen a great deal of his moves. It would probably be fun to fight as him.

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No, no. I believe there has been a misunderstanding. I never once made a comparison on how things were in the first game. I was merely voicing my opinion on what I wanted to see in comparison to what others wanted to see for the second. -- I suppose that is what I get from reading everyones comments before posting my own. Unless you're referring to: "I can understand having environments. Those would be a must, but a bit of freedom would be nice aswell." In which case, that too was pointed toward the second game.

Yes though, I get that. As there is still a great deal of the game that I have not bothered to learn. It's just one of those things that I would have to see upon obtaining it. Either way, I'm not exactly judging the game or its game play by what I've seen. That would be like watching a pro on youtube and assuming it would be too easy.

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I will most likely look into it. Lately I've been a bit 'bat-crazed'. The one game that I have been seeking--again--is BTAS for the Snes. However, I'm hoping AA will fill the void.

That could be it, I suppose; and maybe they will. As you commented on earlier: "some city blocks, factory areas, parks, etc" -- that could be better then not having them at all. The chances of an Open World, for the best or not, are most likely very slim(then again, I'm merely going by the title that I'm still seeing for the second game: "AA2" -- those too change, however).
If I enjoy the first one, than I'll probably enjoy the second. Case closed. I'm not too optimistic on a great change, naturally. After all, if the first was as great as some people like to voice, than why fix something that isn't broken?

All in all, I believe I will drop out of this conversation now and go about my way. I guess the only thing we can do is wait and be hopeful that the game will fulfill what we want to see.

in the middle of playing the first one now. enjoying it thoroughly so far. :)

I hope the second one is just as good when I buy it eventually!

I just read an article on this in Game Informer yesterday and it sounds pretty awesome.

*****************SPOILERS********************

The basic plot is that in order to gain some street cred (so to speak) Two Face plans a public execution of Catwoman, and basically Batman enters Arkham City (The new prison where the inmates are held) to rescue her. Sort of like that movie Escape from N.Y., except with Batman.

The article basically described a walkthrough of the demo that they were playing through.

Joker appears to be back as well as Harley. And Hugo Strange is a prominent part of the story from what I gathered from the article.

Combat seems to have gotten a few tweaks, with multiple blocks and reversals on enemies and more use of gadgets within combat.

Overall it sounds just as good as the first one. I'm looking forward to it.