Platform: GBA, GC, PS2, XB
Genre: Action
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Eurocom
ETA: Summer 2005
Related Links:

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Review: Spider-Man (PS2)

Review: City of Heroes (PC)

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Of late, with the exception of Batman Vengeance, Batman games have gained a reputation as being worthless blackholes of highly crappy "entertainment."  Maybe this is why my hopes are so high for Batman Begins.

Electronic Arts has proven that good movie-to-game translations are possible -- high production values, sticking to the source material, tapping the original cast for voice work, and creating intense gameplay seem to be the core aspects that EA has stuck to.  And because Batman Begins is likely to be the best Batman film since the original because it concentrates on his origin and background rather than trying to create a bunch of wild set pieces and chases and hope they'll work because they feature big name Hollywood personalities.

Here's the official line from Electronic Arts:

Step into the shadows of Gotham City's perilous criminal underworld as DC Comics' legendary Dark Knight in the Batman Begins™ video game. Slated for release day and date with the Warner Bros. Pictures film, Batman Begins challenges players to use fear as their ultimate weapon.

The game explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. Gamers will play as both Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego, Batman, hunting evil-doers from the shadows, using strength, intellect and an array of high tech gadgets to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city, including classic villains Scarecrow, Ra's Al Ghul and Carmine Falcone.

Turning traditional stealth-based gameplay on its ear - by allowing gamers to play the hunter, rather than the hunted - Batman Begins delivers the Batman universe as never before. Stalking criminals from the shadows, gamers will discover new ways to paralyze thugs with fear before engaging in hand-to-hand combat, or interrogating them.

From the halls of Arkham Asylum and the alleys of Gotham City to an ancient monastery high in the Himalayas, Batman Begins the video game delivers a thrilling interactive companion to Christopher Nolan's reinvention of the Dark Knight in Batman Begins.

Key Features
Fear is Your Weapon: Stalk and terrorize enemies, or strike from above to pick off prey one by one. Use the environment to turn enemies against each other and defeat them before ever joining the fight. Take out an enemy with an attack from above and watch the fear level of his fellow thugs increase.

Interactive Environments: Gamers must use their environment, from scaling buildings and soaring between rooftops, to triggering explosions and unleashing the insane inmates of Arkham Asylum against their enemies, to bring justice to Gotham.

Cinematic Combat: Mixed martial arts combat and devastating finishing moves developed exclusively for Batman Begins are faithfully recreated in the game with the assistance of the film's stunt coordinator.

The Bat Utility Belt: Delve deep into the ultimate arsenal of high-tech crime fighting gadgets, including the Batgrapple, Batarang, Optic Cables and Lock Picks.

Experience Gotham City: Batman Begins brings gamers into the Batman universe, allowing them to experience the origins of the Dark Knight as both Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman - from the storied halls of Wayne Manor to the twisted halls of Arkham Asylum.

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The Batmobile: Tear up the streets and rooftops of Gotham in the Batmobile. Fight crime in multiple levels of lightning-fast, no-holds barred vehicular combat.

Epic Storytelling: Featuring a game script by JT Petty, the acclaimed writer of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Batman Begins allows players to delve even deeper into the universe masterfully depicted in Christopher Nolan's film.

All-Star Cast: The game features the voice and likeness of Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard), Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Cillian Murphy (Dr. Jonathan Crane), Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone) and Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), all reprising their roles from the film.

The features read like a laundry list of EA's recent movie licensed games, with heavy nods to the film, the original cast, and involvement of the specialists that were involved with the movie.

My only concern is that Batman Begins is going to land on the fence when it comes to a split between action and stealth.  Batman is naturally a very stealthy character but he can also mix it up with the best of the them. (Go back and read Frank Miller's Return of the Dark Knight for one of his coolest brawls with Superman.)  Will the developers try to push one line?  Or will the choice be left to the player?

While EA hasn't officially announced a release date I'm pretty sure it will ship around the time the movie is released June 2005.

- Omni

(April 5, 2005)