Now Shipping - Batman Begins

[Evil Avatar]

GameGossip has posted a Press Release (http://www.gamegossip.com/pressrelease.php?id=13720) announcing that Electronic Arts movie tie-in title, Batman Begins, is now shipping.

Co-publishers Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have announced that the Batman Begins videogame hits retail shelves nationwide today for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The game, based on the Warner Bros. Pictures film Batman Begins and DC Comics’ legendary character, is rated “T for Teen.”

The Batman Begins videogame challenges gamers to step into the shadows of Gotham’s perilous criminal underworld as DC Comics’ legendary Dark Knight, and use fear as their ultimate weapon. 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.

Batman Begins was developed by EA and Eurocom and carries a MSRP of $39.95 for consoles and $29.95 for Game Boy Advance.

[LilAbner]

Just rented the game but haven't tried it yet. The movie shits all over Star Wars and takes a king-sized dump on the previous Batman movies, including the first one.

[Blue]

Just rented the game but haven't tried it yet. The movie shits all over Star Wars and takes a king-sized dump on the previous Batman movies, including the first one.

I know you might come out swinging at me for this, but I honestly thought the movie was "eh." The directing was excellent save for the fight scenes which were way too close to the camera (I hate it when directors do that) and many of the characters - Scarecrow especially - felt under-utilized. It's almost as if they had too many people to try and juggle.

Maybe I'll have to see it a second time to form a better opinion of it, but I wasn't nearly as impressed as everyone else was. It certainly cleaned out the taste leftover from the Batman & Robin incident which will hereby no longer be mentioned, but I think more could have been done with it. I would say my biggest gripe, without giving anything away, involved Katie Holmes and the Scarecrow on a horse. Anyone who's seen the movie should know exactly what I'm talking about. Bah.

[LilAbner]

I know you might come out swinging at me for this, but I honestly thought the movie was "eh." The directing was excellent save for the fight scenes which were way too close to the camera (I hate it when directors do that) and many of the characters - Scarecrow especially - felt under-utilized. It's almost as if they had too many people to try and juggle.

Naah, you're entitled to your opinion, as am I, right? :)

As for Scarecrow, I thought his alter-ego was a big wuss....so in that case, less was better. I do agree about the fight scenes being too close to the camera....but in a way I understand it because when Batman made his debut in Gotham, having the camera close in a dark environment added to the mystery of "who is this guy dressed up in a bat costume?"

[Blue]

Naah, you're entitled to your opinion, as am I, right? :)

As for Scarecrow, I thought his alter-ego was a big wuss....so in that case, less was better. I do agree about the fight scenes being too close to the camera....but in a way I understand it because when Batman made his debut in Gotham, having the camera close in a dark environment added to the mystery of "who is this guy dressed up in a bat costume?"

I fully agree on the first Batman fight (the one in the warehouse) as almost needing to be closer to the camera. It added a sense of mystery to it and a good deal of panic - both for the audience wanting their first glimpse of Bale in the costume and for the villains trapped inside. I just felt like every fight thereafter used the same technique and made it difficult to fully see what was happening on-screen.

[Praetor-Vong]

I just felt like every fight thereafter used the same technique and made it difficult to fully see what was happening on-screen.

100% agree with that statement. The first fight was great with the camera sequence, but fights afterwards...it jsut got repetitive.

[Heretic Machine]

Haven't seen it yet... Probably won't until it comes out on DVD. After Sin City, I want movies that are more like comics rather than going off to do their own thing, especially in the case of Batman. The Bat Mobile alone tells me that this is not the Batman I know and love, so I think I'll pass for now.

Doesn't look like a bad -movie- though.

[resikel]

Here's a nice article at Ain't It Cool (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20392) about Batman Begins.

Edit: Opps..it's an article about the MOVIE not the GAME. Sorry for the confusion. (And you might want to read it after you see the movie as there are SPLOILERS in the article)

[thecrazyd]

So... about that game...

[Royal Fool]

From all the previews I get the impression it's just a glorified Splinter Cell clone with extra fighting. Dunno if that makes it good or not, though.

[johnperkins21]

So... about that game...

It's a game based on a movie based on a comic. I'm guessing it sucks donkey eggs (which are hard to come by), but gets above average reviews.

[Deadend]

I havent seen a review of it yet... which is a scary thing as there is nothing else going on in games, so the only reason there have been no reviews is that EA doesn't WANT the game reviewed.

[frederec]

The Bat Mobile alone tells me that this is not the Batman I know and love, so I think I'll pass for now.

Every time I see shots of the Batmobile it makes me think of Dark Knight Returns which makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Then again, I don't follow Batman closely so DKR's deviations from canon don't bother me either.

[Derwin]

I definitely want to read the first review of this game that's released.

[Sinistar]

Wow - so far Batman Begins is the best action film of the summer by a mile.

[LilAbner]

The game is pretty good....part Ninja Gaiden, part Final Fight, and a big part Splinter Cell. I can't say I like it more than Splinter Cell, but it's good. The graphics are ok too (I have the Xbox version)...but Splinter Cell's are better. Probably the best part of the game is all the extra goodies they packed in, like movie clips, making of the game, etc. BTW, all the movie actors did the voiceovers for the game, so the voice acting is very good.

[hund_]

Probably the best part of the game is all the extra goodies they packed in, like movie clips, making of the game, etc. BTW, all the movie actors did the voiceovers for the game, so the voice acting is very good.

they only do that when the game suks monkey balls :cool:

[Blue]

they only do that when the game suks monkey balls :cool:

Uh, Vin lended his voice to Riddick in the Butcher Bay game and that was the furthest thing from suking (read: sucking) money balls. Just because someone lends their voice, that doesn't automatically black-list it.

[bobbler]

Wow - so far Batman Begins is the best action film of the summer by a mile.

I don't mean to add to the derailment, but I have to agree with this fully. The movie was a lot more 'realistic' in some ways, making him seem more of a normal guy with a ton of will (and 'mad ninja skills') -- it wasn't so full of fantasy (of course, there were impossible feats happening...). The batmobile was more of a car/tank he 'borrowed' and his batcave wasn't really some crazy place that he built. The movie script/story was really well done in that respect. The cast was also well done. The small changes to the story I actually liked (like how Scarecrow came to be) -- overall it is a good start of a new Batman movie series.

[wiredInsanity]

Just rented the game. While it is a little like splinter cell, the controls are a little clunky and the action is not that engrossing. The voice acting is pretty good and the whole thing is presented quite well. I hear it's pretty short though on length.

[bradlay]

The movie was so good and very Batman. It took in alot of the different comic intrepretations and fused them together into an entirely new thing. There was DK Returns, Long Halloween, Year One and even The Cult that I could pick up. It was very true to Batman. Even if you don't care about Batman it was the best action movie I've seen in years, and I hate goddamn action movies.

Katie Holmes just looks too young to be an assistant DA though. She was fine and is hella cute but just seemed too Dawsons Creek for Gotham.

[Paranoia]

Batman Begins is perhaps IMHO the best comic-to-film movie I have ever seen, I even dare to say better than the Tim Burton version. Heck, I might as well say its better than ANY other comic-to-movie films (be it Superman, Spider-man, or X-men).

[bobbler]

Katie Holmes just looks too young to be an assistant DA though. She was fine and is hella cute but just seemed too Dawsons Creek for Gotham.

There was probably something to that. I'm sure they wanted the person cast to have an innocent and pure feel to her. One of the last uncorrupted people in Gotham.

Now, they might have gone a bit overboard, but I can see the reasons behind casting her.

[theCurse]

If you think Katie Holmes is innocent, then think of what Tom Cruise could be doing to her at this very moment.

But you probably already were, weren't you? You disgust me.

[TRiLoGY]

If you think Katie Holmes is innocent, then think of what Tom Cruise could be doing to her at this very moment.

But you probably already were, weren't you? You disgust me.

hehehe LOL..

[Somefool]

It's a great movie. The fight scenes are all too close, but other than that, I would call it fantastic. This is a better rendition of Batman than most of the writers who have ever penned his comic book could do.

Also, *SPOILER*
I think it's fine that Katie Holmes dealt with the scarecrow so handily. It makes it easier to realize that under the mask, he's just some fucked up psychologist- not some great mystical arch-villain. Now, if, say, in the next one she knocks out the Joker and blows up Killer Croc, all while using her other hand to have an Umbrella duel with the Penguin, then we'll talk..

[Furious Wang]

Yeah that was hilarious.

Big scary scene on the horse, fire shooting out the nostrils then wham! taser to the face.

Kinda of a let down from one angle, but a smart scene from another.

Damn that guy who played Krane was creepy though.

[joruussuun]

Damn that guy who played Krane was creepy though.
That was Cillian Murphy, lead in 28 Days Later if you've seen that.

[Praetor-Vong]

Well, plz don't flame me for saying...but the guy that played Crane, I think he would have made a better Joker. He just wasn't *geeky* enough to be Scarecrow's other identity.

[Talanvor]

Well remember, she didn't see the fire shooting out of his face, just some jackass on a horse with a hood on his head. After putting up with that guy I would have tasered him too, a lot lower though.

[Talanvor]

Vong - One thing that's bugging me is... how are they going to top Nicholson's Joker? Maybe a darker psychotic killer, dunno.

[Somefool]

Well, plz don't flame me for saying...but the guy that played Crane, I think he would have made a better Joker. He just wasn't *geeky* enough to be Scarecrow's other identity.
Oh, right, I forgot that in hollywood movies every single geeky character must have big coke battle glasses, a mommas boy haircut, and maybe a bow tie to complete the look. Oh, and they have to dress like they don't understand even the most basic concepts of color coordination or modern fashion. :D

[bradlay]

If you think Katie Holmes is innocent, then think of what Tom Cruise could be doing to her at this very moment.

He's wishing she had a penis.

[theCurse]

He's wishing she had a penis.

That's pretty gross, man.