Batman Arkham Asylum Now Over 2.5 Million Shipped

[modeps]

http://evavhost.com/i/news/batmanarkhamasylum.jpg

It wasn't too long ago that we had news that Batman Arkham Asylum has moved 2 million (http://evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94970) units, but now we've got word from Eidos and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment that they've now shipped over 2.5 million copies.

Batman has come out of the shadows and has been vanishing from store shelves, with Batman: Arkham Asylum, co-published by Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, shipping more than 2.5 million units to retail since launch.

With numerous ‘Game of the Month’ and ‘Editor’s Choice’ awards throughout the world and a MetaCritic score in the 90s, the game has met with critical acclaim in the media, earning a Guinness World Record for ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever’. [The Games for Windows® LIVE version launched last week in the US and Europe going straight to the top of the UK PC chart] and the first downloadable content (DLC) went live last week, with additional DLC still to come.

A+++! Well done! Would play again!

[lockwoodx]

over 2.5 Million Shipped


More like a B+ imo.... no need to kiss their asses. We all know it's a solid title.

[Zeal]

runaway hit.

[King Drewsky]

Game of the Year as of now in my opinion. This game is rocking my socks off.

[gzsfrk]

over 2.5 Million Shipped

That's a silly distinction to quibble over given how well the game is selling. If the NPD numbers were showing a huge discrepancy between shipped and sold you might have a point, but...

More like a B+ imo.... no need to kiss their asses. We all know it's a solid title.

Solid A from me.

And I disagree about not kissing the developer & publisher's ass. We SHOULD be heavily encouraging games developers to make MORE games of this caliber.

Pass me the Chapstick.

[HALO 32]

It was nice to see Rocksteady treat Batman with such respect. I’ll admit that I wasn’t going to pick up Batman at first, but I’m so glad I did…even though the Batarang in the collector’s edition was underwhelming.

[Verocity]

This game is ALL that and a bag of chips. After reading the stellar reviews, I picked it up on Steam and am awe struck by it. I'm not a fan of this genre of games however I am loving this one.

I'd be happy with a game of this caliber once a year. Bravo!

[fndarkone]

I wonder how much of that 2.5million number is through downloads from steam and direct2drive, etc?

I'd be interested to see a breakdown since best buy/walmart/target/etc are offering far less shelf space for video games. Also, I think digital distribution is far superior to the retail method and I refuse to purchase games in the store anymore.

[Salesmunn]

I'm pretty far in right now and it hasn't lived up to the hype. It's a great game but it's a rental for me, not a purchase.

[Gedd]

Are you guys serious with this hype or what? I just don't buy it. The fighting was cool, but beyond that it seemed pretty ho-hum.

So OK, i've only played the demo, but after doing so I got the distinct feeling that the game would be extremely repetitive. IE.. Run down hallway, fight random badguy 0284, 9472 and 4288 then enter room with convieniently placed gargoyles to grapple to, followed by more hallways, random badguys, then a boss fight (probably in rooms with more convieniently placed gargoyles), then rinse and repeat till the end of the game.

How far off am I? Is this game repetitive as hell or what?

[Phhhh]

I wonder how much of that 2.5million number is through downloads from steam and direct2drive, etc?

I'd be interested to see a breakdown since best buy/walmart/target/etc are offering far less shelf space for video games. Also, I think digital distribution is far superior to the retail method and I refuse to purchase games in the store anymore.

Since they specifically said shipped I'm going to guess it's none.

[donkeydrop]

Are you guys serious with this hype or what? I just don't buy it. The fighting was cool, but beyond that it seemed pretty ho-hum.

So OK, i've only played the demo, but after doing so I got the distinct feeling that the game would be extremely repetitive. IE.. Run down hallway, fight random badguy 0284, 9472 and 4288 then enter room with convieniently placed gargoyles to grapple to, followed by more hallways, random badguys, then a boss fight (probably in rooms with more convieniently placed gargoyles), then rinse and repeat till the end of the game.

How far off am I? Is this game repetitive as hell or what?

The Scarecrow bits did change it up a bit, but yeah I had no interest in Challenge mode or whatever its called. The voice acting was excellent, and it was much better than the usual superhero game, but not in the same league as Red Faction, Infamous or even Prototype.

Also I have to add that Eidos is the worst offender when it comes to manipulating Metacritic scores.

[sgtslappy]

Are you guys serious with this hype or what? I just don't buy it. The fighting was cool, but beyond that it seemed pretty ho-hum.

So OK, i've only played the demo, but after doing so I got the distinct feeling that the game would be extremely repetitive. IE.. Run down hallway, fight random badguy 0284, 9472 and 4288 then enter room with convieniently placed gargoyles to grapple to, followed by more hallways, random badguys, then a boss fight (probably in rooms with more convieniently placed gargoyles), then rinse and repeat till the end of the game.

How far off am I? Is this game repetitive as hell or what?

No, it's not.

Great job repeating what the demo is, though.

[Gedd]

No, it's not.

Great job repeating what the demo is, though.

Well, a demo is supposed to be representative of the final product, right?

Can you tell me ways of how the full version is better other than a few more gadgets (like the explosive gel) to play with? Without spoiling anything if possible?

I'm just on the fence is all. I'm mostly interested in the single player; how long is the game on average?

[King Drewsky]

The demo was set in small corridors and offices. In the full game, you can explore the whole island and the multiple buildings and caves located on it. They intersperse other gameplay mechanics such as the scarecrow and croc battles in between the beat random guys up bits. Its got a pretty good narrative that ties everything together. Throughout the game, Batman accrues a number of gadgets that varies the beat em up segments. Sure you could just spam the X button. Or you could hang upside down from a gargoyle and snatch somebody from below. Then you could lay some explosive gel on the ground near there and when his buddies come to investigate, it automatically blows up. And if there is anyone on nearby left to deal with you can yank them around with a grappling hook. There are also a few spots where the gameplay gets a little Tomb Raider / Prince of Persia-esque where you have to figure out a way to get from point A to point B.

The Riddler has also left a bunch of riddles around you can search for, but that amounts to a hunt for the special thingamabob mechanic. Some like it, some skip it.

[walstib]

have to admit the demo on the ps3 has me hooked.

once i clear out the backlog of PS3 games (Dead Space, Killzone 2), I'll queue up this game.

unless of course Uncharted 2 is released by then.

[Johan]

And I disagree about not kissing the developer & publisher's ass. We SHOULD be heavily encouraging games developers to make MORE games of this caliber.

Amusingly enough, kissing their asses would NOT encourage more games of this caliber, but good/great sales will. They don't want your lips locked on their butt cheeks. They want your money in their pockets. Enough scratch in their pockets and they'll come back for more later!

[Chimpbot]

So OK, i've only played the demo, but after doing so I got the distinct feeling that the game would be extremely repetitive. IE.. Run down hallway, fight random badguy 0284, 9472 and 4288 then enter room with convieniently placed gargoyles to grapple to, followed by more hallways, random badguys, then a boss fight (probably in rooms with more convieniently placed gargoyles), then rinse and repeat till the end of the game.

How far off am I? Is this game repetitive as hell or what?

As the game progresses, the "Predator" rooms with the conventiently placed gargoyles become far more complex in overall design and enemy placement/tactics. One such room in particular has roughly four levels to it; you simply can't grapple around from gargoyle to gargoyle and expect to take out all 8 or so guys. These rooms are essentially puzzles. Puzzles with machine guns, I might add.

And for what it's worth, the boss battles are relatively unique when compared to the normal gameplay and involve no grappling amongst garish ceiling statuary.

[sgtslappy]

Well, a demo is supposed to be representative of the final product, right?

Can you tell me ways of how the full version is better other than a few more gadgets (like the explosive gel) to play with? Without spoiling anything if possible?

I'm just on the fence is all. I'm mostly interested in the single player; how long is the game on average?

A demo is supposed to offer a taste in the gameplay.

[donkeydrop]

One such room in particular has roughly four levels to it; you simply can't grapple around from gargoyle to gargoyle and expect to take out all 8 or so guys.

Sure you can; you can find creative ways to take them out if you want to, but the easiest by far is to grab the guy as he goes under the gargoyle, or if he's on a lower floor drop behind him, do a silent takedown. Retire to a different gargoyle, rinse, repeat. They never stay paired up, but even if they did if you get fed up you can just bull rush two even if they have guns.

[donkeydrop]

.... or just plant explosive, lure with sonic batarang, retire, BAM ...repeat ad nauseam

[Gedd]

Thanks for the good info Drewsky/Chimpbot, glad to hear that it gets more complex than what was available in the demo. I liked it, but figured if the full game was just more of the same i'd be bored with it fast. But, it sounds like i'll be adding this to my Steam collection shortly. :)

[gzsfrk]

Amusingly enough, kissing their asses would NOT encourage more games of this caliber, but good/great sales will. They don't want your lips locked on their butt cheeks. They want your money in their pockets. Enough scratch in their pockets and they'll come back for more later!

Who says they can't have my money AND my devoted lips pressed against their collective bum? :)

[brandonjclark]

I know some here have expressed dissent for the UE3 engine, but you must admit it HAS to be the most successful since QuakeEngine.

[Anenome]

Many have said this game really captures the essence of who Batman really -is-, in a way no previous Batman game ever has. I've played the demo and was impressed, detective-mode is what that's all about, and the stealth attack system is well done.

On top of the great gameplay, the graphics are incredibly top notch, and yet the game is perfectly smooth, both visually and control-wise.

[lockwoodx]

When they claim 2.5 million SOLD, and not just shipped then I'll be impressed.

[Venkman]

Well, a demo is supposed to be representative of the final product, right?

Can you tell me ways of how the full version is better other than a few more gadgets (like the explosive gel) to play with? Without spoiling anything if possible?

For example, the Joker starts putting explosives on the Gargoyles in some rooms, so you can land on it, once, and only for a second before it explodes. To flip that on its side, there are levels where you can't touch the floor.

They force you out of your comfort zone in many ways. They have guys that set off alarms when you take them out, so you have to be able to escape before they gun your ass down. If a room is full of guys with guns, you can't fight them because they'll kill you. You have to separate them in a variety of ways. Some with gadgets. Some with bait. Some with splintercell style sneaking.

There is one enemy that is sensitive to your footsteps. There are chase sequences, and there are levels where you can't enter a spot light at all.

There are baddies that can't be hit with punches, you have to get by their defenses on other ways.

They mix it up, all while the plot gets better and the Joker becomes more of an asshole.

Oh, and poison Ivy is "Soooooo hot! Want to touch the heiny!"

[gzsfrk]

...there are levels where you can't enter a spot light at all.

The one level where you have to rescue the doctors by sneaking ALL THE WAY to the top control room in that one chamber without being detected at all had me cursing like a rapping sailor--ALWAYS a sign that the game is doing its job. :)

[gzsfrk]

When they claim 2.5 million SOLD, and not just shipped then I'll be impressed.

Shouldn't have to wait long--I'm sure the next NPD report will be out soon enough.

That being said, I'm pretty confident that the sell-through on this game is quite high, and that units shipped vs. sold is not significantly different. I mean, if the title wasn't selling, retailers wouldn't be ordering so much more stock, now would they?

[vallor]

I'm only to the gardens, but I've been pretty pleased with the game so far. Some of the twists and turns of the plot were exposed too early, IMO.

Finding the riddlers crap, especially the spirit of Arkam stuff has become a compulsion for me! And with nifty bits like the secrets maps I think I may finally be able to get 100% completion for the first time in a game.

[Blog]

I'm only to the gardens, but I've been pretty pleased with the game so far. Some of the twists and turns of the plot were exposed too early, IMO.

Finding the riddlers crap, especially the spirit of Arkam stuff has become a compulsion for me! And with nifty bits like the secrets maps I think I may finally be able to get 100% completion for the first time in a game.100% is hard here. You have to ace all the challenge maps, too. I've finished everything in the main game, but some of the combat challenges are just too darn hard to hit that "three bat" rating!

[donkeydrop]

I got to 85%, found all the Riddler stuff; the last 15% is the challenges and I lost interest