For an event meant to take a look at the games that were released this year and pit them against each other for the sake of constructive criticism, this year's edition of the Video Game Awards made more unveilings regarding new titles than a press conference. A lot of big ones have received sequels and, while some were not that big of a surprise, some came as rather unexpected, mostly concerning their content. Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum proved to be one of the best title launches this year, and probably the best superhero video game ever made. So, while a sequel doesn't really count as a shock, the fact that almost nothing changed does.
Batman will strike fear in the corrupted and vile deviants of Gotham once again, but Arkham Asylum is once again present, and so is the Joker. Rocksteady seems to be really abusing the whole “unstoppable force meeting and irremovable obstacle,” and, if it plans to keep this up, we could see Batman Arkham Asylum 26, where the Joker once again tries to take over the city. The trailer shows Joker's gang of misfits tearing the city apart, on a complete and unopposed rampage, as the camera travels through the city, showing off a lot of famous elements of the Batman universe.
Close to the debut trailer's end, Harley's silhouette is at first guessed and then fully recognized, as she leans over the Joker. It seems like Batman's policy of “don't kill” came back and kicked him in the sheen once again, as his eternal foe is once again loose on the streets of Gotham. And, from what we can tell, he didn't really spend any time behind bars after finally being defeated by “Bats” at the end of Batman: AA. As a total wreck, the Joker is battered and bruised from his fight with the Dark Knight, face cut and scarred, with at least one tooth missing and an IV drip of what's most likely red wine, since we all know that the Joker doesn't function like the rest of us.
While just as the official site, arkhamhasmoved.com, would indicate, the situation is now somewhat reversed, with the asylum no longer a small part of Gotham, but the city a part of the madness, the fact that it's still the Joker and still basically the same setting is a bit disappointing. A new Batman game from the same team that made Arkham Asylum is more than welcome, but it could have changed a few things, like the reason behind the conflict, the villain and the nameless henchmen. It's like the studio is so overwhelmed with the success of its previous release, that it's afraid to change even the smallest thing.
Well, I don't think it will be ONLY joker that you will have to face. I feel that two-face will be a BIG part in the main storyline. If you go to arkhamhasmoved.com, you will see a sign that says "I want you" (the classic uncle sam). The man has a gun, and one side of his person is defiled; the other is pure. TWO-FACE!
It seems like you are assuming a lot from this trailer. You've assumed that they won't be changing the formula and that it will be the same story all over again and also that the joker has not spent time behind bars. First off this is only a hint that the game will be in a new environment under a new set of circumstances and that promises for a boatload of new gameplay changes. We have no idea if the joker will be the main villain and i trust that he won't be. In fact this trailer hints that there will be many other villainous forces at work this time around if you paid any attention at all. Furthermore it is clear that this trailer takes place slightly in the future with a more broken down Gotham and a clearly older joker. He isn't beat up, he's old and i'm sure you have problems just admitting that to yourself. He's old he's old he's old. Do You have some sort of vendetta against batman or something? You have really taken such a negative stance right out of the gate when you have the smallest amount of evidence to work off of. "It's like the studio is so overwhelmed with the success of its previous release, that it's afraid to change even the smallest thing." .... really? Is it just fun for you to take a overly critical stance on anything?
Comment #3 by: i'm a kid in real life!!!! on 23 Sep 2010, 18:04 UTC
I agree with this comment about perhaps having the game based in a different setting, but i'm looking foward to playing this darker version of the original game itself. Just incase some people don't know, there are clues in the trailer that there will be greater villains to appear in this sequel. Such as two-face, the mad hatter, rasalgaul and possibly catwomen and rasalgauls daughter. I think we all know that its quite obvious that scarecrow, killer croc and bane will appear once again because of the give away ending of the first version. I have to admit I was EXTREAMLY angry that xbox 360 did NOT! get the joker as a playable character on the first game considering i own a 360 myself. I sincerly hope that 360 will get the character on the second game. I am still trying to convince the makers online to include a bonus character for the xbox 360 ( hopefully joker). I am looking foward to playing the demo as are many others.
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