My ideal Batman game!

[griffolyon12]

I would love to see a free roam Batman game.Go all over Gotham in his cool vehicles,stop street crime,and the batcave could be used as a menu screen where you can look at unlockables and save your progress after a mission.Tell me what you think about this idea.

[comic_guy04]

Kick ass idea, but your not the first to want that. Not being a dick, i'm just being truthful.

[Slipping_Halo]

Ok, here's MY idea of THE Batman game. This is the Batman game to end all Batman games. Believe me, this would be so sick you'd be hard pressed to even want a sequel because you'll be so satisfied with this one. I'm talking replay value that would rival Mario and Zelda and hours that give Final Fantasy games a run for their money. This is something my brothers and I have been cooking up sitting around on the couches here talking about how crappy almost every Batman game ever released has been and what we wish we could do in one.

Ok, first off, to make this game right it needs to have a story written by Jeff Loeb or somebody who has written a story arc in the comic books and not only knows the character, but can tell one hell of a story as well. Also, obviously this would be for the next generation consoles.

This would be a free-roaming game a'la Spider-man 2 and Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, a single-player action/adventure RPG that spans multiple discs. A problem I had with Spider-man 2 was lack of real game play and challenges due to all the memory being taken up by the massive city environment. I'm talking about a down-to-the-street-names, exactly to-scale replica of Gotham City as dictated by the comics where every nook and cranny of Gotham is yours to explore, remember, and utilize in your quest throughout the game. This includes a fully explorable Batcave with a training center as well as a working Batcomputer in which to store information, retrieve information, and other goodies such as villain profiles and what not.

Batman would have access to a glider via his cape (like Batman Begins) as well as his Batmobile at all times during the game. He can park it in alleyways or on the street, which would also have traffic and random crime scenes going on (although not so repetetive) as well as some pedestrians.

He would level up like Final Fantasy characters do, gaining experience by solving mysteries (more on this in a minute) and beating up thugs and villains, whom also level up to maintain themselves as a threat throughout the game. As his levels get higher, Batman learns new abilities, shaping up his fighting styles and gaining new moves. He could even have an option of switching fighting styles like in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, each option giving new moves and fascilitating an easier time with particular villains on certain missions (like equipping the correct armor and magic in Final Fantasy games in order to easily defeat a boss or something). Things like air time with the glider and efficiency with batarangs and stuff could fine-tune themselves as Batman levels up as well.

The Batcave would have a training program in it to help beginners as well as to give Batman a place to level up if he's having difficulty defeating some villains. It would also include all those goodies like the giant Joker card, the T-Rex model and the giant Penny and all that good stuff.

The story would feature many villains stretched across a story arc that gets progressively more involved (as all RPGs do). I'm talking about a detective game where Batman has to scour the city looking for clues, following leads, and foiling villainous plots as he uncovers who's behind the whole thing; sending him across Gotham battling his most dangerous rogues and all that good stuff. Think of story arcs with a detective twist like The Long Halloween or Hush.

Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, and Oracle can appear at times to aid Batman in certain situations and be non-playable characters. Oracle can also be on call in the pause menu to Save game, load game, recap info acquired and leads found, as well as provide a store of some kind for health and a detailed map of Gotham if the player gets lost. It also works to add dialogue and clues when Batman is searching the city following a lead or chasing thugs.

Fighting would be real-time like Zelda games or other Batman games, and there would be puzzles and things like that in order to unlock things sometimes as well. This would also loosely utilize the Batman Begins game's fear gauge and the whole interrogating thugs for information as to what's going on and things like that. He would also utilize the shadows and strike when he needs to, just like Batman should.

There could also be great side-quests like, for example, flashbacks of Year One kind of stuff as well as all the random bank heists and things like that scattered all around the city (no catching balloons for little kids...ugh...), maybe certain stories can get more involved than others and things like that. There could be great Batmobile car chase missions (although you can use it at ANY time) and maybe even a Batwing mission chasing after the Joker in a helicopter or some craziness like that.

There could be a time where Batman actually has to go to Arkham and go through certain things, possibly even an "Escape from Arkham" thing happening as well. This gives a great chance for cameos from villains that didn't make it into the story too.

Voices would be done by the animated series actors because nothing beats Mark Hamill as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman in terms of voice acting. The look, though, would be as comic book as possible. The story would also open with credits like Metal Gear solid did and would feature breathtaking FMV sequences throughout. With a solid, long, engaging, interesting story.

The possibilities for extras are absolutely boundless. Different versions of Batman's costume could be unlocked; the golden age suit, the silver age suit, the movie suits, the Adam West suit, etc. All the different Batmobiles could be unlocked; the original Bob Kane red car all the way through the movie Batmobiles to the current comics Batmobile. Comic books could be scattered all over the city for an art gallery accessible through the Batcomputer and/or the Oracle in the start menu. It's just a whole mess of stuff.

This game would be huge, fun, entertaining, and the best Batman game ever made if not one of THE best games ever made. This is Batman in his element, letting you BE Batman, scaring the living crap out of thugs and protecting a huge, exact replica of Gotham City like Batman does. Who WOULDN'T want to play this game? I'd cut class to play this game. I'd pay 100 bucks for this game. This thing would be AMAZING. There's no reason why it couldn't be done, especially on the next generation consoles. This would rule all.

[Psycho_Sith]

Slipping, I liked where you were going - especially with the leveling up ala RPGs but once it got to the secondary characters & all TAS'd out your idea lost me.

But your ideas set to the characters/story/places of both BB and the sequel - sort of an 'Ultimate Batman' game - would be great. I'd love to have to rush over to GPD to meet Gordon once he lit the signal.


And ya know out of all the Batman games, B&R for PS1 came damn close to all this...too bad the movie made a lot of people shy away from that game. It had the clue finding aspects & all that.

[Slipping_Halo]

Well the whole thing with having secondary characters show up is completely optional. I just figured I'd put them in there for the hell of it. Also, if there's going to be voice acting, then the animated series voices would be the best idea because all the characters are already spoken for. This way the game is not completely tied to the movies as well. The game would be based on and look like the comic book but feature some aspects of the animated series and the movies to provide a balanced plate and appeal to all. I'd prefer the animated series voices to new voice actors or having the movie characters do their voices because then what if we want to use Mr. Freeze or The Riddler or someone who hasn't been done in the new series of films yet? Who would we get? I definitely wouldn't want Arnold reprising his role for this game because this game would be 100% cheese-free. The animated series voices are quite good, in my opinion, and serve the purpose better because all the characters are spoken for. See what I mean?

Better yet, forget the voice acting and just have amazing musical scores fill the silence. Perhaps get the rights to Elfman's '89 score and add movements to it and things like that. Even use some of the music from BB. This would be the Ultimate Batman Game in every respect. Take all the best from every incarnation and put it together for a rocking experience.

Man, that's such a cool thought I didn't even think about. You're in the middle of some investigation and the batsignal comes on and you have to run to GPD and find out what's up. That's just great stuff. This game would totally rock.

I haven't tried playing B&R for playstation. Frankly, I had no idea a game existed; but I doubt it's as involved as this one would be. I'll check it out though.


Next up (and in another forum, of course): a similar Superman game and a JLA action/adventure game reminiscent of X-Men Legends. Too bad I don't own a video game manufacturing company....haha.

[griffolyon12]

Ok, here's MY idea of THE Batman game. This is the Batman game to end all Batman games. Believe me, this would be so sick you'd be hard pressed to even want a sequel because you'll be so satisfied with this one. I'm talking replay value that would rival Mario and Zelda and hours that give Final Fantasy games a run for their money. This is something my brothers and I have been cooking up sitting around on the couches here talking about how crappy almost every Batman game ever released has been and what we wish we could do in one.

Ok, first off, to make this game right it needs to have a story written by Jeff Loeb or somebody who has written a story arc in the comic books and not only knows the character, but can tell one hell of a story as well. Also, obviously this would be for the next generation consoles.

This would be a free-roaming game a'la Spider-man 2 and Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, a single-player action/adventure RPG that spans multiple discs. A problem I had with Spider-man 2 was lack of real game play and challenges due to all the memory being taken up by the massive city environment. I'm talking about a down-to-the-street-names, exactly to-scale replica of Gotham City as dictated by the comics where every nook and cranny of Gotham is yours to explore, remember, and utilize in your quest throughout the game. This includes a fully explorable Batcave with a training center as well as a working Batcomputer in which to store information, retrieve information, and other goodies such as villain profiles and what not.

Batman would have access to a glider via his cape (like Batman Begins) as well as his Batmobile at all times during the game. He can park it in alleyways or on the street, which would also have traffic and random crime scenes going on (although not so repetetive) as well as some pedestrians.

He would level up like Final Fantasy characters do, gaining experience by solving mysteries (more on this in a minute) and beating up thugs and villains, whom also level up to maintain themselves as a threat throughout the game. As his levels get higher, Batman learns new abilities, shaping up his fighting styles and gaining new moves. He could even have an option of switching fighting styles like in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, each option giving new moves and fascilitating an easier time with particular villains on certain missions (like equipping the correct armor and magic in Final Fantasy games in order to easily defeat a boss or something). Things like air time with the glider and efficiency with batarangs and stuff could fine-tune themselves as Batman levels up as well.

The Batcave would have a training program in it to help beginners as well as to give Batman a place to level up if he's having difficulty defeating some villains. It would also include all those goodies like the giant Joker card, the T-Rex model and the giant Penny and all that good stuff.

The story would feature many villains stretched across a story arc that gets progressively more involved (as all RPGs do). I'm talking about a detective game where Batman has to scour the city looking for clues, following leads, and foiling villainous plots as he uncovers who's behind the whole thing; sending him across Gotham battling his most dangerous rogues and all that good stuff. Think of story arcs with a detective twist like The Long Halloween or Hush.

Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, and Oracle can appear at times to aid Batman in certain situations and be non-playable characters. Oracle can also be on call in the pause menu to Save game, load game, recap info acquired and leads found, as well as provide a store of some kind for health and a detailed map of Gotham if the player gets lost. It also works to add dialogue and clues when Batman is searching the city following a lead or chasing thugs.

Fighting would be real-time like Zelda games or other Batman games, and there would be puzzles and things like that in order to unlock things sometimes as well. This would also loosely utilize the Batman Begins game's fear gauge and the whole interrogating thugs for information as to what's going on and things like that. He would also utilize the shadows and strike when he needs to, just like Batman should.

There could also be great side-quests like, for example, flashbacks of Year One kind of stuff as well as all the random bank heists and things like that scattered all around the city (no catching balloons for little kids...ugh...), maybe certain stories can get more involved than others and things like that. There could be great Batmobile car chase missions (although you can use it at ANY time) and maybe even a Batwing mission chasing after the Joker in a helicopter or some craziness like that.

There could be a time where Batman actually has to go to Arkham and go through certain things, possibly even an "Escape from Arkham" thing happening as well. This gives a great chance for cameos from villains that didn't make it into the story too.

Voices would be done by the animated series actors because nothing beats Mark Hamill as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman in terms of voice acting. The look, though, would be as comic book as possible. The story would also open with credits like Metal Gear solid did and would feature breathtaking FMV sequences throughout. With a solid, long, engaging, interesting story.

The possibilities for extras are absolutely boundless. Different versions of Batman's costume could be unlocked; the golden age suit, the silver age suit, the movie suits, the Adam West suit, etc. All the different Batmobiles could be unlocked; the original Bob Kane red car all the way through the movie Batmobiles to the current comics Batmobile. Comic books could be scattered all over the city for an art gallery accessible through the Batcomputer and/or the Oracle in the start menu. It's just a whole mess of stuff.

This game would be huge, fun, entertaining, and the best Batman game ever made if not one of THE best games ever made. This is Batman in his element, letting you BE Batman, scaring the living crap out of thugs and protecting a huge, exact replica of Gotham City like Batman does. Who WOULDN'T want to play this game? I'd cut class to play this game. I'd pay 100 bucks for this game. This thing would be AMAZING. There's no reason why it couldn't be done, especially on the next generation consoles. This would rule all.
This is exactly what I am talking about!If this game was ever made this would be the best game ever.And true I do think the TAS voices would be the perfect choice and I also think that these next-gen consoles have the power to make this game.But the problem is if anyone wil make it.

[Slipping_Halo]

They Damn Well Should!!!

[droogiedroogie2]

Wicked idea, but I must disagree on the "Ultimate Batman" idea. The game should go in a set direction. BTAS, Movies, Comics, or its own continuity. Perhaps (and this would make it massively huge) it could have a bunch of options. You can play the BTAS version and fight BTAS-style villains according to BTAS continuity. Or you could play Burtman continuity, where the Joker is already dead. You could play Schumacher continuity, if you really wanted to, and Batman would be a callous one-liner whore. You could play Nolan continuity, right where the last sequel leaves off. Of course there's the comics continuity. Maybe you could even have Golden, Silver, and Modern Age continuities. These would all have slightly distinct stories, variants on a common story. The guys who did BTAS could write that story, Loeb or Winick could write the comics story, etc.

All the different continuities and alternate universes (excepting Elseworlds, which I don't really like that much) are beautiful in their own way, and should all get the deserved respect of a great game. But amalgamated together, I think something would be lost.

[Slipping_Halo]

I dunno about all that. The only reason I say it's an amalgamation of everything is to fascilitate voice acting really. Other than that, it'd be pretty straight up comic book adaptation. Only little things like the voice acting would come from different places simply because that's the only source we have (besides the movies, and even then we don't have all the characters) for voices to all the Batman characters, and good ones at that.

The look, feel, and action of the story would be straight out of the current comic book but continuity of the story would probably be an elseworlds kind of thing because it'd be more compelling and surprising if it wasn't an adaptation of something that has already happened and that way there's a lot of freedom to play around with the story. That's the way I see it.

[droogiedroogie2]

Not to get too hung up on something that is way too cool to happen, but I don't see why it couldn't be allowed into continuity. Remember the Man-Bat GN or Miniseries or whatever it was? Not his ongoing, there was either a mini or a GN that was Elseworlds, but for no apparent reason. They just decided they didn't want it in continuity. It was a great story tho, and didn't damage any current canon.

That's why I say if DC actually made this game, they should take the next step and allow this completely original story into comics canon. There's no reason that just because it's a game it can't have an original story AND fit into canon. I never understood why they couldn't have allowed Dark Tomorrow into continuity, for example.

[Slipping_Halo]

Well, whatever. It doesn't bother me either way--especially because it's way too cool to happen (God, I would totally cut class to play that game).

Too bad...

[The Black Mask]

cool

[Lt. Figgnuts]

Great idea, but that seems like a monumental undertaking...

...especially considering it'd be pretty tough to do a multiple disc free-roam game.

[Psycho_Sith]

The next-gen consoles could handle that game if it wasn't too overboard with tons of little details I'm sure.
What I've gathered from the free roams so far is they have a huge environment with a lot you *can* do but little in the way of driving story & events...just a lot of repetitive filler stuff and side quests - so memory wise I'm sure the next-gens could do it.

[William15]

Batman Dark Tomorrow with decent controls and touch ups. That game is pretty good, but it can be so frustrating, that I wanna throw my Gamecube out of the window.

[David Ford, RPD]

Batman Dark Tomorrow with decent controls and touch ups. That game is pretty good, but it can be so frustrating, that I wanna throw my Gamecube out of the window.

I liked that DT was a comic book adaptation, but the story/graphics/controls were piss-poor. A horrible, horrible game; Begins is miles ahead.

[William15]

Is there a comic book of Dark Tomorrow? I thought the story was cool, the graphics were great IMO. The cutscenes were also very beautiful.

[Slipping_Halo]

Great idea, but that seems like a monumental undertaking...

...especially considering it'd be pretty tough to do a multiple disc free-roam game.

It seems pretty simple to me. Think of it as having 3 different versions of Spider-Man 2 where you have the whole city set up and all that but the plots are totally different. Same deal here except the plots would be connected from disc to disc. It's been done before pretty much with the Final Fantasy games. I'm sure that the next generation consoles will be able to handle that.

[Charlie No-One]

Your idea would be great if you oculd play as Catwoman too... :p

[Slipping_Halo]

no...it wouldn't

[BatFitz]

amen to that

[dkbatman06]

It seems pretty simple to me. Think of it as having 3 different versions of Spider-Man 2 where you have the whole city set up and all that but the plots are totally different. Same deal here except the plots would be connected from disc to disc. It's been done before pretty much with the Final Fantasy games. I'm sure that the next generation consoles will be able to handle that.

Yeah- if you've played Shenmue for the Dreamcast, it's been done before.

Anyway, I think your ideas kick ass.

[Slipping_Halo]

Thanks. If only I had the means to make it happen.

[GL1]

Good ideas... here's the ones I posted last time... a little more multi-centric... a little less RPG-ish...

My Batman Game Ideas (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6197782&postcount=132)

[Herr Logan]

I love almost all the ideas you posted, Slipping Halo. I particularly like the idea of having a fully accessible Gotham City you can roam, and definitely using the animated series voices.

The only thing I would definitely not want is an obligation to find and retrieve tokens, comic books or any other items that would only occur in a video game. I want a fully immersive experience, where you feel like you're actually the Batman all the way through.
All the things you could gain through collecting tokens, I know you could earn those through other means more in keeping with the regular routine of the Batman.

Here are my suggestions for the essential Batman video game (please at least attempt to read the whole thing, at least eventually):

As I said, I also want a fully functional Gotham City. There would be buildings you can enter, but only certain ones, because the Batman does everything for a reason and therefore would not choose to go into random apartments or places of business, and certainly not in full view of the public. I want the there to be a Reputation system that encourages you to stay out of civilians' sight. If you need to run through a crowd during a crime in progress or any other necessary appearances, you wouldn't be punished, but in general, being seen close-up by uninvolved parties lowers your Legend rating. The system should take into account what's actually going on when deciding whether to punish you or reward you. I want there to be a healthy balance of stealth and theatricality. I want a lighting/shadow engine at least on par with the 'Splinter Cell' games. Much of the game would be based on those game mechanics in fact, but not all. The primary inspirations for the format of this game would be...
'Splinter Cell': stealth, gadgetry and quick access to pertinent information.
'True Crime: Streets of L.A.': the huge, sprawling environment, instant alerts of random street crimes while driving and the ability to leave the perps handcuffed.
'Spider-Man 2': upward mobility (climbing and jump lines) and access to all elevations of the city, from the tallest building to street level.

One thing I would insist be a part of this ultimate Batman game is detective work. Several games already on the market are based on this, but I haven't played any of them, so I can't cite them as inspirations. I'll explain in further detail how this would play out in the game, but I don't have all the details worked out in my head. Just raw concepts. Maybe you guys could help with fleshing out the game mechanics of it, and I don't mean programming, although I'm absolutely devoid of that type of knowledge.

Your base of operations is the Batcave, obviously. Training in the cave's advanced gymnasium/simulator is what will take the place of tokens with regard to rewards as well as increase your effectiveness as a fighter. I’d be firm on this one thing: all of the Batman's moves would be available from the very beginning. I never liked the idea of a fully-grown Batman having to relearn moves just because a video game player takes the reins. He knows all his stuff, but we could still be required to build up to full strength by having to practice these moves. The focus of all the game's reward/punishment aspects should be to drive the player to his full potential as the Batman. It's what the Batman would have wanted, right? You are encouraged to master your arsenal of fighting moves as well as every other tactic available to the Batman. The use of gadgets and equipment is also something you'd be rewarded for mastering. Everything is available, but not at full strength. I mean, for the sake of matching it up with the reality of the Batman's world, we could start the story at a point where he's been injured or otherwise out of action for an extended period. This would require him to sharpen all of his skills as well as hone his reputation to its fullest power. In 'Batman Begins,' Ducard told Bruce Wayne that "the training is nothing; the will is everything!" That ain't true. Not for the Batman. His will is tied up with his training, and it's his will that will force you to do a reasonable amount (and I do mean reasonable) of training before you can live it up on the town after sundown.

I don't want the game to be overly difficult. For the most part, common street thugs, regardless of their individual fighting skills or melee weapons, would not be a huge challenge. If you do the bare minimum training for the moves you're using, then you're going to win in close quarters. For gang-ups, you have to train specifically for that before taking down multiple opponents simultaneously. In complicated arenas with environmental obstacles, bare minimum training won't always insure you'll beat the small fry, but there will be ways around that as well.

I know the perfect way to encourage vehemently proper training:
1) The Batman will mentally monologue at great length about the importance of staying at the top of his game if you've gone too long without training and you haven't (re)mastered any or all of your moves. The more you master, the less he gets on your (his) case about it.
2) If you fail in battle against anyone, much less a normal man (meaning something less powerful than Killer Croc or a master fighter of the Batman's caliber, and you haven't completed the training program for the moves you were using (and maybe the moves designated as the next progression up from those moves), the computer will force you to complete the training session before you can leave the cave again.

Training sessions in the Batcave would not be very lengthy at all, and they should be relatively entertaining (Alfred and/or Robin will heckle or cheer you on, depending on how you're doing, to keep the player amused). I realize all this sounds like an extreme amount of emphasis on training to the point that the game wouldn't be any fun, but it really would be less of a pain in the ass than it sounds. Also, once you've mastered the moves and keep a good success rate (which means never being overtaken by a singular average criminal and rarely ever getting overtaken by multiple foes), you don't have to retrain for the specific moves you've mastered. If you do lose a fight, it's back to the cave with you! Not right away (unless you get knocked out), but before the next evening. Training would be done during the day, because you never go out as the Batman during that time. Certain moves aren't good enough for certain classes of enemies, so if you go into a fight unprepared or if you know you'll be going up against someone that the programming knows is too much for your level of expertise, Bruce won't leave you alone until you do what you gotta do. Again, this isn't going to be a huge pain in the ass, but you must put yourself through at least a distant facsimile of what the Batman put himself through to get where he is.


Your equipment:
Batsuit. The Batman wears a fireproof uniform with Kevlar panels to protect against indirect gunshots, stab wounds and blunt trauma. You have a certain amount of protection against most attacks, but don't push your luck. Most gunshots will put you down for the count, and plenty of other types of dangers are ones you can't walk away from. The Batsuit, as well as pretty much everything else in this game, is based on the comics’ lore, with perhaps the exception of the cape's gliding capabilities.
Cowl. The cowl is protective and as bulletproof as the Kevlar in the body suit. It includes:
Starlite lenses which can provide night vision and thermal vision (turns on and off). These protect the Batman from flashbang grenades and other bright flashes that you or someone else causes as a diversion or stopping tactic.
Directional microphones (turns on and off) that amplify sounds such as speech, machinery noise (like a car getting ready to take off or a bomb ticking), sounds of a struggle occurring, etc. In general, these amplify the noise coming from straight ahead most of all, so turning will change the focus of the amplification.
Radio provides a number of functions. It's your link to your allies such as Alfred and Robin, and it can act like a phone when you need to call Commissioner Gordon. It also acts as a police scanner (turns on and off) so you can hear crime alerts when you're not in the car. It also plays audio information received by bugs planted by the Batman or an ally.
Cape is fireproof and mostly bulletproof. By blocking with the cape, you can avoid major damage from most semi-automatic fire and shotguns fired from a distance, although you'll still feel pain (there will be a pain factor, tied in with a realistic damage system for the Batman).
The cape also acts as a glider, a la 'Batman Begins.' It would probably function the same way the game based on that movie did, rather than how it was used in the movie itself.
The cape can act as a way of extending your reach in a fight, as the tips of the cape scallops contain small lead weights. You could use these to knock a handgun out of the hand of a close by enemy as well as inflict damage to the enemy himself. Perhaps this could automatically come into play when you're confronted with an enemy that is just out of punching range but within the range of a swung cape (a couple extra feet). That seems like the simplest way to make it work.
Scallops on the gloves allow the Batman to block sword attacks and some other melee weapon attacks. The hardened gauntlets also block punches, kicks and even single gunshots at close range if timed properly (although you'd have to be pretty damn confident to even try this, since the cape may not protect against so close a shot and it has to be exact timing for the gauntlet to deflect the bullet).

Utility belt contains several gadgets, weapons and items:
Bat-Grapnel is a hand-held device that fires a sophisticated grappling hook attached to a tough steel cable. It is used for climbing, rappelling, swinging and zip-line descent. Grapnel line can be released in mid-climb, mid-descent, mid-swing, but must be retrieved to reuse. Can grasp any sturdy substance. Descent and ascent speed can be modified during use. Belt capacity = 2 max.
Batarangs are good for disarming enemies, knock-outs (making a person unconscious in one strike), killing light bulbs, activating switches from a distance and other long-term tasks that require or can permit a strong blow from a hard object. Sometimes they can just cause a diversion through the noise they make on impact. Batarangs can return to the Batman's hand if thrown in an open enough space and can be retrieved if found on the ground or lodged in surfaces. Belt capacity = 10 max.
Bat-shuriken are sharp, tiny throwing stars that perform many of the same functions Batarangs do but not all and to lesser degrees most of the time. They can still disarm and shatter light bulbs, but may not activate distant switches with equal success as the Batarangs. They cause pain in almost all enemies they strike (which lessens the enemy's effectiveness and often forces them to pause), but will likely not knock them out unless they are already beaten up pretty badly. They cause noisy diversions if thrown close enough to an enemy. They can be retrieved, but are much more likely to get lost than Batarangs. Belt capacity = 20-25 max.
Bat-bolas are weights (2 or 3 usually) connected by cords that are thrown in order to trip or otherwise incapacitate a target. On striking a target (usually the legs), the weights will cause the cords to wrap themselves about it, tripping the target. A traditional bola is not a friendly weapon. It often damages the target by breaking bones and causing other blunt trauma, but the Batman's are specially designed to cause minimal damage. Belt capacity = 5.
Smoke pellets create a thick fog through which enemies without thermal vision cannot see and which acts as cover. The Batman himself will need more times than not his thermal vision while moving through the smoke. This smoke is harmless, but may cause decreased effectiveness in characters other than the Batman due to the mild coughing in addition to the virtual blindness. They can be used as diversions as well. Belt capacity = 10-15 max.
Tear gas pellets release gas that causes uncontrollable coughing and eye watering (and sometimes vomiting) in anyone who gets caught in it. The Batman's lenses protect him from the eye irritant, but he needs to put on a gas mask if he spends more than 15 or so seconds in an area filled with tear gas. He can hold his breath for over two minutes, but it's also a skin irritant that will reduce the Batman's abilities severely due to pain, so he needs the specially-fitted miniature gas mask to cover his exposed lower face. Belt capacity = 5-10 max.
Gas mask folds down small enough to be carried in utility belt and can be quickly retrieved and placed on the Batman's face when needed. It protects against every kind of gas that could be used by and against you including tear gas, air-born toxins, etc. The gas mask also doubles as a rebreather, for underwater use. Belt capacity = 2; In situations where an enemy is also wearing a gas mask, is immune to gas (like Poison Ivy, I think), or is really good at holding their breath and is fast enough to get a real fight going before the gas' non-respiratory effects get them down (I'm thinking Killer Croc here), they might be able to knock or pull you mask off. In case you lose it, you have another one. Not very likely, but a possibility, and that's what being the Batman is all about.
Flash-bang grenades are small canisters containing phosphorous that cause a loud noise and blinding flash of light when thrown. The Batman is mostly protected from the effects of this device (everything might be a lot brighter, decreasing your visual accuracy for several moments, but you can still see enough to do your job) by his cowl's lenses. Flash-bangs can temporarily incapacitate those looking in the grenades direction when it goes off, but some enemies may blindly swing their arms or melee weapons or blindly fire weapons in anticipation of attack. Thus, it might be a good idea to keep moving while the effects of a flashbang stun your foes and especially to protect (block or shove to the ground) or extract (physically prompt or carry out) any hostages or bystanders. A good set-up for a Batarang disarm or blitz attack. Belt capacity = 5 max.
Plastic explosives can be attached to doors or other objects that you might want to destroy. Remotely detonated. Remember, the Batman doesn't kill, so be damn sure you don't put anyone in mortal dangerous when you use this item. Belt capacity: 5-7 units max.
Bat cuffs in their current incarnation are very durable versions of plastic FlexiCuffs which require nothing short of bolt-cutters or the Batman's own diamond-reinforced rope-cutter to break. The Batman can use these on anyone he wishes to restrain (he can cuff someone to an object like a street lamp, etc. by putting the prisoner's hands on either side of the object and then cuffing them; this would be done automatically in response to the player's commands) after which he can leave the perp where they lay or transport them somewhere else (you can also have them walk on their own power where you tell them to, and if they're smart, they'll do it). Belt capacity = 20-30 max.
Bat-line is a multi-filament nylon cord with very high tensile strength. You can cut it with your rope cutter, so therefore you can use it continuously in several pieces of various lengths to tie up captured crooks. Helpful if you run out of Bat-cuffs (before returning to the Batmobile to restock) but takes longer to bind prisoners. Can be used to hang perps from poles, etc., and to dangle from a height during interrogations. You can attach the Bat-line to a Batarang and use it as a makeshift grappling hook if you've lost your Bat-grapnels or don't wish to use them now (it won't retract or fire automatically the way the grapnel works, but you've got more line and batarangs than grapnels). Belt capacity = unlimited.
Binoculars are self-explanatory, right? They're tiny but mighty and include an integral compass. Belt capacity = 1 max.
Portable GPS system gives you access to a full map of Gotham City. From here, you can check up on tracking devices, plan your travel route and search locations. The Batman already knows every square foot of Gotham City my heart. Through the pause menu, you can access his contemporary memory and you'll get a map almost as complete as the GPS can give you, but the difference is that you can only determine certain things from the Batman's "mental map." The mental map can tell you where you are in the city, the names of every street and landmark, the various gang territories (this is actually something you probably wouldn't see on the GPS, so it's good to check both), and the last known locations of several characters (namely your allies and characters you deal with during game play, as permanent residences and known hangouts for every character is listed in the Bat computer). The GPS is the link between your mental map and the Bat computer. It can mark an address you pick out of the database, it can tell you the exact distance between two points, the quickest route by car between two points (you might decide it's easier to go by car or to go on foot over rooftops or through back alleys), the distance and estimated time of a multi-point route, and other similar advanced functions. It also gives information about the z-axis, telling you how high up you are, how high a tracker is (telling you what floor its on as well, since the GPS knows the layout of all the building in Gotham). It can tell you how fast a tracker is moving in any direction as well. It's an awesome device.


To be continued...

[Herr Logan]

Mini-launcher fires tracking devices and listening devices from reasonably long distances. If you're on a rooftop across the street from someone you want to listen in on (especially if the level they're on is lower than the one you're on), you can fire a bug and enjoy the show. Belt capacity = max.
Tracking device is a tiny transmitter that attaches to a surface (including clothing) transmits coordinates to the Batman's portal and GPS system (and the ones in the Batmobile and Batcave). You can place these by hand (good for planting them on people you've gotten close enough to touch) or launch them with the Mini-launcher. Belt capacity = 5-10 max.
Listening device is a tiny transmitter that attaches to a surface (including clothing) and transmits audio input to the Batman's Communications Hub (which can also be routed to his headset, car and cave). You can place these by hand (good for planting them on people you've gotten close enough to touch) or launch them with the Mini-launcher. The listening bug can record important conversations even if you aren't listening to them at the time they occur. Belt capacity = 5-10 max.
Basic Forensic Kit for impromptu examinations of crime scenes while he keeps a more larger and comprehensive one in the Batmobile (and an even larger one in the Batcave) for more intensive examinations. Includes zip-close plastic bags for samples, fingerprinting materials, luminol, etc. Belt capacity = 1 max.
Laser Torch is a strong miniaturized laser used as a cutting tool. Could be used to weld or seal metal. Belt Capacity = 1 max.
Miniature flashlight is tiny but very powerful and useful for when you'd rather not use night vision (which discolors your view and can be a hindrance if not strictly needed or in the presence of people you'd rather were kept in the dark). Belt capacity = 1-2 max. Mounted on the finger, the mini-light can be used while you perform other manual tasks.
Lock Picks are used to open locked doors. Each set includes a miniature rope-cutter (for if your primary cutter is confiscated with the rest of your gear and you're tied up with rope). Belt capacity = irrelevant; the Batman has several sets of picks stored in various places of his costume, so as long as your wearing the Batsuit, you'll never be out of lock picks. Keep that in mind if you get tied up or handcuffed and/or locked in a room with your stuff taken away.
Rope-cutter is diamond-reinforced, allowing the Batman to cut through any fiber rope and his own Bat cuffs. Useful for releasing hostages and prisoners (even you're own, but be careful who you let go), and cutting ropes to initiate context-specific operations. Belt capacity = 1-2 max; you might have to give one to someone else who's willing to help you.
Ninja claws are barbed add-ons to the gloves and boots that aid in climbing trees, scaling walls, etc. Belt capacity = 1 full set max.
Bat-Vehicle Remote Control allows the Batman to control his vehicles remotely. Stored in the buckle, you can remotely summon the Batmobile to pick you up. It can go through alleys and on off-road terrain to a reasonable degree, but it may be slow going if the car is parked far away from where you are and there's traffic out (which is why you park and get out of the car in the first place in many cases) Gotham City seldom sleeps, but some areas of the city are more busy than others at night, and at varying times. The Batmobile can go extremely fast, but it will not run over pedestrians or barrel through cars in its way.
Micro Camera records moving and still pictures and audio. Useful for gathering evidence and sharing info with the police during a case. Probably other reasons, too. Belt capacity = 1-2 max.
Miniaturized Tools for anything that would require standard tools. For example, if you were locked in a room with a heavy steel door with no visible lock and the room was filling with volatile gas, you couldn't use your laser torch or use a metal object to smash the hinges, so you'd have to unscrew a few screws to get out. Situations like that. Belt capacity = 1 max; more than one hidden throughout costume outside of the belt.
First-Aid Kit helps you make it through the night without returning to the cave. Includes sterile dressings to stop bleeding, cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect, antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, burn ointment to prevent infection, adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes, eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant, prescription medications such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers, medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies, and anti-toxins. It's obvious that some of this stuff is of no use to the Batman (insulin, heart medication, etc.) but the supplies in the first-aid kit can be used on civilians. Imagine a hostage or crime victim with asthma or a heart condition having an attack during a stressful situation. Batman and his first-aid kit to the rescue! Only certain items are used per kit use, and different items have different amounts per kit. Odds are you won't use the whole thing up unless you wait until you have one of every kind of wound and have given aid to civilians (or even criminals) with health conditions. Belt capacity = 2 full kits max.
Communications device is the hub of all communication equipment used by the Batman while he's in the field. It reroutes many functions to the headset in the cowl such as the comm. link with Alfred and Robin, listening device recordings and the police scanner (turns on and off). It records information received through bugs even if you're not listening at the time, if there was anything worth recording while you were busy doing something else (you'd better have been busy or doing something as Bruce Wayne, or you shouldn't have turned off the audio feed). Belt capacity = 1 max.

That's all I can think of right at this moment, but I'm sure there's more.
Therefore, as you can see, you'll be well stocked whenever you go out to hunt and/or patrol. In addition, the Batmobile is well stocked with Bat-gear, so you can return to the car any time and reload. The car's supply is great but limited, so if you're out all night and keep running out and refilling expendable equipment, you can eventually run dry. You'd never run out of first aid kits, but then again there's only so much first aid kits can do for you. Once you return the Batmobile to the Batcave, the car will be completely restocked as well as your utility belt. No more of this scrimping and saving like previous Batman games. If you're being wasteful with the equipment, Bruce will either lecture himself (meaning you) until you concede to train at using the equipment some more, or he'll outright force you to complete the relevant gadget training before you can go out again.

The cave contains the training facilities, the Bat computer, your fully stocked crime lab, a first-aid center, and your armory and wardrobe nook.

Bat computer: Within this massive database, there are hundreds of case files and dossiers. Many of these will be straight from the comics. Individual cases that have either been solved or are still open. Not all of these files have involved the Batman directly, though. Everything you'd ever want to know about the Batman universe should be available in this computer, although you might have to do some digging. It's possible there will be a section of the computer that is catalogued by comic book issue number, but I want that to be an add-on to a more formalized database that contains the same information in the form of police reports (DD5s) and the Batman's own written files. For the police cases the Batman was involved in, there may simply be attached notes written by the Dark Knight that fill in the gaps. In any case, the dossiers and case files will come into play at several points in the game.

Here's something you may think is the coolest thing ever or the dumbest thing ever having to do with the game's detective work:
If you intervene in a street crime, (this includes home invasions and hold-ups in establishments) and somehow the perp(s) escape, the incident becomes an open case for the Batman. Variables in the game having to do with the hardcore detective work will load at the moment it's clear that at least one of the bad guys have gotten away or something else is unresolved about the crime. The criminals' faces will now match photos in the Batcomputer's files, or possibly even the Batman's own memory, and they will have names you can or may have to find in order to catch the bastard(s). Either the NPC criminal will automatically match the dossier that would correspond if the incident became an open case, or it would be a somewhat non-descript face when seen in game play that will become more distinct when the Batman "remembers" what he saw (if he in fact saw a face). The Batman remembers pretty much everything he sees or hears, so the game will provide a still-shot of the perp if you saw his face when going over the facts of the incident. Everything the Batman learns while he's out on patrol or a mission is recorded in a "contemporary facts" file you can access in the pause menu. Everything you'd need to know that was knowable at the time of the incident is recorded here, and it's automatically recorded officially in the Bat computer when you go back to the Batcave or maybe even the Batmobile. Fingerprints, visual identification and knowledge gleaned from talking to witnesses or nearby stool pigeons (or just loudmouths who don't realize a detective-type might be listening in on their discussions with other lowlifes; this is wear your audio equipment and your civilian disguises come into play).

Wardrobe: in addition to keeping an ample supply of spare Batsuits, this area contains everything you'd need to disguise yourself as another person, or perhaps apply makeup to cover up bruises incurred while fighting when Bruce Wayne must make an appearance the next day.
I don't know how many recurring aliases the Batman has in the comics (I know his primary one is Matches Malone), but they'd all be stored as pre-set disguises to use when you want (or need, as the case may be at some points in the game) to hang around spots where possible sources or suspects frequent. Matches Malone listens in on crooks bragging and gossiping all the time, and so can the player in this game. If Matches or any other pre-set alias is "made" (meaning, someone knows you're not what you seem and could be a threat) during a recon mission, that disguise is no longer available for use in the game. There might be the possibility of continuing its use if you use the identity as bait for the people who "made" you, but if you don't restrict your appearance in this guise to only that purpose after having your cover blown, there will be some kind of negative consequences. I don't know what exactly.
Outside of Matches and the other pre-set disguises, you can build your own new face. It'll be similar to 'The Sims 2' in that eventuality. Alfred will assist you and make comments during this process.

To get from the cave to the city, you need to take the Batmobile. The Batwing aircraft may be necessary for certain missions in Gotham City, but will more likely be relegated to missions outside the city (R'as Al Ghul territory, perhaps?).
Ideally, I would like to make it so the Batmobile doesn't jump the curb and smash everything in sight like a GTA game, because this is supposed to be largely guided by the Batman's own skill and personality. Either way, the car will have these key features:
Durability is key, and the Batmobile is damn near indestructible in a lot of ways (but not completely). There's no real need to detail all the armoring the car has here (and I still can't find my damn copy of 'Batman: the Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight'), but note that the tires can self-repair after a moment at rest.
Speed is another trait this car is known for. Faster than the average racing car, although you'll only get a few missions where you can cut loose at full speed. Gotham City is an urban environment and lots of people and property in the way, and once again, this isn't GTA.
Autopilot generally allows you to do two things: 1) select a location on the GPS and let the car take you there safely and efficiently, and 2) choose a path consisting of multiple points or a pattern. This could be for observational purposes on patrol or for evasive maneuvers. You can set the speed for this chosen course.
Weapons and defensive devices of various types. Rockets, smoke screens, oil slicks, tire-piercing sharp thingies, grappling hooks and other goodies. It has several layers of defense system to ward off or incapacitate intruders while it's parked including tasers, foam projectors, gas and even a self-destruct device.
On-board GPS system does everything the portable one does. In case you missed it before (skip this if you read it already):
gives you access to a full map of Gotham City. From here, you can check up on tracking devices, plan your travel route and search locations. The Batman already knows every square foot of Gotham City my heart. Through the pause menu, you can access his contemporary memory and you'll get a map almost as complete as the GPS can give you, but the difference is that you can only determine certain things from the Batman's "mental map." The mental map can tell you where you are in the city, the names of every street and landmark, the various gang territories (this is actually something you probably wouldn't see on the GPS, so it's good to check both), and the last known locations of several characters (namely your allies and characters you deal with during game play, as permanent residences and known hangouts for every character is listed in the Bat computer). The GPS is the link between your mental map and the Bat computer. It can mark an address you pick out of the database, it can tell you the exact distance between two points, the quickest route by car between two points (you might decide it's easier to go by car or to go on foot over rooftops or through back alleys), the distance and estimated time of a multi-point route, and other similar advanced functions. It also gives information about the z-axis, telling you how high up you are, how high a tracker is (telling you what floor its on as well, since the GPS knows the layout of all the building in Gotham). It can tell you how fast a tracker is moving in any direction as well. It's an awesome device.

As I mentioned before, the stealth factor should be like the 'Splinter Cell' games, as should the lighting/shadow engine. The player's HUD (heads up display) will have a visibility meter that will tell you how likely it is someone will see you. You also might have a sound meter, but that will be less useful because the Batman moves silently most of the time in general. You know how he's always pulling his ninja routine with Commissioner Gordon? You'll get the chance to actually pull that off and earn Bat-style points. Yes, style will be a part of the game as well, which is where theatricality pays off. The more visible you are to people who you aren't directly dealing with (and even for those you are, if it loses you a tactical advantage), the less Bat-style points you earn. I don't know exactly how that directly how that will come into play as rewards and punishments, but it should be organic and smooth, with no numbers flashing on the screen or anything like that. Perhaps headlines will appear indicating that the Batman is becoming less of a mysterious legend and more of an attention-whoring clown (these are just the extremes), which will lessen the Batman's Fear factor against criminals. It would be a much more advanced and subtle Fear factor than was used in 'Batman Begins.' Criminals wouldn't automatically drop their weapons if they got scared, but their aim and balance would be decreased. The environmental factors you can use would be much more varied. You can throw your batarangs anywhere, not just at particular points specifically designed to set off a spectacle to scare all the bad guys. You can throw one at a wall behind an enemy and make him turn around. You can knock out lights like in 'Splinter Cell' and move in under cover of darkness. Unlike 'Splinter Cell,' however, you're not always breaking into places with alarms and it's okay if you leave evidence that you were there in many cases (not all, like if you broke into police facilities to look at hard-copy records or confiscated evidence, you don't want to leave any batarangs and so forth behind if you can help it), because you're the Batman, and the criminal underworld is supposed to know you exist. I keep referencing that game because there's so much in it that's perfect for a Batman game. While it may seem impossible to blend a fully free-roaming game with up-close spy work, I don't believe it is. It's just that only certain areas would require you to use delicate crime scene investigation (CSI) skills like sample collecting, fingerprints, etc. The thing is, if you make it so that any criminals that get away become open cases (and the Batman can't stand that, so he'll bug you until you get on it, unless there's something much more important that takes priority), then virtually anywhere in the city could become a workable site for CSI.
I'm telling you, they could truly make a game that captures every major aspect of the Batman mythos. The mobility of 'Spider-Man 2,' the crime-alerts and sprawling environments of 'True Crime' (although Gotham's buildings are probably closer to Spidey's New York), the stealth and gadgetry beyond Ubisoft's spy thrillers, the expansive scripting and city-wide personality of the 'Grand Theft Auto' games and detective work no doubt beyond whatever they've made so far. Throw in the atmospheric, psychological aspects of "The Suffering" and you've got everything you need.

I'd call it 'Batman: Dark Knight Detective'. What do you think?

By the way, this isn't everything that could be put into it; not nearly. I'm just tired for now.

:wolverine

[Charlie No-One]

Sounds great, just cut the Detective out of the name.

[Herr Logan]

Sounds great, just cut the Detective out of the name.

I put it there in the first place because the full name advertises what the game is about: protecting and detecting.

By the way, did you read the whole thing?

I stayed up pretty much all night writing that and I know it's huge, so I'm wondering. :O

:wolverine

[Hades]

At lot of these are quite good ideas. But alot of you are forgetting how much it would cost...

[Herr Logan]

At lot of these are quite good ideas. But alot of you are forgetting how much it would cost...

When technology gets good enough, the cost won't be too much for the developers.

:wolverine

[Hades]

What about all the copyrighted material and voice actors..AND professional writers some of you want to bring in.

[Herr Logan]

What about all the copyrighted material and voice actors..AND professional writers some of you want to bring in.

If done right, the game would pay for itself.

:wolverine

[GL1]

I just read your treatment Herr, top notch stuff...

[Herr Logan]

I just read your treatment Herr, top notch stuff...

Thanks, GL1.

I thought your ideas were damn good as well. :up:

:wolverine

[TheJuice]

I would love to see a free roam Batman game.Go all over Gotham in his cool vehicles,stop street crime,and the batcave could be used as a menu screen where you can look at unlockables and save your progress after a mission.Tell me what you think about this idea.


Grand Theft Auto: Gotham City

[Herr Logan]

Grand Theft Auto: Gotham City

It'd be more like 'True Crime: Streets of Gotham City,' since it should definitely have the Batman monitoring police radio signals and responding when a particularly tricky crime is mentioned.

:wolverine

[marvelisawesome]

They should make a multiplayer mode. And have alot of weapons.

[Slipping_Halo]

Herr Logan. Those are things that would make the game I envisioned SO much better. I'd love for this game to be made. I think it's possible too if people put the time into it. The next generation consoles should be able to handle all this stuff because it seems to me that the current consoles can just barely take all this stuff, so the newer ones shouldn't have any problem. The possibilities are awesome.

[The Joker™]

WOW that seems really cool.

[Fledermaus]

How about Grand Theft Auto: Gotham City?

I now see I am not the first to think of this. Bat minds think alike.

[The Bruce]

Mail this stuff off to the people with the licens!!! I need a good Batman game dammit! A game I feel like poppin' in my console year after year!

[Slipping_Halo]

Amen to that.

[Sandman138]

My ideal Batman game would be as follows.

The story: Written by Brian Azzarello. Broken City was the best mystery Batman story to come out in a long time. The story in this game would be a mystery/whodunnit story that ends differiantly depending on how you play. Get the right clues, peice them together, put two and two together and get to the right place and you'll solve it. Misinterpret a clue, mistake a lie for a truth, or miss something and you'll end up at a differant destination.

The mechanics: Resident Evil 4 style gameplay. The OTS view and context sensitve action butten are perfect for Batman. OTS view ensures that the atmosphere isn't missed while also allowing free range of movement. Context sensitve action buttens let you actually jump through skylights and look cool in game. The utilty belt would be accessed in the same style as the MGS games allow you to access equpment. Melee combat would switch over to a Z targeting system and switch up the controls to allow for kicks, jabs, and grabs. Not freeroaming in the traditional sense. Instead Gotham is a series of districts accessed through the Batmobile, much the same way the Zelda games worked.

As well as context sensitve situations (remember running away from the boulders? Think running away from a drive-by) there are context sensitive interogations. One that I have vividly in my mind is interogating somone near a printing press the first option is to put their tie into the press, you can ask them questions, when they don't give you an answer or one you like, you can turn the press on by holding the action button to scare them but hold it too long and their tie becomes too tight breaking their neck. The questions you can ask are directly related to what clues you have found when you interogate them. In other words, if you jump the gun and go after The Riddler before you've found a crucial peice of evidence tieing him with Poisen Ivy, you may miss part of the story and end up with a different ending.

Another idea that I had was using Fable's character addaptation. Focus on stealth and interact in an overall heroic manner, and your Batman starts looking more like the Neal Adams style. Focus on brute strength and interact in an intimidating/overtly vigilante manner, and your Batman starts to look more like Miller's DKR style. This isn't nessecary, but I thought it might be a cool touch.

The graphics: Styled after Jae Lee's work on Batman. If you haven't read Jekkel And Hyde Syndrome, you're not only missing out on a great story, but some of the best Batman art around. Jae Lee's style fits perfectly for a game. It's real world style with tons of atmosphere.

[블라스]

Ok, here's MY idea of THE Batman game. This is the Batman game to end all Batman games. Believe me, this would be so sick you'd be hard pressed to even want a sequel because you'll be so satisfied with this one. I'm talking replay value that would rival Mario and Zelda and hours that give Final Fantasy games a run for their money. This is something my brothers and I have been cooking up sitting around on the couches here talking about how crappy almost every Batman game ever released has been and what we wish we could do in one.

Ok, first off, to make this game right it needs to have a story written by Jeff Loeb or somebody who has written a story arc in the comic books and not only knows the character, but can tell one hell of a story as well. Also, obviously this would be for the next generation consoles.

This would be a free-roaming game a'la Spider-man 2 and Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, a single-player action/adventure RPG that spans multiple discs. A problem I had with Spider-man 2 was lack of real game play and challenges due to all the memory being taken up by the massive city environment. I'm talking about a down-to-the-street-names, exactly to-scale replica of Gotham City as dictated by the comics where every nook and cranny of Gotham is yours to explore, remember, and utilize in your quest throughout the game. This includes a fully explorable Batcave with a training center as well as a working Batcomputer in which to store information, retrieve information, and other goodies such as villain profiles and what not.

Batman would have access to a glider via his cape (like Batman Begins) as well as his Batmobile at all times during the game. He can park it in alleyways or on the street, which would also have traffic and random crime scenes going on (although not so repetetive) as well as some pedestrians.

He would level up like Final Fantasy characters do, gaining experience by solving mysteries (more on this in a minute) and beating up thugs and villains, whom also level up to maintain themselves as a threat throughout the game. As his levels get higher, Batman learns new abilities, shaping up his fighting styles and gaining new moves. He could even have an option of switching fighting styles like in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, each option giving new moves and fascilitating an easier time with particular villains on certain missions (like equipping the correct armor and magic in Final Fantasy games in order to easily defeat a boss or something). Things like air time with the glider and efficiency with batarangs and stuff could fine-tune themselves as Batman levels up as well.

The Batcave would have a training program in it to help beginners as well as to give Batman a place to level up if he's having difficulty defeating some villains. It would also include all those goodies like the giant Joker card, the T-Rex model and the giant Penny and all that good stuff.

The story would feature many villains stretched across a story arc that gets progressively more involved (as all RPGs do). I'm talking about a detective game where Batman has to scour the city looking for clues, following leads, and foiling villainous plots as he uncovers who's behind the whole thing; sending him across Gotham battling his most dangerous rogues and all that good stuff. Think of story arcs with a detective twist like The Long Halloween or Hush.

Robin, Nightwing, Huntress, and Oracle can appear at times to aid Batman in certain situations and be non-playable characters. Oracle can also be on call in the pause menu to Save game, load game, recap info acquired and leads found, as well as provide a store of some kind for health and a detailed map of Gotham if the player gets lost. It also works to add dialogue and clues when Batman is searching the city following a lead or chasing thugs.

Fighting would be real-time like Zelda games or other Batman games, and there would be puzzles and things like that in order to unlock things sometimes as well. This would also loosely utilize the Batman Begins game's fear gauge and the whole interrogating thugs for information as to what's going on and things like that. He would also utilize the shadows and strike when he needs to, just like Batman should.

There could also be great side-quests like, for example, flashbacks of Year One kind of stuff as well as all the random bank heists and things like that scattered all around the city (no catching balloons for little kids...ugh...), maybe certain stories can get more involved than others and things like that. There could be great Batmobile car chase missions (although you can use it at ANY time) and maybe even a Batwing mission chasing after the Joker in a helicopter or some craziness like that.

There could be a time where Batman actually has to go to Arkham and go through certain things, possibly even an "Escape from Arkham" thing happening as well. This gives a great chance for cameos from villains that didn't make it into the story too.

Voices would be done by the animated series actors because nothing beats Mark Hamill as the Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman in terms of voice acting. The look, though, would be as comic book as possible. The story would also open with credits like Metal Gear solid did and would feature breathtaking FMV sequences throughout. With a solid, long, engaging, interesting story.

The possibilities for extras are absolutely boundless. Different versions of Batman's costume could be unlocked; the golden age suit, the silver age suit, the movie suits, the Adam West suit, etc. All the different Batmobiles could be unlocked; the original Bob Kane red car all the way through the movie Batmobiles to the current comics Batmobile. Comic books could be scattered all over the city for an art gallery accessible through the Batcomputer and/or the Oracle in the start menu. It's just a whole mess of stuff.

This game would be huge, fun, entertaining, and the best Batman game ever made if not one of THE best games ever made. This is Batman in his element, letting you BE Batman, scaring the living crap out of thugs and protecting a huge, exact replica of Gotham City like Batman does. Who WOULDN'T want to play this game? I'd cut class to play this game. I'd pay 100 bucks for this game. This thing would be AMAZING. There's no reason why it couldn't be done, especially on the next generation consoles. This would rule all.

Wow, wtf!
That would be INCREDIBLE.

[WhatsHisFace]

I never knew why Batman had a huge Penny in his Batcave?

[The Riddler]

cel shaded graphics. :up:

[블라스]

I never knew why Batman had a huge Penny in his Batcave?

From Wikipedia to WHF:

"...the penny is a trophy from Batman's encounter with a penny-obsessed villain named The Penny Plunderer (in World's Finest Comics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Finest_Comics) #30, 1947)"

[Is it Batman?]

Jesus. ANYONE can come up with the idea for a free roam Batman game, and list a bunch of totally sweet features. It's not exactly something commendable.

It takes talent and skill to actually DESIGN something that would POSSIBLY work. I mean, I can say "Batman simulator where you plug into the Matrix, except you're BATMAN!" and it'd sound perfectly cool, but totally unlikely.

Big difference between idea and execution. See EVERY BATMAN GAME EVER MADE for further examples.

[Herr Logan]

Jesus. ANYONE can come up with the idea for a free roam Batman game, and list a bunch of totally sweet features. It's not exactly something commendable.

It takes talent and skill to actually DESIGN something that would POSSIBLY work. I mean, I can say "Batman simulator where you plug into the Matrix, except you're BATMAN!" and it'd sound perfectly cool, but totally unlikely.

Big difference between idea and execution. See EVERY BATMAN GAME EVER MADE for further examples.

I'm gonna miss this guy. Really, I am. :o

:wolverine

[AmazingSpiderMn]

My idea of the Batman game is:

Title: Batman
Company: EA Games
System: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Playstation Portable
Genre(s): Action, 3-D Beat 'em Up
Players: 1
ESRB: T
PEGI: 12+
BBFC: 12

Plot: Based on the 1989 movie, Batman must beat the Joker's thugs and the Clown Prince of Crime himself in the final part. Cruise around and shoot machine guns in the Batmobile, and soar around and destroy balloons in the Batwing. Comes with 10 stages.

[The Riddler]

cel shaded graphics. :up:
i agree with this post almost two years old.