Batman: Arkham Origins - Part 4

[AndrewGilkison]

I love the early Batman career world of Year One, Long Halloween, Batman Begins etc and that is another reason I'm looking forward to this game.

 

[MarvelWarrior]

This game keeps getting better and better. Glad it comes out on a Friday.

 

[The Joker]

That is awesome news about it following Year One's continuity

I have high hopes for the game's story. I hope it's really engaging with a few layers and surprises.

 

[v.waltzer]

heh heh

 

[Broseph44]

My problem is that you can't sell the cake and eat it too. Want an open world narrative in a city? Sure, but you damn well better be prepared to show the goings-on of a city and not just make it bloody empty.

Just stop. The vein in your head is about to burst. If it bothers you so much don't play the game then. If that's such an important factor to you. Christ sometimes people take things just that one extra step too far. It's ridiculous.

 

[Broseph44]

I don't get why it's so hard to believe. The game takes place on Christmas Eve. During a snow storm. In an extremely dangerous city. Mob bosses and assassins and villains all out for batman's head. And people are gonna complain or say it sounds or looks stupid that no civilians are out and about? Hello, it makes perfect sense haha. If at some point in the game here and there we get civilians, great. If not, great. It really doesn't matter especially given the circumstances listed above. And like some have said just wait til the next gen systems, room for more to be done.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

One of the things I'm most intrigued by is their take on Anarchy. I haven't read many Batman stories with the character in the comics but the idea of a domestic street level anti-government/anti-corporate terrorist who actually likes Batman and thinks they are fighting for the same thing has wonderful story potential.

 

[Shikamaru]

Although the lack of people on the streets does bother me to an extent, it doesn't bother me to the point that I won't be getting the game. I think the reason why so many people have a problem with it is due to the fact that the previous two Arkham games didn't have that problem. The Arkham games have raised the bar so high and have tried their best (and succeeded) at avoiding the classic mistakes most superhero games fall in. Since there is so much about this game that looks really good and on par with many of the things found in the Rocksteady games, any flaws we might find stick out like a sore thumb.

It does bug me to a certain extent, but not too much. It's not like, for instance, your average open-world Spider-Man game where there are only like 5 people on a bright sunny normal day in NYC. I've seen it be a far bigger problem in other open-world games and at least WBM tried their best to come up with an explanation as to why there aren't a lot of people on the streets. Maybe they don't have the best explanation or the most realistic explanation, but they put some thought and heart into the explanation nonetheless.

 

[BrollySupersj]

heh heh

How....HOW was purple gloves a fitting aesthetic to a grey and black outfit?

 

[Shikamaru]

^ The coloring in the old issues made black look more blue/purple a lot of times.

 

[Broseph44]

Although the lack of people on the streets does bother me to an extent, it doesn't bother me to the point that I won't be getting the game. I think the reason why so many people have a problem with it is due to the fact that the previous two Arkham games didn't have that problem. The Arkham games have raised the bar so high and have tried their best (and succeeded) at avoiding the classic mistakes most superhero games fall in. Since there is so much about this game that looks really good and on par with many of the things found in the Rocksteady games, any flaws we might find stick out like a sore thumb.

It does bug me to a certain extent, but not too much. It's not like, for instance, your average open-world Spider-Man game where there are only like 5 people on a bright sunny normal day in NYC. I've seen it be a far bigger problem in other open-world games and at least WBM tried their best to come up with an explanation as to why there aren't a lot of people on the streets. Maybe they don't have the best explanation or the most realistic explanation, but they put some thought and heart into the explanation nonetheless.

Curious but you don't think that it being Christmas Eve, night time. In a dangerous city with as I said, mob bosses and assassins and villains out for batman. And a snow storm. None of that makes any sense to you as why people wouldn't be walking around? I dunno maybe I'm the only one that sees this as a totally logical and realistic group of reasons.

 

[Shikamaru]

Curious but you don't think that it being Christmas Eve, night time. In a dangerous city with as I said, mob bosses and assassins and villains out for batman. And a snow storm. None of that makes any sense to you as why people wouldn't be walking around? I dunno maybe I'm the only one that sees this as a totally logical and realistic group of reasons.

It being Christmas Eve and there being a snowstorm is not going to stop people from going out in a city as large as Gotham. Gotham draws most of its inspirations from NYC and is the second large fictional city in the DCU (after Metropolis). You'll never find such a deserted place in a city as large as Gotham due to a snowstorm which, from what we've seen, is not life threatening since there are many cops and criminals outside dressed in casual winter clothes. There are a lot of people that even celebrate Christmas Eve downtown with their families.

I totally buy places like Old Gotham being that deserted. What I find hard to buy is that places like New Gotham - the downtown of Gotham City - would be that deserted. Even with factors like it being Christmas Eve and there being a snowstorm would not stop people living in a city the size of Gotham from going downtown (at least not as many people as this game would seem to lead you to believe).

As for Gotham being a dangerous city, that depends on what level of "dangerous" you're talking about, which varies on the writer. Gotham is rarely portrayed as a literal living hell. There are parts of Gotham that are just that (i.e. Old Gotham, Crime Alley) but not every single part of Gotham is that way. That's not to say the more good parts are a utopia like Metropolis is, but they're not living hells either.

 

[Jick]

Curious but you don't think that it being Christmas Eve, night time. In a dangerous city with as I said, mob bosses and assassins and villains out for batman. And a snow storm. None of that makes any sense to you as why people wouldn't be walking around? I dunno maybe I'm the only one that sees this as a totally logical and realistic group of reasons.

Those are reasons to keep most people home. Most. Not every single person of a metropolitan city. Not to mention homeless people.

No one will lose their head over this. We're just talking about it. It'd be nice to see some civillians around just to get the feeling that this city is alive and isn't a ghost town. It helps to enhance the experience knowing that you're part of the Gotham that you know from the comics and tv shows.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

Just stop. The vein in your head is about to burst. If it bothers you so much don't play the game then. If that's such an important factor to you. Christ sometimes people take things just that one extra step too far. It's ridiculous.

I'm amused that you think I'm angry, and more so that your response seems more frothy than mine.

Look, I understand that the gaming fandom is probably the fandom most resistant to any and all criticism on the planet, but come on. This is a sequel to some great games, which doesn't seem to be doing anything particularly revolutionary. That is fine. But the one thing that is being done differently is that it takes place in Gotham City. I don't expect a thriving metropolis, but being not even putting in the effort to a bit of city life displayed smacks of creative laziness. We just keep getting bigger and bigger maps that keep getting emptier and emptier. Gotham is dangerous, yes. It is also never portrayed as empty on the most dangerous day, because it is a thriving city based on New York, a city known for approaching snowstorms with the same attitude people usually approach a puddle in the drive way with.

It being Christmas Eve and there being a snowstorm is not going to stop people from going out in a city as large as Gotham. Gotham draws most of its inspirations from NYC and is the second large fictional city in the DCU (after Metropolis). You'll never find such a deserted place in a city as large as Gotham due to a snowstorm which, from what we've seen, is not life threatening since there are many cops and criminals outside dressed in casual winter clothes. There are a lot of people that even celebrate Christmas Eve downtown with their families.

I totally buy places like Old Gotham being that deserted. What I find hard to buy is that places like New Gotham - the downtown of Gotham City - would be that deserted. Even with factors like it being Christmas Eve and there being a snowstorm would not stop people living in a city the size of Gotham from going downtown (at least not as many people as this game would seem to lead you to believe).

As for Gotham being a dangerous city, that depends on what level of "dangerous" you're talking about, which varies on the writer. Gotham is rarely portrayed as a literal living hell. There are parts of Gotham that are just that (i.e. Old Gotham, Crime Alley) but not every single part of Gotham is that way. That's not to say the more good parts are a utopia like Metropolis is, but they're not living hells either.

Yeah, pretty much this.

Those are reasons to keep most people home. Most. Not every single person of a metropolitan city. Not to mention homeless people.

No one will lose their head over this. We're just talking about it. It'd be nice to see some civillians around just to get the feeling that this city is alive and isn't a ghost town. It helps to enhance the experience knowing that you're part of the Gotham that you know from the comics and tv shows.

Exactly. I love the Arkham games. I wouldn't criticise them if I didn't thoroughly enjoy them. But having Gotham be a ghost town is a seriously lost opportunity, and is perpetuating a major problem I see in gaming overall in which the environment and world is sacrificed for bigger maps, lengthier story modes, etc, all of which feel hollow and empty if the world I'm roaming around is hollow and empty.

 

[zenith16]

It's obvious part of the excuse is they just don't want to deal with that cause it wasn't in their plans cause they are a new studio and they are restricted to a certain budget just like most new studio's, no matter who their publisher/ boss is, like the people that made Dishonored. And they don't have the programmers that deal in that sort of thing " Making crowds" and don't want to be like Capcom (nothing wrong with trying anything new, but sometimes people make pay for it if you don't have right elements and resources. And it's just better to be careful) if by doing something they are not used to doing cause of it, which will cause them grief from the fan base, when it wasn't done right, thus the snow storm.


And as I said it's also possible the writer's these days are very selective of what they want in their stories days and they just don't want that in their story as well cause there is just no room for it this time around. A lot of the time they do it to the point where it must be questioned so I somewhat agree with what you say.

Also as someone that was in the well known freaking "Ice storm " of the late 90's that reached both down past New York and Chicago almost to the south close to Florida, which took down electric polls and more for most of the east coast of north America a storm like that will make people stay in. Or will head to shelters for food cause there no power if you can dig cars out past more the a 6 layer of ice and snow. The celebration comes when in good position to enjoy it not during a storm and it always depend how severe it is.

But I don't care to argue that matter any further unless you suffered through something like those of us that went through it for a few months thanks to that Elneaya ( I don't about the names spelling here, it was a pain to deal with when it happened) event during that last part of the decade. I am not saying I agree with what they said or completely buy it. But there are just some case's where heading out cause you want to celebrate just won't happen and a storm like that ice storm is one of them. (Though that was slightly post Christmas when it happened then)

But whatever I do understand what you mean.

I bet they didn't think this would become an issue. They should just they don't have what was needed resource wise for making civilians walking on the streets and be done with it.

 

[Brother Jack]

heh heh

Ah yes. The first and therefore the best batsuit ever.

 

[BrollySupersj]

It'll be funny seeing that in the cutscenes.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

It'll be funny seeing that in the cutscenes.

I thought that the costumes were not available in story mode?

 

[BrollySupersj]

I thought that the costumes were not available in story mode?

That only pertains to the Arkham City costumes. Which are only useable in multiplayer. The Knightfall Pack trailer shows two extra skins in the cutscenes.

 

[Two-Face=Badass]

That only pertains to the Arkham City costumes. Which are only useable in multiplayer. The Knightfall Pack trailer shows two extra skins in the cutscenes.

Ah! Very nice. Thankyou for that information.

 

[BrollySupersj]

Ah! Very nice. Thankyou for that information.

You should check that trailer out. That last scene at the end with the Nightfall skin looked so badass. I'm not big on the Knightfall suit, but it looks great in the game. Very menacing look.

 

[Drz]

That is awesome news about it following Year One's continuity

They aren't following Year One's continuity, they said they are inspired by it & it's characters, but are doing their own take.

 

[Two-Face]

So anyone gonna buy the Season Pass then?

 

[Darkness Falls]

i will be, 20bucks sounds like a good deal to me

 

[Drz]

So anyone gonna buy the Season Pass then?

Hell to the Yes!