The Video Game Review: Batman Begins
by Allan Delikat
I’m a big Batman guy. I’ve been obsessed since childhood, and it’s only gotten worse with age. I’ve fashioned utility belts, jumped drunkenly off buildings, and even gotten tattooed in appreciation of the Dark Knight. I take all things Batman very seriously, and if someone does him a disservice, I’m most unpleased. So when it came time to review Batman Begins for GameCube, I went in as a deeply skeptical critic, expecting disappointment. Surprisingly, it didn’t happen that way.
Batman Begins is a decent movie adaptation game. From NES’s Friday the 13th to the recent multi-platform Matrix game, this is a genre that’s been riddled with consistently crappy entries — the one exception being the Lord of the Rings series, which blew away gamers across the country. Batman Begins isn’t quite at that level, but it’s a good time nonetheless.
The game expands on the new movie’s plot as you barrel your way through Gotham City as well as Batman’s humble Himalayan beginnings. Beware if you’ve yet to catch the flick; the cut scenes, which are actual movie excerpts, will give away most of the movie. The load times are fast, graphics are slick, and the game play is almost too easy to master.
The entire film cast lends their voices to their animated counterparts. Patrick Bateman, Rob Roy, 28 Days Later-guy, and even Mrs. Tom Cruise are all on board to lend credibility to an already cool game. Pick this one up. It’s easy and fun. Just make sure you see the movie first.
Best Feature: You get to be Batman!!!!
Worst Feature: You can only use Batarangs and other gadgets at specific times involving some sort of “fear meter” that I’m still foggy on.
Weirdest Feature: Patrick Bateman is Batman. He pulls it off, but man it’s still weird.
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