In this hot new open-world action-adventure game, you'll take on the role of a Superhero, alternating between sneaky stealth sections where you'll try to take out enemies by perching on high points and stringing them up, or just using free-flow combat where you'll beat up thugs using your punches and gadgets.
That's right, we're here to talk about Insomniac's newest hit,
@marvels-spider-man-2018 .
Wait, what? This isn't that game? But I could have sworn... ok, where were we?
Arkham Asylum is a FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD game now, which is crazy, but it _mostly_ holds up. It's a little rough around the edges. Visually, it looks decent if you're playing on the remastered version, but that's going from PS3 -> PS4 level graphics, don't expect top of the line 2024 standards here. Sound design is fairly limited, making almost zero use of surround sound. Music is nothing to write home about, which is a shame considering the scores some of the movies have are excellent.
While it is technically correct to call this open-world, it's probably better labeled "semi open-world" where there are long linear sections followed by brief trips through the open world. If you're just playing to complete the game, you'll be forgiven for thinking it's open-world at all as you basically just go from point A to point B. You might go back to A if the plot demands it.
Is this is a metroidvania? I, in my sole authority as person writing this review, am going to say NO. It might meet the most technical definitions of it, but you're not really gaining access to new areas with your new toys except as relates to entirely optional collectibles, or because the entirely linear plot needs you to have the toy to get past an artificial obstacle you haven't run into before anyway.
Where this game really falls down and why I dropped it to 3 stars:
1. No mid-game difficulty adjustment. I started on hard and had to give up when a fight was just too hard for me, 80% of the way through the game. I had no recourse but to start all the way over, because...
2. No manual saves. I couldn't load a backup save and go try to level up or get stronger somehow.
3. No fast travel. Enough said there.
4. It's actually very repetitive. You are either in a stealth section or you're in a brawling section. Clear the room of hostiles and go to the next room.
What saves this is a very good story ... if you bother to find all the collectibles, because a TON of story is hidden there. Also, bonus points because to this day, I consider this the gold standard of optional story content -- fully voiced, and it plays AFTER I LEAVE THE MENU, I do not have to stay in the menu for it to keep playing. So many games get this wrong.
The sequel is better. Will we ever play it for VGBC? I don't know. If the people ask for it, maybe!
