Batman Begins (video game)

Batman Begins is a stealth action-adventure game.[2] It was released June 14, 2005, a day before the release of Batman Begins. It was developed by Eurocom and published by Electronic Arts in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics. It was released on Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.[2] The film's original cast provided a voice-over reprisal in the game, with the exception of Gary Oldman, who portrays James Gordon, replaced by Gavin Hammon.

Batman Begins
North American cover art
Developer(s)Eurocom (GC, PS2 & Xbox)
Vicarious Visions (GBA)
Publisher(s)EA Games
Composer(s)Ian Livingstone
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
Genre(s)Stealth, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

A PlayStation Portable version of the game was planned, but subsequently canceled.[3] A sequel, Batman: The Dark Knight, was developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 but later canceled.[4]

Gameplay

The game has a unique system involving intimidation. Batman Begins features the utilization of the environment to frighten opponents, which may cause them to drop their weapons. Certain gadgets designed to frighten enemies during combat are provided, such as smoke grenades, flash bang grenades, and an 'HF Transponder', which summons bats to gather around and incapacitate enemies with fear. On top of this is traditional stealth gameplay reminiscent of the Splinter Cell series, such as sneaking. There are many ways to incapacitate enemies with stealth, using various combat and martial arts techniques. The game also includes combat racing sections where the player can drive the Batmobile.

Story

The game follows the movie's plot very closely, with minor modifications. Throughout the game there are over 20 clips from the film that give context to the story. Though it follows the movie, the game goes deeper into each scene. For example, at the docks, the player learns specifically how Falcone was hoisted on a crane and how Batman infiltrated Arkham Asylum. It also presents a slightly alternate ending; Batman is forced to detonate the Batmobile in order to destroy the monorail tracks and stop Ra's Al Ghul from reaching Wayne Tower with the Microwave Emitter, whereas in the film, Sergeant Gordon uses the Batmobile's missiles to destroy the tracks. Two members of the film's crew make cameo appearances in the game; Wally Pfister, the film's director of photography, appears as a mob informant Batman interrogates, and Emma Thomas, producer of the film, appears as an Arkham psychologist. The only scene in the game that is not taken from the film is a second car chase with the Tumbler in which Batman attempts and fails to stop the theft of the microwave emitter that Ra's Al Ghul will use in his attack on Gotham.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(Xbox) 67.20%[5]
(GC) 66.74%[6]
(PS2) 65.63%[7]
(GBA) 62.14%[8]
Metacritic(GC) 66/100[9]
(Xbox) 65/100[10]
(PS2) 64/100[11]
(GBA) 61/100[12]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM5.33/10[13]
Eurogamer6/10[14]
Game Informer7.25/10[15]
GamePro[16]
GameRevolutionC[17]
GameSpot6.8/10[18]
(PS2) 6.7/10[19]
(GBA) 5/10[20]
GameSpy(Xbox) [21]
[22]
GameTrailers7/10[23]
GameZone(GC) 7.2/10[24]
(Xbox) 6.1/10[25]
(PS2) 5.9/10[26]
IGN(GC) 7.6/10[27]
(GBA) 7/10[28]
6.8/10[29]
Nintendo Power(GC) 6.5/10[30]
(GBA) 5.5/10[31]
OPM (US)[32]
OXM (US)5/10[33]

Reviews of the game found it generally average. GameRankings gave it a score of 62.14% for the Game Boy Advance version,[8] 66.74% for the GameCube version,[6] 65.63% for the PlayStation 2 version,[7] and 67.20% for the Xbox version.[5] Likewise, Metacritic gave it a score of 61 out of 100 for the GBA version,[12] 66 out of 100 for the GameCube version,[9] 64 out of 100 for the PS2 version,[11] and 65 out of 100 for the Xbox version.[10] It received G4's award for 'Best Graphics on PS2 and Xbox'.

Cancelled sequel

On July 17, 2008, actor Gary Oldman unofficially announced during an interview with G4's Kristin Adams that a video game sequel of the Batman Begins video game based on the second film of the franchise was in development.[34] In his interview on GameTrailers, Oldman said he knew an awful lot of effort had gone into getting Batman's gliding abilities to feel suitably smooth and fluid for Batman: The Dark Knight game. Oldman, who reprised his role as Lt. Jim Gordon, did not name a developer in the interview but anonymous sources reported that The Dark Knight was a secret project of Pandemic Studios and EA.[35][36] However, the project was finally cancelled and Pandemic Brisbane was shut down.[37]

References

  1. "Batman Starts for Xbox". Retrieved August 27, 2008.
  2. "Batman Begins Videogame Soars onto Shelves" (Press release). Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. June 15, 2005. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2005.
  3. "Batman Begins (PlayStation Portable)". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. Skipper, Ben (February 1, 2016). "Cancelled Batman game: Unseen 64 tells story of Pandemic's The Dark Knight movie tie-in". International Business Times. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  5. "Batman Begins for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  6. "Batman Begins for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  7. "Batman Begins for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  8. "Batman Begins for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  9. "Batman Begins for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. "Batman Begins for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  11. "Batman Begins for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. "Batman Begins for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  13. "Batman Begins". Electronic Gaming Monthly (195). September 2005.
  14. Bramwell, Tom (June 17, 2005). "Batman Begins Review (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  15. Mason, Lisa (August 2005). "Batman Begins". Game Informer (148): 97. Archived from the original on November 4, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  16. Doctor Zombie (December 2, 2005). "Review: Batman Begins". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  17. Hurh, JP (June 2005). "Batman Begins Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  18. Colayco, Bob (June 17, 2005). "Batman Begins Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  19. Colayco, Bob (June 17, 2005). "Batman Begins Review (PS2)". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  20. Provo, Frank (July 6, 2005). "Batman Begins Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  21. Tuttle, Will (June 20, 2005). "GameSpy: Batman Begins (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  22. Tuttle, Will (June 20, 2005). "GameSpy: Batman Begins". GameSpy. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  23. "Batman Begins Review". GameTrailers. June 23, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  24. Romano, Natalie (June 28, 2005). "Batman Begins - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 3, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  25. Knutson, Michael (June 26, 2005). "Batman Begins - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  26. Bedigian, Louis (June 26, 2005). "Batman Begins - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  27. Casamassina, Matt (June 16, 2005). "Batman Begins (GC)". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  28. Harris, Craig (June 21, 2005). "Batman Begins (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  29. Sulic, Ivan; Lewis, Ed (June 15, 2005). "Batman Begins". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  30. "Batman Begins (GC)". Nintendo Power. 195: 80. August 2005.
  31. "Batman Begins (GBA)". Nintendo Power. 195: 85. August 2005.
  32. 1UP Staff (August 2, 2005). "Batman Begins (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  33. "Batman Begins". Official Xbox Magazine: 82. September 2005.
  34. "'Dark Knight' Game Leaks". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  35. Casamassina, Matt (May 17, 2007). "Rumor: Pandemic to Develop New Batman Game". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  36. "'Dark Knight' reigns not in video game - Newsweek Technology - Newsweek.com". August 21, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  37. "Screwing Up Batman". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
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