Jamie Moyer

2008 World Series Pitcher Jamie Moyer came in for an interview today.

If only that ring said Mariners......

Writing?

I had a good idea about something to write, but then I got busy at work. Now I've completely forgotten what it was.

Even so I think I just need to sit down and start writing about something, anything. I'm just drawing a blank right now.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

It's a new record. I have finished the storyline of Batman: Arkham Asylum in a week. Normally I get a game and I play it for a few days and then I get distracted by a different game. Not this one, it hooked me in and kept me. I could have possibly have been done with it sooner too had I not needed to eat, sleep, or work. Rocksteady Studios did their job well.

Let's get to the review.

Story:

The basic plot is The Joker tricks Batman into bringing him back to Arkham Asylum, only to spring a long planned trap in which The Joker sets free all the asylum inmates and takes over the asylum. Commissioner Gordon and Warden Sharp are both captured. Batman has a long night of rescuing and recapturing inmates ahead of him. Saying much else will give away spoilers. The story is kept pretty much in currently established cannon.

Two minor sub-plots adds a "find the goodies" game as the Riddler has hidden puzzles and trophies all over Arkham and "The Spirit of Arkham" has wrote it's own story in hidden areas also.

The games story was co-written by Paul Dini who won Emmies for his work on the shows "The New Batman Adventures" & "Batman Beyond," so you know it's going to be good.

Controls:

Rocksteady has put together a good control scheme. Simple and to the point, not overly complicated. They are easy to pick up and easy to use. Movement is on the left stick, camera on the right. Batman's various gadgets can be selected on the D-pad and readied and put to use with the shoulder buttons. Various actions (running/grabbing/etc.)are handled by the "X" or "A" Button (PS3/Xbox 360 respectively) with the rest of the face buttons handling combat(punch/counter/stun). "L2" or Left Trigger is for turning on/off Detective Mode, the "R2" or Right Trigger for crouching/stealth.



Gameplay;

With a great control scheme, the gameplay works wonderfully. The "freeflow combat" that they came up with works wonderfully. Point Batman in a direction and start hitting the punch button ("square" on PS3/"X" on 360) and keep moving. If you are in a large crowd your "combos" will rack up quickly. If someone is about to hit Batman they will have "lighting bolts" appear around them, quickly hit the counter button ("triangle" on PS3/"Y" on 360) and Batman will counter them and you will not get hit. If you miss the counter, when you get hit the screen will got to "double vision" momentarily, but will go back to normal.



But while Batman is a capable fighter, he is a smart fighter, and this is where the "invisible predator" system comes in. Armed inmates or large groups can take Batman down very quickly. The environment has plenty of places to hide such as gargoyles, ventilation shafts, etc. Batman can quickly and silently take out foes from these areas. Both the combat and the "invisible predator" work very well and are very satisfying.

Now while there is plenty of combat, the game does also include a fair amount of platforming too, surprisingly. Navigating Arkham Asylum provides plenty of jumping, swinging, climbing, ducking, and gliding.

Batman's gadgets work well for exploring and navigating Arkham, as well as assisting in taking out bad guys. These can be upgraded as the game progresses with an experience system. Take out bad guys, gain experience (and health). Find Riddler trophies, solve puzzles, gain experience.

In addition to the main story to play through, there are the challenge maps that test your skills in combat and stealth. Additionally, if you have the PS3 version you can play through challenges as The Joker, who has his own gadgets and fight moves. I have to say his fight move are fun as they are a bit more silly/clown based.

Graphics and Sound:

If you played the demo then you have a good idea of what it looks and sounds like, beautiful. Rocksteady put a lot of detail into their work. Right down to the fact that as Batman progresses through the game he visibly shows various cuts bruises and scrapes.

Sound is crisp and clean. And considering they got Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin and Mark Hamill from the Batman Animated Series to reprise their roles (Batman, Harley Quinn, and The Joker), there is no badly delivered lines...at least from all that I heard in the game. The rest of the cast are top notch talent. Music fits, sounds very good and is not intrusive.

Overall:

This game kicks ass and takes names. It has a great balance of story and gameplay, neither being sacrificed for the other. After years of terrible Batman games, many of which were just quick movie tie-ins, Rocksteady hit this one out of the park. And with this being the second game created by the studio, that's quite a feat.

The only thing I can complain about is the camera position. For a majority of the game you are looking over Batman's right shoulder. My personal preference would be to have it centered, which is what they do when you are in combat or running.

Still like I said that's really the only problem I can find, and even that is just nit-picking.

I give the game 5 Bat-shaped Stars, Two Thumbs Way Up, a 10 out of 10, and I highly recommend it for Batman fans. Thank you Rocksteady for a AWESOME game.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is rated T for Teen for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence



EDIT - If you wish to follow my game reviews please go to my new game review only blog, "Lord Moon: Resident Gaming Addict" thank you.

Friends That Make You Go, "Hmmmmm."

So I have a couple friends dealing with two very different types of addiction. Both have made me stop and step back and really look at things.

Not gonna use names here.

Friend #1 has for quite a few years now has been dealing with alcohol. While in the past he would admit to having some troubles with it, would not really face up to it. He has a family now, a wife and two kids, and a house. Now he has really decided to tackle his problem, the problem is I'm afraid it's going to make things worse for him. Treatment, facilities, medication, it's all costing him money. Money that should be going to bills, and things for his kids. I hear the frustration in his voice when we talk on the phone. I really hope he keeps it all together. I am glad he's finally getting some help, I just hope it doesn't break him and his family.

Friend #2 has decided to break the electronic addiction. He realized he spent more time reading emails, newsgroups, Facebook, Twitter, message boards, etc. than he did in real life. He has set himself up with a two hour period where he will check and reply email and that's it. He will not answer the phone, closed his Facebook account and pretty much is going cold turkey from all tings e or i. Sounds drastic, but I think he'll be just fine.

Both friends have made me step back and examine myself.

Long ago I got into trouble while drunk and the Army put me through their version of AA. So in regards to alcohol I'm very mindful of where that can take me and have really watched myself. I'm confident I have control over that aspect of my life.

My virtual life? Well to be honest I really don't think I'm that bad. I really don't spend a whole lot of time online. Most of my time is during down time at work. At home I really am not online that much. My computer may be logged in 24/7, but not me. I do admit I may play too many video games, but with a new purchase of a vehicle to get around with will change that. Now I can get out and get around when I want to where I want. No more dependence on a bus system that most times seems hit or miss. Not to mention 2hour bus rides for a trip that takes 30 minutes by car.

I wish both my friend the best of luck on their new paths to bettering themselves.

A Three Payday Month and Two Gift Cards From X-Mas

And so the shopping adventure begins....

First stop, shopping the web. So I don't know if anyone here played EA's Fantasy Football this year. I did because I seem to have become a dirty Achievement whore (I'll enter into the 12 step program later this year). With the EA Score Tracker only 80 MS points why not. Well an interesting side effect besides a 200 bump in my Gamerscore is that I managed to win my league. As the winner of the league I got a $25.00 coupon good at the EA online store. Their store doesn't have much in it, but it did have Left 4 Dead. Ding!

Also big purchase for my PS3, but that is a later post when everything gets here.

So, next stop Target. The video game section looks pathetic. It looks like they got well picked over during the holiday season. Not a whole lot to choose from. In the end the only video game thing I get is a 4000 Microsoft points card. Meanwhile they have a helluva clothing sale going on. (I got 2 hoodies, a flannel/hoodie, and a flannel all for $25.00)

Next stop, walk downstairs to Best Buy. Fallout 3 Collectors Edition is the same price as the normal edition, $56.99. Mine. Sheer curiosity has me grab Rock Revolution since it's $19.99. And finally a WoW time card, because some friends have been begging me to come back.

Last stop GameStop. I've been craving the Lego Indiana Jones lately. GameStop had the Lego Indiana Jones/Kung Fu Panda bundle pack for $39.99. As I scan the shelves I notice some more GameStop sneakiness. The have taken some of the bundles and have split them cutting the double cover into two. The result is they are selling the "used" Lego Indiana Jones for $44.99, I did even look for the "used" Kung Fu Panda. Anyway with my "Gamers Edge" card I got the bundle pack for $29.99 (their system lists it as $26.99, after discount and taxes...).

Not a bad bit of shopping.