Believe it or not, I have reviewed the strategy guide for DmC: Devil May Cry. However, my MacBook Pro decided to DIE once again last week, effectively leaving me without a computer that has my images, my docs, my data, you name it. I really need to get better about storing things to the Cloud. Or I can have a $2000 computer that actually works like it should. I will hopefully get it back this week with minimal financial damage. If it’s the motherboard once again and they try to charge me for replacing it within 3 months…oh, everyone should feel sorry for the Apple Store Genius who will unfortunately incur my wrath. Since my laptop would not turn back on at all, I couldn’t even back it up before taking it in, a fact that scares me beyond belief.
But let’s get to a happier topic, shall we?
Since my jovial staff are working on reviewing strategy guides releasing in February and I have nothing on my plate until March, I figured this would be a perfect time to chip away at my stack of shame that sadly keeps growing no matter how much I work on it. I feel like I should name it Sisyphus. At least, I feel like Sisyphus when I look at it.
I’ve started 2013 with the one game I have promised numerous people I would tackle first with my stack of shame: Batman Arkham Aslyum.
After podcasting cohort Ross added Arkham Asylum in his Top 5 Stealth Games, I was instantly put on guard. I know Batman doesn’t kill anyone, and I know he has to move in shadows to get his takedowns, but I never heard once from anyone that the game was considered a stealth game. Both Ross and Blake pleaded with me that it’s not really a stealth game, that it’s more of an action game with stealth elements, even moreso than the Assassin’s Creed games. Despite my reluctance, I gave it a chance, and by the time I officially had control of the Caped Crusader, my hands were really sweaty.
I’m not that far into Arkham Asylum (long story), but what I have played has felt like more of a puzzle game, almost like Portal, than it does action or stealth. I say Portal, because with Portal, you had to be stealthy on occasion when in a room filled with turrets. You had to use the layout of the room to successfully take out each turret and hopefully not be seen by any of them. Chell can take bullets as well as Batman can. Sure, at least in Portal the turrets didn’t charge after you, but they were often so well placed, they really didn’t have to.
Every room I enter feels like a new puzzle, even the areas that offer no encounters, just exploration, as most of these areas have plenty of Riddler’s Challenges. It’s unlike any game I’ve played in recent memory, which is a great thing. As much as I love my shooters and my RPGs, it’s always nice to find joy in something completely different.
I really need to stop exploring so much for these Riddler’s Challengers and collectibles if I’m going to get through this game and hopefully one other game before March Madness begins. I’ve been told I can beat it in less than a week if I burn through it, but uh, that doesn’t seem to be happening. I get distracted way too easily.
This is why I have avoided Skyrim like the plague!
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