Batman Begins

The production values are outstanding.

Batman Begins isn't just a good game, it's two great games that play great together. When you’re the caped crusader, it's an action game in the mold of "Splinter Cell"... Then, when you’re driving the Batmobile, the game morphs into "Burnout," with you knocking cars off the road as you careen through traffic.

The training levels are a little tedious, but serves it purpose to have you naturally thinking and reacting as if you're Batman by the heart of the game.

Crates and barrels aside, Batman Begins is generally a well-produced game. Its visuals are often striking, and are distinct in style from those of the film.

The decision to go stealth was a good one and even though scripted and prompted, the gameplay hits the broad mark.

While the storytelling is poor, the game does an excellent job of evoking the film's ambience, with striking visuals even better than those in the movie. The game's use of light as it streams through broken boards into a dark room is reminiscent of the wonderful art direction of the first "Splinter Cell" game.

Although repetitive at times, it does provide a few hours of fun.

Is it great? Heck no. Does it offer little substance, but an enjoyable handful of thrills? It does, more often than not. [Aug 2005, p.97]

Too short, linear, and easy to recommend on its own merits, Batman Begins is best enjoyed as a rental to be played soon after seeing the movie while you’re still on a Batman high.

At least it’s easy on the eyes and ears: Batman Begins looks remarkably good, from twilight environments that make for a spooky Gotham City to some surprisingly impressive character models.

If you're just looking for some mindless entertainment with occasional bursts of brilliance to keep you awake then look no further than Batman Begins.

With extremely linear gameplay, a relatively flawed fear mechanic and basic combat system, Batman really isn’t breaking a sweat in this title.

In the end or in the beginning if you like, Batman Begins is a good game, just falling short of great due to the linearity.

Then the game is extremely linear, which really puts a damper on everything.

As a whole, the game was a little short (six hours), but it's still a pretty fun ride despite the fact that it is not the definitive Batman game we've been waiting for. This game ain't the greatest in terms of freedom and linearity, but I'll still take it over "Spider-Man 2." No doubt.

Unfortunately, the gameplay feels too much like a mishmash of several other well-known gaming franchises and ends up overly simplistic.

If you are a fan of the Batman, you should play this game in some form, as it is one of the better representations of the comic hero in quite some time.

If you were a fan of the movie and want to re-live the experience, this isn’t a bad way to do it, but if you’re looking for a game that expands upon the movie, or one that stands on its own, it doesn’t get the job done.

Batman Begins doesn't have a genuine bone in its body.

Had the develop[ers] only thought about what it was doing a little bit more it could have made an astonishingly good game using the source material provided.

Requiring only five to seven hours to finish, and having virtually no replay value, only the most dedicated fans should own Batman Begins.

It features some excellent graphics and audio production, as well as some of the best voiceover work to date. However, this can't make up for the frustrating gameplay, which tries to focus on stealth, combat, and platforming, yet doesn't manage to do any of these particularly well.

Despite its limitations Batman Begins is an okay-ish action/adventure game, which has excellent production values. The voice acting is excellent and helps to make the game feel and sound very authentic compared to the movie. This game certainly is no "Catwoman"! [July 2005, p.59]

While this rises above its predecessors, its true potential is hampered by restricted game mechanics.

Where the game really succeeds, however, beyond providing a robust and solid, if unassuming model of explorative stealth and attack, is in fulfilling that old and oft-forgotten criterion - putting the gamer inside the movie. [Aug 2005, p.95]

With such an accomplished and unique cinematic source, we really did deserve better.

A reasonably engaging, yet perfectly average experience--much like most summer blockbusters.

Perhaps the biggest letdown is the driving levels featuring the Batmobile. These commit the worst act of plagiarism since Oasis began ripping off themselves from their third album onwards. [PSW]

While details like the appearance of the movie's actors in their same roles (the tutorial is standard fare, except it happens to be delivered by Liam Neeson, of all people!), the Burnout 3-inspired Batmobile sequences, the quirky minigames, and the moments of sneaking and combat make the game fun to play, its linearity keeps it grounded to the "average licensed property" area.

Could anyone take less risks designing a license action-adventure? Nice graphics and sound, but super simplistic gameplay. Also super boring. [Sept. 05]

Great license, great movie, bad game.

Everything about this game is top notch, except for the game itself which is altogether terrible.

It's too simplistic. While the game gives the illusion of Splinter Cell-style freedom in how you want to take out your enemies, Batman only really ever has one course of action: knock something over, scare the bad guys into dropping their guns, then come in punching and kicking. [Sept 2005]

Unless you are a true comic fan and know nothing about games, avoid this title like avoiding the Scarecrow’s neurotoxin. Instead, save your money from the rental and see the movie, which far exceeds what this game presents.

Although its blend of stealth and action is clever, it's also derivative and boring.

Compromised because you've pretty much seen and played the game before. Fans will see the adventure through, but many players will find their attention wandering.

Casual Batman fans might flutter a wing, but the hardcore will fly away disenchanted. [Sept 2005, p.78]

A classic case of style over substance, being little more than a glossy advertisement for the film.

We could well be looking at a number one here. Unfortunately, Batman Begins won’t deserve such an elevated status as it’s average to the core. [Aug 2005, p.106]