Nip Picking a'la Snerts: The Dark Knight Rises

I finally found something that sparked the writing urge. I love nit picking movies--even the ones I really enjoy. There's always one or two things to rip on, and certain websites like How It Should Have Ended put a lot more production work into their critiques. I, however, will just list out some of my observations. An update may or may not follow after subsequent viewings. Please be aware that spoilers lie ahead.

First up is the third Batman movie directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises. Overall I enjoyed the movie, but I must admit that The Dark Knight was a far superior product. Here is my list of what the fuck moments in no particular order. 

• Bruce Wayne has his back broken by Bane, just like in the comic series. Yet unlike the comics he recovers with a piece of rope in a foreign prison. 
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• The police underground seemed really clean, and fit for duty, despite being locked up for an extended period of time.
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• The police charge an entrenched enemy position with inferior weaponry, and suffer relatively minor losses. It should have been a blood bath considering Banes men had fully automatic weapons and the fancy high tech vehicles. 
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• Catwoman is a horrible thief who seems to always get caught.
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• Catwoman and Batman have a very forced romantic relationship. 
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• When Batman firsts fights Bane he doesn't use any gadgets at all. So not Batman!
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• Why couldn't Bane be of Latino origin? Instead we get a muzzled Sean Connery. 
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• Gotham was a very bright city compared to previous films in the series. 
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• Oh gee wow. Robin is introduced. Is he staring in the next three films?
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• The stadium collapsing scene consisted of poor special effects.
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• Bane tells the people to rise up against the government, but traps them within the city with a bomb. Then he releases prisoners and arms them. People are seen looting the rich, and there are many Occupy Wall Street like messages. I much prefer the chaos vs. order theme from the second film over the proletariat vs. bourgeois ideals expressed in the third.
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• Finally the whole movie was building up on so many points then failed to deliver in the second half. Vague I know, but I can't forget how many times my eyes rolled during the home stretch. 

Well there you have it. Snerts gets nit picky with the latest Batman movie. Who knows maybe after additional viewings I'll grow to like it more?

The next post of this nature will most likely be The Avengers, which was released this week on dvd. 

DLC Hodge-Podge

Greetings true believers! This post will cover some of the DLC that I've experienced since the beginning of this year for Batman: Arkham City and Deadspace 2.

Arkham City:

Unlike the previous tittle Arkham City has seen a ton of post launch support. Some of the content was available since day one in the guise of pre-order bonuses, but eventually everything went up for sale on Xbox Live or the PSN. The slew of content contains different costumes for Batman as well as new maps and characters for the Riddler Challenge Mode.

The most boring pack only gives you costumes for Batman to wear in the campaign or challenge mode. The kicker is you have to complete the game before changing tights. If you are not planning multiple playthroughs, then you may want to avoid this purchase. Luckily the other content packs are a bit more robust.

The Robin pack features the character by the same name and two maps. Robin feels like a weaker version of Batman with a few unique gadgets and a staff. In particular, I enjoyed the remote detonating shock-wave mines. Like all non-Batman characters, Robin is lacking some key moves which really hinder his combat strength. Fans will automatically be frustrated when they can't destroy enemy weapons, or discovers the lack of gadgets in stealth situations. Regardless having different playable characters extends the replay value of the challenge mode.

Nightwing is also featured in his own DLC pack with a couple of new maps. As I mentioned with Robin, Dick is lacking some moves and gadgets compared to the Dark Knight. Unlike Robin I believe Nightwing holds his own in combat, and feels like an upgraded Catwoman. Most of his area of effect abilities are fantastic, and make up for the lack of take-down moves. For stealth sections NW can be a bit frustrating. He lacks the ability to glide, and many of his gadgets are glorified batarangs.

Both the Nightwing and Robin packs features awesome maps. Each comes with a stealth, and my personal favorite, brawler game modes. The train level found in the Robin pack gives a left to right string of events versus the more traditional open room design. The level ends with a boss fight against the Black Mask. The Nightwing pack has you exploring Wayne Manor, and the brawler features a good mixture of enemies.

Finally there is the map pack featuring two brawler levels and one stealth segment. I didn't care much for the Batcave sneaky stuff, but the other maps had unique twists to the typical combat scenario. The Iceberg Lounge is the cliche unending bad guy design. Villains will move faster, and weapons become more prevalent, as time goes on. Joker's Carnival is similar, but features a cash in system. Build up the meter by kicking ass and not getting hit. Any damage taken resets the meter. The higher the meter the more difficult the enemies. If you get up to a one-hundred hit combo Joker himself comes to crash the party. Fun stuff.

Obviously if you don't like the challenge mode in Arkham City the DLC content is not for you. There is no effect on the main story. The costumes are superficial. The new characters are a nice touch, but they are also not game changing. I only recommend this purchase for the die hard fans, or for people who seriously enjoy the challenge modes.

Deadspace 2: Severed


Severed is a short but sweet return to the world of Deadspace 2. Players take on the roll of a soldier named Gabe Weller. His story takes place during the events of the main game. Gabe is constantly coming across areas that Issac has plowed through, and is desperately trying to find his girlfriend Lexine Murdoch. She is the target of some government agents because of a big secret that is revealed towards the end of the two chapters.

The plot follows the general survival horror and conspiracy beats that Issac Clark experiences. The gameplay is unchanged, and because the main character is different all stats are reset. This is actually a good thing because it keeps the DLC challenging. There is one boss fight against a gunship, and the ending is cliche but well done.

Overall Servered is fun trip back to the world of Deadspace. A little short, but what's there is solid. I wouldn't recommend this content for fair weather fans. If, however, you can't wait for the next Deadspace, then Severed will help you scratch that itch.

Top 5 Games of 2011

Starting 2012 by looking back at 2011. Here are my top 5 games of last year. Remember this is my top 5. Check that nerd rage at the door.

5) LA Noire

Set in post World War II Los Angeles, LA Noire tells the story of Detective Phelps. Atypical gameplay mechanics have players finding clues and integrating people in addition to the traditional driving and shooting. State of the art video capturing, and excellent acting from numerous celebrities also made this tittle stand out from the rest. Rockstar continues to prove that the Grand Theft Auto formula can be tweaked to create new, yet familiar, experiences. 

4) Modern Warfare 3

The good stuff keeps on getting better. The single player comes to a satisfying conclusion. Spec Ops adds a new game mode called Survivor, and Multiplayer sees some welcome changes. All the while it maintains the level of excellence fans have come to expect from Call of Duty.  

3) Deadspace 2

This action packed survivor horror started 2011 off right. Issac Clark's nightmare continues, but this time he's on a space colony. The larger environment compliments the deeper story--thanks in part to Issac finding his voice. Improved gameplay mechanics and edge of your seat encounters are also sure to please horror and shooter fans alike.




2) Portal 2

The most creative game of the year. Valve took the ideas from the first Portal to new heights. Expanding on the story behind Aperture Labs, players are treated to another round of puzzles and sarcastic robots. Co-op adds another delicious layer to this already awesome cake. My only gripe is the low replay value. The game looses its charm when you know all the answers. 

1) Batman: Arkham City

Surprise surprise. My top pick is Batman: Arkham City. Rocksteady took everything that made the first game great and made it even better. A larger sandbox dilutes the narrative, but the sheer volume of content makes up for it. New game plus and the challenges will keep me playing this game for years to come. 

Love that Batman!

Game: Batman Arkham City

System: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Release: October 2011


Batman Arkham Asylum is one of my favorite games of all time. The developers at Rocksteady finally produced a game where the player feels like Batman. A masterful blend of stealth and beat 'em up combat infused with gadgets and a strong narrative. With the release of Arkham City, Rocksteady expands the sandbox and enhances the already awesome formula. Check out the official trailer.

As you can see Batman has left the isolated island, and is now patrolling the much larger, more urban, Arkham City. This fenced of section of Gotham imprisons just about every villain, thug, and jay walker the city has ever seen. Hugo Strange is the mastermind behind the project, and claims to have a very big secret. He knows the true identity of...wait for it...a little bit longer...just one more dot dot dot...Batman!

The main narrative is shorter then the previous tittle. Sure there are plenty of twists and turns, but if a player ignores the side missions the game ends rather quickly. This isn't bad, and the voice acting is still top notch. The game is simply less narrative driven, and more focused on expanding the sandbox. This is accomplished by about a dozen side missions and easter eggs sprinkled throughout Arkham City.

Bat Punch!

When I first started playing I felt like I had attention deficit disorder. Go here. Beat up this guy. Go there find a clue. Hold on, call incoming from the Joker.  The sheer number of characters is staggering: Two-Face, Riddler, Catwoman, Bane, Hush, Mr. Freeze, Penguin, Joker, Harley Quinn, Ra's & Talia al Ghul, Clayface, Robin, Deadshot, Zasz, etc. etc. etc. Batman has a full nights work ahead of him, and fans of the franchise will appreciate the level of detail that went into the game world.

Moving about is easy and fun thanks to tweaks to the gliding and grappling hook functions. The combat has also been improved with a wider range of enemies and attacks. Batman, for example, can now break weapons, and thugs will wield car doors. Stealth sections present high tech enemies with signal jammers, mines, and night-vision goggles. Luckily you're Batman, and can handle such minor annoyances.

Fabulous as always.

Those who purchase the game new, or buys the dlc, will be able to play as Catwoman. Adding a new character to the mix was a great idea. The gameplay is familiar yet different. She doesn't move about like Batman bringing her own flair to Arkham City. She has her signature whip, but lacks some of the cooler gadgets Batman wields. Catwoman is also available in the Challenge Maps.

That's right! The Challenges are back and better then ever. Play as Robin (dlc), Nightwing (dlc), Batman, or Catwoman in a variety of stealth and/or brawler maps. These maps are unlocked by finding Riddler trophies in the story mode. The replay value is extremely high, and the dlc additions have been very fun. There is also a Campaign mode where you take on a set of three maps with various handicaps/power ups. Playing a map with low health or increased speed are just a couple of examples.

If the Challenges don't keep your attention, then try out the new game plus. Something I was craving from the first tittle makes it to the sequel. Players will start off with all the Riddler trophies, and upgrades from their first play through, but will face tougher enemies. Also, like the Hard difficultly of old, enemies will not have the squiggly lines above their heads when they are about to attack. This feature is a huge factor in regards to the games replay-ability.

Is this a sick joke? Ha ha ha

Rocksteady, my friends, don't ever change. The developers are 2 for 2 on the Batman front creating a franchise that feels remarkably fresh in a market full of clones. Snerts Snazzy Score is Full Price! Go out and support their talent. You won't be disappointed.

Attack of the Clones!!!

I started writing a review for Homefront, but then fell into a rant. Enjoy. 

Homefront has everything that a solid FPS should have. Dynamic characters, solid gameplay, and well done cinematography. Despite having all this I will inevitably don the score of Gamefly--rent, play, move on. Why? Because I'm bored. 

Yes bored. 

I am tired of the tedious clones and other crap that graces the current console generation. 

There are a plethora of great shooter franchises to pick from, and I seldom find the new comers (Bulletstorm, Homefront, Borderlands) worth the full price of admission. The genre is overloaded with gimmicky copy cats. They add one or two neat ideas that often fail to hold interest over the coarse of the game. Bullet-time in FEAR. The leash in Bulletstorm. The nano suite in Crysis. All were fun at first, but didn't add enough to the basic formula. Shoot, run, shoot, find cover, reload/heal, repeat. The best I can hope for is a decent story that encourages me to finish the game. 

I find myself buying sequel after sequel. I have five Halo's, three Call of Duty's, two Left 4 Dead's, and one Bioshock. Each of the sequels offered something new, and often have the multiplayer community to warrant the purchase. Still I doubt Halo 4 and MW3 will offer anything substantially different. Yet I, and millions of others, will probably buy the next sequel because it's better then the clones. 

Hack n' slash games fair no better. God of War and Ninja Gaiden were games that broke barriers. The sequels were fantastic additions to each of the franchises, but it was more of the same. A few new comers pop up hear and there. Bayonetta was decent, and so was Heavenly Sword. I also enjoyed Force Unleashed and Afro Samurai. None had the same impact as the first God of War. None were as challenging as Ninja Gaiden. 

Next up on the chopping block is Bioware. I've thoroughly enjoyed most of their games, but I'm no fool. I can see a pattern that started with Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox. Moral choices, elite secret organizations, wacky friends, love affairs, and deep conversation trees; all while touring world/galaxy. This is in every title since KOTOR, and I doubt Mass Effect 3 will be any different. 

Similar statements can be made about the Fable and Fallout franchises. The first Fable and Fallout 3 were fantastic, but the sequels tended to be more of the same. A young child has something traumatic occur that leads him/her on a life long path to redemption...or revenge! Along the way they have to perform a bunch of tasks to become famous...or infamous! You make allies, gain abilities, and complete quests in the same world over and over again. RPG developers are also notorious for bugs, which is pretty sad considering the lifespan of the current console generation. 

Genres I'm unfamiliar with will only lead to speculation. So here we go!

Open world titles are series of already known mini games spread across a vast area.  New sports games, and fighters, offer roster updates and a few new moves. Racers are the same old tired franchises. JRPG's seem to be stuck in a rut, and RTS games still suck on consoles. Music inspired games is a dead genre beaten by Activision and slightly kicked by EA. Finally, since 2004, the MMORPG genre continues to be equated with World of Warcraft. Everywhere you go it's clones and sequels (or expansion packs and dlc).

I want a new and amazing videogame. I want that same feeling I got playing Splinter Cell, Shadows of the Colossus, or Halo for the first time. I want to play a game over and over again because it's that good. Something that hasn't happened since Batman: Arkham Asylum. 

One day my Gamefly account will be used for something besides sequels and clones. I'll be patient, and save money. I don't have any fantastic ideas after all....just complaints. Perhaps it's just me, or maybe developers need start coming up with better material to earn my money. Either way I'm bored. Time to take up some new hobbies, and catch up on that reading list; in between the drum n' bass events and pool parties.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Game: Batman Arkham Asylum

System: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Release: August 2009


Batman Arkham Asylum is the best Batman game in existence. Much like the Wolverine title I reviewed, this game succeeds in making the player feel like one of the worlds most famous superheroes. Batman has gadgets, he kicks ass in a fist fight, and he can lurk in the shadows to surprise enemies. What more could a fan ask for? How about having the voiceovers performed by the same cast who did the 1990’s animated series? That’s right my friends Mark Hamill is back as the Joker! This time the fight is not on the streets of Gotham. Arkham Asylum has been taken over by the Clown Prince of Crime and only Batman can stop him. Joker, however, is not alone. He has recruited some of the top super villains at Arkham. The Cape Crusader will have to deal with the likes of Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Bane, and of course Harley Quinn. Does Batman have what it takes to save the day? Sure he does…he’s Batman! The journey, however, is the real adventure. I’m not going to spoil this plot, but trust me it fits like a glove.

To complement the fantastic story, and beautiful graphical presentation, Batman Arkham Asylum offers four major gameplay features. First up is brawling. When facing unarmed thugs Batman can throw together counters and punches for brutal combos. Land enough sequential hits and he does critical damage/special moves. The combat is very smooth and satisfying. It also gets better with more enemies. Taking on twenty guys at once is enthralling—not to mention badass!

The second major gameplay feature is stealth. Batman can’t take a bullet to the dome so when the thugs are armed he goes silent. Swinging from gargoyle to gargoyle Batman can isolate his enemies and take them out one by one. A great move is the vertical take down. Batman hangs from a gargoyle until a thug is underneath him. With the press of a button he zips down grabbing the thug. He then wraps a rope around his leg and lets him hang. There are a host of other toys/moves that help Batman isolate enemies and navigate through Arkham.

The final two features are exploration and detective work. The Riddler has hidden numerous secrets across the island. Batman will have to use all his gadgets—Batclaw, Grappling Hook, Explosive gel, etc.—to solve these riddles. To help himself out he can also turn on detective mode which highlights objects he can interact with. It also illustrates all enemies in the area, and points out vital clues to main objectives. If it wasn’t for the top notch graphical presentation I would have left detective mode on for the entire game.

What’s that? Not convinced that this is the best Batman game ever. Well Mr. you have some nerve. Ok fine. What if I tell you about challenge mode? That’s right. If you are bored with the main campaign you can take on stealth or brawler challenges. Complete them with the highest score (brawler) or fastest time (stealth) and post your victory on the leaderboards for all to see. I am hooked on the brawler challenge that sends infinite waves of thugs to take Batman down.

Batman Arkham Asylum is everything I could ask for in a Batman game. The story is just about perfect, the gameplay is smooth, and most importantly fun. The presentation is top of the line, and the challenge modes will keep on coming thanks to DLC packs. Snerts Snazzy Score grants this game a perfect score: 5 out of 5.