Go (Insert animal name here)-man (Batman Vengeance (Xbox))

Member Name: drdriscoll

Product:	Batman Vengeance (Xbox)
Date:	07/06/02 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good batanimations, Nice batvoiceovers

Disadvantages: Lack of batvariation, Completely linear

Batman games as a general rule suck, no scratch that. ALL the previous Batman games I have ever seen and played have sucked. Along with the Army Men series a Batman game is assured a place in the hall of shame. Will this X-Box Batman game put this horrible track record aside? Fat chance but hey, the team at Ubisoft aren't exactly going to have to work hard to make this the best Batman game ever created.

The base for the game is the animated series of Batman which means the game uses a cell based graphics system thereby making the game look like a cartoon, neat huh. This though does stop the game from using the full power of the X-Box graphic system. The animation though is very nice and fluid and the FMV/CG is extremely well done with the original voices from the cartoons being used for the voices adding to the realism.

At the start you are given a chance to get used to the controls which is useful as the camera is not the best I have ever used. Then you get to ride the Batmobile which I'm sure is every 10 year olds dream or something but how many 10 year olds have bought this console is something I would like to know. It's easy enough stuff, just avoid the traffic and turn when the game tells you to. Flying the Batplane is harder due to the higher amount of obstacles that need to be avoided and freefalling from the air is just stupid as you have to avoid the well known problem of air debris on your descent.

The rest of the game is on foot while you use a multitude of weapons such as the Batarangs, batcuffs and other bat related paraphernalia that can be marketed to the kids on plastic dolls. Sorry if I don't sound enthralled because it really is a boring game. The batgrapple (the best batutility) is rarely used and the fighting is either batpunch, batkick or using the batcuffs.

You know I'm enjoying this bat stuff, lets apply it to the rest of the review.

Throughout the batgame, Batman must solve
batpuzzles to solve the batmystery and finish the batgame. They are amazingly easy though and if they were made harder would definitely batcontribute to the game.

Overall this batgame is interesting but has little batsubstance. A little more batwork and we could have had a great title alas it is not to be. If you enjoy the Batman series then rent the game first from batbusters to see if its for you but if not then it's not really worth the bother. Average then but is officially awarded the best bat related game ever award. HOLY ZOIDS BATMAN etc.

Summary: