I am absolutely stunned by this announcement. It's totally awesome!
But if they're revealing it now, that would suggest the game will release in Fall 2010 (perhaps August again?)
That's very soon after the release of the last game. They will have approximately 1 year to make a new game. I guess knowing Unreal 3 inside out and having many of the models/voice actors already in place helps.
I have faith that RockSteady will come through with another great game. My only request would be: please do something about the poor lip-synching.
Oh, and maybe add the ability to hang from any object/ledge, not just Gargoyles...
...
Great to see the Joker looking old and haggard. It said 'property of Gotham General' on his blood bag, suggesting he'd either been busted out of hospital because he was sick or that this new place (perhaps the streets and a theatre called the 'Iceberg') IS the asylum and he's being given health care there...
There was a man with a gun in front of the old entrance to the asylum... perhaps he's a guard?
@tornbhc007: Surely no more than the original game did, which, you know, had that other guy that was really popular in the Dark Knight movie.
What was his name? Jokester or something?
I honestly can't remember, he was hardly memorable and I certainly didn't see far, FAR too many people dressing up as him in the last 2 Halloweens since TDK's release.
Although, you are right in one way, I guess. Following one with the other in a second game will draw comparisons between the film and the franchise as a whole, I guess they are still riding the popularity wave TDK had.
@Mentuss: To me, honestly, as much good as Ledger did the Joker (and that is a vast understatement) I really think Harvey Dent stole the show. That's why I hope them being vague on his "death" was deliberate so they can bring him back.
Also, as good as Ledger's Joker was, I think many people go very OTT about how good it was, more likely than not due to the fact it seems to be a popular thing to over elevate someone's importance after their death.
Was he a good Joker? Yes. But so was Jack Nicholson, and although Mark Hamill has never done it live action, the characterisation in his voice work is probably the Joker I enjoy the most.
...And if I hear another person say "why so serious" as though it's some cool quote to say instead of something overdone and played out within weeks of the movie's release, or go to another fancy dress party where there's multiple Jokers, even though IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR NOW FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HAVEN'T YOU FOUND A NEW BANDWAGON YET? I think I'm going to lose it.
Hope this doesn't mean it's going to be another enclosed area. AA was great, but I'd like a little more geographical freedom (even if it means two discs for the 360 and PCs).
There's only 3 things I really want added to the sequel:
1. Better boss battles.
2. An expanded cast of supporting characters, namely Cassandra, Dick, Tim, and Alfred and maybe the ability to play as some of them for a portion of the game.
3. A better story from Dini to match the great quality level of characterizations and voice acting in the first game.
Keep everything else the same and I'll be a happy customer.
@Mathrin: Eh, I'd rather they get the voice actor from the Animated Series.
I never quite got used to Michael Caine's blue collar/ pseudo-cockney interpretation of the character over the classic refined gentleman's version.
Actually I also wish they use the original voice actor for Gordon. The voice they got for A.A. was all wrong, way too macho and gruff. Gordon is supposed to sound fatherly and humble.
Oh is that it. That was their huge announcement. A sequel for a game that came out so recently I don't think anybody was even thinking of a sequel, let alone wanting one.
I mean sure the game was a good romp through Arkham, but I was expecting something more exciting as their 'big' announcement.
Okay devs, this is your chance to fix the one big problem with B:AA, which was the crap-ass final boss fight you just shoehorned in there. You should have the budget now to give us an epic Batman climb up an impossibly tall structure, sneaking and bataranging and taking out goons, to reach [endboss] at the top.
Make it epic to get to him, then take him out in one punch. I know you knew the original was a mistake but you didn't have enough time or imagination to do anything else. Make it right.
Glee! Even if it's basically the same damn game with new locales/story/villains/etc, I'll be quite happy. I don't mind that it's still a Joker story, as I've always found him to be the most interesting villain by far.
I watched about 5 minutes of that awful show on spike... then they gave jack black an award. The other nominees were from uncharted 2, EASILY the best voice work of any game in the past 5 years...
Yea, I laughed my ass off at how the show was clearly one giant ruse. At the end of the day, they will just give the awards to whichever company wants it more. Awful awful awful awful insulting and awful is how I describe the show.
@Chirotera: The "fans" that watch spike tv?! and go to spiketv.com!? Yea, I sure care about THEIR opinions. Spoiler alert: Mw2 and UFC are going to win a ton of awards... Douchey douche games.
12/13/09
But if they're revealing it now, that would suggest the game will release in Fall 2010 (perhaps August again?)
That's very soon after the release of the last game. They will have approximately 1 year to make a new game. I guess knowing Unreal 3 inside out and having many of the models/voice actors already in place helps.
I have faith that RockSteady will come through with another great game. My only request would be: please do something about the poor lip-synching.
Oh, and maybe add the ability to hang from any object/ledge, not just Gargoyles...
...
Great to see the Joker looking old and haggard. It said 'property of Gotham General' on his blood bag, suggesting he'd either been busted out of hospital because he was sick or that this new place (perhaps the streets and a theatre called the 'Iceberg') IS the asylum and he's being given health care there...
There was a man with a gun in front of the old entrance to the asylum... perhaps he's a guard?
RAMPANT SPECULATION
12/12/09
12/13/09
What was his name? Jokester or something?
I honestly can't remember, he was hardly memorable and I certainly didn't see far, FAR too many people dressing up as him in the last 2 Halloweens since TDK's release.
Although, you are right in one way, I guess. Following one with the other in a second game will draw comparisons between the film and the franchise as a whole, I guess they are still riding the popularity wave TDK had.
12/13/09
12/13/09
Also, as good as Ledger's Joker was, I think many people go very OTT about how good it was, more likely than not due to the fact it seems to be a popular thing to over elevate someone's importance after their death.
Was he a good Joker? Yes. But so was Jack Nicholson, and although Mark Hamill has never done it live action, the characterisation in his voice work is probably the Joker I enjoy the most.
...And if I hear another person say "why so serious" as though it's some cool quote to say instead of something overdone and played out within weeks of the movie's release, or go to another fancy dress party where there's multiple Jokers, even though IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR NOW FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, HAVEN'T YOU FOUND A NEW BANDWAGON YET? I think I'm going to lose it.
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
There's only 3 things I really want added to the sequel:
1. Better boss battles.
2. An expanded cast of supporting characters, namely Cassandra, Dick, Tim, and Alfred and maybe the ability to play as some of them for a portion of the game.
3. A better story from Dini to match the great quality level of characterizations and voice acting in the first game.
Keep everything else the same and I'll be a happy customer.
12/12/09
12/13/09
12/13/09
I never quite got used to Michael Caine's blue collar/ pseudo-cockney interpretation of the character over the classic refined gentleman's version.
Actually I also wish they use the original voice actor for Gordon. The voice they got for A.A. was all wrong, way too macho and gruff. Gordon is supposed to sound fatherly and humble.
12/13/09
To bad Bob Hastings wasn't the guy that made the voice of Commissioner Gordon.
12/12/09
I just heard that Mark Hammill did a good job with the intro so...
Oh come on, he IS the Joker pretty much now.
12/12/09
I mean sure the game was a good romp through Arkham, but I was expecting something more exciting as their 'big' announcement.
12/12/09
How is that not exciting? No one saw it coming and then Boom goes the dynamite!
Plus Batman is easily one of the best games this year.
12/12/09
Make it epic to get to him, then take him out in one punch. I know you knew the original was a mistake but you didn't have enough time or imagination to do anything else. Make it right.
12/12/09
12/12/09
Yea, I laughed my ass off at how the show was clearly one giant ruse. At the end of the day, they will just give the awards to whichever company wants it more. Awful awful awful awful insulting and awful is how I describe the show.
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
UK and European Denizens, you can watch it here! Rocksteady just won best Dev studio!
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
12/12/09
Here ya guys go. Decent quality too.
12/12/09