I promised to upload more content onto our website, so here's the first of a couple of new "Quarterly Reviews" for ya:

As a life-long Batman fan, It seems only fitting that the first console video game that I review be the newest Batman game.  For years, I've looked at various Batman games that have come out, and disappointed as each one was a lack-luster attempt at capturing my favorite superhero in a video game.  When I saw gameplay footage of this game a few months ago, I began to get hopeful.  It wasn't until I played the demo that I was sold (seriously, go download the demo and play it right now!  You can thank me later), as I immediately left the house to go to my local gamestop and preorder the game.

The basic premise of the game is that Batman has brought Joker back to Arkham after his latest escape, only to find out its all been a setup for a trap.  Joker is now in control of Arkham Asylum, and all Batman's foes are free and out to get him.  Along the way, you get experience unlocking health/gadgets/etc. that help you in your quest to put the Joker behind bars.

This game does an AWESOME job of translating this comic book hero over to a video game.  You really feel like you are playing Batman, as you must use the shadows and the layout to hide, as you are outnumbered and outgunned.  I love the fact that, true to Batman, you never "kill" anyone, you only incapacitate them.  I think one of my favorite moves is to hang from a overhand and wait for someone to walk underneath and then drop down, grab them, and soar back upwards tieing them to the overhang.

As a huge fan of Batman: The Animated Series, hearing Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill (yes, Luke Skywalker) reprise Batman and the Joker makes me all kinds of giddy.  Seriously, the graphics are great, the gameplay is amazing, if you are a comic book fan at all you must play this game, and even if you aren't I recommend it as an awesome action/adventure game.

- Chris