Why must it be so difficult to make a really good Superhero game? I mean if a
plumber can have cool games then it would seem almost a given that developers
could do the same with a real action hero. Yet we have all been subjected by one
horrible superhero game after another, and I’m talking bottom of the gaming pool
type of games. Despite this constant disappointment I try and keep an open mind
hoping that someone will finally figure it out that a game needs more than just a
familiar name in the title. It would actually help if the game was fun! Sure I’m
an optimist but you never know. So now I have Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (BRST) for
the PS2 in front of me. Could this be the end to a very long drought of sucky
superhero games? Let’s see….
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Batman & Robin, together again. |
Our hero in this case is, of course, Batman. Now Batman is no stranger to the
bad Superhero video game syndrome, see Batman Vengeance for further details. But
I’m one to let the past stay in the past and not hold that against our caped
crusader. You don’t only get to play as Batman but there are three additional
characters from the Batman universe that you can play and each has different
weaknesses and strengths. There’s Robin who is a very fast little dude but
doesn’t do a whole lot of damage. You can give it a go as Nightwing who isn’t as
fast as Robin but is more powerful. There’s also Batgirl who is probably the
quickest but also might have the weakest attacks. All of this leads us to the
character that most everyone will play at first, Batman. He is the strongest of
all the characters but does give up a little in the quickness department when
compared to Robin or Batgirl. But still, you know he’s what the game is all
about so it would just be strange not to play as him.
Those that are only somewhat in touch with the Batman thing might be asking
themselves, “Who is this Sin Tzu person?” That is indeed a very good question.
As it turns out we are witnessing history here as Sin Tzu is the first
Batman character to debut in a videogame. I think that’s pretty cool and really
shows the influence videogames are having. As you may be able to guess Sin Tzu
is a character that is influenced by Sun Tzu who is generally acknowledge as one
of the greatest military strategist in history. Naturally Sin Tzu is brilliant
and, unfortunately, a little insane just like any truly bad guy should be.
The basic story of the game is that Sin Tzu figures that the only person
worthy of his time and talent is Batman. So in order to get Batman’s attention
Sin has masterminded a full-scale breakout at Stonegate Prison while seizing
control of Arkham Asylum at the same time. Part of Sin's strategy to defeat
Batman is to throw a lot of muscle at him and in this case that means getting
Bane, Scarecrow and Clayface involved in the action. So there you have it, three
rough and tumble bad guys as a warm-up, all leading to the final showdown with
Sin Tzu himself. That should be a pretty good workout, and for the most part it
is.
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