Batman Begins (video game)

Batman Begins is a stealth action-adventure game based on the film of the same name.[2] It was released June 14, 2005, a day before the release of the film. It was developed by Eurocom and published by Electronic Arts in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics. It was released on Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.[2] The film's original cast provided a voice-over reprisal in the game, with the exception of Gary Oldman, who portrays James Gordon, replaced by Gavin Hammon.

Batman Begins
Video Game Cover art
Developer(s)Eurocom (GC, PS2 & Xbox)
Vicarious Visions (GBA)
Publisher(s)EA Games
Composer(s)Ian Livingstone
EngineMortal Kombat 4
(GC, PS2 & Xbox)
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
Genre(s)Stealth, action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The game received mixed reviews upon release. A PlayStation Portable version was planned, but subsequently canceled.[3] A sequel, Batman: The Dark Knight, based on the 2008 film, was developed for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but ultimately got canceled as well.[4]

Gameplay

Batman Begins is an action-adventure game incorporating both beat 'em up and stealth elements. The player controls Batman from a third-person perspective, who was access to several gagdets that can be put to good use during both combat and stealth segments. These include batarangs, smoke grenades, flash bang grenades, and an 'HF Transponder', which summons bats to gather around and incapacitate enemies with "fear" (a gameplay mechanic unique to this game). During stealth segments, the player can interact with the environment to create various circumstances that scare off enemies, such as explosions or dropping crates near them, making them easier to subdue. Fear also plays a role in the combat segments, where, if the fear bar is filled, it allows the player to finish off the last remaining enemy with a single hit. The overall stealth gameplay is reminiscent of the Splinter Cell series.

Aside from the combat and stealth segments, the game also incorporates several combat racing sections where the player drives the Tumbler. The game features several alternate costumes for Batman to wear, which are unlocked after completing the main story. Aside from the story, there is a "Gallery of Fear", where the player can view various enemies and villains they have encountered throughout the game and read their bios.

Synopsis

The game closely follows the film's plot, albeit with minor modifications, such as the introduction of scenes absent from the film, or expanding upon certain events depicted in the film. The game features over 20 clips from the film that serve as in-game cutscenes between levels and help the player to better understand the story.

Plot

At an abandoned building in Gotham City, Batman throws an Arkham Asylum inmate through a window, who warns the other thugs present that "Batman's coming." Batman soon follows and proceeds to defeat the thugs, but the building is set on fire. While attempting to escape from the burning building, he pursues Dr. Jonathan Crane, who sprays him with his fear gas, causing Batman to hallucinate and jump out a window. Bruce Wayne then explains how he came to be Batman, and the game flashes back to one year prior, during Bruce's training with the League of Shadows in the Himalayas, under Henri Ducard's guidance. When Bruce is tasked with executing a criminal, he refueses to do so and decides to set the League's temple on fire, upon learning of their plan to destroy Gotham, believing the city is beyond saving. Bruce escapes from the burning temple with an unconscious Ducard, while most of the League, including its leader, Ra's al Ghul, is killed in the fire. Parting ways with Ducard, Bruce returns to Gotham where, aided by his butler Alfred Pennyworth and Wayne Enterprises archivist Lucius Fox, who supplies him with prototype defense technologies, he becomes the vigilante Batman, inspired by his childhood fear of bats. He dedicates his life to protecting the weak and innocent, but struggles with keeping his identity a secret, especially from his childhood friend and love interest, Rachel Dawes.

One week prior to the game's opening sequence, Batman targets mob boss Carmine Falcone at the Gotham Docks, lifting his car into the air using an electromagnetic crane and leaving him for the GCPD to find. He also intercepts one of his drug shipments and informs Rachel, providing her with enough evidence to enlist Sergeant James Gordon, one of Gotham's few honest cops, to arrest Falcone. Later, Bruce is informed by Lucius of the theft of a microwave emitter from Wayne Enterprises and pursues the robbers in the Tumbler, but fails to catch them because they use a decoy.

Looking to learn more about the drug shipment and Falcone's associates, Batman tracks down Gordon's crooked partner, Arnold Flass, and intimidates him by threatening to leave him with of leaving him with Victor Zsasz, a psychotic serial killer and one of Falcone's enforcers, whom Flass was interrogating for information on Falcone's new 'partner'. Flass reveals that Falcone's men are shipping some chemicals to Arkham Asylum psychiatrist Jonathan Crane, who is using them to create large quantities of his signature fear toxin, and informs Batman of the shipment's location. Batman subsequently goes there to capture Crane, leading to the game's opening sequence.

While Bruce recovers from the effects of Crane's fear toxin after receiving an antidote created by Lucius, Crane also drugs Falcone, causing him to be transferred to Arkham, and kidnaps Rachel when she tries to investigate the connection between him and Falcone. Infiltrating Arkham, Batman learns that Crane has introduced his drug into Gotham's water supply, and rescues Rachel, while subduing Crane by exposing him to his own fear gas. While Batman interrogates Crane, who reveals he is working for Ra's al Ghul, the GCPD storm the asylum, forcing Batman to speak with Gordon in private, informing him of Crane's operations and convincing him to let him go so that he could save Rachel's life, who was drugged by Crane. After escaping from the pursuing police in the Tumbler, Batman takes Rachel to the Batcave to recover, and chooses not to reveal his identity to her.

Eventually, at his birthday party, Bruce is confronted by Ducard, who reveals himself as the true Ra's al Ghul and informs him of his plan to vaporize Gotham's water supply using the stolen microwave emitter, rendering Crane's drug airborne and causing mass hysteria that will destroy Gotham. The League of Shadows then sets the Wayne Manor on fire, but Bruce escapes with Lucius and Alfred to safety. While Gotham is consumed by chaos, Batman deals with Crane and rescues Rachel from Zsasz, indirectly revealing his identity to her, before boarding the train carrying the emitter. He defeats Ra's and, to stop the emitter from reaching the heart of Gotham and releasing the drug, detonates the Tumbler to destroy the monorail track, escaping before the train crashes and kills Ra's.

In the aftermath, while Gotham slowly returns to normal, Batman fully integrates himself in his role as the city's protector.

Voice cast

Reception

Reviews of the game found it generally average. GameRankings gave it a score of 62.14% for the Game Boy Advance version,[9] 66.74% for the GameCube version,[7] 65.63% for the PlayStation 2 version,[8] and 67.20% for the Xbox version.[6] Likewise, Metacritic gave it a score of 61 out of 100 for the GBA version,[13] 66 out of 100 for the GameCube version,[10] 64 out of 100 for the PS2 version,[12] and 65 out of 100 for the Xbox version.[11] It received G4's award for 'Best Graphics on PS2 and Xbox'.

Cancelled sequel

On July 17, 2008, actor Gary Oldman said during an interview with G4's Kristin Adams that a video game sequel of the Batman Begins video game based on the second film of the franchise was in development.[35] In his interview on GameTrailers, Oldman said he knew an awful lot of effort had gone into getting Batman's gliding abilities to feel suitably smooth and fluid for Batman: The Dark Knight game. Oldman, who reprised his role as Lt. Jim Gordon, did not name a developer in the interview but anonymous sources reported that The Dark Knight was a secret project of Pandemic Studios and EA.[36][37] However, the project was cancelled and Pandemic Brisbane was shut down.[38]

References
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  2. "Batman Begins Videogame Soars onto Shelves" (Press release). Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. June 15, 2005. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007. Retrieved June 14, 2005.
  3. "Batman Begins (PlayStation Portable)". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. Skipper, Ben (February 1, 2016). "Cancelled Batman game: Unseen 64 tells story of Pandemic's The Dark Knight movie tie-in". International Business Times. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  5. "Batman Begins (2005 video game) Cast". IMDb. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  6. "Batman Begins for Xbox". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  7. "Batman Begins for GameCube". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  8. "Batman Begins for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  9. "Batman Begins for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. "Batman Begins for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  11. "Batman Begins for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  12. "Batman Begins for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  13. "Batman Begins for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  14. "Batman Begins". Electronic Gaming Monthly (195). September 2005.
  15. Bramwell, Tom (June 17, 2005). "Batman Begins Review (Xbox)". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  16. Mason, Lisa (August 2005). "Batman Begins". Game Informer (148): 97. Archived from the original on November 4, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  17. Doctor Zombie (December 2, 2005). "Review: Batman Begins". GamePro. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
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  19. Colayco, Bob (June 17, 2005). "Batman Begins Review". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
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  21. Provo, Frank (July 6, 2005). "Batman Begins Review (GBA)". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  22. Tuttle, Will (June 20, 2005). "GameSpy: Batman Begins (Xbox)". GameSpy. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  23. Tuttle, Will (June 20, 2005). "GameSpy: Batman Begins". GameSpy. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  24. "Batman Begins Review". GameTrailers. June 23, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  25. Romano, Natalie (June 28, 2005). "Batman Begins - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on November 3, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  26. Knutson, Michael (June 26, 2005). "Batman Begins - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  27. Bedigian, Louis (June 26, 2005). "Batman Begins - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  28. Casamassina, Matt (June 16, 2005). "Batman Begins (GC)". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  29. Harris, Craig (June 21, 2005). "Batman Begins (GBA)". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  30. Sulic, Ivan; Lewis, Ed (June 15, 2005). "Batman Begins". IGN. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  31. "Batman Begins (GC)". Nintendo Power. 195: 80. August 2005.
  32. "Batman Begins (GBA)". Nintendo Power. 195: 85. August 2005.
  33. 1UP Staff (August 2, 2005). "Batman Begins (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  34. "Batman Begins". Official Xbox Magazine: 82. September 2005.
  35. "'Dark Knight' Game Leaks". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  36. Casamassina, Matt (May 17, 2007). "Rumor: Pandemic to Develop New Batman Game". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  37. "'Dark Knight' reigns not in video game - Newsweek Technology - Newsweek.com". August 21, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  38. "Screwing Up Batman". Retrieved January 2, 2017.
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