At the end of the day, it is all about pirates and the Templars and the search for something called the Observatory, which lets people watch the world through the eyes of others. There is action aplenty, at sea and on land, and it is all spectacularly presented.
Batman: Arkham Origins (PS3, Xbox 360)
Rs 2999
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Rs 2999 (PS3, Xbox 360)
One is an iconic comic book character. Another enjoys similar status in the world of gaming. And both have pretty much dominated gaming news for the past week or so. On the one hand, we had the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight himself, Batman continuing to carve a niche for himself in gaming territory with Arkham Origins (PS3, Xbox 360). On the other, we had Edward Kenway becoming the latest man to take on the cowl and cloak that is the trademark of the Assassin's Creed series of games in Black Flag (PS3, Xbox 360).
The main reason why we are clubbing the two titles together, instead of looking at each of them in glorious isolation is that the similarities are just too overwhelming to be ignored. Both games were eagerly awaited and massively hyped. Both see a new angle being to a well-established tale. Both are basically action and adventure titles. And last but not least, refer to the first para, both feature gentlemen who dress oddly and prance around rooftops with a penchant for sneaking up and thrashing the bad folk.
Batman in the beginning
Of the two, we think Arkham Origins actually works better. The twist here is that the game is a prequel to the earlier Arkham series of titles - Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. It is in fact set five years before the events of Arkham Asylum. Gotham city and its authorities are still not comfortable with the idea of a masked vigilante doling out justice with his fists, and the Batman himself is a much younger and raw version of the understated and suave super hero we have seen in the previous two games in the Arkham series. He snarls more, is impatient, and seems more keen to leap into battle than sneak into it. Not that sneaking isn't an option. We see the Caped Crusader quietly get into villain's lairs (including the Penguin's ship) and even make an unauthorized entry into the offices of the Gotham City Police.
Yes, there is lots of swinging on ropes around Gotham city, which is even bigger than we know it (you can also use the Batwing to get around in some cases, but we love the grapple and swing technique). There are gadgets to fiddle with, puzzles to solve and a generous dollop of fisticuffs, but what makes Arkham Origins really work for us is the story. The Batman himself is clearly a work-in-progress and we see younger versions of some iconic villains including the Riddler (still known as Edward Nigma, or Enigma), Bane, and yes, even the Joker. There is a fair deal of detection and roaming around involved and although the accent on violence can dull the senses, for the most part, you do not really know what's around the next corner. Is that clue left behind a real one or a smokescreen for something? The graphics are excellent as are the sound effects, but then these have become pretty much of a given in most high-profile titles. What makes Arkham Origins worth playing is the experience of stepping into the shoes of a super hero who is searching not just for villains but also for self-respect and credibility.
An Assassin in the Caribbean
And that actually is what is missing from Assassins Creed Black Flag. The graphics are drop dead gorgeous, the sound effects are amazing (you actually sense sounds coming from different parts of the screen depending on where the incident responsible for them occurred), and the locales are far more breath-taking than dark old Gotham. The problem is that there is nothing really to hold the whole shindig together. For those who know not - and they are likely to be mighty confused for a good deal of the game - the Assassin's Creed series is built around a rather fascinating time travel concept where the memories of a character in the past are experienced by a person living in a period that seems to be our future. It is complex enough as it is, but the essence of the series always has been the fact that you dress up in a cloak and cowl and roam around medieval venues, climbing, jumping, stealing, assassinating, and joy of joys, rubbing shoulders with some historical characters (oh yes, we met Da Vinci!) - suffice to say that you are a member of a secret sect and are a trained assassin.
There is plenty of that in Black Flag too. So what are we complaining about? Well, to be honest, it is the utter lack of a storyline. Yes, we guarantee you will spend the first two hours of the game, catching your jaw bounce off the floor as the protagonist Edward Kenway fights a duel, commandeers a ship, rescues a merchant, unleashes hell in a sea battle, and stalks enemies through tall grass on an island. But you will also spend the same time scratching your head and wondering what the blazes is going on. At the end of the day, it is all about pirates and the Templars and the search for something called the Observatory, which lets people watch the world through the eyes of others. There is action aplenty, at sea and on land, and it is all spectacularly presented. And yes, you do have the normal dose of historical characters, this time from the pirate side: Edward Blackbeard and Charles Vane are very much present, although the stereotyped pirate talk with “mateys” and “yo ho hos” .
The problem is that all this is held together rather loosely. There is talk of a pirate republic and imperial ambition over the Caribbean (where most of the game is based) and , but honestly, after a while, the main charm of the game is just wandering around, and more often than not climbing the highest building in the vicinity and taking in the view. All in all, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag is more about style than substance. Pretty much a must-have if you love the series and/or are a sucker for games that look awesome.
So that’s it. Two games about two heroes. Both impressive in their own ways but neither particularly path-breaking, to be brutally honest. Those seeking eye candy would love Black Flag while those who prefer knowing why they are doing what they are would hark to Arkham Origins.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}