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Comic book video games, for comic fans, gamers or both?






Now I admit, I'm usually behind the curve when it comes to gaming. In fact I'd call myself a casual gamer at best. I just joined Gamefly last month and I've enjoyed going thru the backlogs of old PS2 games that fell thru the cracks. I should preface this with I actually got a PS2 for the sole reason of playing comic book games. Now I know most people groan when a game is made based on a comic book. But they're getting better. It's my opinion that these games are getting better because the game developers have finally figured out the audience for these licensed property games. Comic fans, not hard core gamers.
I recently rented the game adaptation of Batman Begins, and I'm loving every minute of playing it. I love the game design around using fear to defeat your opponents, it's an aspect of the character that I think has been overlooked in almost every media interpretation of the character since Frank Miller or Tim Burton revived the characters in their respective genres. I think the graphics and voice acting are spot on, but I'm not a hard core gamer or a game reviewer. Something I noticed when I went online to read the editorial reviews of the game.
They actually panned it for being too easy. I'm sorry, but when I play a video game, especially one based on a superhero, I want to enjoy myself, not be frustrated.
Apparently I missed something in the years that I didn't have a system. Apparently a game sucks if it isn't so challenging that only the most obssessed and hard core of gamer can play it. I don't know about anyone else but when I play a game I want to have fun. And constantly restarting at the last checkpoint or save spot isn't fun. My day job is difficult enough. If I want a challenge I'll try to analyze an early Grant Morrison or Alan Moore script to get the countercultrual subtexts in alphabetical order, when I play a Batman game I want to kick ass and rule the shadows with the Dark Knight. He's a superhero!! Beating up bad guys is supposed to be easy for him. And for me the point of the game is to step into his shoes, make similar choices and have a ball being Batman for a couple of hours. Not racking my brain or my fingers just trying to keep him from getting his ass kicked every 3 levels.
I've discovered the same thing with another of my favorite comic games. X2 Wolverine's Revenge. Critically panned for "Lack of execution in game play." Maybe I'm off my mark, but I do expect a certain amount of quality for video games, but sometimes I'll give a pass for my favorite characters just for the conceit of finally getting to play as them. Justice League Heroes, Batman Begins, Teen Titans, and other games like them are designed for comic fans, not hard core gamers. So, please let us have our mediocre games with the characters we like and you can have Halo.

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