Batman: Arkham Asylum has been praised for its combat system, among many other things. The countering that Batman is required to do when prompted by enemies is very similar to a rhythm game, and is a residual element of a full-on rhythm combat system that the team had planned.
According to Game Informer, the first iteration of Arkham was "A full rhythm action game! The second one was prototyped in 2D, which popped up whenever you got into a fight, and involved colored circles bashing into each other. This actually formed the basis of the final system."
This is quite interesting, because I used Arkham Asylum in an article I wrote defending Quick-Time-Events, demonstrating that the combat was very much a QTE cleverly disguised far more appealing aesthetics. This seems to very much support the case.
So, the next time you dump all over QTEs, remember what Batman managed to do.
[Via Joystiq]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
10:40 AM on 10.06.2009
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I know it's a bit more complicated than that, but really when it boils down to it all you're doing is pressing colored buttons because you see those same colors on the screen.
Kind of like a QTE.
Oh I'll still dump all over QTE's, as everything that's wrong with them is still wrong with them. Batman: AA doing something else that is very much like a QTE (but not) does not change the fact that watching the bottom of the screen for a button indicator completely defeats the point of using the QTE as a device to deliver exceptional visuals. I mean hell, you could take your Batman: AA argument and extend it to any move that needs to be done, say, during a bosses period of weakness in order to progress. No way around it. It's a singular and required action that must be timed. But it's still not a QTE. :)
I forget who it was or where I heard it, but somebody suggested they release an Adam West redubbing of all voice work as DLC
Really though, they wanted to make combat RHYTHM BASED? I'm really glad we dodged that bullet, because it would have killed the game for me completely.
"I gotta believe!"
That's actually how I approach most situations. Remember what Batman managed to do.