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Batman: Arkham Asylum's 'less is more' design explained photo

Having done virtually all there is to be done in Rocksteady's decidedly solid Batman: Arkham Asylum, I still find myself wanting to jump back into those challenge rooms on the weekends. Something about being able to freak out the inmates satisfies my desire to be a badass in a way almost no other games can.

Following an earlier report on how Arkham Asylum could have had rhythm game elements, we're now getting the opportunity to hear more about what didn't make it into the finalized game. On the subject of feature sets, Rocksteady's Sefton Hill told Gamasutra: "You don't want to overstretch."

"You want to do less, but do amazingly well, rather than do more and have a load of average stuff at the end of the day. There are too many games out there that deliver lots of average content." Hill believes you need confidence, but it admits "it can be hard."

"Some of the things that we really wanted to achieve were for Batman himself," he explains, "so we didn't want to overstretch with a driving section with its own mechanic and requirements, and take that development time away from the things that were important for Batman himself."

I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you, Rocksteady, for not making us play an unnecessary driving sequence.


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20 comments | showing # 1 to 20

Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:03
Dan CiTi
These are some good bits advice.
GEMPadre036's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:05
GEMPadre036
Finally! They get it! We don't need a random driving segment in a not-driving related game!
Gyrael's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:07
Gyrael
Well, I'll be damned. The guy knows his shit.
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:11
Magnalon
This guy knows his stuff, but hopefully next time we'll get an "extreme mode", or extra costumes/abilities for the single player mode, making it worth playing ever again. I loved the game, but the "same old" challenge rooms didn't really do it for me.
pl0x kthanxbai's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:12
pl0x kthanxbai
but, but


teh drivin'...
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:15
SephirothX
i actually thought a driving sequence would have been a fun way to do the opening credits (instead of the slow walk-with-Joker sequence)
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 20:17
ikiryou
What he's really saying is "In our next Batgame, we'd like to put in a sweet driving sequence, just like the one in the SNES Batman Returns game!". I hope rabid orangutans mouthrape him if he does.
the7k's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 21:08
the7k
@ikiryou
Don't be knocking Batman Returns on the SNES. It's still one of the best superhero games out there.
Stahlbrand's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 21:19
Stahlbrand
Great game, but I could have done without the "Tap A moderately fast every time you want to open a grate or pull down a wall". I just don't see the appeal to having to mash something that mundane that often.
Jordan Devore's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 21:24
Jordan Devore
"I hope rabid orangutans mouthrape him if he does."

I'm so going to use this phrase when the time is right.
Danmartigan's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 21:26
Danmartigan
I love this game, and I agree. I would be happy with a sequel if it did nearly everything the same in a Gotham City setting. Moar stuff to climb and more henchmen to fight!

Also I agree with Stahlbrand. Get rid of "Tap A" moments.
Steel Squirrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 21:46
Steel Squirrel
I would also like to see the next game set in Gotham City with a little more open worldness going on. I don't want a completely open world, just the ability to maybe travel to different parts of Gotham in sections and have freedom within those sections.

Also... maybe have a little more variation in the thugs you beat up. I did love this game as well though, it was excellent.
Drack48's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 22:20
Drack48
Love it, second only to Uncharted this year my humble opinion
runtheplacered's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/19/2009 22:45
runtheplacered
@ Steel Squirrel,

"I would also like to see the next game set in Gotham City"

Sounds good.

"with a little more open worldness going on."

Sounds not so good. I don't want open world. Give me a nice tightly written Batman game. Although I guess I don't really know what you mean by "gotham in sections". What would be the point in that? Maybe I'm just missing something there.
Steve Cebu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2009 01:07
Steve Cebu
I'm looking forward to the sequel. I hope it's as good as this one.
I'm very thankful there was no stupid driving aspect. If I want a racing game, I'll buy one. I would like to see the sequel have more of teh same stuff as this one but set in Gotham City and more riddler puzzles.
I'm still blown away by the fact that Mark (Luke Skywalker) Hamill did the voice of Joker. He was brilliant at it!
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2009 03:02
Artemus
One helluva game... Nuff said.
Thank you, Rocksteady.
LazyAza's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2009 05:29
LazyAza
This man speaks the truth, so many games could be so much better if developers restrained themselves and focused the 'polish' on to certain parts as apposed to thinly spreading it across everything resulting in a horrible pile of broken crap.
MCChampaignMillionaire's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2009 06:46
MCChampaignMillionaire
Oh my god he is so right.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/20/2009 13:44
Corak
Guy knows what works for this game and I'm glad rocksteady stuck to their guns. Definetly in my top 3 games this year so far.
Zhu Zhu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/26/2009 08:17
Zhu Zhu
For some reason, I just can't trust a game that's based on a movie or a comic book..
Zhu Zhu
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