The Dark Knight

There are tons of reviews for Batman: Arkham Asylum out there from people way better equipped than me with writing talent and video game insight. The only thing I could add as an almost fanatical devotee of The Dark Knight (not just that latest movie), is that this is the first Xbox 360 game I have completed to 100%. The truly amazing part is that getting to 100% wasn’t a chore. Almost all of the Riddler collectibles and other achievements could be completed with just some common sense and a little skill. I never felt like I didn’t have enough information to solve any puzzle put before me… but never felt like the game thought I was in idiot.

The challenge room achievements took a bit more work, but they’re called challenge rooms, right? And that’s the bottom line on the game: the challenging parts were challenging, but not impossible making for a deep, engaging, atmospherically spot on experience.

Many other people have voiced their disappointment with the ending, so I won’t bother adding to that pile. (It wasn’t very good.) One thing I didn’t hear complaints about was Harlee Quinn‘s redesign. I, personally, wasn’t a fan. But these are small complaints against an overall fantastic game.

Anyway, I should remember that somewhere out there, there are people who love Batman as much as I do. Thanks!

Finally went to see The Dark Knight last night. For as big a Batman fan as myself to wait this long meant there must have been major illness and ridiculous amounts of work keeping me away, but I finally saw it… and it’s right. Nearly 98% pitch perfect, which is truly amazing for a PG-13 movie. This movie has given me hope that Hollywood is not full of a bunch of idiots.

I should remember to see it again and again… and hope they don’t completeley screw up the video game.

In what could only be a clear statement on the current state of the our country, Marvel killed off Captain America (the very embodiment of all that’s good about the American way of life) in the issue that hit comic store shelves yesterday with a lone sniper shot. Rather than in a blaze of glory, Cap went out with a pop as he walked from a court house.

I think this is a pretty memorable moment for American culture, especially because most Americans won’t even know it happened.