“Why so serious?”
That’s the question LEGO Batman is asking gamers in 2008. By reducing our favorite films to their most campy moments and those larger-than-life characters to diminutive LEGO mini-figs, Traveler’s Tales has made a business out of hero humor — and the only Batman game you’ll be playing this year is theirs.
But in 2009, the grim irony in The Joker’s original question may finally surface — today, Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. have announced Batman: Arkham Asylum for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
Developed by the relatively unknown Rocksteady Studios and with a script penned by accomplished Batman writer and Harley Quinn creator Paul Dini, Batman: Arkham Asylum actually looks to be based on the comics rather than the recent Dark Knight film — though it’s hard to tell reading the press release.
“Set in an incredibly dark interactive environment,” Arkham Asylum promises “stunning graphics,” “intuitive detective skills” and “aggressive melee attacks” — but also a game “graphically distinct” and boasting a “noticably different feature set.”
Graphically distinct and noticeably different from what?
The release doesn’t say; but we can certainly hazard a guess.
As per the image above, there’s currently a countdown at the Rocksteady Studios website; at the rate the numbers are currently falling, we expect something will appear there at approximately 12:00PM PST this Friday. Don’t feel like waiting? There are plenty of unconfirmed details at NeoGAF for you to peruse.
UPDATE: Well, that was disappointing. Countdown over, all the Rocksteady website has on display is a Game Informer plug. But wait a minute, what’s this? The power of the internet has given us a host of gorgeous new screenshots.
You can download full-size screens sans watermark at Shacknews and/or Destructoid.
Full press release:
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Comics announce Batman: Arkham Asylum, a dark, action-packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows in 2009.
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics’ detective to life with stunning graphics.
“In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. “Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks.”
“Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham’s worst villains with Batman’s physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Eidos on expanding DC Comics’ world-renowned character Batman in the game space with a noticeably different feature set in an incredibly dark interactive environment.”
Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will co-publish Batman: Arkham Asylum in North America, Eidos Interactive will publish the game in all other territories.
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