fav games
#1 Batman: Arkham Asylum
The story could have been expanded more, but the visuals and the aspects of psychological horror/ slight investigation of the psychology of Batman really are enjoyable. The fighting mechanics can seem a little clunky, but it becomes very charming after awhile. I like how it feels like you are really beating the hell out of the bad guys.
#2 Batman: Arkham City
This game picks up after the events of Arkham Asylum. The gameplay is more polished that the first installment in the series and the number of gadgets are fun to use! The number of side missions and riddle trophies (don’t even get me started) keeps you busy while you simultaneously work on the main story. The number of Batman rogues that appear are such a fun challenge to deal/interact with. And talk about that ending! Probably my favorite game of the series.
#3 Batman: Arkham Knight
Okay, I have a lot to say about this game that I can’t fully articulate, but to keep it short and sweet, Arkham Knight has both plenty of charm as well as plenty of flaws. It’s visually very beautiful and the combat is just as fun as the other games in the franchise. One of the better parts of the game is seeing other members of the batclan, including Robin (Tim Drake), Nightwing, Catwoman, Oracle, and (SPOILERRRRR) Redhood, though that is not till way later. The caveat of seeing these member is, if you are a big fan of the characterization of Bruce Wayne, you may not agree with many of the character choices that have been made. If you don’t care, then it’s a plenty crazy fun game, though I think the joy of the plot twist is knowing some of these characters and what they mean to Batman. The storyline is interesting and I, as a lover of psychological horror, love seeing what drives Batman, even if it is to his detriment. As a lover of Batman, you hate to see him suffer at the hands of Scarecrow, but as a lover of psychology, you also gotta love seeing what makes him tick and well as the horrors he faces from his own mind. The ending of the game is what becomes frustrating to plenty of gamers and I have to also agree that I did not enjoy it, however I suppose that is up to the player to decide whether it was a true ending to the series or not.
#4 Silent Hill 2 (Remake)
I absolutely LOVE this game! This is a game where most things come together by the little things you pick up throughout the story. The characterization of James Sunderland and the conflicting feelings that arise by the end of the game makes it just soooo good. The horror aspect of the game beautifully ties into the narrative without it just being an additive. It’s not pure nightmare fuel, which can be great in its own right, but instead the horror elements are what make the story so compelling, showcasing the psyche of not only James, but other appearing characters. While most horror uses similar technique, it is almost literal in the town of Silent Hill where the town is actually a manifestation of one’s deepest traumas/fears/ guilt and twisting reality to present these into the physical.