Batman: The Rise of Sin Tzu

Well, I found my first gripe with the game. The "Rescue the Hostages" missions are a bit annoying, as you're timed. I think the game would have flowed much better had they just thrown the hostages in there for you to rescue, and maybe give you a bonus for rescuing all of them in one stage, but requiring it, and timing me is just too much. Hell, they could have required it of me, and made it like a hide and seek kind of thing where you can't leave the level until you've found them all and it would have been fine, but timing me is rediculous.

To be fair, they time you from hostage to hostage and give you plenty of time to rescue the next one in line. So instead of saying you have 10:00 minutes to rescue them all, they'll give you 1:45 to rescue the first and then 2:30 for the second and so on. It's much more forgiving than it could have been, but it's still an annoyance.

So, this is a better game than say, Batman Vengence?
Sounds interesting, 'specially at $20.

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Originally Posted by Captain Vegetable

Well, I found my first gripe with the game. The "Rescue the Hostages" missions are a bit annoying, as you're timed. I think the game would have flowed much better had they just thrown the hostages in there for you to rescue, and maybe give you a bonus for rescuing all of them in one stage, but requiring it, and timing me is just too much. Hell, they could have required it of me, and made it like a hide and seek kind of thing where you can't leave the level until you've found them all and it would have been fine, but timing me is rediculous.

To be fair, they time you from hostage to hostage and give you plenty of time to rescue the next one in line. So instead of saying you have 10:00 minutes to rescue them all, they'll give you 1:45 to rescue the first and then 2:30 for the second and so on. It's much more forgiving than it could have been, but it's still an annoyance.

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I've actually gotten to each hostage with lots of time to spare, so I've found it's not a huge problem.

I'm going to second everything CV has said, and say that for a beat em up, this game is REALLY nice. For fans of the Batman Animated Series, it's even nicer. Lots of enemies to fight at once in some places, and lots of stuff to throw and background objects to destroy. They really captured the chararistics of the villains nicely.

As a game, the control is real good. Took me about 10 minutes to get used to it, and now i'm in the groove. Having to unlock moves is cool, and it gives me something to look forward to and to try and get the highest possible score. You're graded on everything, from style to combo chains, so everything counts. Music is just there, it's not annoying and it adds a nice flavor. I've got it on Xbox, and the load times are minimal. It also has some nice bonuses upon completion, ones that will definately make me want to replay it again and again.

Graphics look straight out of the cartoon, very impressed by it, and I haven't encountered slowdown yet, with me and about 6-7 other enemies on the screen.

Haven't tried challenge mode yet, but it's just survival, which is always welcome. EDIT: Tried the challenge mode, it's a nice diversion, comes with all the moves unlocked plus a set number of gadgets to use. Good way to kill some time.

Lots of voiceover work from the original VA's, which is a nice touch, and I haven't heard any repeats yet. So far, I'd say this game is at least an 8, if you go into expecting a beat em up, nothing more, nothing less. I'm reminded of that Adventures of Batman and Robin game for the Genesis, just in 3d.

Bottom line, special edition with figure for 19.99, great deal. If you're the type of person who still plays the old school beatem up's, definately get this game. It's got minor flaws, but nothing earth shattering, just don't expect it anything new from the genre. Definately a solid purchase, and I thank CV for his review that made me interrested.

Ok now, here's my post with the flaws, after playing some more.

In the Trophy Room, I'll never unlock the toys OR the concept art (this is the one i'm angry about) as 90% of them need Copper Coins, which can only be bought during 2 player mode. I'll never have anyone who wants to go through this with me, and it's quite a bummer, because i'm always a fan of concept art in these games. I would have loved to see Sin Tzu in the early stages.

If the emphasis was THAT MUCH on 2 players to keep me from unlockables, they should have given me an option to play with the computer, then. And even if I had a friend who was interrested in this, I don't know if I could keep his attention long enough to get the 30 or so tokens it requires. Dissapointing.

Another thing, Batman looks a little too... short in the cutscenes.

The boss fights, at least the one I've had so far, are extremely easy once you figure out the "gimmick".

Sometimes the camera can be harmful, and there's no way to rotate it.

Some of these moves require a ton of points... maybe I'm just doing a bad job, but level 3 moves have opened up, and I've just now got done unlocking half the level 2 ones. Hopefully moves carry over unto a different playthrough.

The other extras are pretty cool... it's not a spoiler because they are in the options, just greyed out. They show how Sin Tzu was made, as well as his origin, narrated by Sin Tzu himself. Like I said, if that interests you (as it will for most Bat fans), it'll be worth the reply. There's also alternate costumes once you beat it, which has bats in the blue / grey, robin in the short shorts look, nightwing in his old Teen Titans look, and batgirl in the blue and yello . Awesome.

But i'm still having a blast with it, and I don't regret this purchase at all. It's a fun beat em up, and definately worth the bargain price. It almost feels like a lost episode straight out of the cartoon.

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Originally Posted by ChaoofNee

So, this is a better game than say, Batman Vengence?
Sounds interesting, 'specially at $20.

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I loved Batman: Vengence. The only problem I had with it was the first-person batarang aiming. It was clunky and awkward.

That said, Rise of Sin Tzu eats Vengence for breakfast.

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Originally Posted by Roufuss

Ok now, here's my post with the flaws, after playing some more.

In the Trophy Room, I'll never unlock the toys OR the concept art (this is the one i'm angry about) as 90% of them need Copper Coins, which can only be bought during 2 player mode. I'll never have anyone who wants to go through this with me, and it's quite a bummer, because i'm always a fan of concept art in these games. I would have loved to see Sin Tzu in the early stages.

If the emphasis was THAT MUCH on 2 players to keep me from unlockables, they should have given me an option to play with the computer, then. And even if I had a friend who was interrested in this, I don't know if I could keep his attention long enough to get the 30 or so tokens it requires. Dissapointing.

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I believe there's a code to unlock everything, including the Copper unlockables. Play through the game until you have everything else unlocked, and then toss in the code for the concept art and whatever else needs Copper coins. ;)

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Some of these moves require a ton of points... maybe I'm just doing a bad job, but level 3 moves have opened up, and I've just now got done unlocking half the level 2 ones. Hopefully moves carry over unto a different playthrough.

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Moves do, in fact, carry over to your other play throughs.

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There's also alternate costumes once you beat it, which has bats in the blue / grey, robin in the short shorts look, nightwing in his old Teen Titans look, and batgirl in the blue and yello . Awesome.

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Dude, that is awesome.

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But i'm still having a blast with it, and I don't regret this purchase at all. It's a fun beat em up, and definately worth the bargain price. It almost feels like a lost episode straight out of the cartoon.

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I'm glad you like it. :D

I just wanted to thank everybody that recommended this game. I picked up the special edition for $19.99, and I love it. If you like beat em ups, this game is definately worth the price.

I'm definitely going to pick up the SE tonight... thanks, Cap'n.

No problem, Mzo. :D

Unhappyness: The game froze on me last night. Damnit, I hate that crap.