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Simon Miller, Editor-In-Chief – Batman: Arkham Asylum, Xbox 360
Why have I gone back to Arkham Asylum when there’s so much good in the gaming world to enjoy? Because I’m preparing myself for Arkham Origins which comes out in but a few weeks. I still rate the two Batman titles we’ve received this generation as some of the best that are on offer, and while I feel City is the stronger of the two, Asylum remains a wonderful Dark Knight related experience.
It’s far too harsh to say it’s a linear focused game – the ‘nuthouse’ opens up to a fair degree after the first few hours – but it certainly has more claustrophobic moments with its tight corridors and low ceilings. I’d say that’s intentional, though, and only adds and builds to moments such as when The Scarecrow appears (which still hold up as some of the best gaming has to offer).
The combat is certainly not as refined as it became in the sequel, but remains an absolute delight to toy around with. Why more developers haven’t just stolen the idea I’ll never know. The majority of brawling systems are… rubbish.
Steve Burns, Reviews and Features Editor – Battlefield 4 Beta, PC
Like everyone else, I decided this week to have a little go on the Battlefield 4 beta. But not on console. Pshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. On PC: where it’s meant to be.
Of course, it didn’t work, constantly hanging me at the loading screen. So I’ve had to play GTA 5 instead, where I’ve been investing all my cash in the stock market, watching it all slide away, and scuba diving like a psychopathic Jacques Cousteau. Lovely.
Tom Orry, Editorial Director – FIFA 14, PS3
After what seemed like an eternity, I finally ended my goal drought in FIFA 14 this week. Once again playing as Spurs against Arsenal, I managed to lose 1-2, but Soldado did net with a brilliant header following a great cross from Sigurosson on the wing. Then, the following night, I achieved a magnificent 2-0 win over… Crystal Palace.
The fact that I’m so terrible at the latest game from EA Sports wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t currently running a sports website, but seeing as I’m meant to know what I’m talking about, it’s not great. In truth, I simply haven’t had time to play FIFA 14 enough. It feels different enough to 13 that it’s hard to make the switch. Thankfully I’ve avoided VideoGamer league matches, so I’ve still got time to improve and hopefully register a win at some point in the near future.
David Scammell, Deputy News Editor – Battlefield 3, Xbox 360
There isn’t any point in pretending any more: Simon may as well go ahead and rename my part of VG Plays ‘Diaries of an Achievement Hunter’. This week I set myself the task of ranking up to Battlefield 3’s Colonel level, 1) because I thought it would be a nice way to send off BF3 before the arrival of next month’s sequel, and 2) well… because there’s a decent little achievement for doing so.
Colonel is only level 45 – not that grand a task in the scheme of other shooters – but here it seems to take an eternity. I’m close now, just about crossing the midway point of level 44 last night. But when you consider that I’m not even close to the halfway point of BF3’s level cap and that, according to Raptr, DICE’s shooter is my most played game in the last five years, you can’t help but be astounded by the level of commitment of those level 100 players you encounter at almost every turn. It’s just a shame that any sense of admiration soon turns to anger as their high-level aircraft unlocks blast you out the sky…
