Batman: Vengeance

Based on the animated television show, Batman Vengeance from Ubi Soft is an artistically produced action/adventure game, starring the world-famous caped crusader.After playing the less-than-stellar Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker for Nintendo 64, we were a bit apprehensive about the Dark Knight's debut on Nintendo GameCube. Would Batman Vengeance use its excellent license to create an engrossing gameplay experience, or would it use its license as an excuse to make a sub-par game? After only five minutes in front of the television, we're pleased and relieved to report that Batman Vengeance is surprisingly good and true to its animated roots. Impressing us early was the fact that the game credits actually roll by as you're playing through the first level of the game. Such an interactive introduction is an excellent way to capture the spirit of the animated series. Thanks to the increased memory available in the Nintendo GameCube Game Disc, Ubi Soft has crammed this game with beautifully rendered cut-scenes. The cinematic sequences are like watching a 3D-version of the cartoon. The cartoons are intermixed with the gameplay, which serves to advance the game's storyline and makes you feel like you're fighting crime alongside Batman in the television show. The story at first seems simple. The Joker has kidnapped a young boy, so Batman decides to lend a helping hand. As you might expect, the plot thickens from there and players eventually uncover a sprawling conspiracy and encounter classic characters like Harley, Mr. Freeze and more. Batgirl lends a helping hand from the Batcave via a communications device. The gameplay takes place in brief spurts interrupted by frequent cinema scenes. Batman can run, jump, punch, kick and use his cape (which looks great) to glide through the air. His utility belt is chock full of the items you'd expect: Batarangs, Batgrapples, Flash Bombs, Remote Charges, Batcuffs, Nets, the Batlauncher, Batscope, and more. On-screen cues let you know when it's time to use certain items. When you can use the Batgrapple, for example, a flashing icon appears near Batman's energy bar. Press the R Button to enter a first-person view, then move the C-Stick to direct the Batgrapple. The Control Stick moves Batman even while using the first-person view, which produces a user-friendly and innovative play control design. Hand-to-hand combat is uncomplicated, but thankfully Ubi Soft chose to mix up the gameplay with much more than button-mashing battles. Cool challenges include chasing The Joker from rooftop to rooftop, defusing bombs using a challenging puzzle game interface, free-falling through obstacle-laden skies and more. If you're a Batman fan, you'll appreciate this game simply based on the excellent story and presentation.