Batman Detective Vision “A Mistake”

Kovacs 27 Comments

Speaking at Develop today, Rocksteady’s David Hego’s lamented the decision to make Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Detective Vision such a compelling feature in the first game.

Revealing that he “wanted to cry a little bit” whenever he heard of people playing the entire game in the X-Ray-esque visual mode, the art director insisted that such a “mistake” will not be repeated in the next game. He revealed:

“It was a gameplay decision to make detective vision so strong…we’re going to try not to do that mistake again. [We’ll] make it more like augmented reality next time.”

Here’s hoping we’re not hearing similar bemoaning this time next year. Let’s face it, The Batman is not known for giving second chances.

Source: TechSpotlight

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27 Comments

  1. I agree, it became to easy to see people through walls and it may have been better if it was limited.

    • I second that. if it was a bit like splinter cell conviction, so you couldn’t with spec. vision on, it would have been perfect.

    • 3rd that… it was too tempting… i hated using it, it was asif it was a cheat!!

      • I agree with that, kept having to remind myself to switch it off as the combat sections looked much better in normal vision.

        BAA is a cracking new IP and I’m really looking forward to the 2nd installment, thought the first was loads of fun and very atmospheric. Nice to see a developer looking at how they can really improve an already great game rather than just re-hasing the same ideas.

  2. there was normal sight in the game?

    • LOL

    • 2nd that LOL

    • I’ll raise your lol’s with rofl !!!! ;)

      • What’s a “rofl”?

      • Roll on floor laughing…

        It ranks above LOL but below ROFLMAO ;)

      • Whatever happened to the Beano & Dandy laughter…. Chortle and Titter anyone ;)

  3. The game was so shit and so utterly brillant in equal proportions. So repetitive with knocking dudes out with stealth and the detective vision but the story and the sub missions (riddler challenges and item collecting) make it great. A shame the main part of any game, the gameplay, was lacking depth.

    • I felt that the combat, though simple, had plenty of depth to it. Particularly as you strive to get the perfect batman-esque combo against large numbers of enemies. And thought of the stalking of ones prey to be more of a puzzle than a chore.

      Either way, I have no doubt B:AA2 will add some more depth to the combat, and better the AI, leading to better fights and stalking…
      Or at least I hope so…

  4. I hated having to use it. I’m a cinematic kinda guy and i didnt think its looked as goo as it could have done. exited about number 2 and loving how they’re gonna make it even better by listening to the fans!

    • I am also excited about number 2.

    • Totally agree with you. I liked the way the game looked and found the benefits of detective vision to actually detract from the game. I had to use it because it was so heavily woven into the game design and seemed like shooting yourself in the foot not to, but it spoilt the great gothic design of the levels

  5. I liked it, but didnt use it too much

  6. Just hurry up and give us some bloody information on the sequel dammit! It’s top of my worryingly long Most Wanted list.

  7. i didn’t like it, but used it constantly, the only times i really didn’t use it was when i needed to see where i was going or what i was doing

  8. If they put a time limit to use it and have a recharge time for the X-ray vision, then that could’ve worked.

    • Agreed. I think a time limit and recharge time after you’ve used it, is the way to go for the sequel.

    • That would make sense, like the Rage modes in God of War or Dead Eye in RDR. But it sounds like they made a decision to make it a key part of gameplay, a decision they regretted.

      It was useful to see around corners etc and a really cool effect, but I certainly didn’t use it all the time mainly because I preferred the look of the normal gameplay rather than blue skeletons.

      I’m not sure about the Augmented Reality idea though – sounds a bit like they’re nicking Norman Jayden sunglasses! Surely something like that would be even more tempting to leave switched on all the time?

  9. I only used it when I had to, but it did make the bits between the main story elements easier. If there’s an area with a large amount of guards in it, turn it on, stealth kill them all, turn it off, to easy, to repetitive. I would be disheartened if I were the Art Director.

  10. Wasn’t it bat-sight? oh he wasn’t biten by a radioactive bat…

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