Batman Begins (Game Boy Advance)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.0 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 07/06/2005
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 06/14/2005
• Originally published on GameSpot: Batman Begins (Game Boy Advance) Review

The best thing that can be said about the Game Boy Advance version of Batman Begins is that it does a good job of following the movie's script. Beyond that, this brief two-hour romp is just another in a long line of mediocre action games churned out to cash in on a big-budget motion picture.

Each of the game's dozen levels is based on a scene from the movie. Ra's Al Ghul's training grounds, the docks, Gotham's downtown, and Arkham Asylum are just a few of the many locations you'll recognize if you've already taken in the film. And characters like Flass, Carmine Falcone, the Scarecrow, and Ra's Al Ghul are put to good use as the game's primary villains. Select dialogue from the film is used during scripted events and cutscenes. The background music is also quite reminiscent of the orchestral music that was used in the film.

Batman has a good assortment of attacks, gadgets, and superhero skills. You can take out enemies with punches, kicks, jump kicks, and any combination thereof, or you can distract them with flashbangs, smoke grenades, and batarangs. His grappling hook lets you escape to the ceiling, which comes in handy for fleeing a pack of thugs or just latching onto a useful pipe. By double-tapping the jump button, you can perform a double jump or propel Batman upward between parallel walls. Keeping the jump button pressed, meanwhile, lets you glide through the air, grab onto ledges, and dangle from pipes. The game even has a Splinter Cell vibe going on, since you can sneak past enemies or hide from them by taking advantage of strategically placed pipes and alcoves.

Despite all that Batman can do, the game rarely gives the player much incentive or opportunity to put his wealth of abilities to use. Sneaking doesn't offer much benefit, except in situations where multiple enemies are gathered. Most enemies just run up to you and stand there while you punch them, and the ones that do block your attacks can easily be taken out with continuous foot sweeps. You'll have to keep an eye out for the thugs that are armed with guns, knives, or baseball bats, because they can take away half of Batman's health in one hit. However, their attacks are so slow and infrequent that continuous foot sweeps work just fine on them too. The level designs are also short and straightforward. There are spots where you'll need to nail a dash jump or a double jump, or activate a switch with a batarang, but most often you're just walking to the left or right and climbing up boxes.

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