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Really great or really boring depending on who you ask. The various Batman cartoons, TV shows and movies were really about Batman kicking someone’s respective butt. All the other stuff was filler content, was it not? After making a decent adventure game (based on Batman Beyond), Ubisoft decided to make a beat-em-up. While the game does have nice production values, it may prove to be a bit repetitive for some.
The goal of the game is to stop the titular Sin Tzu from taking over Gotham City. Sin Tzu was created specifically for the game and will use his Art of War to accomplish his goals. It’ll be a while before you actually meet him since for the majority of the game you’ll fight no name thugs. There are some things to do along the way like rescuing people but for the most part, you’ll be beating on some thugs. As you progress to Sin Tzu, you’ll see some familiar Batman faces like Clayface and Bane.
The game’s fighting engine is very solid, which works wonders for the game since you spend so much time fighting. There are a few targeting issues found, but for the most part, you’ll be enjoying the fighting. You start off with a limited number of moves at first but you’ll earn more as you progress. There is a pretty diverse lineup of moves which is always welcome. Adding some depth to fighting is a combo system which rewards you by letting you unleash more wicked attacks.
If you’re sick of Batman, you can play as Robin, Nightwing or Batgirl. There are minor differences between the characters but it’s nice to have variety. IF you wish, you can have someone play along with you.
Rise of Sin Tzu looks very similar to the traditional Batman comics. The art style is similar, so you’ll instantly recognize that this is a Batman game. The main characters are recognizable. The other baddies in the game are remarkably similar though, with minor changes to their outfit or skin colors. Animation is fluid, which is a plus. What is shown of Gotham City looks pretty good with excellent use of lighting, shadows and fog. The Gamecube version is a shade better than the PS2 one but not by much.
The sound effects of the game fit Rise of the Sin Tzu’s atmosphere. They are rather loud and complement the comic book setting. The voice acting is provided by the show’s cast and sounds great. The actual dialog isn’t all that good but does its job. The background music is a mix of rock and dance music which doesn’t fit the game all too well.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu is a pretty good beat-em-up. The fighting engine is solid; there is a decent amount of moves, various playable characters, good visuals and solid audio. That said, the gameplay can get repetitive as you progress and the game isn’t all that long. The game is good but you may be better off with a rental. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Dec 16, 2003
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