Batman Vengeance Platform: PS2 Developer: Ubisoft Publisher: Ubisoft ESRB Rating: Teen Ratings Graphics: 4 Sound: 5 Playability: 3 Gameplay: 3 Overall: 3

Comic book superheroes haven't had an easy time of things in the gaming world. If it weren't for Activision's "Spider-Man," in fact, you might think a good comic-based game was almost impossible.

Unfortunately, most videogames based on popular heroes like Batman and Superman have been, at best, incredibly mediocre (such as UbiSoft's ill-fated "Batman Beyond"). At worst, they've been utterly atrocious ("Superman N64," anyone?). Thankfully, UbiSoft didn't make the same mistake twice, and its latest take on the Batman franchise is one of the best superhero action/adventure titles out there.

Game based on cartoon
While "Batman Vengeance" is far from a flawless masterpiece, it shines in its dedication to the source material -- in this case, the highly acclaimed, retro-style animated series, "The New Batman Adventures." The game matches the wonderful look of the show almost perfectly.

The story that unfolds in "Batman Vengeance" manages to throw major villains like the Joker, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, and all their henchmen (and henchwomen) into an intriguing, if somewhat crowded, plot that could just as well have fueled a feature-length movie.

In "Vengeance," Batman must uncover the secret of the Joker's plan for Gotham City's destruction after the evil jokester takes a swan dive off Gotham Bridge. But when Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy show up for rampages under suspicious circumstances and an attempt is made on Commissioner Gordon's life, Batman finds himself on the run in a battle against the forces of evil -- and the clock -- to stop the madness.

Cool cartoon-style graphics

All this comic book action and mystery is brought to life by an incredible graphics engine. The 3D characters and environments completely match the look of the cartoon series. Special effects and eye candy galore fill each level, from plenty of fantastic explosions, cool lighting, and bat gizmos, to Batman's glossy cape. The huge environments include a chemical factory, Gotham streets, science labs, power plants, the Batcave, and other familiar nighttime vigilante haunts.

Character models, especially the Dark Knight himself, are all excellently rendered and animated. Batman has a wide array of combat maneuvers, and each type of goon he faces can engage him with both weapons and fisticuffs. Thankfully, gun-toting thugs can be stealthily disarmed from a distance with a well-aimed Batarang. You'll also get the chance to take down evildoers with electric Batarangs, flash bombs, nets, a stunner, and remotely detonated charges. Batman even can use his grappling line to reach certain areas in levels.

Gameplay and control
Throughout the game's five chapters, Batman is tasked with a variety of gameplay feats. Although "Vengeance" is primarily played in a standard third-person perspective, you can switch to a first-person viewpoint at almost any time for aiming and exploration. Unfortunately, in this view, you can't activate objects, jump, or use anything except Batman's distance attack weapons. That's too bad, because the first-person mode is far more usable in many of the game's close quarters. This is especially true because you can't control the camera in the third-person perspective, which leads to some very awkward viewing angles that can make it difficult to control Batman accurately.

Well-done voice acting
On the plus side, the audio is terrific. The pre-rendered cinematics utilize a powerful Dolby Digital soundtrack, and the whole game sounds great. There are more than 40 minutes of plot-intensive cinematic sequences, and since UbiSoft used the actual voice actors from the show, it's almost like watching a computer-generated episode. Mark Hamill plays the Joker and Kevin Conroy lends his familiar husky voice to the Caped Crusader. The musical score is excellent as well, changing dramatically with the action and environment.

Mini-games
Beyond that, there are several vehicle-based mini-game sequences in which Batman must either fly the Batjet or drive the Batmobile through the crowded and cluttered streets of Gotham in pursuit of bad guys. Adding to the mix are occasional puzzles that must be solved to progress, and even a nifty free-fall segment here and there wherein the Caped Crusader must plummet through the air to quickly catch a falling victim. The gameplay types fit right into the ever-evolving plot, however, and help move things along nicely.

Batty problems
The problem with all this is that "Batman Vengeance" often takes a few too many liberties with its gameplay. Aside from an inability to fully control Batman in the first-person mode, many of the things he can do -- such as sneak along walls and use the Bat Grappling Hook -- end up as fairly clichéd means to add puzzle sequences or even just length to the game. You can use the grappling hook only on designated spots in a room, for instance, and they often don't appear until you've taken the long way around an obstacle.

Enemies will keep coming back to attack you unless you use Batcuffs on them, no matter how many times you beat them down. And another sore point is that almost every piece of Batman's arsenal must be found lying around levels in power-up boxes. The game doesn't let you pick his equipment between missions in the Batcave, or even just automatically re-supply him before going out into the night again.

None of these flaws takes away from the fact that "Batman Vengeance" manages to rise far above almost any other comic book-based title out there. It's both a fine video representation of the Dark Knight and a solid third-person action/adventure game in its own right. Fans of the series will appreciate how true the look and feel of the game stays to the show, but anyone who enjoys dark superhero action will find plenty to like here.
Watch "Extended Play" every Friday at 9 p.m. on TechTV.