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Metacritic: Batman Is Highest Rated Game Of 2011

Well, at least so far.

If you check Metacritic, the recently released Batman: Arkham City is tearing down huge review scores. We're not disagreeing, or anything.

But it's interesting to note that it's the highest-rated title of 2011 on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 charts; the PS3 version of Rocksteady's latest holds a 97 rating while the 360 version is at 95. This also means it's one of the best received games of the entire generation. On Sony's side, Batman currently even outstrips the award-winning Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which is at 96. On both platforms, Grand Theft Auto IV is the top scoring game of the generation, with a 98 average metascore.

Only Portal 2, which also has a 95 metascore for the 360 version, can compete with the greatness of Arkham City this year. Of course, more heavy hitters are on the way, as Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Battlefield 3, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have a shot at becoming top dog. Still, Rocksteady's accomplishment is duly noted.

Related Game(s): Batman: Arkham City

Tags: batman arkham city, batman review scores, metacritic

10/19/2011 10:52:26 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (35 posts)

Ole_Gunner
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:10:20 AM
Reply

Holy high scores Batman!

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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:11:56 AM
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I don't know whether Batman is good.

I just wanted to say that Metacritic is definitely not the place to go to search quality, and i hate it's looked at so religiously like that.

Some great games (films, music) get ignored because people tend to sheep to that place.

Example, it'll be almost unanimously agreed that GTA4, as good as it is, doesn't deserve that spot above so many hard hitters across time.

Agree with this comment 9 up, 5 down Disagree with this comment

AshT
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:30:40 AM

I agree and disagree at the same time, while GTA4 didn't deserve top spot but at the same time games like Uncharted 2 does deserve that spot.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:54:58 AM

Basically, all this says is that critics are stupid and "the people" are brilliant.

...I've always appreciated that. 'rolling eyes'

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Beamboom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:00:46 PM

You can't be that categoric. I'd say *every* game that's got a metarating of 80+ has indisputable, obvious qualities and every 90+ release is amongst the generations best. That's simply how it is.

One can argue if gta4 deserved a 98 or a 95 but that's details imo. One have to take release date into consideration when reading meta scores too.

On the other hand, are there releases that goes "under the radar"? A few yes, especially niche titles for those who has a particular interest in that niche, but a good metarating score *is* the most overall precise measure of quality we got today.

Last edited by Beamboom on 10/19/2011 12:03:06 PM

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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:26:30 PM

Ben, you're "the people". Until you're at something like IGN, you're "the people". And that's a good thing. Lastly, you're defensive as usual when i had not indicated at any such assumptions.

AshT. That's exactly my point...it's always 50/50, i merely insinuated that some games get missed due to the religious embrace Metacritic gets. So in the end, you can't rely on it for quality as i said.

Another case in point, WKC2...but the list is huge and i'm sure my small point that shouldn't of evoked such defensive behaviour is understood ala AshT by most.


Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 10/19/2011 12:31:43 PM

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Highlander
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:29:57 PM

I tend to agree with Lotus Flower's sentiment. It's not so much that people are smart and critics are dumb, it's more that some critics are dumb some of the time, and too many people are dumb all the time. So the sheeple pay attention to numbers not words, and often when you read a review you find that the game under review is a great game, but not the reviewer's favorite, or not a game for everyone because of it's niche appeal. After all, not all reviewers are capable of reviewing a niche title and scoring it accordingly. However, scores are scores and that's what people pay attention to. So metacritic's aggregate score (which uses a statistical methodology I would certainly argue with - but that's another story) is used as a guide by very many gamers who do not invest the time to read trusted reviews.

Of course games that score highly in the Metascore are probably receiving near universal acclaim, and are probably not niche titles. For those kinds of game, Metacritic works well enough. for some games though, the metascore is a liability that punishes some niche titles.

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Deleted User
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:56:58 PM

@TheHighlander

Well said, sir.

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Beamboom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 2:47:10 PM

Lotus, in all friendliness, but could you give me a peak into that huge list of yours?
Gamerankings holds approx 200 titles released for the ps3 in 2011, with Batman on top and Thor at the bottom. That's pretty much the head and tail of the PSXE ratings too. In fact, Ben is usually within a very, very few percent off the metascore of any given title. You simply can't say Ben is the good guy and metascore the bad, cause they nearly always sing the same tune!

How large is your list of metarating failures for 2011?

Last edited by Beamboom on 10/19/2011 2:54:57 PM

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Shams
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 5:26:39 PM

Shadow of the Colossus, with a very respectable metacritic score of 91, isn't even in the top 100 games ranked by metacritic score of all time, being outstripped by games like GTAs, CODs, and even Maddens, Tony Hawks, and Rockbands.

What does that mean to me? Metacritic is a useful barometer, but far from an absolute measure. It is an arbitrarily weighted average of a select number of review scores, some more professional than others. A game with the highest metacritic scores WILL have quality to be found therein. However, if a game that does not have as favorable a score DOES NOT mean it has less quality to be found therein.

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Beamboom
Thursday, October 20, 2011 @ 1:31:13 AM

Shams,
I think any fan of any title should be happy with a 90+ rating. If a title is a 91 or a 92 or a 94, really, should be of lesser importance. It is a very high score.

Also, producing a list of metarating of ALL time, across all platforms, genre and generations, makes little sense for anything but pure entertainment. :)
Single out at least a generation or platform, or genre for it to be of more use as comparison. Especially genre.
... But of course, far from an ABSOLUTE measure. You need to read the reviews, all of them, then. Plus probably play the game too. :D

Last edited by Beamboom on 10/20/2011 1:47:54 AM

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AshT
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:28:03 AM
Reply

It will be highest rated game of 2011 until Nov. 1, when Uncharted 3 arrives.

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Bjorn77
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:35:15 AM

The matter of the fact is that Uncharted also got a lot of haters. Some reviewers will downgrade it, the same they did with GT5. Mark my words, there will be reviewers who will be "totally disappointed" and claim that "the gameplay is sub-par" and will grant it a 8.

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matt99
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:44:19 AM

I have high hopes for uncharted 3 as well, I mean they could literally just make it an extension of UC2 and it would be better than 90% of what's been released in the past 2 years.

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Beamboom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:12:42 PM

@Bjorn77: lol - you are aware that according to Gamerankings Uncharted 2 received almost THIRTY 100% ratings of a total of 78 reviews, with *one* single small weird source rating it an 8? Feel the haaaate...!
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/19/2011 12:13:29 PM

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matt99
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 11:41:50 AM
Reply

In only a few short hours it shall be mine!

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flamefury42
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:15:46 PM
Reply

If gamers really want to save money and skip out on games. I would leave Battlefield 3 and MW3, sure they are pretty hyped but then you would miss out on Uncharted 3 if you didn't have enough money. Certainly buy whatever your interested in, but I would suggest getting Batman Arkham City, Uncharted 3, and Elder Scrolls Skyrim. All 3 games are worth buying. That's how I'm gonna work around because I know B3 and MW3 I can be patient on.

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Highlander
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:24:01 PM
Reply

Well, metacritic aside, Batman may rank as a good game for most, but I can tell - just from the screenshot - that it's not my kind of game. I don't know perhaps I just prefer games populated by characters that are entirely more female and cute instead of male, shirtless and horribly be-muscled? ;)

No, seriously, I can tell it has that darker, grittier feel to it. It's just not my cup of tea. Although, if the game focused more on Catwoman, and perhaps featured more female characters with cleavage than shirtless muscle men, then I might be more interested...

Oh, did I just write all that in a comment? oopsie...

:D

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Lotusflow3r
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:34:09 PM

You could of just pointed at your avatar and we'd understand why it's not your cup of tea and that you prefer female characters with lotsa cleavage shots! lol
Last edited by Lotusflow3r on 10/19/2011 12:36:06 PM

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Ludicrous_Liam
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:34:17 PM

Not hating on your opinion, and maybe your joking but..thats pretty narrow minded isnt it?

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Highlander
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 1:06:11 PM

Oh good grief. Narrow minded? Next time I won't frickin' bother with the emoticons since people don't pay attention to them.

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Eros Twixfreak
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 2:14:15 PM

Naaah don't do that Highlander :-)Chill! Chill!..Some, like yours trully here, do pay attention.

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DemonNeno
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 2:31:27 PM

You don't like Dark games?! *puts away pentagram rug and candles* So much for inviting you for a spiritual event! :P

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Beamboom
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 3:53:10 PM

Indeed: Replace Batman with Catwoman and this would have been a d1p for me. And as opposed to High I am *not* kidding.

Cleavage ftw.

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Highlander
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 4:04:26 PM

Oh, I'm not kidding about my preference for the cleavage. Cleavage FTW indeed!

I'd have thought most people would immediately understand this male gamers' preference for pretty female characters rather than bulky, macho muscle men. I guess not everyone sees that.

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Ludicrous_Liam
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 4:24:37 PM

No need to overreact like that? I did say 'maybe your joking'...ummn yeah the internet is in serious need of a sarcasm font I guess!

Personally, I prefer Nathan Drake's dress sense; 3/4-semi-tucked t-shirts ftw!

EDIT: Since were all using our avatar's to illustrate our points, I suggest you look at Eros Twixfreak's avatar. :P
Last edited by Ludicrous_Liam on 10/19/2011 4:27:10 PM

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Deleted User
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 12:54:18 PM
Reply

The only thing that bothers me is that the last time I checked the reviews for Arkham City, there were 11 PS3 reviews and 23 360 reviews. I find it appalling that an allegedly "unbiased" site like Giant Bomb seemingly reviews only the Xbox 360 versions of multi-platform games at times. They aren't the only ones but I see them as the biggest players among these review sites. Of course, good luck trying to talk to Jeff Gerstmann and Ryan Davis about it. When they aren't working on the site, they are at the buffet table eating slabs of meat.

Was I mean to say that? Yes. I was.

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oONewcloudOo
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 1:13:02 PM
Reply

Well to be fare 360 was review by 36 people while ps3 reviewed by 16 people and is now at 96

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bigrailer19
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 1:35:07 PM
Reply

I thinks it's great a lot of people are enjoying this game. Looks like its very deserving of at least a GOTY nod. I probably won't be getting it though. I keep saying I'm going to play B:AA and never have to this date. That will definitely be played before AC, so I'm just guessing I'll never play it. I'm not really a big batman fan, I don't care much for the characters so I don't know if I'll get into it. But maybe one day!

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Nas Is Like
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 1:39:38 PM
Reply

Might have to get this sometime in the future then.

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maxpontiac
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 2:15:23 PM
Reply

Any consumer out there should do their homework prior to any purchase.

Now while PSXE is my most trusted source out there, I also tend to listen to people like friends or individuals who enjoy the same type of genre I do.

I will not even bother to read a review of (for example) Ace Combat from someone who doesn't love the series. Reviewers have a tendancy to want their opinions to be taken as 100% fact. That should never be the case.

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Ludicrous_Liam
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 4:30:17 PM
Reply

It's still early days in terms of review scores - give it a few more days and that overall score will rapidly drop. Atleast thats what usually happens..

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Snaaaake
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 5:31:01 PM
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It will drop given a few more days time.

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sha4dowknight05
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 @ 5:36:06 PM
Reply

This game looks very good I MUST GET SOMETIME!!

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Gordo
Thursday, October 20, 2011 @ 3:00:47 AM
Reply

I think with ratings and metacritic and the like people sometimes miss the point.

I feel that you can't compare apples and oranges and need to bring "genre" into focus more.

To have people arguing over a 95% review score for Madden, Skyrim, Uncharted 2 and Modern Warfare 2 is pointless obviously...

Games need to be reviewed within their Genre. Is MW3 the best of class? Is NHL 2012 a 90+ rating game in regards to other sports game?

I'm always puzzled when you see heated discussions over "what scored best" like Dark Souls versus Batman or Dead Island versus Resistance 3.

Battlefield 3 versus MW3 by all means compare but to compare them with Uncharted 3 is a bit esoteric.

To then go wild over the difference between a 93 and a 95. Splitting hairs!

(Obviously not too prevalent on this site but N4G is a cracker)

I always take the genre into consideration (I'm sure most do). Batman may be getting 95+ review scores but I don't like comics that much so may not be my cup of tea. I like medieval fantasy so Dark Souls is more like it so it's 90 review is more than reasonable.

Just my tuppence worth by the way!

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