Batman - Rise of Sin Tzu

by UtahSaint
10/30/2003

There are more cartoon super-heroes now than you I can shake a stick at. Batman is one of the originals, and along with the new Robin, Batgirl and Nightwing, Xfans can make the streets a safer place...

Batman - Rise of Sin Tzu introduces a new bad-guy to the Gotham City story, namely Sin Tzu, the most brilliant and methodical of all Batman's foes. Other bad dudes include the Scarecrow, Band and Clayface - all mixing it up on Xbox.

Here's the full low-down on Sin Tzu
Sin Tzu is the most brilliant and methodical of all of Batman’s foes. He is not criminally insane – at least not in the classical sense, for he does not lust for money, revenge, or hatch twisted plots for the master detective to unravel. Rather, he is an arrogant conqueror who prides himself in conquering worthy opponents who have never been beaten before.

A discarded child, Sin Tzu was adopted by a modern thuggee cult, which plied its trade of religious mayhem and robbery throughout Southeast Asia. Once, when pursued by police, the cult hid out in the caves of Chulin, where Sin Tzu discovered an enormous necropolis that not only contained thousands of statue warriors, but the mystical/military texts of ancient warlords. Studying this wisdom, he learned not only the military arts, but the lost knowledge of Mehta-Sua: the channelling of mental energy into physical energy and vice versa in order to exert a nearly hypnotic mind control that can turn weak-minded rabble into an effective fighting force.

His solitary studies complete, Sin Tzu set about building an insurgent army of fanatics who carried out his lust for conquest. Often acting behind puppet politicians, Sin Tzu conquered large swaths of Cynna, Vet Nak and carried out the brutal invasion of Unglong. Sin Tzu is a strategist and warrior, not a despot. When he accomplishes his objectives in warfare he vanishes from the scene and gives no heed to the chaos that follows.

During months of solitary meditation, he plots his next move. Then, he appears in an unexpected place, with a new army, to wage war upon the innocent.

Always on the lookout for a worthy adversary, Sin Tzu heard legends of the Dark Knight of Gotham City and set out to defeat him on his own turf and terms. Realizing that he could raise an army of Batman’s enemies, Sin Tzu arranged to have himself captured by covert international operatives and taken to Arkham Asylum for clinical analysis. Once at Arkham, he not only enlisted members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery – after all, in asking them to fight Batman, he was only asking them to do what they wanted to do anyway – but began hatching a grand strategy for the conquest of Gotham City, including the use of an army of common criminals from Stonegate Prison.

As well as a being a grand strategist, Sin Tzu is a master martial artist. Keeping his body perfectly fit with a rigorous exercise regimen and an ascetic lifestyle that forsakes him all pleasures of the flesh through an ancient form of self-torture, he is more than a match for the Caped Crusader in one-on-one combat. Let the battle for Gotham City begin…

The Game
If your ready for a serious button-mashing session, with semi-mindless comic violence, a penchant for dream type fight sequences and like the look of men in tights, Batman - Rise of Sin Tzu is right up your dark, moody alley. Ubisoft have put together a tasty little street fighting title with plenty of combo moves, special weapons, power-ups, multiplay action and plenty of unlockable items.

Each of the four superhero characters - Batman (Plenty of Power), Nightwing (Almost as much power), Robin (lots of speed) and Batgirl (lots of T&A) have 9 Punch Combos, 9 Kick Combos, 4 Grab n Holds, 2 Jump Combos and 7 Power Combo moves - not a bad start.

Gameplay 8
Monster button-bashing action. Basic plot allows players to beat the hell out of the bad dudes and rescue the poor, poor civilians. Limited flexibility means players must follow the game through predesignated areas and maps.

Sound 7
Moody sound and average fight effects. The ad-lib from the characters will bring a wry smile to your face.

Graphics 6
Nothing we haven't seen before, however the moody shadows and maps keep you in the Batman mood.

Overall 7
Batman Sin Tzu is a good clean beat-em up. You'll have more fun in the dual player mode - Batman and Nightwing together make for a solid partnership and will allow you to get pretty far into the game, without learning all the combo's.