Special collector edition of major games all very popular this generation, what with the Spartan helmets and Slimer statues and what-not.  It's not surprising that Warner Bros. and Eidos would want to get in on the action with the recently released Batman: Arkham Asylum, but the big batarang model included in the $100 edition isn't all that it's cracked up to be.  Instead of finding a pristine metal model in the box as advertised, the actual batarang is made of scratched, worn plastic.  I know!  It's crazy!  Kombo has the details from across the Internet.

Ars Technica reports that the skull-cracking weapon of the Dark Knight is not in itself all that it's cracked up to be. For you see, despite being two inches bigger than originally advertised, Ars learned that "the batarang was actually made from cheap black plastic that was scratched to hell."

Plastic, I can understand to some degree, but for $40 more than the regular game, you sort of hope for something of significantly higher quality. As for the scratches, it turns out those are deliberate, added to make the device look well-worn and used, as though it had struck many a thug in the head or knocked countless pistols from the hands of armed hoodlums.

Ars notes that this is "something which sounds fine based on the promotional images Eidos used. The photo from Eidos makes the batarang look like it's constructed of metal and is has a relatively smooth texture.  This is clearly far from the truth."

What a disappointment.  I love a good display piece, but something about this particular collector edition had my Spidey-sense tingling (if I may mix my superhero franchise metaphors), so I'm glad I passed on it.  There was a batarang from the collector edition on display back at E3 and it certainly looked metallic to me, but it's also noted that it's not possible to remove the batarang from the display pedestal without breaking it.  I find myself wondering if someone involved with the production of the batarang realized that it wasn't a good idea to sell a sharp metal weapon that's just begging to be thrown, so cold feet and common sense changed the design to plastic and melded the base to the display piece. 

(Image via Ars Technica)