Batman: Arkham Asylum (Review)

Summary: Batman: Arkham Asylum is a mature take on the dark knight. The game's dark visuals are impressive, and its large indoor and outdoor areas provide plenty of opportunity to discreetly take out foes and use Batman's classic crime-busting tools. A very intuitive combat engine drives the game's smooth face-crushing bouts against Batman's most fierce foes.

A good Batman game hasn't been released since the SNES era Batman Returns Konami offering. If I were to sketch out a new Batman adventure, I'd approach a game studio with a proven track record. Luckily for all of us – Batman fanatics – someone did that. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham Asylum is as gritty and fun as a game can get.

Joker is on the loose, and he's about to turn Arkham Island into his own corrupted wonderland. Before the maniacal slaughter can commence, enter the Batman. From the get go, you'll notice this game has a very dark and mature feel. Arkham Island and its lunatic flooded Asylum look believable enough to be a real place.

The indoor and outdoor environments are large, greatly detailed, and very distinctive. This gives players plenty of ground to skulk and traverse by on foot or grapnel gun. The game has a tendency to lead the player a lot by giving directions to next objectives. I'm not a big fun of being led around, but, If anything, this keeps the pace of this 15+ hour adventure smoothly flowing.

gamerlimit.com

Stealth takes presidency, as the asylum provides plenty of corridors, passages, and crevices for sneaking and taking out foes discreetly. However, Joker's henchmen live to gang together, and are very aware of their surroundings. Disposing those vigilant foes is not always an easy task. Luckily, Batman has an arsenal of useful gadgets: batclaw, line launcher, cryptographic sequencer, explosive gel, and the trusty batarang (which can be remotely controlled).

At anytime you can enter an X-ray-like Detective Mode which will reveal breakable pathways, enemy locations, and hidden clues, which Batman needs to trail. You will spend a lot of time in Detective Mode. Some may like it: others not so much. I found myself turning it off from time to time to enjoy the game's awesome scenery.

The combat is fantastic. Batman can doge, strike, throw, and counter frenzied inmates from any angle – providing you can master the counter timing. More skillful players will want to execute numerous special take-downs after sneaking up on foes. Each successive and masterful take-down will net Batman experience points to level up fighting moves, upgrade armour, and unlock more Bat-gadget features.

gamerate.net

The music is moody and intense, and the sound effects are loud and bone-crushingly realistic. The game provides lots of opportunities for knuckle busting combat with classic Bat-foes, a bit of exploration, and plenty immersion with the Batman lore. After securing Arkham Asylum, you will still come back to unlock more story tidbits, and to seek out cleverly hidden Riddler trophies. Guaranteed.

Batman is a type of character you'd want to have watching your back in a damp creepy back alley. And out of all the costumed heroes, the one most deserving his own dark and twisted PS 3 title.

With gut-wrenching skill and dedicated fanfare the best Batman game has been delivered.

Developer: Rocksteady Studios

Publisher: Eidos Interactive & Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment

Released: August 25, 2009

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 , PC