Super hero video games generally don't have the best reputation because 90% of the time they're pretty terrible. For every Spider-Man 2, there's a Spider-Man 3, Iron Man, or Superman being churned out to tarnish the genre.
Then we have Batman: Arkham Asylum, a game developed by Rocksteady Studios that's so awesome it not only redefines what a good comic book video game is, but pretty much puts to shame most other game that have come out so far this year.
The story is simple enough. You play as Batman and you find yourself trapped in Arkham Asylum after the Joker frees all the prisoners and kidnaps the warden. Comissioner Gordon is being held hostage somewhere in the prison, and his daughter, Oracle, is the only person who can assist you by radio. The plot never really evolves beyond Batman freeing captives, ripping the Joker a new one and saving the day, but it's still a compelling enough of a story thanks in no small part to the game's excellent writing and its fantastic voice acting.
Arkham is teeming with bad guys, most of whom Batman was responsible for locking up in the first place. Naturally, they're not pleased to see him. Batman, though, is well prepared for the task of taking on hordes of bad guys simultaneously. Though he doesn't have any super powers like flight or supernatural strength , he does have some pretty sweet martial arts skills that the game's innovative combat system highlights wonderfully. With it, you can easily switch to one bad guy, beat his face in, and then twirl around and introduce your boot to some thug's groin.
The combat is fast, fluid, brutal and it controls smoothly. You can easily take on groups of five or six unarmed enemies at a time, and it's just as much fun to watch Batman beat up Arkham's inmates as it is to actually control the action. Batman is one hardcore, no nonsense dude when it comes to putting criminals in their place, and Arkham Asylum's stylish and efficient combat system lets you truly experience first hand how ruthless he really is.
However, no Batman game would be complete without some of his trademark tools. Not only does Batman have nifty X-ray goggles that help him identify threats and important objects in the game, but he also has a sweet batarang which he can use to attack enemies from afar. In addition to that, you also have some other neat gadgets that serves various uses. For instance, the explosive gel can be used to either open new pathways around Arkham or set up traps for patrolling enemies. Simply apply the gel, wait for a group of thugs to approach and then stand back and watch the fireworks.
No matter how strong or fast Batman is, though, he can't take more than a few bullets without dying. Which is unfortunate, since Joker's minions are insane and have confiscated the guard's machine guns.
Batman, however, is just as well versed as being sneaky as he is knocking heads together. You can rappel up onto rafters and gargoyle statues, and from there you can observe enemy patrols and strategically take out bad guys one at a time at your leisure. As you pick off your foes from the shadows, you can watch as they start to flip out and lose their cool. They panic, start running around, shouting and screaming until you drop from the sky and knock them out with a well placed kick to the skull.
There's also some of the more prominent denizens of Arkham Asylum to contend with. You'll square off with iconic Batman villains like Killer Croc and Poison Ivy, and each boss fight is unique, intense and memorable. Strangely enough, the last boss fight is pretty lackluster and lame in comparison to the game's myriad of other thrilling moments.
You can beat the story mode in around 15 hours, but there's still more than enough bonus content to keep you busy. There's tons of hidden goodies to find by exploring levels in the story mode and solving riddles scattered throughout, and there's also a nice selection of extra challenge levels to test your skill in both combat and stealth. Also, keep an eye out for future downloadable content which should be available soon.
While the gameplay is incredibly fun, where Arkham Asylum really shines is it's atmosphere.
Arkham Asylum is one dark gritty place, and the game manages to capture the kind of Batman gamers haven't seen in a very long time. The game is drenched in gloom and bathed in shadows, rife with morbid humor and disturbing imagery. This isn't your Saturday morning cartoon "Batman." There's no laser cannons that knock people out or gas that conveniently renders people unconscious. People are murdered, profanity is routinely used, and the character designs are shocking enough to raise more than a few eyebrows. This is Batman from the comic books in all its dark, eerie and sinister glory, and gamers and comic book fans will love it.
The game's impressive graphics engine also plays a large role in bringing the characters and setting of Arkham Asylum to life. Character models are incredibly detailed, and the level designs are nothing short of stunning. Another element about Arkham Asylum that shouldn't be overlooked is its superb voice acting. Batman and Joker's entourage of bad guys are all well acted, but it's Mark Hamill's turn as the Joker that truly stands out. Not content to be out done by Heath Ledger, Mark Hamill gives an award winning performance of his own by perfectly portraying the Joker's insane, masochistic personality.
Final Verdict
It may sound like Batman: Arkham Asylum is a perfect game, and to be honest, it almost is. The ending is pretty disappointing in comparison to the exciting roller coaster of a ride you'll have experienced to get there, but ultimately, even that can't detract from an otherwise amazing gaming experience. Everything about the combat, stealth, puzzles,voice acting and graphics will make you feel like your immersed in a "Batman" comic or one of the better, non-terrible Batman movies. You genuinely feel like you're controlling one of Batman's adventures, and that's no small feat.
It's enough to make you put down your controller, put on a ski mask, look in the mirror and, with your most fiercest, menacing scowl, growl, "I'm Batman!"
What more could you possibly ask for?
Final Score: A
Then we have Batman: Arkham Asylum, a game developed by Rocksteady Studios that's so awesome it not only redefines what a good comic book video game is, but pretty much puts to shame most other game that have come out so far this year.
The story is simple enough. You play as Batman and you find yourself trapped in Arkham Asylum after the Joker frees all the prisoners and kidnaps the warden. Comissioner Gordon is being held hostage somewhere in the prison, and his daughter, Oracle, is the only person who can assist you by radio. The plot never really evolves beyond Batman freeing captives, ripping the Joker a new one and saving the day, but it's still a compelling enough of a story thanks in no small part to the game's excellent writing and its fantastic voice acting.
Arkham is teeming with bad guys, most of whom Batman was responsible for locking up in the first place. Naturally, they're not pleased to see him. Batman, though, is well prepared for the task of taking on hordes of bad guys simultaneously. Though he doesn't have any super powers like flight or supernatural strength , he does have some pretty sweet martial arts skills that the game's innovative combat system highlights wonderfully. With it, you can easily switch to one bad guy, beat his face in, and then twirl around and introduce your boot to some thug's groin.
The combat is fast, fluid, brutal and it controls smoothly. You can easily take on groups of five or six unarmed enemies at a time, and it's just as much fun to watch Batman beat up Arkham's inmates as it is to actually control the action. Batman is one hardcore, no nonsense dude when it comes to putting criminals in their place, and Arkham Asylum's stylish and efficient combat system lets you truly experience first hand how ruthless he really is.
However, no Batman game would be complete without some of his trademark tools. Not only does Batman have nifty X-ray goggles that help him identify threats and important objects in the game, but he also has a sweet batarang which he can use to attack enemies from afar. In addition to that, you also have some other neat gadgets that serves various uses. For instance, the explosive gel can be used to either open new pathways around Arkham or set up traps for patrolling enemies. Simply apply the gel, wait for a group of thugs to approach and then stand back and watch the fireworks.
No matter how strong or fast Batman is, though, he can't take more than a few bullets without dying. Which is unfortunate, since Joker's minions are insane and have confiscated the guard's machine guns.
Batman, however, is just as well versed as being sneaky as he is knocking heads together. You can rappel up onto rafters and gargoyle statues, and from there you can observe enemy patrols and strategically take out bad guys one at a time at your leisure. As you pick off your foes from the shadows, you can watch as they start to flip out and lose their cool. They panic, start running around, shouting and screaming until you drop from the sky and knock them out with a well placed kick to the skull.
There's also some of the more prominent denizens of Arkham Asylum to contend with. You'll square off with iconic Batman villains like Killer Croc and Poison Ivy, and each boss fight is unique, intense and memorable. Strangely enough, the last boss fight is pretty lackluster and lame in comparison to the game's myriad of other thrilling moments.
You can beat the story mode in around 15 hours, but there's still more than enough bonus content to keep you busy. There's tons of hidden goodies to find by exploring levels in the story mode and solving riddles scattered throughout, and there's also a nice selection of extra challenge levels to test your skill in both combat and stealth. Also, keep an eye out for future downloadable content which should be available soon.
While the gameplay is incredibly fun, where Arkham Asylum really shines is it's atmosphere.
Arkham Asylum is one dark gritty place, and the game manages to capture the kind of Batman gamers haven't seen in a very long time. The game is drenched in gloom and bathed in shadows, rife with morbid humor and disturbing imagery. This isn't your Saturday morning cartoon "Batman." There's no laser cannons that knock people out or gas that conveniently renders people unconscious. People are murdered, profanity is routinely used, and the character designs are shocking enough to raise more than a few eyebrows. This is Batman from the comic books in all its dark, eerie and sinister glory, and gamers and comic book fans will love it.
The game's impressive graphics engine also plays a large role in bringing the characters and setting of Arkham Asylum to life. Character models are incredibly detailed, and the level designs are nothing short of stunning. Another element about Arkham Asylum that shouldn't be overlooked is its superb voice acting. Batman and Joker's entourage of bad guys are all well acted, but it's Mark Hamill's turn as the Joker that truly stands out. Not content to be out done by Heath Ledger, Mark Hamill gives an award winning performance of his own by perfectly portraying the Joker's insane, masochistic personality.
Final Verdict
It may sound like Batman: Arkham Asylum is a perfect game, and to be honest, it almost is. The ending is pretty disappointing in comparison to the exciting roller coaster of a ride you'll have experienced to get there, but ultimately, even that can't detract from an otherwise amazing gaming experience. Everything about the combat, stealth, puzzles,voice acting and graphics will make you feel like your immersed in a "Batman" comic or one of the better, non-terrible Batman movies. You genuinely feel like you're controlling one of Batman's adventures, and that's no small feat.
It's enough to make you put down your controller, put on a ski mask, look in the mirror and, with your most fiercest, menacing scowl, growl, "I'm Batman!"
What more could you possibly ask for?
Final Score: A
