Batman: Arkham Asylum

17 Comments 12 Votes 610 Views 03/09/2009 Back to Reviews Batman - Arkham Asylum

Batman - Arkham Asylum - 9 / 10

I could summarise this review in just four words: "Buy This Game NOW!"

*********************

We take it for granted that gamers have to put up with endless, mediocre adaptations of their favourite comic book characters, when it comes to those characters being translated into a videogame franchise. Other than a very few notable exceptions, the majority of what is foisted upon us is pure garbage.

Well, I've got GREAT news for all you Batfans out there: Batman:Arkham Asylum is easily the best superhero game ever made! In fact, it's one of the best games I have played in the last 5 years!

Remember how excited you were when Gears of War was released, and you were just blown away by the graphics, the set-design, the architecture and the gameplay? Batman:AA will have the same effect on you; I guarantee it!
Rocksteady has managed to use the Unreal Engine to (arguably) even better effect than Epic has; B:AA will astonish you with the level of graphical detail it contains. As one plays through the game, it is immediately obvious that an incredible amount of thought has gone into making every part of it look contextually-appropriate, i.e., when Batman is wandering through an ancient sewer, the bricks are old and the mortar is crumbling, and when Batman is in a "high-tech" part of the Asylum, things look modern, shiny and new.

But it's more than just that. There are no endless, repetitive levels, or pointlessly annoying backtracking missions. Even when Batman does need to retrace his steps, there's always something new or slightly (or not so slightly) different about the areas he has previously visited. In Arkham, the Joker is truly in charge and he will order his goons to areas that you've already cleared out, AND he'll often throw in a twist, just to up the difficulty that little bit more.

The combat is easy to learn, but difficult to master. It does get easier as you progress, as you can unlock more of Batman's special moves and gadgets. Eventually, you will have the option to perform special moves such as Instant Takedowns and Throws, which are all tied into your combo-metre. Ideally, you want to chain together your attacks, special moves and counter-attacks for as long as possible, so that you can earn points towards unlocking more gadgets, moves and armour. (The best I've managed so far is a 29-hit combo, but I'm certain that iddqd will claim he got a 93-hit combo...

)

There was no part of the game that I found boring; every single bit is interesting, as there is always something to investigate, be it a ledge you hadn't noticed before, or an area you weren't previously able to access. - Hell, there were plenty of times I just sat on a rooftop and watched the clouds passing over Gotham City...it really is a masterpiece.

Boss Battles are cool, in that they aren't really Boss Battles at all. I find this to be a refreshing change from the standard formula of do-this-three-times-and-then-do-that-three-times, etc, etc.

The voicework is worth commenting on. - I have always been a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, and I am so, so pleased that Rocksteady managed to get Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to reprise their roles as Batman and the Joker, respectively.

This game has immediately put itself into my "Top Ten" list, it really is that good.

It's about time that a developer made a superhero game that is true to the character. (I suppose you could say that the Spiderman games were true to character, because Spiderman is lame and faggy, just like the games...)
Anyway, Rocksteady has absolutely nailed the true feel of the Dark Knight. - Anyone who has ever read any of Frank Miller's graphic novels will know what I'm talking about.

As for replayability, well, there are a hell of a lot of areas to explore and The Riddler has left trophies all over the Island, so that could occupy you for a long time. The main part of the game can be completed in under ten hours, but they are ten of the finest gaming hours you will ever spend!

Oh, and prop's to Rocksteady's interpretation of Scarecrow...who is the scariest motherf***** in any game I've played.

GAMEPLAY - 9/10

GRAPHICS - 10/10 (Even Epic couldn't have done better.)

SOUND - 10/10 (Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill...)

OVERALL VALUE - 9/10 (10/10 for Batfans.)

All up I give this game 9/10. It falls down only in that A) there is no co-op, and, B) no Penguin. WAAK! (Two-Face does get a mention!)

BTW, I'm sure that cretinous reviewers will rate MW:2 higher than Batman:AA, but after 6 months have passed, they will look back and realise that Batman:AA is the true Game Of The Year!

Review by: Rainbow7 17489Kudos 03/09/2009

Alternatively, connect with Facebook.

More Info on Batman - Arkham Asylum

Game Profile: Batman - Arkham Asylum

News: Batman: Arkham Asylum Bargain Wrap-up

Australian Release: Now

Batman: Arkham Asylum Comments

Kudos: 6,075

lo33a

thats a pretty big wrap, looks like ill have to save some money for this one

03/09/2009

NSW - such is life

Kudos: 13,225

Kerosanak

Two-Face only gets a mention you say?

Well then, worst game of the year, 0... I'm not buying it

*sneaks out to go buy it anyway*

Kudos on what I think is your first review Rainbow.

03/09/2009

I'm already kind of a big deal in New Vegas

Kudos: 22,189

dossaer

Great review! Can't wait to sink some time into this one on the weekend!

03/09/2009

and what's left is right

Kudos: 17,489

Rainbow7

dossaer said: Great review! Can't wait to sink some time into this one on the weekend!

Ha! - Say goodbye to your weekend... I banished my wife from the lounge for the last two nights, just so I could play Arkham...

03/09/2009

Your retarded...

Kudos: 6,298

jorgan92

I just got it, too afraid to put it in as of loosing interest in my current venture.

Will start it on sat.

Great review though man, one of the only ones I've read all the way through (that means it was good and easy to read)

03/09/2009

melbourne, victoria

Kudos: 17,489

Rainbow7

Thanks, man. I tried not to put in too many spoilers, but still convey the awesomeness of this game.

03/09/2009

Your retarded...

Kudos: 11,748

iddqd

I got a 492 hit combo, you ****ing **** bitch n00b **** **** faced git!

04/09/2009

Knee deep in the dead...

Kudos: 17,489

Rainbow7

iddqd said: I got a 492 hit combo

Pic's, or it didn't happen...

04/09/2009

Your retarded...

Kudos: 1,548

Shadow99

Hahaha, nice reveiw Rainbow.
My max combo is 14

04/09/2009

Your mum's house. Sorry, I thought you knew.

Kudos: 11,748

iddqd

Lulz, how come everyone's making such a big deal out of a fecking batman game? And what's up with the girly score? by 'girly score' I mean within the range of 6 to 9... which for some reason has become the full spectrum for game reviews these days. I mean, you say it's one of the best games you've played over the last five years... give that ****er a ten you big girl's vagina!

Fanks for the reference by the way :3

04/09/2009

Knee deep in the dead...

Kudos: 22,189

dossaer

Rainbow7 said:
dossaer said: Great review! Can't wait to sink some time into this one on the weekend!

Ha! - Say goodbye to your weekend... I banished my wife from the lounge for the last two nights, just so I could play Arkham...

lol, So last night after the other half went to bed, I said "I'll join you in five" and I thought I'd fire it up and just run around and have looky look. True to my word, I went to bed FIVE HOURS later.

So tired right now