360 Review – Batman: Arkham Asylum

Hey, it’s time to create another superhero game! Well, go ahead and bring on the mediocre plot. Oh, and don’t forget the crappy voice work and pointless challenges. Oh yeah, I almost forgot – make sure to completely disregard everything that makes this character unique and interesting. Perfect!

Unfortunately for superhero fans, the recipe above seems to be utilized far too often. It would be an understatement to say that comic book heroes don’t receive much love in the gaming world – as is evidenced by…well…pretty much every superhero game. For this reason, I could not be happier to announce that Batman: Arkham Asylum has sidestepped video game disaster. Not only is this the best superhero game of all time, it’s one of the best action games ever.

Now, I hate it when reviewers feel like they need to spill the game’s story – so here’s what you need to know. The opening cinematic shows that the Dark Knight has just captured the Joker and is rushing him back to Arkham Asylum to spend some time behind bars – again. Upon arrival, the Joker is restrained and transported deeper into the penitentiary. You follow him for quite some time, and the clown makes it aware that he is accustomed to life in the asylum. He even refers to some of the guards by their first names. Once a checkpoint is reached where Batman is not allowed to pass, the Joker makes his move and assaults the guards who were escorting him to his cell. With a little help from fellow criminal Harley Quinn, the Joker assumes control of the asylum and releases all the inmates. Bad news for Batman. This sets up the rest of the game in which you will explore the asylum and take down opponents Batman style.

One thing instantly recognizable about Arkham Asylum is that it is a very dark and menacing place. Criminals are on the loose, dead bodies are strewn about, and the environment is in general disarray. In short, Arkham won’t be featured on the back of postcards anytime soon. The overall vibe is exactly what you’d expect from a maximum security prison – very humbling and borderline depressing — even for a bad ass like Batman.

Luckily, the creators at Rocksteady realized that too much Arkham, interesting as it may be, could be detrimental to the game’s overall fun factor. As you progress, you’ll gain access to various locations such has the exterior prison grounds and a few other cool spots we won’t give away here. Suffice it to say, Batman: Arkham Asylum does a truly phenomenal job with pacing, as the title seems to almost always introduce a refreshing change of scenery at just the right moment.

Though the story is pretty straightforward and linear, you do have the option to explore when you see fit. However, certain parts of the penitentiary will remain unreachable until Batman obtains a new ability or gadget (think Metroid or Shadow Complex). These spots usually contain hidden collectibles, like Riddler riddles and interview tapes, offering you incentive to revisit them at a later point in time when you’re more adequately equipped. The end result is a confined setting that still manages to feel open and interesting … which is a very good thing considering the amount of time you’ll be spending there.

The combat aspects of this title were handled excellently. Rocksteady makes sure you feel tough but not invincible. Animations are fluid, and Batman’s punches and kicks hit home with extremely satisfying thunks. Fighting techniques are simple to grasp, and you’ll find yourself attacking and countering enemies in no time. As you progress through the game, you’ll be given opportunities to spend your experience points on upgrades to your suit and abilities, making for even more varied and spectacular skirmishes. The mob encounters remain fresh as well, as enemies range from bare fist brawlers and knife wielders to gun packing baddies and stun happy baton beaters. These foes force you to switch up your tactics and begin using some of Batman’s tools of the trade to defeat them.

In addition to a fluid combat system, Batman: Arkham Asylum sports a slick and highly-functional radial menu that allows seamless switching between an arsenal of weapons and gadgets. This is where you’ll find tried-and-true favorites such as the batarang and the batclaw, but it’s also the home of “Detective Mode”.

In this mode, the Caped Crusader essentially gains an x-ray vision of sorts, allowing him you to see weak points in walls, locate hidden items, and determine which enemies are armed. There are also sequences where you have to use it to locate fingerprints and scents. It’s admittedly a pretty bad ass component in the Dark Knight’s arsenal. Unfortunately, detective mode is very easy to abuse and can turn the game into a less threatening experience. Detective mode turns you into a nearly unstoppable stealth killing machine with a complete and accurate profile of your enemies. It’s effective and fun, just be prepared for the challenge factor to diminish if you spam the hell out of it.

Batman: Arkham Asylum gives plenty of nods to hardcore Batman fans including detailed character bios, authentic voice acting, and references to some rather overlooked villains. Yes, I’m talking about you – Calendar Man. The trailer below gives you a great look at some of the baddies Arkham has to offer.

It’s nice to finally see a developer that knows how to cater to the fans rather than make a mockery of their beloved hero in the name of the almighty buck. What’s great is that none of the extra content is forced on the player, meaning you don’t need to read the character bios, nor do you need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Dark Knight to understand this game. True, those who do will appreciate some of the game’s lore-related subtleties more than the average player, but that is to be expected.

Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a blast. The characters are skillfully voiced and animated, the environment is alive with villainous danger, and the combat is always fluid and fun. Detective mode can be a bit overpowered if abused, but it’s undeniably enjoyable. Rocksteady’s take on Batman unquestionably sets the bar for all future superhero action games, and I’d certainly recommend it to fans of the Dark Knight without reservation. If stealth based action is what you crave, Batman: Arkham Asylum will not do you wrong.