Batman: Arkham Asylum
In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITY - ARKHAM ASYLUM! Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum –Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum. Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme. Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series. With amazing graphics and a moody, immersive setting, Batman: Arkham Asylum offers diverse gameplay options that push the envelope for all action, adventure and superhero games.
Batman: Arkham Asylum Features
- Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entiret
- Choose multiple takedown methods, including swooping from the sky and smashing through walls, and use the predator camera get a closer look at the action.
- Become the Invisible Predatotm with Batman?s takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen or utilize the unique FreeFlowtm combat system to chain together unlimited combos and battle with huge groups of The Joker?s henchmen
- Face off against Gotham?s greatest villains including The Joker, HARLEY QUINN, VICTOR ZSASZ and KILLER CROC
User Reviews about Batman: Arkham Asylum
Quite simply (one of) the best (single player) Xbox360 game(s) out there. It's also doubtlessly the best Batman-experience you're ever likely to have (except perhaps watching your favourite movies or shows, or reading some classic comic books). Playing it, I was overwhelmed with how diverse yet balanced the game was - the story (which is solid as a rock for Batman-fans and non-fans alike) leads you through adventure, action, boss fights, puzzle solving, riddles, challenges and exploration - all of it without losing touch or pace. You unlock many diverse and interesting bonuses, including mini-challenges with their own parameters and character related trivia plus beautifully rendered statuettes. Design-wise, the game has its own flair which is very much grounded in the world of Gotham; Batman is muscular yet quick, The Joker is a lanky, hilarious and uproarious Clown Prince of Crime, Killer Croc is actually scary (play the game with surround sound in a dark environment and you'll know my dread), and Poison Ivy is a stylish and glowing temptress. The voice work is as good as it could ever get, and you're in for many surprises if you think you know how it will all play out. Around every corner is something new and different.
Are there any flaws to it? Well, if you've made it through the game's story three times (one for every achievement, as it were), and you've unlocked all the many goodies, you might just be stuck with some of the harder parts of Challenge-mode, which are unproportionately difficult in comparison to most of the game. There is no multiplayer to speak of (your buddy can't join in as Robin, Nightwing or Batgirl), and being as gripping as it is, you're likely to engulf most of what the game has to offer pretty quickly. But to satisfy your urges, you could always go for that last achievement, hunt the top spot in the Leaderboards or get some DLC. This game's really such an experience that it should tide us over for the inevitable sequel, which I hope is even bigger in scope (imagine an entire Gotham City full of missions, bonus games and unlockables!) and just maybe might have a co-op or multiplayer mode of some sort. -- 449 people can't be wrong..
Initially, there was only one reason I got this game: Mark Hamill and most of the cast from the 1990s Batman Animated Series had been signed on to do the voices.
I'm sure this was the case for most people, because all of the voice actors for that show were absolutely amazing.
Did that sense of immersion that came from having the voices be incredibly well-done make the game that much better?
I'd say so.
But in addition to that, we were also presented with a very solid game coded on a slick graphics engine. The mechanics and were almost never vague or obfuscating, at times they were even too simple (such that it felt like handholding).
That is my only real gripe with the game, that while it was a very enjoyable experience there was a lack of challenge and tension to it.
Everything was so well scripted and planned out that it didn't give the player much time to flounder about and try to feel like they were really solving those puzzles in true Dark Knight Detective fashion.
-- A great revisiting of some classic stuff
There is little I can add to the many (many) positive reviews already posted here. The graphics, gameplay, storyline, and atmosphere are all first rate, and make for an outstanding experience. The extra DLC for the PS3 version (i.e. playing as the Joker) is a nice extra and provides for some tangential fun.
Certainly what stands out is the story, the characterization, and the ambiance. It only takes a few minutes past the opening cutscenes before you really do feel as if you are in the Batman universe, and not just playing a game. A lot of the credit for that has to go to the writers and actors for bringing the images to life. But the graphics are also an integral part, as the renderings are so well done and subtle that you really can almost smell Arkham while playing it. The little details, both in dialog and background stood out enough to make the entire experience feel real.
The battles and puzzles were also top shelf. Sure, there were a few times when it devolved into a button-masher, but for the most part you need to apply strategy, planning, and puzzle-solving skills in order to move on. Often brute strength is the surest way to die. This blend of tough-guy fighter and egg-head detective really works.
Finally, this is a game that takes it's time so you can enjoy the journey without focusing on the destination. There are about 12 - 20 hours of total playtime for intermediate game players here, and that isn't counting the extras, Riddler Challenges, DLC, and exploration. And Arkham has a lot to explore.
Perhaps the only criticism I have is the somewhat anti-climactic ending.
***** PARTIAL SPOILER ALERT *****
The final fight against the Titan Joker was underwhelming, as all it took was the same two moves to beat him. Some of the earlier boss battles (specifically Bane and the immediately preceding double-Titan & multiple henchmen fights) were much harder and took more coordination and effort. In fact, near the end it seemed that the big showdowns kept getting easier. Killer Croc wasn't a bother, and even Ivy was a routine rumble.
But even with this in mind, the side Riddler Challenges more than make up for the diminishing difficulty.
Great game. -- Batmania
Really great game and fast shipping. I'd really recommend this game to any fans of the series. -- Great Game.
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