Batman: Arkham Asylum is a gritty tale that rivals just about any graphic novel or motion picture based on the Dark Knight. The game starts off with you driving The Joker to Arkham Island where you will finally put him where he belongs. The opening sequence is one of the most immersive experiences this side of Half-Life or BioShock. Shortly after arrival Joker throws his master plan into effect and escapes the clutches of his guards. This initiates the overall plotline as Batman must then traverse Arkham trying to stop Joker and his goons.
Having the clown prince of crime in control of the asylum leads to Batman brushing elbows with his greatest enemies. Arkham Asylum is the definition of fan service, and with so many jaw-dropping moments, the game really delivers an experience unlike anything I have played since the original trip into Rapture. This is further aided with voice actors from the animated series and visuals that deliver some of the most detailed environments you will ever gaze upon.
At its core Arkham Asylum is a third-person action game that sprinkles in some stealth and puzzle solving elements for good measure. The combat system is one of the most intuitive and unified I have ever toyed around with. Batman’s attacks seamlessly flow into each other, and can be executed with just a couple of buttons. Everything is context sensitive depending on which direction you are facing, and the attacks the enemies are delivering. There is also a counter button that allows you to interrupt incoming onslaughts with a simple button press. The further you get into the game, the more advanced combos and attacks you learn, but never once did I feel overwhelmed with what the game threw at me.
Arkham Island is massive in size. As you progress you will unlock access to new areas to explore. Each one feels unique and contains its own presence. This was one of the more impressive things about Arkham Asylum as I played through the game. No experience was the same from area to area. One minute you are fighting gangs of thugs, the next you are tracking down various people using your detective vision, and the boss fights; let me just say that these experiences have been some of the most enjoyable that I have encountered in a long time, minus the final encounter, which was a tad disappointing.
When you combine all of the aspects of the game together, it really feels like a mesh of some of the best ideas from the last two decades of gaming. As I started the game and was introduced to the Riddler challenges, I noticed areas I could not access due to a lack of a specific gadget. This invokes the classic discovery and retracing your steps made famous in Metroid. There is also a dreary atmosphere and a sense that the environment has been lived in, complete with an insane amount of detail in each room. Look hard enough and hardcore Batman fans will find things such as Riddler’s cell or Scarecrow’s secret hiding place below the elevator shaft. The guys at Rocksteady have done an amazing job of squeezing the maximum amount of fan-service into the game, without making it feel tacked on.
Having the clown prince of crime in control of the asylum leads to Batman brushing elbows with his greatest enemies. Arkham Asylum is the definition of fan service, and with so many jaw-dropping moments, the game really delivers an experience unlike anything I have played since the original trip into Rapture. This is further aided with voice actors from the animated series and visuals that deliver some of the most detailed environments you will ever gaze upon.
At its core Arkham Asylum is a third-person action game that sprinkles in some stealth and puzzle solving elements for good measure. The combat system is one of the most intuitive and unified I have ever toyed around with. Batman’s attacks seamlessly flow into each other, and can be executed with just a couple of buttons. Everything is context sensitive depending on which direction you are facing, and the attacks the enemies are delivering. There is also a counter button that allows you to interrupt incoming onslaughts with a simple button press. The further you get into the game, the more advanced combos and attacks you learn, but never once did I feel overwhelmed with what the game threw at me.
Arkham Island is massive in size. As you progress you will unlock access to new areas to explore. Each one feels unique and contains its own presence. This was one of the more impressive things about Arkham Asylum as I played through the game. No experience was the same from area to area. One minute you are fighting gangs of thugs, the next you are tracking down various people using your detective vision, and the boss fights; let me just say that these experiences have been some of the most enjoyable that I have encountered in a long time, minus the final encounter, which was a tad disappointing.
When you combine all of the aspects of the game together, it really feels like a mesh of some of the best ideas from the last two decades of gaming. As I started the game and was introduced to the Riddler challenges, I noticed areas I could not access due to a lack of a specific gadget. This invokes the classic discovery and retracing your steps made famous in Metroid. There is also a dreary atmosphere and a sense that the environment has been lived in, complete with an insane amount of detail in each room. Look hard enough and hardcore Batman fans will find things such as Riddler’s cell or Scarecrow’s secret hiding place below the elevator shaft. The guys at Rocksteady have done an amazing job of squeezing the maximum amount of fan-service into the game, without making it feel tacked on.
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