Batman: Arkham Asylum Review

**Retep** · August 28th, 2009

Spoiler Below
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Open the spoiler for pure awesomeness

Imagine my face as I first layed my eyes on a Batman cartooon at the age of 8. Now take that image fast forward it 8 more years and you get what my face first looked like as I first played Arkham Asylum. The game is set on the infamous island where Gotham's worst are put to be rehabilatated and to become model citizens, this setting is where everything get's interesting and where you as Batman must stop an evil plot.

The game starts with you capturing the Joker and taking him to the island where he is set to be put in a high security cell for life but what you don't know is that his evil plot was to take over the whole prison with help from the inside which includes many well known villans including Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and even the Scarecrow.

The gameplay starts fairley quickly as your thrust into the island to stop the Joker's plot and solve Arkhams greatest mystery. The gameplay itself works with what Rocksteady is calling the Freeflow System which allows you to win almost impossible seeming fights, the controls work with the system and are fairly easy to learn after playing for awhile as you'll soon be able to dodge,incompacitate, and punch with the best of them.

Other then combat the game also features a stealth and detective element this inclusion breaks up to flow and allows you to learn more about the world your in as you'll notice a few hidden suprises from the Riddler scattered about but i'll get to that a little later. The only problem I had with the stealth elements is that either the guards are too stupid to react to anything or are too smart and constantly know where you are, their is no real in between. And since you are the worlds greatest detective you are given various scenarios that use your Detective mode, this can be anything from finding a scent to improving your chances on winning a battle by finding breakable walls and glass

Throughout the game you are given Batmans various tools from his utility belt, the nice thing about this is that each has a purpose and can be used in various ways, for example the Batarang isn't only used for combat but for some puzzles to open up new areas. This ultimatley opens up the game more and lenghtens it since you'll want to explore every nook and cranny of Arkhams buildings.

Lighting in the game is some of the best I've ever seen

The graphics are what really draw you in as you can see detail in not only Batmans suit (which gets damaged over time) but the whole island itself, this and the wonderfully written story/dialogue draw you in to care about not only Batman but the other occupants of Arkham, the only other game that I personally think does it as Arkham has is 2007's Bioshock. The voice acting cast is top notch as you have Mark Hamill voicing the Joker and making him a charecter that is sadistic and dark, Kevin Conroy as Batman who is a much better voice then Christain Bale and Arleen Sorkin who voices Harley. You don't just hear these voices in the game but in audio diaries scattered and hidden throughout the game these let you into the heads of some of the villans as you hear how the Joker wooed Harley and how the Scarecrow has actual fears himself.

Now as you read this review it may seem that this is the perfect game and a must buy and for the most part your right but the thing that ultimately brings it down is that your experience only lasts about 7-10 hours and that includes if you try and solve every riddle on the island, the only other thing that lengthens gameplay is what is called challenge arenas which features you fighting against waves of enemies in enviroments you've already been in and doing stealth kills on scenarios you already played.

Either way I strongly reccomend that you at least rent this as it is one of the best games I have played in a long while and only buy it if you are a hardcore Batman fan.

So riddle me this
Riddle me that
What score should I give the Bat?

9.5

+ Amazing Story and Graphics

+ Scarecrows Twisted Levels

- Only a 10 Hour Experience at Most

? What ever happened to Robin?

Images from IGN.com, Gamezplay.org, and Platformnation.com