Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3) review

The Caped Crusader has starred in a number of games over the years, but Batman: Arkham Asylum puts them all to shame. Batman's calculating strength and insane opponents shine in this take on Gotham's hero. Naturally, this game might seem like a response to the success of 2008's movie The Dark Knight; however, Arkham Asylum stands on its own merits. This game is carefully crafted with amazing attention to detail, resulting in a shining achievement of gaming in 2009.

Batman has some of the most memorable villains in comic book history, and several of them make an appearance in Arkham Asylum. Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow are all out to destroy Batman as he struggles to bring the asylum back into order. Of course, the focus of the game is the Joker--superbly voiced by Mark Hamill--who weaves an elaborate trap for the Dark Knight amidst his plans for chaos and destruction. Though the story seems to begin as a basic Joker vs. Batman duel, the plot thickens when it's revealed that there is a method to Joker's madness, and the world's greatest detective will have to stop his nefarious schemes before it is too late. The story doesn't delve too far into the inner workings of each character, but it doesn't have to; the overall story of cat and mouse, of hero vs. villain, is well executed, and the plot moves quickly enough to keep Batman on his toes and keep the player interested.



The game is largely divided into three core categories: stealth sequences, detective work, and straight forward fighting. Despite creating this division between the different elements of the gameplay, the game flows well between all three portions so that the separation is hardly noticeable. The result is a very fluid and compelling game that constantly pushes you toward new goals and checkpoints. The stealth action is a lot of fun; there are dozens of ways for Batman to sneak up on his opponents, set traps, or otherwise knock-out one of Joker's thugs. Batman, of course, has a variety of gadgets to help him, most important among his tools are batarangs--useful for knocking out distant opponents. Some parts are particularly challenging, but stealth gameplay always manages to challenge the player in new ways, and is open to your own unique planning.

The detective work functions as a bridge between the various portions of the game. Using detective mode, you can scope out an area, quickly locating threats and items of interest. You'll often be following a trail to your next target, and though it's a very direct and obvious path, there are plenty of other opportunities to test your detective skills. The Riddler has hidden dozens of items, riddles, and other challenges to tease your brain, and you'll be well rewarded for your efforts with unlockable extra features and experience points. With these points you can level up your attacks, gadgets, or your health--a good impetus for solving Riddler's puzzles. There's a wide range of easy and difficult puzzles, some obvious and some cleverly hidden, making a great side quest to Batman's main mission.



Finally there's the fist-fighting portions of the game, which functions essentially as a basic beat 'em up. These parts are less intriguing than the other elements of the game, but it is still highly satisfying to floor a group of opponents with well-timed attacks, dodges, and counter-attacks. These battles are based upon strong combinations of attacks as much as diligence--you are often surrounded by foes, so watching your back is essential. It can feel like a button-masher at times, but since the combat is usually restricted to short portions, it doesn't get too stale.

One of the only aspects that's really problematic is how Batman controls. Because of the various aspects of the game--fighting, jumping, and the many tools of Batman--there are a lot of different controls and movements mapped to the same buttons, and they tend to trip over one another when you try to execute them. With so many different commands, the controller is mapped about as well as it could be, but it still feels convoluted and awkward at times, especially when trying to make quick movements. In the heat of a tense boss fight, it's frustrating to fumble through Batman's gadgets.

The visuals in Arkham Asylum are simply astounding. The level of detail in character models, in environment textures, and in the scale of Arkham Island is amazing. There is almost a frightening amount of detail in some of the super villains--most notably Joker's maniacal smirk--and during cutscenes, the visuals are even more eye-popping. All of the graphics make a truly sinister and creepy game, one where you aren't sure what might pop out of the shadows next. The visuals do a fantastic job of pulling you into the game, letting you experience the dark chaos of hundreds of mad inmates ready to kill you in a moment's notice. What completes the ambiance, though, is the voice acting. Mark Hamill captures the Joker's persona perfectly, and there's plenty of room for him to show off his vocal talents. The Joker's taunts echo throughout the asylum intercom system, reminding you that you are in his game, and he's setting all the traps for you to spring. The other voice work is overall fantastic as well, despite a few flat deliveries on Batman's part.



In addition to the Riddler's brainteasers and challenges, there is a variety of audio logs to collect, chronicling the super villains' stay at Arkham Asylum, and filling in a bit of backstory on their nefarious deeds. There is also downloadable content for purchase, and the Challenge mode, testing your stealth and combat skills for a high score. Though these challenges retread portions of the main game, they are a lot of fun and offer great replay value or short missions for quick bursts of gameplay. When you finish the game, there's still plenty of good reason to keep playing.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is easily one of the year's best games. The scope of not only the gameplay but the graphics and sound is outstanding, with some of the best presentation quality available. The Joker is wonderfully represented as a homicidal maniac, and Batman's stoic demeanor is the perfect foil to the clown's mad cackling. Not only is the main game a compelling play, but the additional content creates a game with plenty of replay value and longevity. The Dark Knight is in perfect form in this game, making this a must-play.

9/10