Batman: Arkham Asylum PC Game Review with Screenshots

The Batman franchise has hit some rough patches in the past and none of the multimedia expansions (movies, video games, televisions shows) of the original comic book have really “hit the mark.”  Perhaps the closest thing to the authentic experience is the animated series starring Kevin Conroy as the Caped Crusader--and that’s why Batman: Arkham Asylum is the video game Batman fans have always wanted.  Conroy and Mark Hamill return to battle it out as arch nemeses Batman and The Joker and this time the playground is Arkham Asylum itself.  They’re joined by The Riddler, Harley Quinn and Scarecrow just to name a few, and as the battle royal shapes up between the two, Arkham Island will never be the same.

But is all the hype about the game really warranted?  It’s on several top ten lists and is a serious contender for game of the year but is it all just drama brought on by overjoyed fanboys or is there really something to it?


Gameplay & Graphics

The plot of Arkham Asylum is really quite simplistic.  Batman captures the Joker (yet again) and sends him to the maximum security mental hospital (yet again.)  However, what Mr. Wayne doesn’t know is that that is exactly what the creepy clown-faced goon wants.  The Joker manages to take over the asylum and release many of the top-tier nut jobs inside to create a perfect lure for the Dark knight and also to set the perfect trap.  While Arkham has been featured in movies and video games, the archetypal prison for the mentally deranged and homicidal maniacs that seemed to flock to Gotham has never been the sole backdrop for any such endeavor.  This game takes full advantage of the “spookiness factor” of crawling around a gothic monstrosity full of murderous maniacs. 

Graphically this game is amazing.  Batman has never looked so good.  The Asylum itself is beautifully rendered with a wide variety of dark and nasty environments for the growling superhero to sneak about in.  The character models also look pretty amazing but many fans will notice the slightly skewed appearance that many of the super villains have.  At first, the discord is quite jarring but as you allow yourself to ease into the gameplay, the Iconic character’s new sense of fashion actually feels quite normal in the twisted world of Gotham’s most dangerous prison.  The level of detail extends right through to the tiniest animation and is very impressive indeed.

One of the biggest problems with previous Batman games is that players have never truly felt as if they’s stepped into the big man’s boots.  Batman kicks bad-guy butt with style and grace and flawed combat mechanics have spelled doom for most of Arkham’s predecessors.  However, Rocksteady nailed the seamless and stylistic approach the Dark Knight takes toward combating crime.  Whether you choose to jump right in and start throwing elbows or hang back and strike unseen from on high, Arkham will reward you with plenty of slick animations.  In fact, Batman’s combat skills are upgradable and unlockable so as you gain XP by solving puzzles, finding items, and defeating enemies you’ll be able to make the original man in black evermore graceful and dangerous.  You also have access to quite an array of Batman’s tools--including the Batarang—and many of them are upgradable as well.

The combat is flawlessly built on a combo system and as you increase your combo score you’ll be given access to several different special attacks.  Most of them are incredibly devastating and cinematic without destroying the reality of the universe that the setting and ambiance has struggled so lovingly to create.  It’s also incredibly easy to get the hang of and you won’t need to stab more than two buttons at once—ever.  However, as the game progresses, the enemies come equipped with deadlier weapons and come in greater numbers so you can’t rely on mindless button mashing forever.  It takes a bit to learn how best to use the attack, stun, and counter moves you’re given and may give you some frustration here and there but it’s worth it just two be able to feel like your whoopin’ behinds like the Batman should.

But Batman isn’t all about brawling.  He’s long been billed as the world’s greatest detective and Arkham Asylum allows players to step into those shoes as well.  By donning Batgoggles, you enter “investigation mode.”  In this altered vision mode you’ll be able to easily spot enemies through walls, determine whether or not they are armed, or even track them through chemical and pheromone traces.  While investigation mode sometimes makes players feel a little too godlike, it also allows you to set some great looking stealth attacks and cinematic take downs using destructible environment props.  Investigation mode also comes in handy for spotting hidden doorways, loot, and collectibles.


Sound

But pretty graphics can’t carry a game.  Fortunately Arkham is full of spot-on sound effects and a powerful orchestral score that instantly suck you right into the Batman universe.  Add to that the stellar voice acting from franchise veterans Conroy and Hamill and you know you’re really in for something special.  Indeed, the Joker’s voice is alternately shrill and creepy and is often enough to send shivers down your spine.  Arkham Asylum does share one minor audio flaw with BioShock, though.  The audio recordings you’ll find laying about tend to be corny, over-the-top, and cartoony which wouldn’t be a bad thing had everything else in the game not set the tone so darkly.


Value

There’s really a huge amount of value packed into this one game that starts with a massive detailed environment to explore.  But you don’t have to spend your time poking around in empty corners, no matter how snazzy they look.  You’ll discover that the Riddler has hidden over 200 “riddles” around the island for you to find and many of them will net you hefty XP bonuses.  Some are simple, some are extremely complex and many of them require extensive use of investigation mode.
You’ll also come across challenges which are basically small geographic chunks of the campaign that have been isolated and are subject to a timer and specific victory conditions.  For example, as you enter one room you are instructed to take out all of the enemies within without getting shot.  Another room requires you nail a massive 40 hit combo.  And so on.  PS3 owners also have the option of accessing downloadable content that will allow them to play as the Joker!


Final Verdict

So is Batman: Arkham Asylum the best game of 2009?  Maybe.  But it is without a doubt the best Batman game ever and there’s enough exciting stuff crammed inside to interest gamers who are only casual Batman fans.

Pros:  Incredible graphics, huge environment, stellar voice acting.

Cons:  Batman’s powers make it almost too easy to take the bad guys.


Overall Score: 9/10


Screenshots:






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