Batman: Arkham Asylum Reviewed
Release Date: August 25, 2009
List Price: $59.99
The Joker is up to something! Batman has once again tracked down and captured him just a few weeks after the clown prince of crime broke out of Arkham Asylum, the home for many of the wild and crazy maniacs that Batman himself has taken care of and sentenced to a life in a padded room. Problem is, you can never trust the Joker, so after getting back into the building – which just so happens to also be housing hundreds of the Joker's henchmen after a strange and "mysterious" fire at their prison – The Joker breaks free with the help of his main squeeze, Harley Quinn, and takes control of the penitentiary, releasing all the inmates. It’s now once again up to Batman to take down the clown prince and his minions and figure out what the Joker is really up to before Gotham becomes the target of yet another deadly plan.
First off let me say this. I was completely skeptical of this game when the demo came out. While the demo showed a very tight action game that appeared to be well-polished, it just seemed like another button-masher that you could quickly punch and kick your way from room to room til the end of game. Too many times in the past have video game makers attempted to make a truly awesome comic book game and failed. I won’t name names, but you know who you are!
Well, once I got my hands on an actual copy of this game my opinion completely turned around. Finally someone has answered the prayers of all us comic book geeks wanting something that we only dreamed would some day be a reality. This game ROCKS!! Now while it does have a few things wrong with it (I’m talking a very few) all around this game delivers and is probably so far the best game I have played this year, and definitely the best comic book translation to video game I think I have ever played..
The Good:
Graphic/Animations: WOW..I mean really WOW…This game looks incredible, from the fine detail in the environments, down to the cuts and tears in Batman’s costume as the game progresses. This game is very well put together and they made sure to add as much detail and effects as possible in every scene to immerse you in the game. This game has the look and feel as if I should be paying $12.50 for a ticket to see it on the big screen. The cut scenes flow so well and the level of character detail in them are just scary. Each time the Joker is on screen is just terrifying. This game looks awesome!
Dialogue/ Voice Acting: Again WOW.. Not only does the dialogue make the story feel so alive and fresh and really help progress the story but it is also being acted out by the same people that do the voices in the animated series. Mark Hamill is the Joker, Kevin Conroy is Batman, and Arleen Sorkin is Harley Quinn. I have to say that Mark Hamill as the Joker just adds a level of depth that really brings the character to life, and Kevin Conroy as Batman really makes the Dark Knight a presence you don’t want to mess with. I am quite impressed with the amount of extra chatter in the game as well, not only during cut scenes but also as you just walk down a hallway. It’s great to hear the Joker taunting you as you try to solve one of his many puzzles. Great job!
Game play: At first I thought I was in store for another button-mashing punch fest. Man was I wrong. This game has so much to do – I was really surprised at all the options. Not only do you have to try to figure out why the Joker is taking control of the Asylum by doing some serious detective work, but you have to act just like if you were the Dark Knight himself. Sure you can run in a room and start swinging if you’d like, but it is much more fun and satisfying to sneak in the shadows and slowly terrorize and pick off bad guys one by one until the last one standing is so terrified he just wants to run away. Sometimes this is really your only option if you want to successfully complete a mission. Also to add to this, you have an array of gadgets, like a batarang, explosive gel, grapple hook, and a few more with their own unique and upgradable functions to help you solve the puzzles and take out the enemy. Now if you feel like just running in don’t worry, Batman is an expert at martial arts and with the free-flow combo system that’s part of this game taking on a group of henchmen feels like a smooth and fast-paced dance that I myself would not want to join in. Batman definitely can kick some serious butt.
Detective Mode: When not fighting off a horde of enemies, Batman needs to switch it up and do some actual detective work. The detective mode makes it possible to scan objects for clues, finger prints, or even scent trails in order to figure out what the Joker is up to or to get past an obstacle. This is something that I am glad they included in the game because Batman is considered a master detective in the comics and it would have been a shame if we didn’t get a chance to experience this first hand. The only problem that I have with detective mode is that I tended to leave it on during most of the game play and I think they should have perhaps limited the amount of time you have for it, perhaps a recharge type of thing to make you have to slow down a bit and think of your next move. Otherwise this feature is great and quite fun to use.
Game Modes/ Extras: Not only do you have the campaign mode, which lasts easily 9 hours or longer, but they also included challenge mode, which gives you the ability to go into a free-for-all standoff to see how long you can last against an onslaught of bad guys in multiple levels. Man, can this get tough but it is oh so much fun. Trying to string together as many combos as possible while flipping around and countering oncoming enemies in a way only Batman could do will cause many hours to pass by and have you building up a serious finger-blistering sweat. I swear I felt like I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after playing this for a few hours, and I would most definitely step in the ring with him again. Also to add to the fun, in-game you have various riddles set for you to figure out by the Riddler, which once solved grants you some fun extras like trophies, audio recordings and fact sheets on various characters. Just solving the riddles can take you countless hours and is definitely a fun extra that is worth doing.
The Bad:
Not much really.
It can become repetitive to fight off an amazingly large army of the Joker’s henchmen who all appear the same, and to take out a henchman as he’s standing next to another without being noticed might be a little much. But it’s still fun to do.
Another gripe I have is the lack of including and taking on some of the more famous villains from the Batman universe. While some do make cameo appearances or the game acknowledges them in some way, it does make me a little sad that they are not in the game to go against. I don’t want to spoil it for you so you will just have to see yourself what I am talking about. Hopefully future games will bring them out so I can dish out some justice Batman style.
Also I did notice on a very rare occasion some graphical glitches or pixilation during cut scenes that if you were not looking for them you might not even notice.
Other than it I really can’t find much to complain about. This game is great.
The Bottom Line:
Like I said before this game is the best comic book game I have ever played. Great graphics, fantastic story, well-composed and downright awesome voice acting by the cast from the TV series, and game play that absolutely can’t be beat. Easily one of my favorites to play, and with the multiple options and game modes it has a replay value that will keep you busy for many hours til the late hours of the night. I highly recommend this game to everyone and anyone looking for a game that will not only entertain you but also give you a bit of satisfaction as you sneak around taking out unsuspecting enemies in creative and downright fun ways. I felt like I was playing a Batman movie. This is probably the closest thing we will ever get to a true Dark Knight video game. Go get this game – you won’t be disappointed. I know I wasn’t.
Til next time, keep on gaming!!
List Price: $59.99
The Joker is up to something! Batman has once again tracked down and captured him just a few weeks after the clown prince of crime broke out of Arkham Asylum, the home for many of the wild and crazy maniacs that Batman himself has taken care of and sentenced to a life in a padded room. Problem is, you can never trust the Joker, so after getting back into the building – which just so happens to also be housing hundreds of the Joker's henchmen after a strange and "mysterious" fire at their prison – The Joker breaks free with the help of his main squeeze, Harley Quinn, and takes control of the penitentiary, releasing all the inmates. It’s now once again up to Batman to take down the clown prince and his minions and figure out what the Joker is really up to before Gotham becomes the target of yet another deadly plan.
First off let me say this. I was completely skeptical of this game when the demo came out. While the demo showed a very tight action game that appeared to be well-polished, it just seemed like another button-masher that you could quickly punch and kick your way from room to room til the end of game. Too many times in the past have video game makers attempted to make a truly awesome comic book game and failed. I won’t name names, but you know who you are!
Well, once I got my hands on an actual copy of this game my opinion completely turned around. Finally someone has answered the prayers of all us comic book geeks wanting something that we only dreamed would some day be a reality. This game ROCKS!! Now while it does have a few things wrong with it (I’m talking a very few) all around this game delivers and is probably so far the best game I have played this year, and definitely the best comic book translation to video game I think I have ever played..
The Good:
Graphic/Animations: WOW..I mean really WOW…This game looks incredible, from the fine detail in the environments, down to the cuts and tears in Batman’s costume as the game progresses. This game is very well put together and they made sure to add as much detail and effects as possible in every scene to immerse you in the game. This game has the look and feel as if I should be paying $12.50 for a ticket to see it on the big screen. The cut scenes flow so well and the level of character detail in them are just scary. Each time the Joker is on screen is just terrifying. This game looks awesome!
Dialogue/ Voice Acting: Again WOW.. Not only does the dialogue make the story feel so alive and fresh and really help progress the story but it is also being acted out by the same people that do the voices in the animated series. Mark Hamill is the Joker, Kevin Conroy is Batman, and Arleen Sorkin is Harley Quinn. I have to say that Mark Hamill as the Joker just adds a level of depth that really brings the character to life, and Kevin Conroy as Batman really makes the Dark Knight a presence you don’t want to mess with. I am quite impressed with the amount of extra chatter in the game as well, not only during cut scenes but also as you just walk down a hallway. It’s great to hear the Joker taunting you as you try to solve one of his many puzzles. Great job!
Game play: At first I thought I was in store for another button-mashing punch fest. Man was I wrong. This game has so much to do – I was really surprised at all the options. Not only do you have to try to figure out why the Joker is taking control of the Asylum by doing some serious detective work, but you have to act just like if you were the Dark Knight himself. Sure you can run in a room and start swinging if you’d like, but it is much more fun and satisfying to sneak in the shadows and slowly terrorize and pick off bad guys one by one until the last one standing is so terrified he just wants to run away. Sometimes this is really your only option if you want to successfully complete a mission. Also to add to this, you have an array of gadgets, like a batarang, explosive gel, grapple hook, and a few more with their own unique and upgradable functions to help you solve the puzzles and take out the enemy. Now if you feel like just running in don’t worry, Batman is an expert at martial arts and with the free-flow combo system that’s part of this game taking on a group of henchmen feels like a smooth and fast-paced dance that I myself would not want to join in. Batman definitely can kick some serious butt.
Detective Mode: When not fighting off a horde of enemies, Batman needs to switch it up and do some actual detective work. The detective mode makes it possible to scan objects for clues, finger prints, or even scent trails in order to figure out what the Joker is up to or to get past an obstacle. This is something that I am glad they included in the game because Batman is considered a master detective in the comics and it would have been a shame if we didn’t get a chance to experience this first hand. The only problem that I have with detective mode is that I tended to leave it on during most of the game play and I think they should have perhaps limited the amount of time you have for it, perhaps a recharge type of thing to make you have to slow down a bit and think of your next move. Otherwise this feature is great and quite fun to use.
Game Modes/ Extras: Not only do you have the campaign mode, which lasts easily 9 hours or longer, but they also included challenge mode, which gives you the ability to go into a free-for-all standoff to see how long you can last against an onslaught of bad guys in multiple levels. Man, can this get tough but it is oh so much fun. Trying to string together as many combos as possible while flipping around and countering oncoming enemies in a way only Batman could do will cause many hours to pass by and have you building up a serious finger-blistering sweat. I swear I felt like I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after playing this for a few hours, and I would most definitely step in the ring with him again. Also to add to the fun, in-game you have various riddles set for you to figure out by the Riddler, which once solved grants you some fun extras like trophies, audio recordings and fact sheets on various characters. Just solving the riddles can take you countless hours and is definitely a fun extra that is worth doing.
The Bad:
Not much really.
It can become repetitive to fight off an amazingly large army of the Joker’s henchmen who all appear the same, and to take out a henchman as he’s standing next to another without being noticed might be a little much. But it’s still fun to do.
Another gripe I have is the lack of including and taking on some of the more famous villains from the Batman universe. While some do make cameo appearances or the game acknowledges them in some way, it does make me a little sad that they are not in the game to go against. I don’t want to spoil it for you so you will just have to see yourself what I am talking about. Hopefully future games will bring them out so I can dish out some justice Batman style.
Also I did notice on a very rare occasion some graphical glitches or pixilation during cut scenes that if you were not looking for them you might not even notice.
Other than it I really can’t find much to complain about. This game is great.
The Bottom Line:
Like I said before this game is the best comic book game I have ever played. Great graphics, fantastic story, well-composed and downright awesome voice acting by the cast from the TV series, and game play that absolutely can’t be beat. Easily one of my favorites to play, and with the multiple options and game modes it has a replay value that will keep you busy for many hours til the late hours of the night. I highly recommend this game to everyone and anyone looking for a game that will not only entertain you but also give you a bit of satisfaction as you sneak around taking out unsuspecting enemies in creative and downright fun ways. I felt like I was playing a Batman movie. This is probably the closest thing we will ever get to a true Dark Knight video game. Go get this game – you won’t be disappointed. I know I wasn’t.
Til next time, keep on gaming!!
Labels: Arkham, Asylum, Batman, Gaming, Review
This entry was posted by James Dumas, on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. You can
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