Batman Arkham Asylum Review

Posted by alvin on Thursday, 09.10.2009 04:10 PM

Tags: batman, games, playstation

So count me in as one of the people who was totally excited for this game just because it was about Batman. The game's developer Rocksteady hasn't really proven itself as a AAA developer to merit this amount of attention yet I was totally stoked to play this game as soon as it came out here in the Philippines.

So what is Batman: Arkham Asylum? The game is basically a cross between Tombraider, Final Fight and Metroid. It has its shares of compelling combat, stealth, collection elements as well as story to make it one of the best games I have ever played for the PS3 so far.

Welcome to Arkham Asylum Joker

Anyway, let's bring it back real quick. The story is about Batman bringing in Joker to Arkham Asylum, but in reality, this was an elaborate scheme to trap Batman in an island together with all of the baddies he has put there. The game sticks closely to the animated series and not to the Chris Nolan Batman we enjoyed in the movies. But don't sigh yet, this is not a bad thing since the game maintains the gritty feel of the universe while remaining comical and interesting at the same time. Most if not all voice actors returns to reprise their roles from the animated series, my personal favorites being the Joker and Harley Quinn of course (got to love the bad guys.)

My Personal Favorite

Pacing was very very well done! Rocksteady has done a good job of chopping up the island into 5 major set pieces namely Intensive Treatment, the Mansion, Penitentiary, the Medical Facility and the Caves while not limiting the player to go anywhere they want, anytime they want to. Batman gains experience as he busts up baddies or explore new areas which could then be used to unlock new attacks or gadgets for the Caped Crusader.

Arkham Island is a very big place

Combat is also very polished and they mix it up by varying the types of encounters you face. Sure you may beat up a bunch of thugs hanging out at this area, but the next would probably require Batman to be more stealthful as the enemies have guns or something. The direct combat part of the Arkham Asylum is very satisfying, implementing a very button mash friendly combo system for those who don't want to learn the dynamics, while rewarding those who know how to time strikes and counters properly with one hit knockdowns and instant takedowns. The silent predator reminded me of the combat from early Metal Gear Solid games. This mode requires you to hide in the shadows as you grapple through gargoyles and hide in the darkness patiently waiting to pick off enemies one by one. Batman does a good job of empowering the player as I always felt that I was hunting down the enemies instead of hiding from them.

I can seeeeeee youuuuuuu

The occasional boss fight is present of course, the results not always successful in my opinion. Some of them do a good job of breaking the cycle of beating up baddies or looking for items through clever uses of platforming, while some fail miserably by just skinning some of the bigger enemies and throwing in some more thugs make it harder. The villains themselves though are really an all star lineup through and through. It was a very pleasant surprise to see old characters from the series return for another battle with the Dark Knight.

Great, more badguys to beat up

To establish Batman as not only as a badass, but as a detective. He has Detective Mode at his disposal. In this mode, Batman is able to see through walls to find enemies, identify those with guns and be aware of their mood in battle. As a story progression element, Batman uses the Detective Mode to sniff out finger prints, DNA or even alcohol in the atmosphere to track down his foes. The biggest use of the detective mode in my opinion is through the huge collection element in the game as The Riddler challenges Batman to find trophies he has hidden inside Arkham as well as solve riddles he has placed in rooms in the Asylum. Clearly inspired by Metroid, some items and riddles can only be accessed as Batman progresses through the story, acquiring the gadgets he has stashed away at an earlier time. Since the landscape was very well done, it wasn't a problem for me to backtrack to old areas and explore the island looking for these secrets throughout the game.

Clearly, Batman: Arkham Asylum is not kidding around. The game is paced very well and the developer was able to cram in enough game elements to keep the player occupied until the end. The overall story is passable but the cast of voice actors did a tremendous job bringing life to the characters we all know and love (maybe hate.) The game sets to make you feel like Batman, think like Batman and act like Batman, and I am happy to say that it was able to do exactly that. If your interested in one of the most exceptional titles available right now for the PS3, XBOX or PC, check this title out. If you are a Batman fan, why are you reading this? YOU SHOULD BE PLAYING RIGHT NOW!

Tags: batman, games, playstation

2 Comment/s