REVIEW
Batman: Arkham Asylum
By Jorge Figueiredo - October 13th, 2009
Batman: The Animated Series starring Kevin Conroy as Batman has always been the definitive Batman series for me. Its simple, clean designs looked brilliant in motion while its excellent stories and character development gave the episodes a depth rarely seen in North American television. Danny Elfman’s main theme and the work of the show’s many composers (such as Shirley Walker) also helped set the mood for this new vision of The Caped Crusader. But on top of all this, the voice cast was stellar. Who knew Mark Hamill could pull off such a convincing portrayal of The Joker?
Considering all this, it’s not surprising I prefer The Animated Series to the comic books. When I found out that game developer Rocksteady had Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arlene Sorkin signed on as part of the voice cast for Batman: Arkham Asylum, I started to follow the game’s development a lot closer and with more excitement. But little did I know how amazing this game was actually going to be.
Batman: Arkham Asylum places you in the tights of the Dark Knight, who has just collared The Joker and has brought him back to Arkham Asylum. In his initial conversation with Jim Gordon, Batman indicates that something is off, referencing the ease of the capture of his nemesis. He also shows signs of unease as the security door closes behind The Joker as the villain is taken into the asylum’s holding area. In true form, The Joker manages to escape, which was his plan all along. Batman’s mission is to travel deep into Arkham to stop him. Unfortunately, the place is like a giant gothic fortress and contains his (and by extension your) worst enemies.
Like any new game, the controls take some getting used to. However, the small amount of time it takes acclimate to them is worth it. After all, you are playing as one of the most hallowed of all comic book characters. The control mapping is done with ease of movement in mind, as Batman: Arkham Asylum is not your typical action/adventure title. Stealth, as well as detective skills and martial arts prowess, is required. You are a one-man army, but that being said you are still just one man. It is best to employ your noodle before you dispense justice with your considerable talents because even Batman can have a bad day.
Batman: Arkham Asylum made me giddy as I took down scores of baddies by swooping down from the rafters with a series of inverted takedowns. This was all made easier, and more satisfying, by creating a sense of misdirection by throwing batarangs into remote corners of the room. The distracted goons didn’t stand a chance, and I’d make a habit to tie up an armed evildoer then bat-grapple my way across the room before his friends could show up. I’d drop down, enter a ventilation shaft, and then sneak up behind another, employing a silent takedown to the last gunman before finally dispensing with his unarmed compatriots with some free-flowing ass-kicking.
The look of Batman: Arkham Asylum is obviously very different than the clean-lined style of The Animated Series, but for some reason it still works and I wasn’t thrown off by having the voices of the cartoon cast come out of different character models. It’s almost like they ran The Animated Series through an Alex Ross-like filter and made an awesome game out of it. The backgrounds are both spooky and dark, and this helps reflect the fact that it is the worst night of Batman’s life. Arkham’s architecture and massive environments are constructed well, and you will need to refer to the map. Movement is smooth (Holy Awesome Cape, Batman!) and although the visuals are different, I was still reminded of the smooth movements from The Animated Series.
The sound design – which is very important to me – in Batman: Arkham Asylum is exceptional. From score to effects you will be immersed in the dank world of Gotham City’s worst location, and you will somehow love every second of it. Above all else, the voice acting and story show that Rocksteady really did their research and meant to create an authentic Batman experience that all fans will appreciate. Batman is quietly confident, The Joker is the mad genius, and Harley and the rest of the cast play their parts brilliantly.
If the main game experience wasn’t already enough of a draw for you, know that the extras provide ample icing for the cake.
Challenge mode will push your skills to the limit as you engage in particular scenarios that are ranked on a global leaderboard. The Riddler has also left many puzzles for you to solve in game, which sometimes lead you off the beaten path in hopes of solving them all. On the PS3, you have the opportunity to play as The Joker in the challenge modes, and an extra option appears in the Video section of your XMB for behind-the-scenes footage and montages of some of the primary characters.
Batman: Arkham Asylum had a lot to live up to. Batman is one of the most beloved comic book characters of all time, after all. I have friends who were skeptical of how good the game was going to be, even after trying the demo. I can’t blame them, though; no demo could adequately contain the amount of fun you will have playing the full version of this game.
Hats (and cowls) off to Rocksteady for fulfilling a fanboy’s dream.
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I have been invited for a 5-hour play session to power through this game with a friend of mine but haven’t had the chance to take him up on the offer yet. After reading your review, I kind of want to go now, head cold be damned!
WTF.
Batman should take priority over everything. Batman would NOT be stopped by a head cold.
One thing I forgot to mention (I’ll be saying that a lot): The dialogue by the henchmen. When you’re hanging out in the Rafters you can listen to the henchmen chat with each other and comment on how crazy the Joker is. It’s awesome.
When there’s a lot to love about a game, it’s easy to overlook some details. Plus it means we still have stuff to talk about in the comments.
I really dig the updated designs of the characters. I love how their outfits have been made to look real, with seams and stitching and all that. From what I’ve seen the use of colour in the game is also great.