Let’s be frank: Batman’s video game career sucks, so we can all be forgiven for not being excited when a new game featuring the Dark Knight is announced. Batman: Arkham Asylum defies the trend by embracing the best parts of the Batman universe and pairing them up with phenomenal production values and exceptional core gameplay. The result is not only the best Batman game ever, but one of the finest games of the year.

The situation players are thrust into could have come straight from the pages of a comic book, with the Joker purposely getting himself caught as part of a larger scheme to overtake Arkham Island. An extra air of authenticity is added by the involvement of the cast and crew of the popular animated series – Paul Dini wrote the script, and Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and the Joker respectively. Unreal Engine 3 is used to bring the world and characters to life with amazing attention to detail – seeing Batman’s armour getting ripped up as you progress is a neat touch.



Arkham Asylum succeeds as a Batman game because it not only makes players feel like they’re in Batman’s world, but also because it provides all the tools and skills needed to make players feel like they are Batman. Hostile situations need to be approached with skill and strategy, not just brute force. You’ll spend many a battle hiding in the rafters, before picking off the most dangerous targets at your leisure, then swooping in to mop up the rest. Batman’s various gadgets are all at the player’s disposal - grappling hooks, miniature explosives and a number of different Batarangs can all be used to gain the edge over your opponents.

Stealth and gadgets won’t defuse every situation, but fortunately Batman’s hand to hand combat abilities are excellent. The game employs a “free flow” combat system where players are encouraged to link together attacks and counters so that no movement is wasted. It’s designed in a way to let Batman fight multiple opponents quickly and painlessly, and looks awesome once you nail the timing. Fighting armed opponents ups the difficulty - knife and stun gun-wielding opponents need to be dazed first, and enemies with guns will rip through your health meter with ease.

Arkham Island has an unsettling atmosphere. Buildings are dank and decrepit, while the architecture has a wonderful gothic styling. The Joker is watching your every movement, frequently mocking Batman and making silly and scary jokes. Perhaps even creepier is the appearance of The Scarecrow, whose mind-controlling drugs send Batman off into a nightmarish otherworld. While story progression is linear, players are free to explore the asylum at will. The game channels a bit of Metroid’s spirit, as players can go back to old areas with new gadgets to uncover secrets and solve puzzles left behind by the Riddler. Exploration elements and challenge rooms help to give the game life after players have completed the main story.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a fantastic game which showcases a rare respect and appreciation of the source material. Excellent production values and high quality gameplay make this a game that can be appreciated by all gamers, not just Batman fans.