![Batman: Arkham Asylum [Game of the Year Edition] (Platinum Hits)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91jacVPSwgL._SR75,75_.jpg)
![Batman: Arkham Asylum [Game of the Year Edition] (Platinum Hits)](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91jacVPSwgL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
When you first fire up Batman: Arkham Asylum, you're going to be impressed... and if you're a Batman fan, doubly so. The visuals are stunning, and the game really marks the first time players will feel like they are the Dark Knight Detective, from whichever medium. Indeed, Arkham Asylum draws the best stuff from the comics, the movies AND the animated series for a Batman experience that will satisfy fandom across the spectrum. And for being wrapped up in such a Technicolor Dreamcoat of licensing, a lot of extra time went into Arkham Asylum that normally would not be the case, especially when partially tied to a movie franchise. Nevertheless, even with the extra time and effort afforded, the game falls short of a perfect package.
Even if you haven't played the game, you're probably already familiar with the general premise considering all the trailers, demos and general hoopla that surrounded it long before its launch. The Joker had briefly escaped the asylum, and Batman brings him back into custody only to find that is exactly what the Joker had in mind to spring his trap into motion. Now the whole island is on lockdown, but unfortunately for the hospital staff, a handful of cops, Commissioner Gordon and Batman, the lockdown doesn't include the inmates' cells. The Joker and Harley Quinn are now running the show, and, well... madness ensues. The mere fact that it takes place within the island compound of Arkham Asylum sets the entire game up for a who's who of the Batman rogues gallery. Whoever you don't actually run into, you will experience in plenty of other ways, many of which are fairly creative (Clayface immediately comes to mind). Some of these encounters will thrill you to the core. I remember my girlfriend was watching me play and she actually got frightened by the first time Killer Croc lumbers onto the scene.
There are many such creepy moments in Arkham Asylum, ranging from the slightly disturbing to the downright terrifying. Whether it's the flickering flourescent lamps in the dilapidated corridors of the infirmary, or the soft glow of moonlight smothering the Gotham City skyline from afar, you'll always feel the darkness and asylum walls closing in on you. It's sort of the first time I've felt virtual claustrophobia (is that even possible?)
But where Arkham Asylum really shines is in the gameplay. The hand-to-hand combat engine is quite simply the coolest I've ever seen. It's fast, fluid, easy to learn, hard to master, and loads of fun. You feel and look like Christian Bale in
Batman Begins [Blu-ray
] when he seamlessly takes out a dozen of Boss Falcone's men at the docks. Batman is not a novice or some street fighter-in-training in search of experience points. In this game, Batman will kick your crazy butt. In fact, unless you're as strong as Bane and Killer Croc, or protected by poison spitting plants, you're most likely going to go down with a mininum of fuss once the Bat's gloved fist penetrates your face. I personally loved this about the game, because let's be practical, very few supervillians let alone minions could ever hope to beat the Dark Knight fist acuffs. That's WHY he's the Dark Knight and WHY he's lived long enough to have twenty plus supervillians hate his armored guts. This point couldn't be emphasized any better than when you face Harley Quinn: she's neutralized with a single takedown!
The other great part of the gameplay is how you are able to utilize Batman's legendary stealth. You will grapple, glide, and hang from the highest perches and darkest shadows, only to snatch up your enemies and dangle them by their toes, literally. This is kept even more interesting with multiple gadgets and upgrades as you progress. Trust me, you haven't lived until you've thrown a batarang across the asylum courtyard and switch the camera to the batarang's P.O.V. only to have it nail some whack job in the head. The game is loaded with little nuances like this if you take the time to play around and explore.
The first half of Arkham Asylum is flawless. The pacing is perfect with just the right mix of action and investigation around every corner. I found myself frothing at the mouth to find the next Riddler trophy, and even more so to gain access to a new area on the island. The cinematics are great, especially those leading up to the showdown with Poison Ivy (who is by far the toughest foe in the game). It's the second half of Arkham Asylum that starts to lose steam, and the pay-offs become less and less. It truly seems as if the developers just ran out of time towards the end. The ongoing battle with Killer Croc is one of the most redundant experiences in recent video game history, the pay-off for completing the Riddler challenges is nearly nonexistent, the final battle with the Joker is absurd, and the game's ending is all of 45 seconds in length. Even the credits are uninspired and use the same six images and music track over and over again for twenty minutes.
And did I mention that you can't go back and view any of the sweet in-game cinematics? That doesn't even make sense for a game like this. One of the main reasons why I pre-ordered it was because of its awesome production value--the fact that Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill and Arleen Sorkin reprise their roles as the definitive voices of Batman, Joker and Harley Quinn, respectively. So I have to keep replaying the game to experience half the reason why I bought it? That's inexcusable and could have been easily fixed with an update patch or some free downloadable content.
Ah, yes... downloadable content. For a game that boasted a good amount of ongoing downloadable content, Batman: Arkham Asylum had exactly two downloads. Are you kidding me? The possibilities for downloadable expansions were endless. How about adding a level or two to the main game as side quests (e.g.,
Resident Evil 5
)? More Riddler challenges perhaps? Maybe have a combat challenge that includes a real fight with Harley or Killer Croc? Hell, maybe be able to play as Harley or Killer Croc in a combat challenge? Extra gadgets? Different batsuits (yes, there is one new armored outfit after you complete the game once, but come on... we're talking about Batman)? A theatre mode that allows us loyal fans to view the damn cut scenes by themselves? Gee, are we worth that much, Warner Brothers?
I digress.
So for what could have been in my top three favorite console games of all-time, Batman: Arkham Asylum instead takes the number five slot in my favorite Xbox 360 games. It's a great game, don't get me wrong, and I highly recommend it if for no other reason than just to finally experience a great Batman video game. There's so much there to like, but dammit, there's so much more they could have given us! It's like tasting a big spoonful of hot fudge sundae, and then your given three scoops of vanilla ice cream. It's good, but where's the hot fudge, nuts and cherry? I guess those will come in the form of the sequel,
Batman: Arkham City
(which I've already pre-ordered). Man, they've got me by the balls...
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