|
No, seriously. A fantastic Batman game. Batman: Arkham Asylum succeeds by absolutely nailing the atmosphere of the Batman comics while introducing its new visual style to the mix. It also thrives because of the fantastic melee combat engine that rewards both button-mashing and strategic combat, and the solid stealth elements, coupled with a solid amount of riddle-solving. In short, it’s what the Batman game all the others should have been.
Fans of the Batman comics and animated series are undoubtedly aware of Arkham, the out-of-the-high, high-security prison that Gotham City’s most infamous villains end up in. In Arkham Asylum, you begin by observing that Batman has once again locked up the Joker, who is a bit too happy to be returning to his second home. You quickly learn that the Joker meant to be captured and has grand plans now that Batman is inside Arkham.
Arkham Asyum’s combat engine is incredibly satisfying. Two buttons control most of your repertoire allowing you to button mash your way to success if you choose. The game also has a simple (but effective) counter system that warns you when you’re about to be attacked. Button mashing may get you through the game, but skilled fighters will be able to string together amazing-looking combos, that become very useful when enemy groups go from two to 12, and begin introducing knives and guns into the mix. You gain new moves through experience points that you pick up along the way. It wouldn’t be a Batman game without some epic fights from the universe’s key villains so of course you’ll have some epic boss fights in the game. Of course, Batman’s fists aren’t the only tools available at his disposal. You also have batarangs to throw at enemies, a grapple gun to take you across the room, and a “detective vision” that serves as an X-Ray mode where you can see enemies through walls (and figure out which ones have guns), identify destructible services and more easily find hidden items.
In addition to the combat, you’ll also find 240 riddles on Arkham Island that award you with experience points, Challenge mode maps, and character trophies and art. All of the riddles (which really are just optional quests and not necessarily riddles) are great, though my favorites are the ones in which you need to photograph question marks – something that is harder than it sounds because they are split into two pieces and the whole mark is only really viewable from a particular location.
You’ll also find eight challenge maps in two difficulties (four of the maps allow you to play them as Joker on the PlayStation 3 version of the game). In the combat challenges, you’ll have to take out four successively tougher enemy waves as you struggle to survive. There are also stealth challenges that give all of your enemies guns and you’re tasked with taking them out as quickly as possible. The game awards you medals for completing the challenges in specific ways, allowing for even more replay value.
In terms of presentation, Batman is clearly up to par. The graphics are excellent, from the excellent models and levels, to the superbly detailed textures. The animation is fantastic, too. The voice acting in the game is very well. Whether it’s the enemies’ boastful proclamations of Batman’s upcoming death or the major villains’ well-written and performed dialogue, it’s all a treat.
Batman: Arkham Asylum would be a terrific third-person action game on its own thanks to the excellent combat engine and well-designed levels. But coupled with the Batman license the game becomes a must-play. It’s a truly wonderful experience to take care of enemies one by one and observe as they begin to move in pairs and take more care for their actions while the Joker taunts them for not getting rid of you. Rocksteady obviously took great care in the game, something that comes across every level and line of dialogue. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Sep 25, 2009
|
