Batman: Arkham Asylum

UPC: 788687200660

Platform: Xbox 360

Publisher: Eidos Interactive

Developer: Rocksteady Studios

Category: Action

Style(s): Third-Person 3D Action

Synopsis: Batman: Arkham Asylum is an original adventure with fast action and large-scale combat sequences, played from a close third-person perspective in a dark, survival horror-styled setting. The game begins as Batman delivers the Joker to Arkham Asylum, Gotham City's psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. The villain springs a trap and takes over the institution, with an army of thugs and a host of dangerous inmates to back him up. The twisted plot plays out in a freely explored re-creation of the asylum and surrounding island. In addition to prowling the corridors of Arkham, Batman can explore the outdoor areas, using his equipment to reach high spots and glide safely back down. Specially suited for the game's one-against-many melee style, the three-button combat control scheme is intended for free-flowing moves and strings of combo attacks on multiple opponents. Batman also has a belt full of useful gadgets to help even the odds, with x-ray scanners and chemical tracers that let him see through walls and follow invisible tracks. Stealthy prowling gives advantages of positioning and surprise, rewarding the hero's caution and patience with one-hit takedowns. Experience earned through combat, exploration, and experimentation allow Batman to create better equipment, more finely tuned to the given tasks. In addition to the Joker and his brilliant aide in evil, Harley Quinn, Batman faces other super-powered asylum patients, including Bane, Killer Croc, Zsasz. As usual, brains as well as brawn are required to unravel Joker's insanely inspired scheme. The story for Batman: Arkham Asylum was written by Paul Dini, writer and producer for Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond. Cartoon series regulars Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin perform voice acting. The game was developed by Rocksteady Studios, creator of Eidos' 2006 first-person shooter Urban Chaos: Riot Response. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 20-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

The black-and-white manual covers just the basics of combat and controls. Everything you need to know is covered within the game itself, through helpful tooltips and messages. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Arkham Asylum uses the Unreal Engine to deliver its sharp visuals. Large, detailed character models; fluid animation during fight scenes; and an impressive looking "detective mode," which lets you see all enemies within a room, are some of the highlights. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Falling somewhere between abysmal Superman and solid Spider-Man in terms of overall quality, the Batman license has largely suffered from a design problem. Far too many titles fail to deliver something tailored to the caped crusader in favor of something that could have starred any superhero not named Aquaman. So it's understandable if expectations for a Batman-licensed game on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC are low, especially considering the pedigree of developer Rocksteady Games, whose previous credit was the disappointing Urban Chaos: Riot Response. The feeling of trepidation when approaching this digital Dark Knight shifts into anticipation as you watch the stylish, cinematic opening, which has you walking with Batman as he skeptically watches over his new prisoner, the Joker, slowly being wheeled across the gloomy, decrepit halls of Arkham Asylum. Giving you a taste of what is about to come, the Joker taunts the guards every inch of the way, until a trap is sprung, and the inmates literally take over the asylum. Over the course of one long, arduous night, Batman must figure out what surprise the Joker has planned and then find a way to stop it. The entire game takes place on Arkham Island, which consists of six large structures and three outdoor sections. While many Batman fans would have traded in their utility belts for a free-roaming, crime fighting game in Gotham City, the smaller scope allowed the design team to focus on adding as much detail and sense of history to the environments as possible. From the penitentiary and morgue to the botanical gardens and caves, comic book fans will appreciate the ominous, gritty atmosphere inspired by Frank Miller's re-imagined bat. The gameplay in Arkham Asylum is carefully divided into three parts: fast-paced, rhythmic fighting; stealth-based combat; and free-roaming exploration. All are equally enjoyable. Batman is agile, powerful, and capable of single-handedly defeating large groups of the Joker's hulking thugs the moment you slip inside the cowl. And the best part is, he gets even stronger as you progress, with a total of 20 upgrades from which to choose. You can throw up to three batarangs simultaneously, detonate multiple explosive charges, and even leave enemies dangling helplessly from various stone gargoyles perched high above the Gothic environments. There is some detective work too, but this aspect of Batman's persona is limited -- typically involving a button press to "analyze" smoke trails or fingerprints and then following them straight to your target. To encourage exploration, the game offers various Riddler challenges, but these "riddles" aren't head-scratching questions requiring some careful thought. Instead, you are basically given an item description and have to hunt down (and scan) the referenced object in a nearby room. Other "challenges" involve finding hidden question mark trophies, Arkham relics, and interview tapes located underneath grates, inside crawlspaces, and so forth, many of which require Batman's more advanced gadgets to access. As you climb, jump, glide, shimmy, crawl, and grapple your way through the labyrinthine areas of Arkham Island, you won't find much in the way of diverse enemies to battle. The overwhelming majority of foes are members of the Joker's crew, and they all look like they share the same gym membership. Outside of the Joker, you'll also have to deal with Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Bane, Poison Ivy, and the Scarecrow at various points, but most of these encounters are indirect, often forcing you to confront waves of third-rate lackeys instead of elaborate one-on-one fights against the archenemies themselves. While having so few enemy types and underwhelming boss encounters would have been a serious problem for most action titles, Arkham Asylum's haunting atmosphere, impeccable voice acting, and equally exciting fight and stealth sequences are too strong to ignore. Actor Mark Hamill deserves special recognition for bringing the Joker to life, who will be a constant presence in your journey through mocking updates over the asylum's PA system. Like Batman's line launcher, the game quickly grabs a hold of you and starts drawing you in, keeping you hooked from its surprising start to its hero-fulfilling finish. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The game is rather linear in design, but it's fun to go back and search for collectibles that you might have missed during your first pass through areas. Challenge rooms for both combat and stealth also add some replay value for those who want to earn the highest scores, but most will play these once or twice and be done with them. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Kevin Conroy's grimly serious Batman, Mark Hamill's deliciously deranged Joker, and Arleen Sorkin's ditsy, high-pitched Harley Quinn are the standouts, but the sound is excellent across the board. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The gadgets, the rhythmic fighting, and the frustration-free stealth sequences all keep you involved while exploring the various buildings in Arkham Asylum. You actually feel powerful in this game, something most superhero titles seem to forget. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.