Batman: Arkham Asylum was the first major game release from UK's Rocksteady Studios, subsidiary of Eidos Entertainment, coming out in September 2009. And if you were looking for a way to make a massive splash in the gaming industry, taking one of the most popular superheroes of all time, following the release of the most financially successful superhero movie of all time the previous year, and pinning it all on a game that weaves together fantastic graphics, engaging gameplay, and a story from a popular Batman veteran, Arkham Asylum certainly made the right kind of waves for Rocksteady.
Written by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Streets of Gotham) and featuring Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (The Joker) reprising their roles from the long-running animated series, Arkham Asylum brings the gamer into the creepy, noir-ish world of Gotham City, specifically to the titular mental institution home to Batman's most famous villains. Batman, having escorted the Joker back to Arkham, is trapped among a hodgepodge of Arkham psychopaths and Blackgate Prisons sociopaths as his antagonist has "gloriously" sprung a trap for the Dark Knight, leading to one of the longest nights of Batman's life.
Running around seven-hours on Normal difficulty, with several more hours to spend searching for hidden items and trophies, Arkham Asylum's story is solid through-and-through, even if the boss battles tend to work the same way (excluding the game's final two confrontations). With a combination of button-mash beatdowns on nameless thugs and intriguing faceoffs with the likes of Killer Croc and Poison Ivy (and some truly inspired, if repetitive, Scarecrow sequences), there are few flaws in Dini's script. What helps matters most is the excellent voice work from veterans Conroy, Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn) and especially Hamill.
But just running around as Batman in a packed story isn't enough for the Rocksteady folks. The intense focus on detail in this game is evident from the very first moments you flip on your console, and makes Arkham Asylum one of the best looking games of this generation. When you're running through the mad-cap annals of the institution, Batman's cape flutters behind; as you search cells for clues to what the Joker is planning, Easter eggs from all corners of the Batman universe pop up; and when you exit the Asylum for the first time to gaze out over Arkham Island, you get a clear sense that the developers had a passion for their subject matter, cramming this environment with gorgeously textured landscapes and meticulously detailed interiors. With the exception of the Uncharted games, you may not find a more rich and detailed world on any console game, period.
As for the Bat himself, this is exactly what fans of the Caped Crusader were hoping for in terms of total immersion into the hands, feet, and mind of Bruce Wayne. While you start off with just your trusty Batarang and your fists, the way that Arkham Asylum utilizes the strengths and skills of Batman are incomparable to his previous digital outings. Relying on a simple four-button layout of Strike, Counter, Stun and Run/Evade on the face buttons, with additional combos and gadgets unlocked as you gain experience and upgrade your inventory, sliding into Batman's shoes is very easy. If I had one complaint about this game, it would be regarding a feature called Detective Mode. While it doesn't necessarily "break" the game, I found my reliance upon this mode to detract somewhat from the experience of the surroundings, as this all-encompassing mode serves as Batman's 'sixth sense,' allowing him to see around and through solid objects to identify threats, picks up hard-to-notice clues in the environment, all while distorting the coloration of his surroundings into a blue-tinted view that completely nullifies the greatest asset of this game, the stunning surroundings that encompass Batman's world. Hopefully the just-announced follow up, Batman: Arkham City will correct this, either by limiting the use of Detective Mode, or somehow eliminating it altogether.
Despite that minor quibble, Arkham Asylum is a well put-together enterprise. The character interactions feel natural, the voice acting is roundly excellent with few exceptions, and the design and feel of the game's playground is engrossing. On both the PlayStation and XBOX versions of the game, there were some minor issues with syncing lip movements to dialogue, and there would be the occasional screen tearing, but these issues (which were few and far between) do not lessen the impact of this fantastic game. Rocksteady eschewed the trend of most modern games by not including online multiplayer or co-op gameplay, but their inclusion of multiple unlockable and downloadable challenge rooms, including the ability to play as the Joker in the Stealth Challenge rooms, provides for extended gameplay beyond the completion of the single player campaign, and online leaderboards to compare yourself to the most skilled Dark Knight devotees.
With no local or on-line co-op or multiplayer modes, Rocksteady had to provide a solid and engaging single-player experience that can hold the attention of today's ADD-addled gamers for almost ten hours of gameplay. Mission accomplished. A top-notch story, challenging combat and stealth arenas, and a faithfully-detailed world populated by classic and beloved characters, people waiting for a video game adaptation of The Dark Knight need look no further than Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is the game that comic fans have been waiting for, and hands-down one of the best releases on any platform in 2009.
With no local or on-line co-op or multiplayer modes, Rocksteady had to provide a solid and engaging single-player experience that can hold the attention of today's ADD-addled gamers for almost ten hours of gameplay. Mission accomplished. A top-notch story, challenging combat and stealth arenas, and a faithfully-detailed world populated by classic and beloved characters, people waiting for a video game adaptation of The Dark Knight need look no further than Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is the game that comic fans have been waiting for, and hands-down one of the best releases on any platform in 2009.
strong work sir
ReplyDeleteI remember a point playing through the game where I was using the detective view to see where I could use my gadgets and thinking "this reminds me of Metroid". I liked the addition of that mode, probably because I am a bit of an achievement whore, and it made finding all the secrets that much easier. I did, however, spend a lot of time switching in and out of it to make sure I got to see all of the surroundings in full effect.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that was my main issue, too: I'm a self-avowed trophy whore (PS3 guy, remember) so yeah, I'd use D-mode to find all the Riddler stuff, but it made me miss out on some of the coolest environments ever. On repeat playthroughs, I've tried to avoid using the mode whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of against the feature when I roamed around the first time because I am into beating a game first and on the second play through then finding all the secrets. A major issue in retrospect for myself would be the neglect of aesthetic I've missed because of detective mode. Even on that first trek through Id think "My what a blue world this is."
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