Batman: Arkham Asylum

- Reviewed on PS3 -

Batman: Arkham Asylum released on August 25th, 2009.

Being Rocksteady Studio's first Batman title, Batman: Arkham Asylum is / was a revolutionary (for its original release era) superhero adventure, that expanded all possible mechanics and features to the very core!

Combining a blend of everyday game mechanics (like tutorials and combat) with the true nature of Batman (and his universe) simply blew me away and is strong throughout the (average) 12-hour story. 

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

When The Joker is apprehended quite easily by the Caped Crusader, Batman opens the campaign by driving in the Batmobile to Arkham Asylum, the main setting for this title. 

Little did Batman know, (SPOILER) The Joker had a well thought out plan to have a "party" on the island, consisting of endless enemies and popular villains from the Batman universe. 

My absolute favorite part of Batman: Arkham Asylum is the ambience / music.

Rocksteady Studios' vision for an over-run asylum can be heavily credited to their music / sound department, because the small little tones played throughout the island's speaker system and even deep, dark silence, gives the player(s) a realistic approach to the Batman universe in general. 

Combat has always been (to me) the highlight of the Batman Arkham series. 

The satisfying sounds and combos you perform as Batman really makes you feel like you're doing damage, unlike other games that simply just "show" you. 

Combat, however, can be expanded greatly throughout the game, with the in-game upgrades you can unlock. 

There is a plethora of ways to acquire experience points to get these much-needed upgrades. One way is to of course, fight. Another is by finding / solving the Riddler's challenges. 

This feature (I've seen online) has been heavily debated. In my opinion, I don't mind these collectibles as they are the gateway to unlocking said upgrades, but also unlocking special collectibles such as character trophies, challenge modes, and even tape recordings from the popular villains around the asylum. 

Harping back to my previous statement about how Rocksteady Studios blended Batman lore with everyday game mechanics, Rocksteady Studios cleverly added these Riddler trophies (and riddles) for you to also backtrack and eventually spend a lot more time (post campaign) exploring / playing the game. 

The overall progression of Batman: Arkham Asylum's story surrounds you (as Batman) stopping numerous villains after they escape (thanks to Joker), and then eventually stopping Batman's most popular nemesis himself. 

Now the original game mode called Predator Mode, is where Batman shines the best. 

For those unaware, Predator Mode / Sections, are essential for progressing through buildings (areas) and its story arc. 

Stealth is key during this mode and normally comes with their fair share of rewards once completed. Some examples include, unlocked riddles, pathways, upgrades, etc. 

Batman: Arkham Asylum does have its flaws however, despite the wide range of positives.

One notable mistake could just be because of the era Batman: Arkham Asylum released in, but the weird dialogue exchanges between Batman and NPCs are really odd. 

I understand Batman is straight forward and to the point, but just having Batmans lips move and the NPC's sometimes not even looking at you... that can take you out of the immersive experience. 

The non-essential NPCs aren't great either in dialogue scenes to begin with, which is oddly an occurrence I have stumbled across many times throughout other video games.  

Pros: 

    - Plethora of Fun Collectibles
    - Good Longevity
    - Outstanding Music / Ambience 
    - Great / Immersive Combat
    - Original Batman (Character) Cast Present
    - Terrific Voice Acting (Batman and Joker)

Cons:

    - Graphics Loading in Too Late
    - Awkward Dialogue Exchanges (Specifically with Non-Essential NPCs)

My Rating for Batman: Arkham Asylum (on PS3):

4 / 5


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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.



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