Okay Geek Farm
Batman Arkham Asylum Review
Ricardo Trejo
I finally finished my copy of Arkham Asylum and all I can say is that this is by far the Batman game everyone has waited for. With throwbacks to the classic animated series of the 90's, this game is a gem in a sea of otherwise pitiful attempts at making the dark knight a successful gaming experience.
Read the full Review after the Jump
Overview: Mark Hamill to me is the Joker. When people ask, 'who did a better performance, Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson," the only thing I hear in my head is the eerie and shrill laugh I heard over and over again as a kid. That laugh didn't come from either of the mentioned actors, but rather from the beloved former Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill. The same goes with with Batman and Kevin Conroy. This game brought that nostalgic and pure feeling back to me - one that I thought was lost even after watching the masterpiece known as The Dark Knight.
Plot: What you saw in the commercials and trailers was exactly what you got: Joker, arrives in Arkham only to spring a trap that locks the Caped Crusader within the walls alongside insane inmates and homicidal maniacs. Oh, but most importantly, Batman must face off against some of his most feared and well known villains: Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy, and Killer Croc in a place that's a home away from home to them.
Gameplay: Bruce Wayne trained himself to become the Batman by studying all forms of martial arts, reading up on human psychology, and also keeping up to date with the latest and greatest in technology. In Arkham Asylum, Batman's physical and mental tools are entirely at your disposal - except for the brain power that is - you're going to need your own to solve all those darn riddles.
In terms of gameplay, the game is broken down into puzzle solving and fighting. You are given a situation, you need to clear a few obstacles, and it's up to you to figure out how you want to go around doing that. Using gadgets will help you out in most situations, but more often than not you'll find yourself having to rely on your fists to clear paths. And laying the beat down on thugs is simple since you'll be using a quick and swift system that depends entirely on successfully executing combos; being outnumbered 6 to 1, or even 20 to 1, should prove no problem as the melee skills you learn become second nature while you progress throughout the game.
Difficulty: When you're fighting enough thugs that you can't count them on your fingers it does seem sort of unfair... for the inmates of Arkham. Batman is a one man army and the moves in this game really show it. You'll always feel in control of the situation when in battle, but don't get too cocky. Forgetting to counter can lead to dire situations, so it's best to remember what Ra's Al Ghul taught Bruce in Batman Begins, "always mind your surroundings." Also, it doesn't hurt to make sure you combo, combo, combo. Other than that, you won't die too many times in the game, except when it comes to trial and error in certain rooms with armed inmates. But don't worry - you won't throw your controller at your shiny HDTV.
Whose it for: Without hesitation or a doubt in my mind, Batman fans. This game was made for the loyal die hard fans of Batman. That being said, it wasn't made for the kiddies. Arkham Asylum was made to show the darker side of the universe, heck, it takes place in an asylum if that gives you any hint; the villains in Batman are seriously demented and quite scary if you think about it. Anyway, I would think anyone over 13 should be able to handle everything the game throws at them, but be advised there is cursing, and some violent scenes. Read more about the rating here at the ESRB's site.
Estimated time to finish: About 15 hours or so, but finding and solving all 240 of Riddler's riddles may seem a bit overwhelming at times - that's unless of course you are looking online for some sort of help. The game also offers unlockable challenges, so the experience lasts longer than just the main campaign. Although, once you've finished it all there isn't much replay value besides getting all 100% of the achievements or trophies.
Rent/Buy/Pass: This may be a tough choice. If you're a Batman fan and are looking for a solid title that you want to proudly keep and shelve next to your Batman the Animated Series box sets and Dark Knight Blu Ray, then buy it. If you simply want a fun action game that keeps you entertained every step of the way and that's all, then rent it. This is not a pass by any means.
