Batman: Arkham Asylum Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 21 August, 2009

Cape fear.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Character goes a long way. Developers know this, which is why most games based on existing characters are, at best, adequate in their construction. Ghostbusters, for example. It's a rather ordinary corridor shooter, really. Dress it up in a funny script, get a beloved movie cast back together and throw in Slimer and Marshmallow Man, and suddenly you've got something that fans will embrace regardless of the pedestrian construction. The litmus test for any licensed game is to strip away all the fan service and see if we'd still be as interested.

Within the first hour of play, Batman: Arkham Asylum passes that test with flying colours. The appropriately named Rocksteady has delivered a solid, immersive blockbuster title. It's well paced, boasts a well-judged variety of gameplay elements and is brought to life with excellent visuals, a compelling story and superb voice acting. Even if you were controlling a generic ninja rather than an iconic superhero, this would be a polished and engrossing game.

Add the Batman to that recipe and you've got something remarkable; a game that doesn't just use its famous character to make up for rote design, but one that takes a rich and detailed fictional universe and uses it to enhance an already enticing prospect. The great thing about Arkham Asylum isn't that it's a Batman game, it's that it only makes sense as a Batman game. Every plot detail, every gadget, every action set-piece ties the game back into the world of DC Comics in a way that feels utterly organic.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Screenshot 1

The seamless interaction between characters means that every encounter feels viscerally real.

Taking its title and basic concept from Grant Morrison's brilliantly obtuse graphic novel, we're dropped into Batman's world as he delivers The Joker to Arkham for the umpteenth time. This time, however, the Clown Prince of Crime was defeated too easily, and Batman is wary. His instincts are proven right when the Joker springs a trap on his captors. The lunatic takes over the asylum, and it's up to the man in the cape to restore order.

Drawing inspiration from both Resident Evil and Tomb Raider, what follows is an action-adventure in the classic mould. You'll spend a lot of time fighting, but it's far from a mindless brawler. You'll do a lot of creeping around, but it's never just a stealth game. There's plenty of climbing and exploring, but it's more than a platform game. It's a true hybrid, delivering distinct gameplay styles in carefully measured portions without ever losing sight of the bigger picture.

Combat is the first element you're introduced to, following an enjoyable interactive cut-scene opening, and the pared-back method chosen for hand-to-hand fighting is immediately impressive. Relying on just two buttons - one to attack, the other to counter - it takes the emphasis away from memorising complex special moves and instead lets you focus on timing and flow. Tap the attack button and Batman will direct his fists and feet in the direction of the left stick. If an enemy approaches from another angle, buzz lines will flash above their head to alert you to their imminent assault. Tap the counter button and Batman seamlessly alters his attacks to block and then eliminate the new threat.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Screenshot 2

A whole game of this stealth style would be frustrating, but served up in bite-sized chunks it's easy to forgive the sometimes clunky AI.

In theory it could end up being a question of just steering Batman through the villains, windmilling his arms like a fool. There's more to it than that, though, and it soon becomes clear that steady, precise rhythms are more effective than button mashing. The higher the combo meter climbs, the faster and more agile Batman becomes. As the game progresses, you can add a couple of special attacks to your arsenal - a grapple and throw move, plus an instant takedown - as well as utilise your batarangs to stun and slow opponents from afar. Health recharges after battle but, for as long as enemies are engaged, it can only ever go down. This neatly raises the stakes for each encounter without making progress impossible for those who haven't mastered the combo system.

It's hard not to pick up the combo style though and soon you're elbowing one guy in the face, grabbing another enemy's leg in mid-kick, uppercutting him for the impertinence and then vaulting over him to deliver a crushing roundhouse to the thug with a baseball bat rushing to join the scrum. At all times, it's a thrilling and satisfyingly cinematic way of presenting Batman's elite fighting skills. Everything connects with wince-inducing force, and the animation chains it all together beautifully, even if there is some forgiveable polygon overlap. For the coup de grace, when you finish off the last enemy you're treated to a punishing slow motion close up as Batman delivers the final devastating blow.

As slick as it is, the game would soon grow tiresome if every corridor and hallway was filled with dozens of foes to pummel into submission. This isn't the armoured tank version of Batman made popular in the movies, so armed enemies require a more subtle approach. Periodically, you'll reach an area populated by gun-toting goons on patrol. Foolishly, they always seem to choose areas rich in stealth opportunities, and you're well equipped to take full advantage.

Your grapple will let you zip up to high vantage points, then glide down and boot bad guys in the mush, while grates in the floor can allow you to travel underneath an enemy then pop up behind them. You can use corners for cover, and throw batarangs to stun enemies from hiding, and as with the melee combat there are also upgrades to your abilities to purchase with your accumulated XP. Other gadgets can play a part as well. Explosive gel can be sprayed on weakened walls, and then used to drop rubble on unsuspecting villains. Sonic batarangs can be used to lure enemies wearing special monitoring collars, then detonated in a pulse to knock them out.

Dropping down from a gargoyle and stringing up an enemy by his feet is undeniably fun. Even more fun is swinging away to a different spot, then dropping the poor sap on his friends when they come to investigate, and then watching in Detective Mode as their heart rate rockets and panic sets in. It's just a shame that their AI isn't as acute as their emotional state. Enemies either have enormous blind spots, large enough for them to run straight past you, or they're ruthlessly efficient. It never really feels like you're outwitting them, more that you're working out the gaps in their virtual routine and taking advantage.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Screenshot 3

As the game progresses, cuts and rips start to appear on Batman's costume and cape. Another nice touch.

Stealth is therefore never quite as engaging as straight combat. When it works, it's fantastic, but controlling Batman in close quarters can be a fumble - especially when you need him to vault over a railing, and he decides to do an evasive roll instead - and as the stealth sections get harder, they can be frustrating. One particularly taxing segment puts you up against seven armed enemies, each wearing collars that will alert the others should they be taken down. Your usual lofty vantage points have been booby-trapped by Joker, so you're forced to creep and roll on the ground, a task that pushes the game's stealth features to the limit.

When you don't have to be too careful about being spotted, control isn't an issue. Batman sprints at the push of a button, and will automatically jump across gaps and grab ledges. He can glide on his cape, so dropping from any height isn't a problem, and his grapple gun has fantastic range. Should you tumble off the map into a hole, or into poison gas, he simply grapples to safety again. Rare are the occasions where you'll find yourself holding back because you don't want to get stuck. Wherever you are, Batman is agile enough to get out again.

He's a good-looking fellow as well, a large and convincing character with genuine weight and presence that seems to favour Jim Lee's take on the Dark Knight. All dialogue is lip-synched during gameplay, and along with the impressive animation, it totally sells the idea that this is a living, breathing superhero, able to take punishment as well as dish it out. Perhaps most impressive for fans, though, is that this is a game that remembers Batman is a detective. You won't need his brains quite as much as his brawn, but simply by acknowledging that the Dark Knight defeats his foes using his intellect the experience already feels richer.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Screenshot 4

The game doesn't overuse Batman's villain roster, but there are references galore for fans to savour.

Detective Mode is where most of this thinking happens. This infra-red vision can be used to locate and identify other people - whether they're enemies, terrified Arkham staff or even unconscious or dead - but it also highlights environmental features. Destructible walls and removable grates are the obvious subjects, but there are also several sequences where you have to track someone down.

This involves scanning a scene for some sort of clue - the first one, for example, is a whisky flask. Batman's cool computer then isolates and identifies the exact brand, and calibrates his cowl vision to highlight forensic traces of the stuff in the air. Really, all you're doing is following a linear series of dots to the next objective, but it's here that character comes into play. You're not just following dots. You're Batman, hot on the trail of the kidnapped Jim Gordon, with an arsenal of investigative technology at your command.

If this isn't enough like real detective work, then The Riddler is on hand to supply more brainteasers. He's hacked into your communication channel, and will pop up with cryptic clues in each area of the map. Some are incredibly easy, others are surprisingly clever or require knowledge of Batman's vast mythos. Even after the story is completed, these teasers are compelling enough to lure you back to the map to crack them all.

Less engaging, there are also Riddler trophies lurking around the map, chattering Joker teeth to destroy, interviews with Arkham's famous inmates lying around on tapes and mysterious messages from the tragic Amadeus Arkham, spelling out the bleak history of his asylum. The story is linear but the gameworld is not, and at any time you can wander off and sniff out hidden bonuses. There are 240 such secrets to find, and unlike most other games that pad themselves out with hunt and gather elements, these are surprisingly compelling. It's hard to miss some, but that's just enough to tickle the OCD gland that makes you think you should probably try and find some more. Each earns you a sizeable chunk of useful XP as well as character biographies and rendered statues of in-game characters. Far from essential, but still compulsively collectable all the same.

Also prolonging your pleasure are the Challenge Rooms, unlocked through gameplay, with extra ones available as DLC. Split between combat and stealth, these not only test your ability to dispatch foes quickly and effectively, but also set you specific tasks to earn medals. You might have to defeat all enemies using Silent Takedowns, to use an obvious example. As an optional extra, they're fun to dip into, and leaderboard obsessives will enjoy the ranked competition they provide.

Tying all these disparate elements together is a satisfying story from the pen of Paul Dini, whose stewardship of the seminal 1990s animated series should allay any fears that anyone will behave out of character. In actual fact, by placing the game in the realistically restricted confines of Arkham, and by having the unpredictable Joker as the antagonist, the story doesn't really have to stretch too much to accommodate the requirements of a videogame. Joker is playing with Batman, after all, and so it makes sense that he'll be opening up new areas only when you've performed specific tasks.

Also carried over from the animated series are Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker. Conroy's task is the less glamorous one - he has to be stoic and determined at all times, and does it with customary aplomb. It's Hamill's game, though, and his cackling performance ensures that the Joker's presence is felt throughout, even though he's rarely on-screen. Much like every other element of the game, the dialogue is virtually seamless. Knock out a sentry while he's talking on his radio and Joker's script changes accordingly. "Is that you, Bats?" he coos. It's undeniably cool, and a great way to make you feel immersed in the world.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum' Screenshot 5

The zipline is just one of the gadgets you'll unlock along the way. Also cool is the Cryptographic Sequence, which lets you overload security barriers in a fun thumbstick mini-game.

Complaints are minor. For all the attention to detail, the game-world is a disappointingly lifeless place. Only certain objects are affected by physics, so you can have a ventilation grate that clatters out of the way as you pass, while a small chair becomes an impassable barrier. There are also moments where character logic gives way to videogame lore. It seems highly unlikely that Batman would travel anywhere without a gas mask of some kind, yet poisonous fumes are used as obstacles several times. Ditto for electrified floors, even though Batman clearly isn't running around in his bare feet.

It's also a shame that the last chunk of gameplay loses some of its hard-earned lustre, devolving into a series of depressingly ordinary boss battles of the "repeat this pattern three times" variety. It's a testament to the game's narrative that I don't really want to go into too much detail, for fear of spoiling some cool moments, but showdowns with Bane, Killer Croc and Poison Ivy all feel a little anti-climactic.

One villain who does come out of the game smelling of roses (even if they are decaying) is the Scarecrow. Several times during the course of the story, you'll be subjected to his fear-inducing gas, and the way Batman's nightmares seep into the gameworld is quite brilliant. One sequence, close to the end of the game, even calls to mind Kojima's meta-textual monkey-business with Psycho Mantis. It's just a shame that these superb twists on the formula are always followed by some awkward side-on platforming dream sections. In a game already full of different gameplay mechanics, it feels like a step too far and the fussy control makes them a fleeting inconvenience rather than a refreshing break in style.

However, most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star. Fans of the caped crusader really shouldn't hesitate - this isn't just the best grown-up Batman game, it's the best superhero game, bar none.

9 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (141) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SleepyDeathFred #1 3 years ago

    Hurray!

  • chessboxer #2 3 years ago

    Got it pre-ordered, glad I don't have to cancel it.

  • McBradders #3 3 years ago

    Did not expect a 9. Nice.

  • Widge #4 3 years ago

    NEUF?
    Embargo!
    Conspiracy!

    All that aside, what a tasty demo there was for this game. Dead up for it, you could tell it was going to be class.

    Completely the opposite to Wet, which had me reaching for the mind bleach.

  • VicViper #5 3 years ago

    Excellent, had it pre-ordered already, although I waiting to see if I get the collectors edition or if game has decided not to bother.

  • mowgli #6 3 years ago

    God damn I've been waiting for this for so long and it has turned out better than I could have imagined.

  • GamesConnoisseur #7 3 years ago

    Right on! Finger up to the naysayers! Knew from demo that the game gonna be fun and a deserving place in the Batman based franchise, and even the wider Super Heroes verse.

  • spudsbuckley #8 3 years ago

    Better than Halo.

  • kangarootoo #9 3 years ago

    I think I had mis-read this one completely. I didn't have anything against it, but all the footage I had seen so far just made me file it under "3rd person fighting game based on known franchise", which based on my usual game prefs meant it wasn't very high on my priority list.

    However, it sounds like its probably one of the best current examples of that genre of game, which means I need to have a nosey if only on principle and for professional reasons.

  • cianchristopher #10 3 years ago

    Jesus, this game snuck up on me! I honestly gave it absolutely no attention until the demo came out and I "what-the-hell"-ed it!

    I was so blown away by the quality of the demo that I just knew this wouldn't let me down come review-time.

    Well done Rocksteady! Great to see a young developer shine on only their second outing. Bravo!

  • Gl3n #11 3 years ago

    I had this pegged at 7/10, nice surprise, not that i'm overly interested.

  • EmiliasHorse #12 3 years ago

    Great review. Certain buy. Happy all round

  • jefranklin18 #13 3 years ago

    Will be getting this game based on my try out of the demo. What I've seen has captured the character of the Batman well, and I do not read graphic novels.

  • Stormflood #14 3 years ago

    Pleasantly surprised. No need to cancel the pre-order after all.

  • Master09 #15 3 years ago

    Great. I have already pre-ordered the game and been really hyped about it and it's a relief it doesn't disappoint. The best super-hero game. Well done Eidos.

  • Metalfish #16 3 years ago

    And with that a certain Ram-Raider shaped person has gaming pie all over their face.

  • cyacomini #17 3 years ago

    2 excellent super hero games* in 1 year? wow.

    *Batman and Wolverine.

  • davisorle #18 3 years ago

    See ppl say graphics dont matter for a game yet if this game wasn't so great looking along with its', ofc great gameplay, wouldn't be this gorgeous as a total... It does desearve the score of the review plus agree with most of it. I think ill get it from Steam for my pc though im not too sure yet at all :/ I knopw I saw it in there though

  • MrGilder #19 3 years ago

    Loved the demo and have it on pre-order so whatever the review score i was gonna be picking this up - 9/10 now makes me want this even more!

  • Hendo #20 3 years ago

    RAM Raider says, "ding ding ding!"

  • smelly #21 3 years ago

    nernernernernernenrenerner!

    Buying this tomorrow!

  • Metalfish #22 3 years ago

    @Hendo, it has become apparent that RR has said "ding ding" about pretty much ever single bloody review of this game, damaging his credibility rather a lot.

  • smelly #23 3 years ago

    btw - am i the only one who's a bit suspect that these reviews seem to appear after the ign ones and pick up similar points?

  • zuljin #24 3 years ago

    A good superhero game? Awesome, I'll be getting this now...

    EDIT: For the love of god donnie080208, start using punctuation and line breaks!
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/09 @ 17:34

  • chudders #25 3 years ago

    No Michael Keaton? No sale.




    Just kidding.

  • Hunam #26 3 years ago

    FRAUD ACTIONS!

  • Hendo #27 3 years ago

    @Metalfish it's a fair point, though anyone that trusts a Gamesmaster review gets what they deserve. I'm shocked they're still in print!

  • Vertius #28 3 years ago

    I figured it'd top out at 8/10. That's quite reassuring. Fancy that, I'll actually be getting a good game with mah batarang! ;)

  • smelly #29 3 years ago

    >"3rd person fighting game based on known franchise"

    Surely that's better than ANOTHER 1st person shooting game?

    But play the demo.. you'll be surprised! Its not often a play a demo and am left wanting more!

  • Cheeky #30 3 years ago

    Day one for me then. :)

  • miiiguel #31 3 years ago

    Being a graphic novel collector, and having a few of Batman, most of them very well written, I still can't empathize with the persona. Too "vigilante"; too "fascist". No, it's not in the same way that almost any other super-hero, with Batman there's something else.

    No reason to stop buying the books or the game (which is pre-ordered). Good call.

  • muscleblade #32 3 years ago

    I expected a 9/10. But i have played the full game. The demo did not do this game justice imo.

    Batman Arkham Asylum has everything. Great story, great graphics, great combat mechanics and great gameplay.

  • Azazel #33 3 years ago

    Looking forward to this. Seems to have pleasantly exceeded a lot of peoples expectations.

  • Ninja_Tino #34 3 years ago

    Greatly written review (and not just because it got a high score). Now we all also know that Eurogamer is obviously biased towards DC over Marvel as well. Joke, by the way.

  • makeamazing #35 3 years ago

    @muscleblade can you tell me what things in particular make the game a 16? Is it a Terminator 16 (e.g shouldnt have been) or is there anything particularly bad in it?

  • andywilkie35 #36 3 years ago

    I'm looking forward to this very much. Less than a week to go! (assuming my shopto order arrives on Thursday)

  • DUFFMAN5 #37 3 years ago

    Fookin great, just cant wait.

  • Bulbatron #38 3 years ago

    The game sounds great, but I'm really shit at the whole stealth thing, so I don't know whether to get this game or not.

  • darc #39 3 years ago

    This looks awesome. Is it out in the UK already? I see a US date of 8/25.

    I was starting to think I'd pick up a PS3 Slim in September, but now it looks like we're going to get blitzed w/ excellent new 360 games, so perhaps not. I'll never find time to play half this stuff anyway! Sony really should have made their move at the *beginning* of the annual summer drought.

  • Sonic_D #40 3 years ago

    Demo made me think this game might get a bit repetitive, but it looks like it's worth the punt. Reviews have been very positive.

  • Doopliss #41 3 years ago

    Sorry but this is not a well written review. It's bad enough that he has to rattle through all the usual cliches - "It's well paced, boasts a well-judged variety of gameplay elements and is brought to life with excellent visuals, a compelling story and superb voice acting."

    But he later proves that that stuff is complete babble by contradicting it - "Complaints are minor. For all the attention to detail, the game-world is a disappointingly lifeless place."
    Edited by 1 at 21/08/09 @ 18:17

  • Vortex808 #42 3 years ago

    Just pre-ordered it having seen this review- I'd maybe have cancelled my wolfenstein order if i'd seen the review in time, but it seems fun enough after a long time of no new game-age!

  • Widge #43 3 years ago

    and then goes on to detail that this is referring to stuff like static chairs and whatnot as opposing to an overarching sweeping statement. I fail to see your issue.

  • BartonFink #44 3 years ago

    Cool will be picking this up in a few months when the price has dropped like a stone.

  • BillyBrush #45 3 years ago

    The litmus test for any licensed game is to strip away all the fan service and see if we'd still be as interested.

    Within the first hour of play, Batman: Arkham Asylum passes that test with flying colours. The appropriately named Rocksteady has delivered a solid, immersive blockbuster title. It's well paced, boasts a well-judged variety of gameplay elements and is brought to life with excellent visuals, a compelling story and superb voice acting. Even if you were controlling a generic ninja rather than an iconic superhero, this would be a polished and engrossing game.
    ...
    ...
    ...
    ...
    The great thing about Arkham Asylum isn't that it's a Batman game, it's that it only makes sense as a Batman game.


    Erm...yea, that makes sense.

    Game looks very good, i think i'll wait till it's 24.99 or thereabouts as i'm a cheapskate, but it looks worth a play.

  • Fab4 #46 3 years ago

    "I am the joker. I make death into a game you can get excited about."

  • KreyAtiv #47 3 years ago

    I was thinking about this a miss until I played the demo when it came out. Not a button basher as I expected and as the reviewer mentioned it is quite fluid. Even though Batman's outfit can get ripped it doesn't seem to stay that way for the cutscenes (similar to Wolverine), but a small niggle.
    Have this pre-ordered and looking forward to tackling the big bad guy that was at the end of the demo. :)

  • Rodchenko #48 3 years ago

    Didn't like the demo much to be honest, and was bored about halfway through. Need to give it another try, I guess.

  • JohnnyWashnGo #49 3 years ago

    Wow - didn't really expect a 9. What a result.

    The demo convinced me that my pre-order should stay and after reading this, I can't wait to get my hands on it. Special edition here we come ;)

  • miiiguel #50 3 years ago

    Anyone knows a (trustworthy) place to get the special edition for the 360? I wanted to cancel my reg for the special at Amazon but they are sold out (though they recommended a seller which is trying to push each copy for 129 pounds. Seems a bit steep) ?

  • Artemis_Matsas #51 3 years ago

    Excellent!

    I can only wish that the next Iron Man game would be just as good (Dream on)

  • Trafford #52 3 years ago

    Back of the net!

  • DAN.E.B #53 3 years ago

    will probably pick this up wasnt planning on it until reading the reveiw
    that and the fact that wolfensteins turned out to be a rancid turd!

    Edited by 1 at 21/08/09 @ 19:23

  • PotajiTo #54 3 years ago

    WOW at the extreme resolution of the second shot!

  • Erebu #55 3 years ago

    Yeah, X360 exclusive... Suck it Sony!!!

  • miiiguel #56 3 years ago

    Next time I read about how annoying Live's populace is, I'll introduce you this fellow Nick_581.

  • DanWhitehead #57 3 years ago

    I suppose you docked it a point because his cape didn't flow with the way the wind was flying on the day you reviewed it.

    Don't be ridiculous. I docked a point because the ears on his costume are the wrong shape.

  • smelly #58 3 years ago

    Seems to me like some of you guys will give me negative scores every time i post right?

    well done children!

  • miiiguel #59 3 years ago

    Fuck it. 129 it is.

    Have a nive week end.

  • Darren #60 3 years ago

    I've just read IGN and TeamXbox's 90%+ Batman: Arkham Asylum reviews and I when I saw EG had posted theirs too I just knew it had got a 9, particularly as it's a three page review (usually a big clue)! :)

    The superb demo left me in no doubt that would be a great game anyway but it's still nice to have confirmation that the quality carries right through the full game.

  • hello_fi #61 3 years ago

    Who is this Nick_581 cunt? He's emerged from nowhere and is a giant cunt!

    Good to see the game getting great reviews everywhere, I thought the demo was fantastic so am looking forward to getting this next week

  • dominalien #62 3 years ago

    I hope the next face off includes this.

  • Bloodhunter #63 3 years ago

    AND apparently these are the guys doing the next hitman?

    Great review, this game was not and still isnt on my list of definite buys though, no particular reason really but there are just games I want more

  • Thunderbolt #64 3 years ago

    Thanks for the great review Dan, I've been waiting for the review before laying down a pre-order

    I found the demo a bit clunky but will be getting this regardless as I love teh character

    And its not better than Halo nothing is ;)

  • makeamazing #65 3 years ago

    I have to admit i found the demo alittle ... boring, but I do like Batman... wonder if i should just hold off alittle and get it when its cheaper... decisions decisions. At least there are games starting to come out that I want now, just no time to play any of them :)

  • waggy79 #66 3 years ago

    Always know im going to like a game when i dont want the demo to end. This will be winging its way through my letterbox as a late birthday present and I cant wait.

  • p00ntang #67 3 years ago

    This will keep me going until splinter cell. GIVE ME STEALTH

  • metallicorphan #68 3 years ago

    in the demo i loved taking my time and taking out the thugs how i wanted,so i know i am gonna get at least 10+hrs with this one

  • markypants #69 3 years ago

    Thats a bit of a surprise to be honest. Was starting to think that this game wasn't going to live up to the hype. Nice. Now on the wish list.

  • Sid-Nice #70 3 years ago

    "Holy mackerel Batman" a 9 out of 10?

  • PT_warrior #71 3 years ago

    can't wait, Batman done well on video games.

    when was the last time that happened, Batman for Spectrum 128k?

    now that was a game.

  • busboy33 #72 3 years ago

    @miiiguel:

    "I still can't empathize with the persona. Too "vigilante"; too "fascist". No, it's not in the same way that almost any other super-hero, with Batman there's something else."

    A respectable opinion. For many of his fans, that's the exact reason he's so iconic. His treatment in Miller's Dark Knight miniseries really takes that aspect over the top -- he's a vicious bastard, and revels in it ("I know so many lovely ways to hurt them . . .";). Much like V from Moore's V for Vendetta mini-series, the "hero" is someone that you can't fully get behind. That psychological tension keeps lots of people turning the pages.
    I don't know if it ever made it over to Europe, but there is/was a TV series in the States called The Shield (starring Michael Chiklis) that fantastically encapsulates that "good-bad guy" tension . . . well worth a view if you get the chance.
    Personally, I love that tension. Struggling with whether I support the lead in a story is more stimulating than simply rooting for Hero Archtype vs. Evil Archtype. You know how those stories are going to end. With the murky hero, there is no "win", much like most of life.

    This was completely off topic. My apologies.

  • SleepyDeathFred #73 3 years ago

    And only two grand's worth of hardware to run it!

  • hiddenranbir #74 3 years ago

    To be expected. Just waiting on the PC version now.

    And only two grand's worth of hardware to run it!

    My £1,000 PC from 2007 will max it!
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/09 @ 09:34

  • AOFanboi #75 3 years ago

    @buggedbunny, the "ordinary corridor shooter" comment was leveled at Ghostbusters, not B:AA.

  • SleepyDeathFred #76 3 years ago

    @hiddenranbir

    At 1080p60? Seriously?

  • Pinewood_Groves #77 3 years ago

    Wow, the full game must be very different than that demo.

  • Sunyavadin #78 3 years ago

    Given how bland and formulaic I found the demo, (Harley Quinn's awesome costume aside, nothing bland there), I find it hard to believe this review is of the same game. If so, why did they not include much of the stuff which is so deserving of the amazing amount of deep throating he's giving them here? I'd have it preordered right now if they had. Otherwise this is Streets of Rage in 3D with added batman dialogue and textures and a couple of basic stealth elements most games of its ilk have these days as standard... The demo failed the very litmus test he holds the game up as passing - make the main character generic ninja bloke, emove all the batman story, and it's a generic brawler with stealth elements. And even as cool as batman is, when I started to get bored, I started to lose any immersion, seeing it beneath the thin veneer of Batman, for what it is.
    Edited by 2 at 22/08/09 @ 12:51

  • organica #79 3 years ago

    Being a comic book whore, I would have bought this anyway regardless of review - good to know I'm in for a treat though. And a bank holiday weekend to get to grips with it, as well.

  • Lawlost #80 3 years ago

    Nice to see a decent game arrive at this time of year. I was thinking we would have to wait till October

  • Vin #81 3 years ago

    Rocksteady, you beautiful bitches.

    Probably the first game this year I'm stupidly hyped about playing.

  • subtlesnake #82 3 years ago

    "Sorry but this is not a well written review. It's bad enough that he has to rattle through all the usual cliches - "It's well paced, boasts a well-judged variety of gameplay elements and is brought to life with excellent visuals, a compelling story and superb voice acting."

    If those are the elements that make the game compelling (varied gameplay, effective use of the Batman 'narrative', atmospheric surroundings) then shouldn't the reviewer point them out so that people can understand why the reviewer liked the game, and therefore decide whether it will appeal to them?

    Clichés are are bad when they're used as a replacement for substantive content or argument, but in this case you're picking apart a summary for being shallow when the whole point of said summary is to condense what is more clearly articulated in the rest of the review. What does, for example, the reviewer mean by "a well-judged variety of gameplay elements"? Well, scroll down a few paragraphs, and you find out:

    "Drawing inspiration from both Resident Evil and Tomb Raider, what follows is an action-adventure in the classic mould. You'll spend a lot of time fighting, but it's far from a mindless brawler. You'll do a lot of creeping around, but it's never just a stealth game. There's plenty of climbing and exploring, but it's more than a platform game. It's a true hybrid, delivering distinct gameplay styles in carefully measured portions without ever losing sight of the bigger picture."



    "But he later proves that that stuff is complete babble by contradicting it - "Complaints are minor. For all the attention to detail, the game-world is a disappointingly lifeless place."

    I don't see any contradiction in the claim that the voice acting and story help flesh out the world in a convincing fashion, but this is is let down by a lack of environmental interaction. Notice he starts that sentence with "For all the attention to detail", i.e given the detail that's present elsewhere in the game.

    If you're going to criticise a review at least read it properly before you do so.

  • mingster #83 3 years ago

    Free exclusive downloadable content to play as Joker on the PS3 is a nice bonus.

  • RandomTerrain #84 3 years ago

    I assumed this game would be rubbish after the preview here a while back. Glad I know otherwise know, I look forward to playing this, it would have been a shame to miss such a gem. I really enjoyed the demo.
    Edited by 1 at 22/08/09 @ 17:03

  • Bazfrag #85 3 years ago

    Only a couple of days to go...

  • lucky_jim #86 3 years ago

    Bah humbug, this isn't even the best Batman game ever, let alone the best superhero game ever. What about the 1986 isometric 3d Batman on the Speccy, or 1988's Batman: the Caped Crusader on the same format?! EH? WELL?

    Seriously though this is looking pretty good. I thought the demo was the right side of ok, but if the various reviews are to be believed, this is quite special.

  • Locke89 #87 3 years ago

    What, no Holy ___, Batman tagline?

    Can't wait till my US copy arrives.

  • hiddenranbir #88 3 years ago

    @At 1080p60? Seriously?

    It'll be between 1080i and 1080p.

  • smelly #89 3 years ago

    I know some idiots will negate this without thinking.. but i was playing this a lot today..

    my thoughts : first - i confess to being a MAJOR batman fan, in 33 and my wardrobe upstairs is full of batman comics and novels (much to the dismay of my other half - i keep telling her im keeping them for our kids should we ever have them).

    The game - i thought to be fairly mediocre to be honest.. the only thing which kept me playing was that i was playing as batman, and the story... So it was the "fluff" which kept me playing as opposed to the actual gameplay. I find this hard to explain, but i have the same problems with shooters - if the only thing which is keeping me playing is to see where the story goes next .. then there's something inherently wrong with the GAMEPLAY mechanic itself imho.

    If i think back to the best games i've played, and keep going back to .. it's the GAME that keeps me playing not the story. And therein lies the problem.. i replay mario galaxy (For example) every so often for the sheer fun of it. Will i go back to this once i've beaten it (probably tomorrow) - probably not... So therefor is it worth the asking price (And subsequently the score it got)?

    It's a tough one. Most modern gamers seem to care less about the game itself - and more about the plot/story.. style over substance/etc.. So if you're one of those.. if you're the type of person who rushes out to buy the latest carbon copy fps game just to follow it's cliched plot - you'll probably love it.

    If you prefer actual gameplay.. then i'm not so sure..

    Either way.. it seems to be quite short (will let you know if i finish it tomorrow or not), rent - dont buy.

  • noobjob #90 3 years ago

    if someone had said to me 2 months ago that this would be the game to break EG'S stingey 7/10 streak i would be like wtf???
    still nice to see this got a 9 all reviews i have read point to good scores. but im not going to buy untill its like 25 quid

  • Diabeu #91 3 years ago

    I knew it!!!! must have

  • neems #92 3 years ago

    I'm confused, what comes between 1080i and 1080p? 1080m?

  • hiddenranbir #93 3 years ago

    if the only thing which is keeping me playing is to see where the story goes next .. then there's something inherently wrong with the GAMEPLAY mechanic itself imho.

    Surely there is a problem with the gameplay if you were unable to progress in the story?

    I'm confused, what comes between 1080i and 1080p? 1080m?

    It was my understanding that 1080i could be like, 1280x1080 while 1080p is 1920x1080. So my monitor display isn't as low as 1280x1080, but isn't as high as 1920x1080!

  • septimus #94 3 years ago

    @hidden: 1080i is 1920x1080 but with only every other line drawn per field. If it was progressive it would be 1920x540.

    I guess your monitor is 1680x1050.

  • onyxbox #95 3 years ago

    After Playing the demo then reading the EG review I can't help but feel that the only reason this got a 9 is because there's been f*ck all out for ages.

    GFX are nice (very "Unreal" looks very Bioshock/Gears)
    voice acting is cool

    batmans walk look stupid and robotic tho'

    I might wait on this one and wait for it to become cheaper... Not convinced this is a 9 TBH

  • Caspar_Esq. #96 3 years ago

    PUBLISHER PRESSURE!!! ...mabye.

  • muscleblade #97 3 years ago

    Im about half way through the game and the game just keeps getting better. The variation is amazing.

  • muscleblade #98 3 years ago

    @smelly

    Are you kidding! The gameplay is very good. The fighting mechanics is extremely good. Even the hidden collectibles (i usually hate collectibles) is fun to find.

  • Reckless99 #99 3 years ago

    Now I know why Deus Ex 3 is taking so long.

  • muscleblade #100 3 years ago

    @MilkybKid1985

    The demo is nothing but a taste. The combat gets a lot more advanced later in the game when new moves unlocks and new enemy types show up. The combat looks authentic no question about that. No QTEs to be seen in bossfights or anywhere else. The boss fights is kind of untraditional for the most part.

  • CptFantastic #101 3 years ago

    Me want.

  • hiddenranbir #102 3 years ago

    Why are people prasing the combat

    Because it is fluid, responsive and just looks smooth and contextually perfect.

  • DanWhitehead #103 3 years ago

    Why are people prasing the combat, when it is basically mashing the attack button but occasionly press counter when you see the massivly obvious visual prompt.

    Because it's not about mashing the attack button?

  • Yossarian #104 3 years ago

    Not to mention playing on Hard turns off the massively obvious visual prompt.

  • comedian #105 3 years ago

    I really wasn't expecting it to be as good as that.

  • Rodster #106 3 years ago

    Thanks to Amazon.com's generous offer here in the States i'll be getting this Batman game for the 360 for close to half price with free release day shipping and no taxes or fees. :-D

  • smelly #107 3 years ago

    "Are you kidding! The gameplay is very good. The fighting mechanics is extremely good. Even the hidden collectibles (i usually hate collectibles) is fun to find."


    Well I tried to give an "alternative opinion" The fighting is no different to every other 3rd person game i've ever played. I enjoyed the stealthy bits swinging from gargoyles, going in for a stealth kill.. but near the end i just grew tired of it.

    I got a huge feeling of "deja vu" while playing it.. and found if it wasnt for the fact it's batman (a character i love) and the story .. there would've been very little to keep me playing..

    Finished it yesterday.. that's 2 days of play for $60... No online, no downloadables.. Okay i could go back for the hidden stuff, that might take a while.. but i'm not feeling the urge..

    I'm just recommended rent rather than buy, it's a short game.

  • Nephirion #108 3 years ago

    Note the PS3 has the Joker as playable, any word on PC version if its the same?
    Edited by 1 at 25/08/09 @ 02:03

  • muscleblade #109 3 years ago

    "I'm just recommended rent rather than buy, it's a short game. "

    I cant agree on this. I have played it for at least 7 hours and i havent beaten Killer Croc yet so i believe it will clock in at around 10 hours. Thats about average lenght for a game and its without counting collectibles ( wich is fun to get in this game) and challenge rooms. Getting 100% in this game will take atleast 30+ hours. I dont think its fair to complain about lack of value if you only complete some of the game. I know i will play it for atleast 30 hours so i think the value is great.

  • muscleblade #110 3 years ago

    Note: The 360 version looks sharper and has better graphics overall.
    The joker stuff will be released on Live sooner or later for a small price anyway.

  • smelly #111 2 years ago

    @muscleblade : Everyone has their own opinion - was only sharing mine. But I'll wait and see how you feel once you've beaten the main game as to whether you actually will be bothered to go back and find the hidden stuff (I know i couldnt)

  • muscleblade #112 2 years ago

    @smelly

    Sure. I appreciate your opinion. I know i will go back after completing it. Im going for all the riddles no doubt.
    I might wait awhile before going for hard playthrough though depending of how much time it take me to complete all riddles.
    When Halo ODST hits im all over that. Under a month to go.

  • Lionheart #113 2 years ago

    @ smelly
    "(much to the dismay of my other half - i keep telling her im keeping them for our kids should we ever have them). "

    You don't have to prove anything to us mate.

  • kongzi #114 2 years ago

    Definite pickup for me, even though I'm not a huge bat-fan. I expect it to be a bit like Dead Space in that it's all stuff you've seen before but wrapped up very nicely and you can see a lot of love went into creating it. Still, for all the pretty pictures and cool moves there didn't really seem to be a lot of challenge. Hand to hand is great but you're more than able to handle at least 10 guys at once, so the game should be throwing at least 20 at you, IMO. And the stealth could get repetitive and simple with gargoyles everywhere. The AI shows some interesting behaviours, but didn't pose any real threat (in the demo at least). So I hope Rocksteady knows how to switch things up during the course of the game (so many developers seem to have forgotten about that).

  • muscleblade #115 2 years ago

    @kongzi

    Dont worry. The demo is from the very first tutorial level. It gets harder and you definently take on 20 or more enemies at the same time later on. There are rooms without gargoyles and with gragoyles that have planted boms on them. there are plenty of ways to knock out a foe without the help of gargoyles. This is a game where variety is one of its strongest points.
    Edited by 1 at 27/08/09 @ 09:18

  • mr_woo #116 2 years ago

    Finished this and it's bloody brilliant, not just one of my favourite games this year but easily one of my favourite games this gen and I honestly never expected I'd be saying that when I first started the game.

    The storys great, the voice acting superb but most importantly it's a great game in its own right without the Batman name. It mixes things up a lot and it's never boring, the combat is simple but yet viscerally satisfying and never about button mashing. I never once felt like I was pushing ahead because I was playing as Batman or because of the story, I was just enjoying myself so much playing the thing that the story was just gravy.

    Rocksteady, as well as making a fine game, absolutely nailed the feeling of being the goddamn Batman. All the little things added to it a well, such as Joker taunting you throughout the game over the intercom, the way your batsuit gets more and more messed up throughout the game from a slight rip to torn cape and rips in your suit, it's a tough night

    It's, for me at least, the finest superhero game ever made. I love it and would highly recommend, Batman fan or not. It's great to see one of my comic book heroes since I was a young lad finally being done justice in a game and in such a superb fashion too. It deserves all the scores it's getting and I really hope Rocksteady are already hard at work planning the next one.
    Edited by 3 at 28/08/09 @ 00:44

  • fredrikpj #117 2 years ago

    I heard some rumors about this being a little like Metroid? Is that true?

  • smelly #118 2 years ago

    >heard some rumors about this being a little like Metroid? Is that true?

    No

  • mr_woo #119 2 years ago

    @fredrikpj

    It is a bit yes. You are directed to go to particular parts of Arkham Asylum during the story but you can revisit them at anytime during the game and will have to do so as the story dictates. When you also get new upgrades you can go back through the locations to get Riddler trophies which were unavailable before etc
    Edited by 4 at 28/08/09 @ 21:39

  • SomaticSense #120 2 years ago

    Onyxbox: "After Playing the demo then reading the EG review I can't help but feel.... "

    See, no there's your problem.

    Now shut up.

  • organica #121 2 years ago

    Picked this up today and have been playing it relentlessly. I was hoping it'd be good since I'm a massive comics geek but it really have surpassed my expectations. There's nothing especially groundbreaking there, but it is an excellent blend of styles and it just plays so smoothly. The combat, the sneakery and the detective stuff all just work together seamlessly and are all great fun individually.

    I've never played a game where it is actively enjoyable to search for collectibles. Full thumbs up from me.

  • onezeonx #122 2 years ago

    Soooo want this but I can only afford 2-3 games for the next few months

    FIFA/MW2 and uncharted 2 are the top 3 for me

  • Chupakun #123 2 years ago

    I'm curious Dan: does the Detective Mode get in the way of gameplay? I mean by having that extrasensory overlay on your screen, does it sort of take away from the immediate atmosphere and immersion or does it add to it? Additionally, can you interact with the environment without using it?

  • muscleblade #124 2 years ago

    "I heard some rumors about this being a little like Metroid? Is that true? "

    YES!

  • DanWhitehead #125 2 years ago

    I'm curious Dan: does the Detective Mode get in the way of gameplay? I mean by having that extrasensory overlay on your screen, does it sort of take away from the immediate atmosphere and immersion or does it add to it? Additionally, can you interact with the environment without using it?

    You can switch Detective Mode on and off at will. It just helps you find things - you can still interact with them without Detective Mode. As for detracting from the immersion, I found it made it even more immersive in the stealth sections. Being able to track the increasing heart rate of an enemy as you take down his friends is ultimately pointless, but very cool.

  • Grayvern #126 2 years ago

    Its a flavour game really. There's the unreal engine feel, the progressive exploration of metroid, the combat of fable done much better. The audio logs of System Shock. However it puts them all together in a satisfying and fun package and I enjoyed it even though im not a batman fan. In terms of comics the one I keep buying is Hellbazer. (Although this game could be a good primer for those who want to get into batman)

    It is also really hard on hard and some of the situations can be tough on normal. The final boss is a bit anticlimactic but then I suspect it always is with who batman is facing.

    Also if you button mashed in the harder fights you would die quickly. The game makes a good case for simple fight systems because it concentrates on the key aspect imho which is timing. And really satisfying when you get the timing right.

  • Rizzler1 #127 2 years ago

    this is a sweet game i like the close combat style really life like :)

  • paulietheboss #128 2 years ago

    I loved this game in the end. My HD video review of Batman: Arkham Asylum is up on my site / Youtube. Check it out and let me know what you think - http://blog.paul ietheboss.com/?p=223

  • kongzi #129 2 years ago

    I'm playing it and all my doubts have been squashed. They indeed switch up the situations quite often and I like the surprising bossfights (I usually hate bossfights). Combat is easy to learn, hard to master and the stealth is pretty good too. (if you think it's just buttonmashing you're obviously playing it wrong, bump it up to 'hard' maybe?). It's also one of the most polished games I've played in a long time. You can love or hate the rather obvious UE3-look, but the entire production value is about as good as it gets. The pacing is excellent and keeps me playing even though I don't generally care for superheroes at all.

    Assasins' Creed 2 better be one hell of a good game, between this and the new Splinter Cell.

  • kenbrilliant #130 2 years ago

    Blaaaaaaaaaaah, just booted up and my savegame about 40% of the way through was corrupted!!!

    Anybody else have this problem? I'm 99% sure I shut down the Xbox properly after a save had finished...

    Question is can I be arsed to go back and do it all again?

  • lmephisto #131 2 years ago

    IS IT WITH SCARECROW CAUSE IF IS THE GLITCH YOUR TALKING ABOUT IS NOT A PROBLEM

  • kenbrilliant #132 2 years ago

    Yeah I think it was just after the second time I encountered Scarecrow. How is it not a problem? What can I do?

  • Vroom #133 2 years ago

    Having finished the game now. I absolutely agree with the 9. Spot on EG.

  • Vroom #134 2 years ago

    Trst

  • Vroom #135 2 years ago

    Test

  • Vroom #136 2 years ago

    test

  • Vroom #137 2 years ago

    test

  • Vroom #138 2 years ago

    Hhj

  • lmephisto #139 2 years ago

    The supposedly error is an in game graphic.

  • TONYgr #140 2 years ago

    The game deserves a 10 if you play it on hard.It's way too easy on normal,especially the combat,and some of the stealthy bits.

  • Feanor #141 1 year ago

    This shows up as a 4.5 on my Games collection page.