UK charts: Batman straight in at the top

By Robert Purchese Published 1 September, 2009

Eidos' knight in shiny armour beats Lara.

Batman: Arkham Asylum has swooped to the top of the UK all-formats chart, providing Eidos with a champion bigger than both Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.

The platform split went 55 per cent in Xbox 360's favour, and Batman arrives for PC on 18th September.

Elsewhere, little has changed. Ashes Cricket 2009 extends an impressive innings by nudging past last week's high-profile newcomer Wolfenstein to take three. Wolfenstein, therefore, falls to four, and is tailed by Wii Fit, Call of Duty: World at War, Mario Kart Wii and Tiger Woods.

Lego Batman enjoys a boost to take nine, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare rounds out the chart at 10 - it just keeps selling.

Other newcomers are the Fallout 3: Add-On Pack 2 (Broken Steel, Point Lookout) at 20, resulting in the reappearance of Fallout 3 at 37.

This Week Last Week Title Platform(s)
1 New entry Batman: Arkham Asylum PS3, Xbox 360
2 2 Wii Sports Resort Wii
3 3 Ashes Cricket 2009 PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
4 2 Wolfenstein PC, PS3, Xbox 360
5 4 Wii Fit Wii
6 5 Call of Duty: World at War PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS
7 7 Mario Kart Wii Wii
8 8 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
9 12 LEGO Batman DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
10 17 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS
11 6 Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood PC, PS3, Xbox 360
12 11 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
13 9 Fight Night Round 4 PS3, Xbox 360
14 14 The Sims 3 PC
15 15 FIFA 09 PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS
16 10 Prototype PC, PS3, Xbox 360
17 22 Guitar Hero: World Tour Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii
18 16 Wii Play Wii
19 21 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
20 New entry Fallout 3: Add-On Pack 2 Xbox 360
21 23 Mario Kart DS DS
22 13 G-Force DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
23 25 LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
24 27 Professor Layton and the Curious Village DS
25 24 Assassin's Creed PC, PS3, Xbox 360
26 33 Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360, PS3, PC
27 31 Mystery Stories DS, PC
28 28 Guitar Hero On Tour DS
29 18 Carnival: Funfair Games Wii
30 19 EA Sports Active Wii
31 26 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Wii, DS
32 35 Dead Space PC, PS3, Xbox 360
33 30 Pokémon Platinum DS
34 34 Brain Training DS
35 32 Ben 10: Alien Force DS, PS2, PSP, Wii
36 39 SEGA Superstars Tennis DS, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
37 Re-entry Fallout 3 PC, PS3, Xbox 360
38 36 New Super Mario Bros. DS
39 Re-entry Resident Evil 5 PC PS3, Xbox 360
40 37 Need for Speed: Undercover DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (47) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • penhalion #1 2 years ago

    And rightly so!

    I got wolfenstein and man I wish I could punch whoever developed it in the face 50 or so times. Maybe I'll actively look to meet those developers at the next GDC!

  • asphaltcowboy #2 2 years ago

    Well deserved! Only about 4 or 5% in and it's bloody brilliant! Hope it stays on top for some time!

  • menage #3 2 years ago

    Glad it beats Sports Resort. Awesome game.

  • breedob #4 2 years ago

    Completed it over the weekend and it's a class game. Started again on hard which makes the fighting a bit trickier and bumps the AI in the stealth sections up a bit. Challenge rooms with the Joker are good aswell.

  • Repsode #5 2 years ago

    Fantastic to see Arkham up there where it belongs. The nearly 50/50 format split is interesting. Maybe I've got this wrong but doesn't the 360 usually have a much greater share when it comes to multiformat releases like these?

    I guess the exclusive Joker maps made a lot of dual format owners side with PS3 where they might otherwise have bought 360.

    Regardless may the game continue to do good business. Story Mode completed, 75% through. I'll beat the Riddler yet!

  • kinky_mong #6 2 years ago

    Rightly deserved, fantastic game and I'm not even a Batman fan.

  • tossetaz #7 2 years ago

    @repsode can you complete all the ridler challenges after you finish the game or do you have to do it in another run through?

  • anomagnus #8 2 years ago

    batman is the best game i've played this year, without doubt.

    a game that joins my very small pile of non trade ins

  • cyacomini #9 2 years ago

    Loved the demo of Batman but have been spending so much time with Trials HD I held off buying it - perhaps in the hope that it'll be a tenner cheaper by the time I'm done with the Extreme tracks..

    Loving Trials - Game of the year (so far) in my opinion.

    Interesting to see COD:WaW and COD:MW both sitting in the top 10 - you'd have though everyone who wanted to play either title had already bought them!

  • breedob #10 2 years ago

    @tossetaz - Yeah you can go back about the map to complete the challenges once you've finished the game.

  • andywilkie35 #11 2 years ago

    Completed Batman over the weekend with all the Riddler challenges.

    Easily my GOTY so far, and only The Beatles: Rock Band looks like it has any chance of being better.

  • Eraser #12 2 years ago

    It's incredible that Mario Kart Wii still holds it's own in the top 10. It's a 1.5 year old, platform exclusive title.
    The same should be said about CoD4 ofcourse, even though it's spread over 3 platforms.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/09 @ 12:00

  • muscleblade #13 2 years ago

    Love the game

    Story mode completed, 80% Riddles, 40% Challenges
    90% total. Still going strong.

  • cianchristopher #14 2 years ago

    Call of Duty 4 must have sold a hundred bajillion copies by now! Who the hell keeps buying it?

    But its great news for Batman (and Eidos). I really disliked Eidos after the Kane & Lynch/Gamespot fiasco, but then I just remember that they gave the world Deus Ex - and all is right again.

    Well done (Bebop and) Rocksteady!

  • jonny8 #15 2 years ago

    It's easily the best game I've played in some time. I completed it and got all the Riddler stuff with the exception of three bloody teeth somewhere in Arkham Manor. Damned if I can find them now I've completed the story mode. Perhaps they're permanently gone.

  • muscleblade #16 2 years ago

    @jonny8

    Not a problem. Just go in there and they will still be there.

  • organica #17 2 years ago

    Bloody well-deserved. Hammered most of it out of the way over the weekend, still need to pick up quite a few Freeflow medals and a couple of Predator medals for the 100% though...

  • MasterNameless #18 2 years ago

    @jonny8

    Just grit your teeth and head back looking for them. Don't forget your toothbrush.

    Got away with that joke by the skin of my teeth? No, I didn't. It was terrbile I know... Feels like there's a good joke there somewhere though. Someone else can find it.

  • DanWhitehead #19 2 years ago

    It's easily the best game I've played in some time. I completed it and got all the Riddler stuff with the exception of three bloody teeth somewhere in Arkham Manor. Damned if I can find them now I've completed the story mode. Perhaps they're permanently gone.

    I expect they're the ones in the attic above the Warden's office. Everyone misses those.

  • MasterNameless #20 2 years ago

    "I expect they're the ones in the attic above the Warden's office. Everyone misses those."

    Yeah, many players have been plaqued with missing those ones. /o\

  • darkmorgado #21 2 years ago

    Got this Saturday morning and had completed it with all riddles by Sunday afternoon (though I didn't actually sleep in between, I was that engrossed). I still need to do all the challenge rooms, and complete it on hard though.
    It was an amazing game, and my GOTY so far, it's just a shame that the boss fights were so crap (especially the final one), and I think it could have done a bit more Metroidvania to-ing and fro-ing rather than just use the gadgets mainly to find collectibles.

    Did everyone wait for the small movie after the credits?
    I love how they have kept it so open for a sequel, and the mention of a particular character in the end sequence had me thinking "I want the sequel NOW!"

  • Ace_McCloud #22 2 years ago

    Wonder if the lego batman boost came from hapless do-gooder mums who were told "I want the new batman game". Imagine being the kid who recieved that instead of Arkhum Asylum.

  • redneon Verified Programmer, SUMO Digital #23 2 years ago

    @Repsode:

    I got it for PS3 purely for the Joker challenges. It's the first game I've bought for my PS3 in months and the exclusive content definitely swayed it for me. Never underestimate the power of free stuff!

  • M4RKYB #24 2 years ago

    First game I've bought in the shops on launch day for ages and it wasn't even on my radar til i played the demo. And sod's law my Elite decides to red ring on me during the hard drive install (it had crashed on me 3 or 4 times during a lengthy Trials session the night before). Gutted.

  • Repsode #25 2 years ago

    @redneon.

    Oh I don't doubt it, that's how I usually base my multiformat decisions where available. Bought GTA IV and Fallout 3 on 360 for the promise of their DLC. I was also one of the 45% who purchased for PS3 for the Joker maps. And good stuff it is too. Has some interesting twists on Batman's moves.

  • Spekingur #26 2 years ago

    We shall see another Batman game, for sure. Hopefully it will take place within Gotham City rather than "just" Arkham Asylum.

    Now, also do this for Superman...

  • darkmorgado #27 2 years ago

    Now, also do this for Superman...

    Agreed, it would be nice to see a decent Superman game for once. The problem with Superman though is that he is so powerful there are very few credible threats against him - maybe Darkseid, and Doomsday. And he has so many abilities that the world would need to be ultra-reactive - What's the point of having heat vision if it only causes damage in pre-programmed areas, for example. Simply due to his abilities, a decent superman game would need to be open-world and fully-destructive, and that might be beyond current gen capabilities.

  • makeamazing #28 2 years ago

    Didnt think much of the demo (thought it was ok), saw a couple of developer videos/lots of good reviews that made me want to get it. Traded in three old games (Resistance 1 & 2 and Midnight Club) and got it for Ł14... have to say after 20 minutes of playing I was sold on it, and would have been happy to pay full price for it.... really good game.

    As for Wolfenstien, rented it and actually i am enjoying it, very old school feel to it
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/09 @ 13:18

  • Madafunkola #29 2 years ago

    @ Ace McLoud
    I have a friend who works for Warner Bros and asked if she could blag a copy.
    She turned up with LEGO Batman, which she already got me for my birthday last year... :(

  • muscleblade #30 2 years ago

    Is the joker challenges tied to the trophies? Would make it a lot easier to get 24 medals in freeflow challenges if there where more challenges as this can only be gotten by getting gold on all availaible challenges on 360 version.

  • migasUK #31 2 years ago

    call of duty: modern warfare is a beast

  • GamesConnoisseur #32 2 years ago

    I m one of the 55 percent and finished Batman with 100 percent Riddles and had a blast of a time every second! I will get PS3 version second hand a week or so from now, as noticed a lot of gamers do trade in their game after they finished it for another game.

    Joker added maps is a real bonus for PS3 owners, and yes it would made a difference for some multi platform owners, but i still got X360 mainly cos of all my mates playing on X360 and wanting to compare stats/leaderboard etc with them.

  • Brogan #33 2 years ago

    Can't do it for superman he is as dull as arse.

  • JahB #34 2 years ago

    Call of Duty 4 must have sold a hundred bajillion copies by now! Who the hell keeps buying it?

    4,48 million on PS3, 7,69 million on 360 (as of June 23 2009)

    so roughly 1 out of 5 ps3/xbox360 owners owns CoD4, so there's plenty of people left that haven't bought it yet. and say what you will, even 2 years down the line it's still a great game

  • JahB #35 2 years ago

    Now, also do this for Superman...

    after the N64 game, i doubt anybody will ever touch that franchise again. kinda like ET

  • Spekingur #36 2 years ago

    I would actually want to see a Superman game where you can do evil things - call it karma. And a large free roaming area - since he is flying.

    I can just see it now, the dark version of Superman. Flying through buildings because it is quicker, melting the globe on the news building with his heat ray vision thingy, using x-ray vision for "the fun way to use x-ray vision", etc. :D

  • jonny8 #37 2 years ago

    @ Dan Whitehead - cheers for the tip. I'm pretty sure I've looked all over the place but I'll go take another look once I get home in a couple of days.

  • Paulie_P #38 2 years ago

    What if they did a Superman game sort of like Smallville where he gradually learns his powers throughout the game? - that could work.

    I wasn't saying Smallville was amazing, just wanted to point out it's premise could make sense in the context of a Superman game.
    Edited by 1 at 01/09/09 @ 17:30

  • darkmorgado #39 2 years ago

    What if they did a Superman game sort of like Smallville where he gradually learns his powers throughout the game? - that could work.

    True, but Smallville sucked.

    I guess they could do a "he is slowly healing from kryptonite exposure" as an excuse.
    Oh well, NM. Next big superhero game on the radar is Ultimate Alliance 2, which looks pretty tasty with it's branching storylines, moral choices, etc. Any idea when it's out? I'm sure I heard November.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #40 2 years ago

    I'm glad that its number one, as it is indeed a fine fun game. Eidos desperately needed this hit, for themselves and to appease Square, since Tomb Raider was been average for a long time.

    I hope Eidos learn a valuable lesson from this, which is to put the TR IP to bed for a while, and get back to making some original product. I'm sure a Batman sequel will be on the cards now, they'd be silly not too. I can almost imagine a GTAIV style Gotham sprawl of city, full of all the Batman villains going about their own individual criminal plans. Thrown in some other DC cameos and some multiplayer co-op scenarios and it would surely work.

    The Thief series, I'd like to see them work on, so we can forget about jumped up Lara Croft and her boring adventures. I hope Batman does well in japan too, and maybe they might learn something.

    Well done, Rock Steady.

  • metalangel #41 2 years ago

    A good Superman game is badly needed. Superman Returns gave us the real sense of being him - flying really fast, super strength, super powers like the eye beams and the freezing breath and so on - and then squandered it on the world's most repetitive game and rubbish level (why the hell was Metropolis atop what can only be described as an extinct volcano jutting out of the sea?)

    Giving Superman something of a wit (read the old comics and you'll see) too - but not as bad as Spider-Man.

    Hell, watch the old Max Fleischer cartoons and make a game of those. Kthxbye.

  • Machiavellian #42 2 years ago

    I thought the Joker Challenge room was going to be released as DLC on the 360

  • davisorle #43 2 years ago

    This was way too expected. Only curious about how long it will stay on the top of the charts till its knocked off the top from another lame Wii tittle :S.

    Honestly this is from the most confusing gaming gens possible. All the fanboism created for the "hardcore" consoles of the market and Nintendo and its Wii on the quiet side, yet always a Wii tittle on the top of the charts ( unless a big release ) all the damn time and Wiis selling like crazy. So weird. I have to admit that I would only buy a Wii if I get caught in the momment and i feel like it, knowing i wont be playing on the Wii eitherway more than a couple of times and then again if somethign new and too weird comes out and no otehr reasons, knowing it will be just covvered in dust way too soon. I'd say its a collective bit but its not possible. Everyone has it in their collections even if they use it or not so I dont know no more. Im even more confused.. lol

    Have to go pick up my Batman tomorrow :) Was preordered from a store here in Greece, I was just lazy to pick it up cause im sick. Will be funny if they gave my game to someone else. They tend to do that kinda shit here in Greece. Oh well. Thank God im good at telling ppl the f**k off :) The rest of you enjoy your game :p

  • onyxbox #44 2 years ago

    So far this game is surprisingly good. GOTY? I dunno' Kilzone 2 and inFamous were just as much fun IMO.

    Best Multiplatform Game So Far - Perhaps.

  • MuppetThumper #45 2 years ago

    @SpaceMonkey

    I hope Eidos learn a valuable lesson from this, which is to put the TR IP to bed for a while, and get back to making some original product. I'm sure a Batman sequel will be on the cards now, they'd be silly not too. I can almost imagine a GTAIV style Gotham sprawl of city, full of all the Batman villains going about their own individual criminal plans. Thrown in some other DC cameos and some multiplayer co-op scenarios and it would surely work.

    an open world GTA style Batman game WAS being made - it was the official game of the movie The Dark Knight and was under the watchful eye of EA... it got canned. It must have been HORRIFIC to be shelved - a movie tie-in of that high a profile would have made pots of money however crap. So good on Warners for pulling that plug. Theres bound to be a sequel to this game, though it probably won't benefit Sqeidos all that much.

  • SleepyDeathFred #46 2 years ago

    @jonny8
    They're probably in a sort of attic above the lobby outside the warden's office.

    It's an extremely good and addictive game.

  • aidey6 #47 2 years ago

    I am glad that this did not get lost in the pre christmas carve up that critically acclaimed suffer ie Dead Space and Mirrors Edge to name but two.

    I am slowly playing through Batman AA, I am enjoying it alot! Nice one Rocksteady....