Batman: Arkham Asylum Review
I've torn myself away from my PS3 to review the game (in hope that I'll remember how to write and interact with normal society again) XD Hopefully there won't be any spoilers.
Also if you are wondering how I did it so quickly - I played it on easy because I wasn't sure how hard the fighting would be and didn't want the fact that I'm crap at fighting to get in the way of enjoying the story.
***
Firstly I would like to emphasise that I come to Arkham Asylum as a Batman fan rather than a computer game fan. Sure I have some computer games and a PS3 but I'm not the kind of person who has every system going and has to buy every game that gets released. The only reason I have a PS2 and now a PS3 is that at the time both were the systems with the best graphics and catered for a more grown-up / sophisticated audience.
Arkham Asylum has three modes: Main Story, Challenge and Downloadable Content. The challenges for Challenge mode are unlocked during your progression in the main story and basically test your fighting and stealth abilities in different settings. You fight as Batman however if you buy the PS3 game there is a free add-on that you can download from the Playstation Network Shop which allows you to play as Joker. Playing as Joker is harder than Batman however it is a great option if you are a villain fan.
Downloadble Content currently is very similar to Challenge mode (down to the fact that there is only one download currently available and it is a fighting challenge). Once again you have to have bought the PS3 version to access this particular download as you need a code that is included in your game case (though I believe Xbox360 allows something similar). Enter the code at the PNS and you will be given the free Scarecrow Villain challenge where you need to fight without getting hit. Since I am not good at battling / fighting games these two modes got difficult for me rather quickly however I appreciate that for a fan of challenges and Easter Eggs these are good extras. Though that's the point - they are nothing compared to the main story.
The story: Joker has taken over Arkham Asylum. Your goal: To stop Joker before he is able to act out his nefarious plans for Gotham City. Sounds simple? Well with characters such as Joker, Harley Quinn, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Bane, Mr Zsasz and Killer Croc after you, you should know better!
Arkham Asylum is written by Paul Dini (best known for his work on the 90s animated series and now Batman comics) and brings together many of the beloved voices from the animated series including Mark Hamill as Joker. Now if you don't know that much about modern Batman you'll be like, "OMG Luke Skywalker as Joker!" however for the Batman fans of my generation Mark Hamill IS Joker and Paul Dini is king. The story is engrossing, the characters well written (well Dini has spent 20 years getting to know them) and the action so engaging that you won't want to leave your seat until you're done. The character designs also nod to various ages of Batman rather than just the Nolan film designs (sorry fan girls, no Heath Ledger Joker here). It is touches like these that reassure true fans of the game's quality, rather than considering it a money grabbing film spin-off. Such love of the genre and details however, also makes the game highly accessable for older Batman fans or people who don't know anything about the series, as even if the characters had nothing to do with Batman the story would still make sense and be enjoyable.
Another good aspect for a confessed useless gamer such as myself is that the game does not use just one style of game play. During Arkham Asylum Batman is required to fight, strategise, become a detective and even solve a barrage of mental and physical riddles. Yes! Riddler has taken over your communication system and has set you 250 riddles to prove that he is a greater mind than a bat! The riddles really made the game for me as they give the game a completely new dimension. I find fighting rather dull (because I can't do it) so to be allowed to use my brain to work out riddles and how to get to Riddler Trophies hidden in hard to reach areas is very liberating. Finding Riddler Trophies also means that you explore your enviroment more and appreciate the stunning quality of the graphics. This is a good mindset to get into as on your exploration you will also find session recordings for the main characters. These recordings, when put together, tell short stories about the characters whilst staying at Arkham which, as a villain fan, I found fascinating to listen to.
If you are more of a fighter you don't NEED to solve any of the riddles however it is through solving the riddles that you unlock character profiles, win trophies and get new levels for Challenge mode. In fact, if anything, it is as though the game designers knew that at least half of the players would be die-hard Batman fans rather than experienced gamers. There is a big emphasis on strategy (disarming Joker's goons with guns before they spot you) and conversely the fighting system is very simple (perhaps too simple for beat'em up fans or even Final Fantasy fans, which both require intricate button sequences) as you can usually survive a confrontation by mashing the symbol buttons. You don't even need to use the direction buttons as, though the fighting system is simple, Batman is intelligent and will choose the best direction to fight in.
The only real con I could find with the game was that, though it was set in Arkham Asylum, there were only a few recognisable inmates. Yes you can unlock character profiles for all the main Batman villains however I would like to have seen them actually wandering the game instead of just Joker's goons.
So in summary; a great and involving game for fan and newbie alike that will leave you begging for more. Go buy it now!
Rating: 9.5/10
***
Now to go back, play the game on normal and find every one of those 250 riddles!
Also if you are wondering how I did it so quickly - I played it on easy because I wasn't sure how hard the fighting would be and didn't want the fact that I'm crap at fighting to get in the way of enjoying the story.
***
Firstly I would like to emphasise that I come to Arkham Asylum as a Batman fan rather than a computer game fan. Sure I have some computer games and a PS3 but I'm not the kind of person who has every system going and has to buy every game that gets released. The only reason I have a PS2 and now a PS3 is that at the time both were the systems with the best graphics and catered for a more grown-up / sophisticated audience.
Arkham Asylum has three modes: Main Story, Challenge and Downloadable Content. The challenges for Challenge mode are unlocked during your progression in the main story and basically test your fighting and stealth abilities in different settings. You fight as Batman however if you buy the PS3 game there is a free add-on that you can download from the Playstation Network Shop which allows you to play as Joker. Playing as Joker is harder than Batman however it is a great option if you are a villain fan.
Downloadble Content currently is very similar to Challenge mode (down to the fact that there is only one download currently available and it is a fighting challenge). Once again you have to have bought the PS3 version to access this particular download as you need a code that is included in your game case (though I believe Xbox360 allows something similar). Enter the code at the PNS and you will be given the free Scarecrow Villain challenge where you need to fight without getting hit. Since I am not good at battling / fighting games these two modes got difficult for me rather quickly however I appreciate that for a fan of challenges and Easter Eggs these are good extras. Though that's the point - they are nothing compared to the main story.
The story: Joker has taken over Arkham Asylum. Your goal: To stop Joker before he is able to act out his nefarious plans for Gotham City. Sounds simple? Well with characters such as Joker, Harley Quinn, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Bane, Mr Zsasz and Killer Croc after you, you should know better!
Arkham Asylum is written by Paul Dini (best known for his work on the 90s animated series and now Batman comics) and brings together many of the beloved voices from the animated series including Mark Hamill as Joker. Now if you don't know that much about modern Batman you'll be like, "OMG Luke Skywalker as Joker!" however for the Batman fans of my generation Mark Hamill IS Joker and Paul Dini is king. The story is engrossing, the characters well written (well Dini has spent 20 years getting to know them) and the action so engaging that you won't want to leave your seat until you're done. The character designs also nod to various ages of Batman rather than just the Nolan film designs (sorry fan girls, no Heath Ledger Joker here). It is touches like these that reassure true fans of the game's quality, rather than considering it a money grabbing film spin-off. Such love of the genre and details however, also makes the game highly accessable for older Batman fans or people who don't know anything about the series, as even if the characters had nothing to do with Batman the story would still make sense and be enjoyable.
Another good aspect for a confessed useless gamer such as myself is that the game does not use just one style of game play. During Arkham Asylum Batman is required to fight, strategise, become a detective and even solve a barrage of mental and physical riddles. Yes! Riddler has taken over your communication system and has set you 250 riddles to prove that he is a greater mind than a bat! The riddles really made the game for me as they give the game a completely new dimension. I find fighting rather dull (because I can't do it) so to be allowed to use my brain to work out riddles and how to get to Riddler Trophies hidden in hard to reach areas is very liberating. Finding Riddler Trophies also means that you explore your enviroment more and appreciate the stunning quality of the graphics. This is a good mindset to get into as on your exploration you will also find session recordings for the main characters. These recordings, when put together, tell short stories about the characters whilst staying at Arkham which, as a villain fan, I found fascinating to listen to.
If you are more of a fighter you don't NEED to solve any of the riddles however it is through solving the riddles that you unlock character profiles, win trophies and get new levels for Challenge mode. In fact, if anything, it is as though the game designers knew that at least half of the players would be die-hard Batman fans rather than experienced gamers. There is a big emphasis on strategy (disarming Joker's goons with guns before they spot you) and conversely the fighting system is very simple (perhaps too simple for beat'em up fans or even Final Fantasy fans, which both require intricate button sequences) as you can usually survive a confrontation by mashing the symbol buttons. You don't even need to use the direction buttons as, though the fighting system is simple, Batman is intelligent and will choose the best direction to fight in.
The only real con I could find with the game was that, though it was set in Arkham Asylum, there were only a few recognisable inmates. Yes you can unlock character profiles for all the main Batman villains however I would like to have seen them actually wandering the game instead of just Joker's goons.
So in summary; a great and involving game for fan and newbie alike that will leave you begging for more. Go buy it now!
Rating: 9.5/10
***
Now to go back, play the game on normal and find every one of those 250 riddles!