Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Masterpiece"

There aren't many games that do everything so well that they leave you speechless after you finish them. And on the rare occasion that a game does this, it is almost never a licensed franchise such as Batman. Well here it is. Batman: Arkham Asylum is perfect in almost every aspect, and you don't even need to be a fan of Batman to enjoy it.

The game begins with an impressive cinematic that boasts the true potential of the Unreal Engine. Batman has just captured his arch nemesis the Joker, and is transferring him to where he truly belongs: Arkham Asylum; Gotham City's institute for the criminally insane. It just so happens that a large amount of the Joker's crew were recently transferred here, and when the Joker seems suspiciously relaxed about the whole situation, Batman knows something is not right.
Sure enough, Joker breaks loose and initiates his elaborate plan to take control of the asylum. Obviously, Batman won't let this happen. The story is told brilliantly. The creepy atmosphere and fantastic voice acting really push it forward at the perfect pace, and along the way, you'll encounter some of Batman's other foes, including Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Bane, and the Scarecrow. The plot is not overly complicated, but it's simplicity is part of the charm.

The gameplay can be split into two distinct sections: "Beat 'em up" and stealth. First of all, lets take a look at the combat. On paper, Batman's punching moves sound relatively standard. You'll tap square to punch, triangle to counter, and X to evade. When separates Arkham asylum form other games is the ridiculous speed at which the combat moves. There will constantly be enemies around you, and with proper timing you'll rack up satisfying combos in the midst of this combat that is fast, fun, and best of all, looks somewhat realistic. Everything is so well animated that it feels like you're watching an awesome Batman movie, despite the fact that you have complete control. It is possible to win fights simply by mashing one button, but to make the most of this brilliant system, every single one of Batman's moves must be put to use.

Eventually, You'll encounter thugs with weapons. Enemies armed with knives cannot be countered, and can also block most attacks. This is where Batman's cape comes in handy: flick it in their face and they'll be vulnerable. There'll also be goons armed with sticks of electricity which cannot be attacked from the front. These different enemy types mix the combat up a little, and are another reason why mashing square isn't particularly effective.

The game would become repetitive and boring if all it consisted of was punching guys in the face. Batman will also face enemies armed with automatic guns. Trying to take these guys out face-on would be suicidal, so this is when the stealth aspect of the game comes in. Batman can use a detective vision mode which highlights armed thugs and points to objects that can be interacted with; such as air vents and gargoyle statues. Hiding on top of a gargoyle is a great hiding spot, and performing an "inverted takedown" on a clueless enemy never fails to be satisfying. Of course that isn't the only way of picking them off; you can also create diversions, smash through windows, glide-kick into their faces, and more. Detective vision will also give the mental state of the enemies, and it's really cool watching them become increasing terrified as you pick them off one-by-one. It's a shame however, that detective vision is slightly overpowered. because there is no downside to it, there is little reason to not be using it constantly during the stealth segments.

Another fantastic aspect of the game is it's atmosphere. This is mainly due to the fact that you're in the midst of a twisted plan controlled by the Joker, but also because of the presence of the Scarecrow. Three times throughout the game, the infamous Johnathan Crane will infect Batman will his "fear gas", turning the asylum into a nightmarish platforming section crafted from Batman's psychological trauma. These parts a disturbingly creepy, and disturbingly fun. Going into any more detail than that would ruin the experience. During the stealth segments, the action can be extremely suspenseful which adds even more to the atmosphere. And speaking of suspense, at one point the game forces you into the lair of Killer Croc, where he jumps up and charges at you. These claustrophobic tunnels will make you paranoid.

So I've already covered some of the villains you'l encounter, but it is also worth talking about the challenges of one of Batman's oldest enemies, the Riddler. Edward Nigma will give riddles to solve, in which the solution is often a character in the Batman universe. Through these challenges, just about every single villain Batman has faced gets some kind of reference. These challenges are solved by scanning an object in the environment, displaying the game's huge attention to detail.

The only real letdown in Arkham Asylum is the boss fights. The first fight will be against Bane, a relatively good fight until the game throws lesser clones of him at you. The boss fights do improve toward the end, but the final fight is an underwhelming anticlimax.

Once you're done with the story, you'll have an opportunity to finish any remaining riddles or try out the challenge mode. There are two kinds: combat and predator. Combat makes you fight a punch of goons and rack up the biggest sore you can get, while predator puts you into a stealth sequence will very specific objectives, such as blowing up three walls which take out three enemies simultaneously. It is also worth noting that the combat challenges are without a doubt, the most difficult part of the game.

This small letdown isn't enough to stop Arkahm Asylum from being a genre-defining masterpiece. From the fluid combat to the intense stealth, Batman: Arkham Asylum is truely one of a kind.

Pros:
-Creepy atmosphere
-Fun riddles in the lavishly detailed asylum
-Fluid combat that looks amazing
-Intense stealth sequences
-Challenge rooms give greater lasting value

Cons:
-Detective vision is overpowered
-Final Boss is somewhat anticlimactic