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Batman: Arkham Asylum
Would you with the devil in the pale moon light?
Batman has had his highs and lows before now. Our comic book hero first appeared in the 1940s; a brilliant, dark and flawed human being in contrast to the dazzling superbeings of the same time. In the 60's Batman got a bit camp, with the plotlines and over-the-top Batproducts appealing to the televsion audinces whilst being a deviation from the true, gritty 'Bats'. Then came an onscreen revival, more recently with Christian Bale taking the role. With a few video games mixed in along the way, would Batman: AA be another high or another flop?
The story starts off with you, the Batman, transporting your arch-nemesis, the Joker, to Arkham Asylum. You hand him over to the staff, but something isn’t quite right. It was too easy to catch him this time. It just doesn’t make sense. And then in front of your eyes (albeit behind glass) suddenly the Joker has broken free of his guards, and is running free inside the loony bin. That was his plan all along. But there is more to it than just that, surely…
You will spend then next several hours of your [real] life controlling Batman in this over-the-shoulder third person ‘shooter’, although of course Batman never actually wields a gun. You will make your way around Arkham Island searching for clues as to what the Joker is up to and ultimately try to stop his dastardly plan. Along the way you will meet a load of the usual, generic goons and thugs to beat up, as well as a few more familiar foes you have helped to put into Arkham in the first place. To accomplish this task you will have to become proficient with his martial arts moves, but of course helping you along the way you will also have access to a flurry of his gadgets.
If you are not convinced yet I am not surprised. I think if you were to ask a load of caped crusader fans to come up with a basic concept for a Batman video game you would get fairly similar answers. They would include martial arts, gadgets and a selection of Batman’s favourite enemies. So what is it that makes this game just that little bit special?
Square Enix’s “Eidos” have been responsible for a number of gaming greats. Commandos, Legacy of Kain, Hitman, Timesplitters, Deus Ex, and of course Tomb Raider to name but a few. However the company has been relatively quiet for a few years with other companies and games stealing the limelight. It was high time for Eidos to deliver, and deliver is just what Eidos have done. Fundamentally they seem to have got it right, from the core of the game to all the nice little extras. At the heart of it all is this: This game makes you feel like Batman. We have had a few Batman games before, but these have all been quite light hearted affairs. This feels like it was made by a fan, for the fans; someone who knew what they were doing; someone who knows the world of Batman; someone who wanted a video game to deliver that feeling you got the first time you watched Batman Forever and The Dark Knight.
The combat in this game is very good, and it needs to be as this is what you do most of the time. Enter a new area or room and invariably there are a bunch of goons, some armed and others not, to knock out. The controls are pleasingly simple to pick up, which is a great way of getting into the meat and bones of this game. And you can quite happily take on multiple enemies at once, they key here is in picking the right enemy at the right time, countering at the right time, and in doing so getting that combo score up as high as you can. The timing and selection is crucial, and nailing those is what separates the good from the excellent. Add into all of this a few throws and take-down moves and you suddenly find yourself having a fantastic time; not just defeating your foes but also doing it with style. My only gripe here is that the controls do not allow you to jump, which can result in you getting very frustrated in the middle of a melee. It’s not a huge grumble, and it only pops up on occasion, but the fact remains that it seems bizarre for Batman to be able to do all of these wonderful things and yet he cannot jump. Anyway…
Next you will have an assortment of gadgets at your disposal. You don’t get them all to start with, though, and you will pick most of them up as the story progresses. You start with a ‘detective vision’, grapple gun and a Batarang. Detective vision is like x-ray goggles, but a million times better. You can see though walls and things, as you would expect, but they also allow you to assess an environment as you enter it. You can detect the number of enemies and how many of them are armed. It allows you to follows clues, such as finger prints and scent. It also highlights your interactive environment; the vents you can pull off; the walls you can explode; the gargoyles you can grapple. And that moves us on nicely to the next gadget. The grapple gun will let you get to various ledges, rooftops, gargoyles, etc, which can be useful for just getting around in general or for taking emergency maneuvers when escaping enemies (in particular those with guns). The Batarang is Batman’s version of a throwing star and is useful for stunning enemies, taking out certain electrical items and slicing those annoying, chattering Joker teeth in two. As you make your way through the story you will pick up extra toys such as exploding gel and a Bat-Claw (amongst others), all of which serve their purpose in one way or another. A nice touch to this game is that it is not always obvious which gadget to use at a particular time, and so part of the puzzle will be figuring out which one is best at a given moment. Some of the gadgets can be powered up (as can the Batsuit), meaning that in the end you should be fairly heavily equipped. All of this, I must say, is very, very Batman.
Still need convincing? Ok, let’s mention the Unreal Engine 3. We have seen the Unreal Engine at work with a number of stunning games, the most notable of which is probably Gears of War 2. For Batman they have utilized it perfectly, conjuring up a gloomy and yet very detailed and lifelike world. The graphics for all of the characters are sharp, even when in the midst of a spot of fisticuffs. The lighting is terrific, and it makes you feel like you are part of a real environment. The detail they have put into the ‘bosses’ is also excellent.
The story is also very plausible as something you might find in a Batman graphic novel or movie. Sure the acting might be a little bit ropey in places (it’s a shame they could get Mark Hamill to do all of the voices), but this is a common problem with video games and does not really detract from the plot.
What you get in total is a very engaging Batman experience. You have a good story and great graphics. Apart from one or two control issues (I have already mentioned the jumping, the other is that it is a little too easy to fall from ledges which can then lead to all sorts of problems) you are able to move around quite freely in a very realistic Arkham Asylum. The combat is done very well, plus you get to play with a load of technical gadgetry. What you get… is to be Batman.
I would give this game a score of 90%. The reason it didn’t get full marks for me were the slight control issues you get, and the fact that there is nothing online for this game (at the time of writing). I know it’s not a game that lends itself well to co-op or multiplayer, but even something would be better than nothing. All in all this is a fantastic game and well worth picking up from your local video game store.
Would you with the devil in the pale moon light?
Batman has had his highs and lows before now. Our comic book hero first appeared in the 1940s; a brilliant, dark and flawed human being in contrast to the dazzling superbeings of the same time. In the 60's Batman got a bit camp, with the plotlines and over-the-top Batproducts appealing to the televsion audinces whilst being a deviation from the true, gritty 'Bats'. Then came an onscreen revival, more recently with Christian Bale taking the role. With a few video games mixed in along the way, would Batman: AA be another high or another flop?
The story starts off with you, the Batman, transporting your arch-nemesis, the Joker, to Arkham Asylum. You hand him over to the staff, but something isn’t quite right. It was too easy to catch him this time. It just doesn’t make sense. And then in front of your eyes (albeit behind glass) suddenly the Joker has broken free of his guards, and is running free inside the loony bin. That was his plan all along. But there is more to it than just that, surely…
You will spend then next several hours of your [real] life controlling Batman in this over-the-shoulder third person ‘shooter’, although of course Batman never actually wields a gun. You will make your way around Arkham Island searching for clues as to what the Joker is up to and ultimately try to stop his dastardly plan. Along the way you will meet a load of the usual, generic goons and thugs to beat up, as well as a few more familiar foes you have helped to put into Arkham in the first place. To accomplish this task you will have to become proficient with his martial arts moves, but of course helping you along the way you will also have access to a flurry of his gadgets.
If you are not convinced yet I am not surprised. I think if you were to ask a load of caped crusader fans to come up with a basic concept for a Batman video game you would get fairly similar answers. They would include martial arts, gadgets and a selection of Batman’s favourite enemies. So what is it that makes this game just that little bit special?
Square Enix’s “Eidos” have been responsible for a number of gaming greats. Commandos, Legacy of Kain, Hitman, Timesplitters, Deus Ex, and of course Tomb Raider to name but a few. However the company has been relatively quiet for a few years with other companies and games stealing the limelight. It was high time for Eidos to deliver, and deliver is just what Eidos have done. Fundamentally they seem to have got it right, from the core of the game to all the nice little extras. At the heart of it all is this: This game makes you feel like Batman. We have had a few Batman games before, but these have all been quite light hearted affairs. This feels like it was made by a fan, for the fans; someone who knew what they were doing; someone who knows the world of Batman; someone who wanted a video game to deliver that feeling you got the first time you watched Batman Forever and The Dark Knight.
The combat in this game is very good, and it needs to be as this is what you do most of the time. Enter a new area or room and invariably there are a bunch of goons, some armed and others not, to knock out. The controls are pleasingly simple to pick up, which is a great way of getting into the meat and bones of this game. And you can quite happily take on multiple enemies at once, they key here is in picking the right enemy at the right time, countering at the right time, and in doing so getting that combo score up as high as you can. The timing and selection is crucial, and nailing those is what separates the good from the excellent. Add into all of this a few throws and take-down moves and you suddenly find yourself having a fantastic time; not just defeating your foes but also doing it with style. My only gripe here is that the controls do not allow you to jump, which can result in you getting very frustrated in the middle of a melee. It’s not a huge grumble, and it only pops up on occasion, but the fact remains that it seems bizarre for Batman to be able to do all of these wonderful things and yet he cannot jump. Anyway…
Next you will have an assortment of gadgets at your disposal. You don’t get them all to start with, though, and you will pick most of them up as the story progresses. You start with a ‘detective vision’, grapple gun and a Batarang. Detective vision is like x-ray goggles, but a million times better. You can see though walls and things, as you would expect, but they also allow you to assess an environment as you enter it. You can detect the number of enemies and how many of them are armed. It allows you to follows clues, such as finger prints and scent. It also highlights your interactive environment; the vents you can pull off; the walls you can explode; the gargoyles you can grapple. And that moves us on nicely to the next gadget. The grapple gun will let you get to various ledges, rooftops, gargoyles, etc, which can be useful for just getting around in general or for taking emergency maneuvers when escaping enemies (in particular those with guns). The Batarang is Batman’s version of a throwing star and is useful for stunning enemies, taking out certain electrical items and slicing those annoying, chattering Joker teeth in two. As you make your way through the story you will pick up extra toys such as exploding gel and a Bat-Claw (amongst others), all of which serve their purpose in one way or another. A nice touch to this game is that it is not always obvious which gadget to use at a particular time, and so part of the puzzle will be figuring out which one is best at a given moment. Some of the gadgets can be powered up (as can the Batsuit), meaning that in the end you should be fairly heavily equipped. All of this, I must say, is very, very Batman.
Still need convincing? Ok, let’s mention the Unreal Engine 3. We have seen the Unreal Engine at work with a number of stunning games, the most notable of which is probably Gears of War 2. For Batman they have utilized it perfectly, conjuring up a gloomy and yet very detailed and lifelike world. The graphics for all of the characters are sharp, even when in the midst of a spot of fisticuffs. The lighting is terrific, and it makes you feel like you are part of a real environment. The detail they have put into the ‘bosses’ is also excellent.
The story is also very plausible as something you might find in a Batman graphic novel or movie. Sure the acting might be a little bit ropey in places (it’s a shame they could get Mark Hamill to do all of the voices), but this is a common problem with video games and does not really detract from the plot.
What you get in total is a very engaging Batman experience. You have a good story and great graphics. Apart from one or two control issues (I have already mentioned the jumping, the other is that it is a little too easy to fall from ledges which can then lead to all sorts of problems) you are able to move around quite freely in a very realistic Arkham Asylum. The combat is done very well, plus you get to play with a load of technical gadgetry. What you get… is to be Batman.
I would give this game a score of 90%. The reason it didn’t get full marks for me were the slight control issues you get, and the fact that there is nothing online for this game (at the time of writing). I know it’s not a game that lends itself well to co-op or multiplayer, but even something would be better than nothing. All in all this is a fantastic game and well worth picking up from your local video game store.
Thanks very much. And it's good to be back :)
Fantabulous review mate :) Welcome back to the forums aswell :D
pb wrote:
> Nice review, pretty much captures everything about the game.
Thanks pb. All comments are welcome (especialli if they are positive :P ).
> Nice review, pretty much captures everything about the game.
Thanks pb. All comments are welcome (especialli if they are positive :P ).
Nice review, pretty much captures everything about the game.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Would you with the devil in the pale moon light?
Batman has had his highs and lows before now. Our comic book hero first appeared in the 1940s; a brilliant, dark and flawed human being in contrast to the dazzling superbeings of the same time. In the 60's Batman got a bit camp, with the plotlines and over-the-top Batproducts appealing to the televsion audinces whilst being a deviation from the true, gritty 'Bats'. Then came an onscreen revival, more recently with Christian Bale taking the role. With a few video games mixed in along the way, would Batman: AA be another high or another flop?
The story starts off with you, the Batman, transporting your arch-nemesis, the Joker, to Arkham Asylum. You hand him over to the staff, but something isn’t quite right. It was too easy to catch him this time. It just doesn’t make sense. And then in front of your eyes (albeit behind glass) suddenly the Joker has broken free of his guards, and is running free inside the loony bin. That was his plan all along. But there is more to it than just that, surely…
You will spend then next several hours of your [real] life controlling Batman in this over-the-shoulder third person ‘shooter’, although of course Batman never actually wields a gun. You will make your way around Arkham Island searching for clues as to what the Joker is up to and ultimately try to stop his dastardly plan. Along the way you will meet a load of the usual, generic goons and thugs to beat up, as well as a few more familiar foes you have helped to put into Arkham in the first place. To accomplish this task you will have to become proficient with his martial arts moves, but of course helping you along the way you will also have access to a flurry of his gadgets.
If you are not convinced yet I am not surprised. I think if you were to ask a load of caped crusader fans to come up with a basic concept for a Batman video game you would get fairly similar answers. They would include martial arts, gadgets and a selection of Batman’s favourite enemies. So what is it that makes this game just that little bit special?
Square Enix’s “Eidos” have been responsible for a number of gaming greats. Commandos, Legacy of Kain, Hitman, Timesplitters, Deus Ex, and of course Tomb Raider to name but a few. However the company has been relatively quiet for a few years with other companies and games stealing the limelight. It was high time for Eidos to deliver, and deliver is just what Eidos have done. Fundamentally they seem to have got it right, from the core of the game to all the nice little extras. At the heart of it all is this: This game makes you feel like Batman. We have had a few Batman games before, but these have all been quite light hearted affairs. This feels like it was made by a fan, for the fans; someone who knew what they were doing; someone who knows the world of Batman; someone who wanted a video game to deliver that feeling you got the first time you watched Batman Forever and The Dark Knight.
The combat in this game is very good, and it needs to be as this is what you do most of the time. Enter a new area or room and invariably there are a bunch of goons, some armed and others not, to knock out. The controls are pleasingly simple to pick up, which is a great way of getting into the meat and bones of this game. And you can quite happily take on multiple enemies at once, they key here is in picking the right enemy at the right time, countering at the right time, and in doing so getting that combo score up as high as you can. The timing and selection is crucial, and nailing those is what separates the good from the excellent. Add into all of this a few throws and take-down moves and you suddenly find yourself having a fantastic time; not just defeating your foes but also doing it with style. My only gripe here is that the controls do not allow you to jump, which can result in you getting very frustrated in the middle of a melee. It’s not a huge grumble, and it only pops up on occasion, but the fact remains that it seems bizarre for Batman to be able to do all of these wonderful things and yet he cannot jump. Anyway…
Next you will have an assortment of gadgets at your disposal. You don’t get them all to start with, though, and you will pick most of them up as the story progresses. You start with a ‘detective vision’, grapple gun and a Batarang. Detective vision is like x-ray goggles, but a million times better. You can see though walls and things, as you would expect, but they also allow you to assess an environment as you enter it. You can detect the number of enemies and how many of them are armed. It allows you to follows clues, such as finger prints and scent. It also highlights your interactive environment; the vents you can pull off; the walls you can explode; the gargoyles you can grapple. And that moves us on nicely to the next gadget. The grapple gun will let you get to various ledges, rooftops, gargoyles, etc, which can be useful for just getting around in general or for taking emergency maneuvers when escaping enemies (in particular those with guns). The Batarang is Batman’s version of a throwing star and is useful for stunning enemies, taking out certain electrical items and slicing those annoying, chattering Joker teeth in two. As you make your way through the story you will pick up extra toys such as exploding gel and a Bat-Claw (amongst others), all of which serve their purpose in one way or another. A nice touch to this game is that it is not always obvious which gadget to use at a particular time, and so part of the puzzle will be figuring out which one is best at a given moment. Some of the gadgets can be powered up (as can the Batsuit), meaning that in the end you should be fairly heavily equipped. All of this, I must say, is very, very Batman.
Still need convincing? Ok, let’s mention the Unreal Engine 3. We have seen the Unreal Engine at work with a number of stunning games, the most notable of which is probably Gears of War 2. For Batman they have utilized it perfectly, conjuring up a gloomy and yet very detailed and lifelike world. The graphics for all of the characters are sharp, even when in the midst of a spot of fisticuffs. The lighting is terrific, and it makes you feel like you are part of a real environment. The detail they have put into the ‘bosses’ is also excellent.
The story is also very plausible as something you might find in a Batman graphic novel or movie. Sure the acting might be a little bit ropey in places (it’s a shame they could get Mark Hamill to do all of the voices), but this is a common problem with video games and does not really detract from the plot.
What you get in total is a very engaging Batman experience. You have a good story and great graphics. Apart from one or two control issues (I have already mentioned the jumping, the other is that it is a little too easy to fall from ledges which can then lead to all sorts of problems) you are able to move around quite freely in a very realistic Arkham Asylum. The combat is done very well, plus you get to play with a load of technical gadgetry. What you get… is to be Batman.
I would give this game a score of 90%. The reason it didn’t get full marks for me were the slight control issues you get, and the fact that there is nothing online for this game (at the time of writing). I know it’s not a game that lends itself well to co-op or multiplayer, but even something would be better than nothing. All in all this is a fantastic game and well worth picking up from your local video game store.
Would you with the devil in the pale moon light?
Batman has had his highs and lows before now. Our comic book hero first appeared in the 1940s; a brilliant, dark and flawed human being in contrast to the dazzling superbeings of the same time. In the 60's Batman got a bit camp, with the plotlines and over-the-top Batproducts appealing to the televsion audinces whilst being a deviation from the true, gritty 'Bats'. Then came an onscreen revival, more recently with Christian Bale taking the role. With a few video games mixed in along the way, would Batman: AA be another high or another flop?
The story starts off with you, the Batman, transporting your arch-nemesis, the Joker, to Arkham Asylum. You hand him over to the staff, but something isn’t quite right. It was too easy to catch him this time. It just doesn’t make sense. And then in front of your eyes (albeit behind glass) suddenly the Joker has broken free of his guards, and is running free inside the loony bin. That was his plan all along. But there is more to it than just that, surely…
You will spend then next several hours of your [real] life controlling Batman in this over-the-shoulder third person ‘shooter’, although of course Batman never actually wields a gun. You will make your way around Arkham Island searching for clues as to what the Joker is up to and ultimately try to stop his dastardly plan. Along the way you will meet a load of the usual, generic goons and thugs to beat up, as well as a few more familiar foes you have helped to put into Arkham in the first place. To accomplish this task you will have to become proficient with his martial arts moves, but of course helping you along the way you will also have access to a flurry of his gadgets.
If you are not convinced yet I am not surprised. I think if you were to ask a load of caped crusader fans to come up with a basic concept for a Batman video game you would get fairly similar answers. They would include martial arts, gadgets and a selection of Batman’s favourite enemies. So what is it that makes this game just that little bit special?
Square Enix’s “Eidos” have been responsible for a number of gaming greats. Commandos, Legacy of Kain, Hitman, Timesplitters, Deus Ex, and of course Tomb Raider to name but a few. However the company has been relatively quiet for a few years with other companies and games stealing the limelight. It was high time for Eidos to deliver, and deliver is just what Eidos have done. Fundamentally they seem to have got it right, from the core of the game to all the nice little extras. At the heart of it all is this: This game makes you feel like Batman. We have had a few Batman games before, but these have all been quite light hearted affairs. This feels like it was made by a fan, for the fans; someone who knew what they were doing; someone who knows the world of Batman; someone who wanted a video game to deliver that feeling you got the first time you watched Batman Forever and The Dark Knight.
The combat in this game is very good, and it needs to be as this is what you do most of the time. Enter a new area or room and invariably there are a bunch of goons, some armed and others not, to knock out. The controls are pleasingly simple to pick up, which is a great way of getting into the meat and bones of this game. And you can quite happily take on multiple enemies at once, they key here is in picking the right enemy at the right time, countering at the right time, and in doing so getting that combo score up as high as you can. The timing and selection is crucial, and nailing those is what separates the good from the excellent. Add into all of this a few throws and take-down moves and you suddenly find yourself having a fantastic time; not just defeating your foes but also doing it with style. My only gripe here is that the controls do not allow you to jump, which can result in you getting very frustrated in the middle of a melee. It’s not a huge grumble, and it only pops up on occasion, but the fact remains that it seems bizarre for Batman to be able to do all of these wonderful things and yet he cannot jump. Anyway…
Next you will have an assortment of gadgets at your disposal. You don’t get them all to start with, though, and you will pick most of them up as the story progresses. You start with a ‘detective vision’, grapple gun and a Batarang. Detective vision is like x-ray goggles, but a million times better. You can see though walls and things, as you would expect, but they also allow you to assess an environment as you enter it. You can detect the number of enemies and how many of them are armed. It allows you to follows clues, such as finger prints and scent. It also highlights your interactive environment; the vents you can pull off; the walls you can explode; the gargoyles you can grapple. And that moves us on nicely to the next gadget. The grapple gun will let you get to various ledges, rooftops, gargoyles, etc, which can be useful for just getting around in general or for taking emergency maneuvers when escaping enemies (in particular those with guns). The Batarang is Batman’s version of a throwing star and is useful for stunning enemies, taking out certain electrical items and slicing those annoying, chattering Joker teeth in two. As you make your way through the story you will pick up extra toys such as exploding gel and a Bat-Claw (amongst others), all of which serve their purpose in one way or another. A nice touch to this game is that it is not always obvious which gadget to use at a particular time, and so part of the puzzle will be figuring out which one is best at a given moment. Some of the gadgets can be powered up (as can the Batsuit), meaning that in the end you should be fairly heavily equipped. All of this, I must say, is very, very Batman.
Still need convincing? Ok, let’s mention the Unreal Engine 3. We have seen the Unreal Engine at work with a number of stunning games, the most notable of which is probably Gears of War 2. For Batman they have utilized it perfectly, conjuring up a gloomy and yet very detailed and lifelike world. The graphics for all of the characters are sharp, even when in the midst of a spot of fisticuffs. The lighting is terrific, and it makes you feel like you are part of a real environment. The detail they have put into the ‘bosses’ is also excellent.
The story is also very plausible as something you might find in a Batman graphic novel or movie. Sure the acting might be a little bit ropey in places (it’s a shame they could get Mark Hamill to do all of the voices), but this is a common problem with video games and does not really detract from the plot.
What you get in total is a very engaging Batman experience. You have a good story and great graphics. Apart from one or two control issues (I have already mentioned the jumping, the other is that it is a little too easy to fall from ledges which can then lead to all sorts of problems) you are able to move around quite freely in a very realistic Arkham Asylum. The combat is done very well, plus you get to play with a load of technical gadgetry. What you get… is to be Batman.
I would give this game a score of 90%. The reason it didn’t get full marks for me were the slight control issues you get, and the fact that there is nothing online for this game (at the time of writing). I know it’s not a game that lends itself well to co-op or multiplayer, but even something would be better than nothing. All in all this is a fantastic game and well worth picking up from your local video game store.