The Dark Knight faces his darkest night.
UK, August 27, 2009 -
Batman: Arkham Asylum redefines superhero games in the same way The Dark Knight set the bar for comic book movies. A bold statement indeed, but one that's justly deserved. Developer Rocksteady has breathed life into the Caped Crusader's universe with aplomb, tackling Gotham and its villainous underbelly with the same fresh - yet faithful - approach Chris Nolan did when rebooting the movie franchise. The result is not only one of the best comic book games ever made, but it's also one of the best games you're likely to play this year. Much has already been shown in the run-up to Arkham Asylum's release but, while it's enough to whet the appetite, frankly nothing you've seen so far does the game justice. It may sound obvious but Batman is a game that's best experienced by wholly immersing yourself in its world, soaking up Asylum's broody atmosphere and hanging on every twist the story throws at you. It's this immersion, this faithfulness to the original DC comics that really brings the game to life. When you first take control of Batman you really do feel like a master of all martial arts - you're able to take on half a dozen foes and bring them down without breaking sweat, right from the start of the game, and that's exactly as it should be. Similarly, gliding through the rafters and puzzle solving is second nature, again just as it should be if you're filling the boots of Bruce Wayne's alter ego. That's not to say the game is a pushover, it'll take a steady seven or eight hours to finish the story mode, but it's more recognition of the praise that deserves to be heaped on the controls, which are intuitive and extremely rewarding.
Take the opening fight as an example. Confronted by a group of the Joker's henchmen, in order to continue the chase against the clown prince of crime you need to take them down as quickly as possible. Batman has two basic combat moves – attack and counter-attack – but these are context-sensitive and his moves change depending on a handful of variables, like his position compared to your opponent and the weapons he's being attacked with. Time your attacks correctly and you're able, with practice, to take down every guy in one long combo, combining punches, kicks and counters without the need to remember complex button combos – it's simply a case of hitting the two buttons at the right time. Even when you're deep into the game and have unlocked more attacking options, there are still only a couple of simple combos to remember - yet the result is arguably the most fluid, intelligent and downright exciting melee combat system we've seen in a very long time.
Good job too, because while Batman has a reputation for being the world's greatest detective, for much of the opening part of the game he does most of his thinking with his fists. Black Gate thugs come thick and fast, initially attacking in groups but only throwing punches. As Batman ventures deeper into the Asylum some carry weapons - such as knives and stun sticks - and they must be dazed with a flick of the cape before you can take them down. Others carry assault rifles, which they grab from gun cabinets scattered around the asylum, and if you give them the time to take aim you'll regret it - while Batman's armoured body suit is tough, it'll only last a few seconds against such well-armed opposition.
Thankfully, the slick combat system helps you react against such threats quickly and easily, with Batman able to flip across the screen to plant a foot in an enemy's face simply by tapping attack and holding in the desired direction. Additionally, by switching to detective mode – in which Batman's in-cowl computer highlights points of interest and enemies – you're able to prioritise threats more efficiently, with anyone carrying a weapon marked in red and lesser threats shown in blue. The end result is a combat mechanic that's incredibly instinctive and empowering, even if you're usually lousy at fighting games.
But for all this talk of combat, there's actually much more to Arkham Asylum than face breaking. Stealth is an all-important tool in Batman's repertoire, the Dark Knight crawling through the shadows and along air ducts to get a better angle on his opponents and avoid traps left by Joker. Indeed, for much of the game, Arkham Asylum bears more than a passing resemblance to the Metal Gear Solid series, with Batman the proverbial Solid Snake as he sneaks up behind enemies to execute silent takedowns. Admittedly the stealth element of the game isn't as sophisticated as that seen in Metal Gear or the early Splinter Cell games, with the Caped Crusader able to escape into the darkness simply by grappling up into the rafters. However, it adds a much-welcome change of pace to the action. More importantly, it provides an alternative method of attack as invariably there are different ways to tackle the same situation, whether it's to charge in fists first or quietly stalk the enemy and take them out one by one.
their buddies begin to panic, realising they're being dropped by an unseen enemy. Further buoyed by Joker's jibes, their heart-rates increase and calm patrols are quickly gripped by sheer panic, as thugs group together for protection and scour the shadows for danger. It's enormous fun, freaking Joker's henchmen out, and provides an additional challenge too, because you need to time your attacks with precision in order to pick off individuals when they break away from the group, darting down to deliver the knockout blow and fleeing back into the shadows before you're seen.
At this point it's worth mentioning one of very few gripes we have with the game. For the most part the enemies are relatively intelligent, teaming up to fight Batman as a group with individuals breaking off to pick up weapons before entering the fray once more. However, there were occasions when we were able to take down bad guys in plain view of their buddies, yet we managed to get away without raising suspicion. It was certainly an exception rather than the rule and overall didn't spoil our enjoyment of the game, but it happened on a couple of occasions.
Elsewhere, there's little to find criticism in the game. Rocksteady has struck a superb balance between action and intrigue, with puzzles and set-pieces helping to change the pace of the game. These vary in style and complexity, from breaking through security doors using one of Batman's many gadgets to more involving puzzles, such as tracking down Gordon after he's been kidnapped by Harley Quinn, using the cowl's computer to isolate traces of the commissioner's tobacco in the air. It's clever stuff but, more importantly, always intuitive, which is one of the game's many charms.
However, if we had to choose one part of the game that really impresses, it'd be the villains. From the moment Joker giggles onto the screen you can't help but admire the effort that's gone into getting each and every one spot on. From the voice casting to the character design and animation, Rocksteady deserves to be applauded for capturing the essence of the comic books superbly. The highlight is naturally Mark Hamill's Joker playing off against Batman, voiced by Kevin Conroy, but the recreation of some of Batman's most feared enemies – from Killer Croc to Bane and Poison Ivy – are sterling across the board. Special mention must go to Scarecrow though, whose fear gas plays tricks with Batman's mind to create some of the most memorable moments in the game for a long time. It's difficult to describe them without giving too much away, but think Metal Gear's Psycho Mantis crossed with Freddy Krueger and you're along the right lines.
Arkham Asylum itself is also a highlight and there's much more than sterile corridors to explore. Indeed, once you reach the hospital grounds, you have much more freedom to explore, which you'll need to do in order to uncover all of the game's secrets. Riddler trophies are hidden throughout, plus there are Riddler challenges – clues to piece together by finding different locations and objects – and you'll need to solve them in order to unlock everything the game has to offer. Then there are Batman's gadgets, which you access as you gain more experience from taking out enemies.
What's particularly nice is that anything you unlock in the main game can be carried over into the Challenge modes. Divided into two modes, the aim of the Combat challenges is to take down each wave of enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible, with bonus points awarded for stringing long combos together and not taking a hit. Meanwhile, the aim of the Invisible Predator challenges is to take out enemies quickly, but using silent takedowns to eliminate all threats without being spotted. Your best scores are uploaded to online leaderboards, plus you're able to compare your skills against your mates in your friends list. With 16 to perfect, there're plenty to keep you coming back for weeks.
Closing Comments
To describe Batman: Arkham Asylum as a comic book game, while true, does it a huge injustice; it’s an action adventure driven by a strong story, superb presentation and blistering action, and one that has heaps of appeal outside its core comic audience. It’s hugely atmospheric and engrossing, its blend of combat and stealth balanced superbly to deliver an experience that’s easily as engaging as the Metal Gear series. It’s not without its faults – some of the Arkham guards look a bit plasticky and occasionally Batman walks like his armoured Y-fronts are a little tight – but these flaws are minor and few and far between. Arkham Asylum may be an ominous place, a hellhole filled with the most villainous scum, but when walking its corridors is this enjoyable who wouldn’t want to be committed?
Rating Description
(out of 10)
9.5 Presentation
Dark, brooding and gritty, Arkham Asylum drips with authenticity while taking the comics’ stylisation in a fresh and exciting direction
8.5 Graphics
Striking a balance of real-life and superhero exaggeration, Batman and the villains look and act exactly how you’d want them to - and Arkham is a hugely atmospheric creation.
9.0 Sound
The orchestral score has all the sweeping grace and foreboding menace of Hans Zimmer's Dark Knight soundtrack, complementing the action perfectly.
9.0 Gameplay
A masterful combat system combined with accessible stealth action means Batman is easy to pick up there are challenges aplenty. Superbly paced too.
8.0 Lasting Appeal
As well as the eight-hour story there are hundreds of Riddler secrets to discover, plus Challenge rooms could keep you busy for weeks.
9.2 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)
by Alex Simmons