Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009 Video Game) User Reviews

Holy snowball in Hell, Batman. A GOOD superhero game?

[ace1232-1 · 10/10 · 7 October 2009]

A lot of people rolled their eyes when Arkham Asylum got 9s and 10s across the board from reviewers, myself included. Although it's a dirty little secret of the video game industry that big companies often buy high scores from media outlets, I am happy to say this time, they didn't have to. The game sells itself, and several hours into it, the jaded cynic within me was brutally beaten and tossed from the establishment.

They have done nearly everything right with this game; the only flaw I could find was that it has a final boss and an ending, and thus does not, as I had hoped, continue into perpetuity.

Let me list a few of the game's good points:

1. You don't die nearly as often as in other games. That might sound like another case of the dumbing down of games for casuals, but it does away with cheap deaths like slipping and falling off a ledge (anytime you miss a dangerous jump, you have a brief chance to press the grapple button to escape death). It's good design, in my opinion, something you'll find a lot in this game.

2. The gameplay has been unfairly skewed to be the most fun thing you've ever experienced. Fights against multiple opponents border on poetic at times, as Batman smoothly segues between attacks, counters, and throws. The secrets riddled (no pun intended) throughout the game that can be accessed with specific gadgets require frequent backtracking, but none of it feels repetitive, which is a credit to the devs.

3. The voice-acting is straight up flawless. Repeat: it is without flaw. Every actor is perfectly cast for his or her role, and they deliver their lines very much in character. The long-time voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, reprises his role as the Caped Crusader, and Mark Hamill sounds appropriately sociopathic as the Joker, one of the best voice-over jobs in the game, and that's saying a lot.

The bad? The game can seem a tad easy at times, as too many obvious hints are dropped when the game senses you're stuck, however briefly. Also, at 12-15 hours, it's a short game, made even shorter by the fact that you can't stop playing. That's nitpicking, though, and if you see these drawbacks as a reason not to buy the game, you've taken one too many batarangs to the head.

TL;DR version: 10/10. MUST-BUY.

The best game of 2009. Period.

[Adamant-A · 10/10 · 29 August 2009]

WOW! After months and months of anticipation for this game, it has finally been released and I must say that it not only lived up to my expectations, but has far surpassed them.

The game begins with Batman (Kevin Conroy from the 1992 Batman Animated Series) returning The Joker (Mark Hamill) to Arkham Asylum after an attempt is made on the Mayor of Gotham City's life. Once inside Arkham, Batman, along with Comissioner Gordon, deduce that Joker planned to be caught and returned to Arkham because of how simple it was to catch Joker in the fist place. Not to soon after this, Joker does escape custody and (with help from Harley Quinn) sets all of the asylum inmates free. Batman now must save any innocent doctors and cops as well as beat all of the Joker's henchman to a pulp. Some of Batman's greatest enemies make appearances in the game as bosses (Joker, Poison Ivy, Harley, Scarecrow, etc...) and other great villains are not in the game at all, presumably running rampant in Gotham, but files and trivia on these villains can still be found around the game. Story: 10/10

The graphics are truly a marvel to behold with Batman looking especially excellent, you can see each cut on his suit and even his 5 o'clock shadow, Arkham is enormous and is almost fully accessible, and Harley Quinn has never looked better! Visuals: 10/10

The audio is also brilliant, the game has fantastic music and sound effects that are great and totally unique. Each of Batman's cool gadgets give off sounds that almost make them sound as if they are real. Audio: 10/10

The best part of this game is how you actually FEEL like Batman, solving the mysteries of Arkham Asylum as if you were the real Dark Knight. Batman has such a vast array of gadgets from batarangs to his trademark grappling launcher. The combat in the game is very responsive, the stealth elements fit Batman's character well, and the "Detective Mode" becomes more essential to the game the further you go. The only negative point I can think of is that the game is a bit short, but it is totally satisfying. This is the best comic book game of all time, finally breaking the DC Comics video game curse (though Lego Batman was a pretty good DC Comics game, too). Gameplay: 10/10

Just like how The Dark Knight was my favourite film of 2008, Batman: Arkham Asylum is my favourite game of 2009. Get this game, it ROCKS! My overall score: 10/10

Also, is it just me or does Batman look an awful lot like Michael Keaton?

Best game of 2009

[kimi-venkat · 10/10 · 4 November 2009]

First of all i am a huge batman fan. I was looking for a batman game for many years and EIDOS has just given the perfect game.

This is the type of game i was expecting after Splinter cell, Hit man and Max Payne..... the game is excellent in all aspects (Story, game play, actions, level designs, graphics).

The story starts with joker taking over the control of ARKHAM ASYLUM leaving batman into a trap. Batman has to save and infiltrate the arkham asylum to stop joker from doing bad to Gotham.Not only against joker but batman also has to fight against his enemies like croc, ivy, bane, scarecrow ....

It is a must play game for batman fans. And if any one is looking out for a best 3rd person action game then they should go for BATMAN:ARKHAM ASYLUM I give 10/10 for the game.. so go buy the game and enjoy it

The Dark Knight does it again as his game is now my favorite video game based on a comic.

[Aaron1375 · 10/10 · 16 January 2010]

In fact, this game is probably the first game I have rated a ten and it not be a role playing game. It also saddens me a bit as Spider-man is my favorite comic book character of all time, however Batman has now claimed my favorite movie based on a comic character in "The Dark Knight" and now my favorite video game. Spider-man has made some good games, but nothing as complete. They usually end up missing an element that detracts from game play such as the fact the web slinging kind of sucks as it is just him swinging from nothing and he might as well be flying or the web slinging is great, but the fighting and Spidey's strength is a non factor. This game though combines all of Batman's abilities to perfection as the fighting is fun and satisfying as you clobber wave after wave of Joker henchmen. His gadgets are done nicely as you throw batarangs, set explosive gel, and use grapples to perfection. Then if you are up to it you can hide in the shadows, perch on a gargoyle statue, or hide in the air vents to sneak up and silently take down Joker's men. The story too, is top notch. I enjoyed the opening as Batman once again escorts the Joker to Arkham asylum for the umpteenth time, only this time something seems strange as Joker seemingly wanted to get captured. Well you soon find out that Joker with some assistance from his crazy little gal sidekick Harley Quinn had a plan for escape and soon after the entire island of Arkham is under the Joker's control. Throw in a mad Killer Croc, the insane Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and the Riddler and you have yourself a challenge. Though the game was never really annoying at any point and the game play was quite smooth transitioning from story point and area with ease. You can solve riddles from the Riddler and it is done a lot better than the collecting in most games of this type as the interview tapes and the spirit of Arkham things do not have to be found in any particular order. That and the riddles may be well hidden, but not nearly impossible to find like in a Tomb Raider game. Granted, there could have been a few more villains added to the mix, but I can understand why they did not try to add everyone as that may have detracted from the story a bit. Mark Hammill does the voice of the Joker just as he did on the cartoon and he does it so well that it is scary. Nice to see he found a niche doing voice over work. Kurt Conroy does Batman's voice as he did in the cartoon too. Great game, I would like to see a sequel, but one of even grander scope as I would love to see one in the streets of Gotham, however they could really bungle that so I am also dubious if they did one like that too.

Batman Arkham Asylum Review

[Moviememmer · 25 October 2019]

Pros:

• Great story and characters
• Great gameplay
• Amazing voice acting
• Great graphics and animation
• Great boss fights
• Unique horror elements

Cons:

• Lacklustre final boss

Verdict: Thou improved by City, the original is a great game and is a pioneer of the progression of the making of good superhero video games.

9/10

Best Batman game ever!!!

[johnnymacbest · 9/10 · 26 July 2012]

Having played many Batman games throughout the years, FINALLY a game that really gives you the feeling of being Batman with his arsenal of gadgets and fighting styles that is innovative in execution. Batman: AA is simply THE best Batman game ever created. You got all of Batman's rogues gallery that includes The Joker, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Bane, Scarecrow, and Harley Quinn; some of which are voiced by fellow "Animated Series" veterans such as Kevin Conroy and of course, Mark Hamill, whose chilling portrayal of the Joker is simply the highlight of the games overall narrative.

In visuals, Arkham Asylum is a beautiful game, with a level of detail that's very impressive with stunning animation and lighting effects. On playing the game, I barely noticed any pop-up and polygonal tearing evident on some games, but not hear. Everything is rendered in crisp and clear clarity and if you have a Hi-Def setup, it's all batty.

Historically, Batman has been relegated to mostly side-scrolling fare with limited set of moves and gadgets. The games were good, but never gave you the feeling of being the Caped Crusader. Now with today's technology, gamers and comic-book fans alike can truly experience the Dark Knight in a way never before seen in gaming. Batman: Vengeance, which I admit is the first game to feature Batman in a 3d environment with aforementioned talent on board and it was an impressive game no doubt. But Arkham Asylum is so much more. It delivers the true experience of being Batman to a T. With stunning visuals, superb voice acting, and an innovative combat system that has you beating thugs like a pro, Arkham Asylum is simply the GREATEST Batman video game ever made. Having just beaten the game, I'm ready for Arkham City.

The Dark Knight stalks onto consoles.

[Bleam66 · 9/10 · 1 September 2009]

This was one game I was truly afraid of. Not literally of course. Being a fan of the Dark Knight and everything he had accomplished, I was afraid this was going to be another failed attempt at creating him in game. Let's face it, how many memorable Batman games are there? I can't recall any. Now finally, there is one.

We start off with transporting the Joker. Funny how he gave up without so easily. Soon you discover why. After crossing paths with many of his caged thugs, Killer Croc, and various other cameo appearances, Joker escapes your clutches. With the help of his lady friend, Harley Quinn, he is able to keep Batman under observation through the Asylum, and making life a living hell for the Dark Knight.

Now, I knew the story would be great. What I was worried about, as was everyone, was game play. I am so happy to say, the game play is damn near perfect. Each strike, each counter, each glide, it all feels so smooth and fluid. Words cannot even describe the feeling of the combat of this game. While this style may not work in every game, for Batman, it works fantastic. I'll provide an example of the creativity and freedom.

Batman strikes with a punch, back hand, counter, jumps over a thug, waves his cape to blind an armed suspect, take down and disarm, another vicious combination of blows, two more counters, a lift and throw, all in one single combination that flows absolutely perfectly.

It is very simple too. You have a button for striking, countering, your cape, and jumping/running. Now I mentioned it was simple, but it is also complex. As you learn to master it, you can start adding gadgets into the mix, gaining new variations to combat. As said before, my words, and I doubt anyone else's, can truly give this combat justice through words. In essence, try it. Rent this game if you doubt anything about it, and you are almost guaranteed to never wanting to put it down.

There is more to this game than combat however. Much more. In some situations, you have no choice but to fight, but this game revolves around stealth. After all, when is the last time you saw Batman not stalk his opponents into petrification? This is where many of his gadgets will come into play.

I won't spoil all of them. You have the grappling hook, Batarang, and explosive gel to name a few. These alone can help you take Joker's crazy thugs out one by one. However, there is still more to the stealth play.

As you progress through the game, you will unlock experience for various tasks--more coming on that shortly--and gain unlock-ables such as extra stealth play, gadget upgrades, health improvements, and combat bonuses. Utilizing the stealth upgrades are an absolute must. For instance, gargoyles are often littered around a format area, usually with guards armed to the teeth with guns and ammunition, and they are not shy about using it.

Hiding above, scoping out the layout for your use, sometimes an unsuspecting thug will just so happen cross beneath you. Using a certain upgrade, you can grab the thug, and not only disarm him from above, but remove him from the equation all together. Now had you gone down, fists in the air, you'd be dead before you knew what happened. Utilizing stealth from above is just one of many ways. Like combat, there is just no way to truly put in words how excellent it truly is.

I mentioned experience as well. Another great installment in this first chapter. The better you fight, the more experience you get. Taking down thugs in stealth? More experience. Now if you truly want to arm Batman with everything, you will need to go beyond the storyline, and track down 240 Riddler trophies, riddles, and other objectives. There is also another goodies to track down, but I will let you figure that one out.

All in all, this game was made for whether you never heard of Batman, or have been a die hard fan. It caters to everybody who enjoys a good story, excellent combat system--that is easy to use, hard to master--and a whole variety of challenge modes, extras to find, and so much more. At the very least, rent this game. You will not be disappointed. There is a lot of stuff too in this game that.

You will be amazed by the voice acting, the movements, the art work, and the overall complex nature of this vast island you're stuck on. There is plenty of bosses, interview patient tapes, and many shocking moments. I'll end this with a teaser of arguably the best part of this game: Prepare to face your fears...

Batman Arkham Asylum Greatest Batman Game Ever Created

[Terryfan · 10/10 · 23 September 2015]

When I first got my Playstation 3 one of the first games that got my attention when I play the demo was Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Now Batman is my favorite superhero from DC Comics and I grew up with Batman from the movies to the classic Animated Series the action figures and video games.

Now after so many years we finally got a game that is really what Batman fans have always wanted and Thankfully it does not disappoint.

The plot of the game has Batman bringing The Joker back to Askham Asylum only for it to be all part of The Joker's plan to make this the longest night of Batman's life. With The Joker and Harley Quinn in control of the Asylum Batman has to be one step ahead of them along with fighting the other villains in the asylum like Bane, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy and others

The writers really took their time to make this game a joy to play and the story line just keeps you interested from the start as it proves to be one of the longest nights of Batman's life.

But Barbara Gordon AKA Oracle helps Batman whenever she can and it gives the game more interest.

Also there are a lot to unlock like Character Bios, Interview tapes, Trophies and more. The only thing I didn't care too much for is The Riddler's riddles while they are for helping you unlock items and maps in my opinion The Riddler serves little to no meaning to the plot just a side mission.

The boss battles will have you on your highest gaming sense my favorite battle in this game is Poison Ivy but you also fight Bane, Killer Croc, Scarecrow and The Joker in the climax of the game. Now you have to do a lot of thinking on how to defeat these bosses.

The game play is really well done with a mix of stealth, action, and puzzle solving which you'll be doing through the game to unlock new combos and gadgets. The game play just spare no expense

The voice acting is just phenomenal. My favorite part is that Kevin Conroy reprise his role as Batman from Batman The Animated Series he is the best voice for Batman he knows how to bring the legend to life and once again he prove to do a successful job as Batman. Also Mark Hamill reprise his role as The Joker and his performance is just perfect you can tell he put his heart and soul into the character making him the best Joker in the animated department. Arleen Sorkin also returns as Harley Quinn and she is quite entertaining for the game she really did a great job as the character.

Also the rest of the cast, Tom Kane, Kimberly Brooks, Dino Andrade, Wally Wingert,Steve Blum,Tasia Valenza, Danny Jacobs, Fred Tatasciore and the others were just perfect fits for their respected characters they voiced in the game.

The Controls work very well for the game. Also the sound and music really matches the Dark Knight.

Now onto the Graphics were are just flawless attention to detail for the level designs and the characters really just gives you the feel of being in Batman's world. It goes to show that a lot of love went into this game and it feels like it was done for Batman Fans by fans of Batman.

The game also gives you chills with the Scarecrow levels which really brings the fear out and gets your skin to crawl. Also you never know what the game will throw at you next. It gives you the feel of actually expect the unexpected.

Seriously if you don't have this game you must get it because it one of the best video games ever created, the Best Batman Game and one of the best comic book games that really is a champion.

With original story, Excellent Graphics, Tight Game Play and Superb Voice acting you will be in for a thrill ride

I give Batman Arkham Asylum an 10 out of 10

A video game that honour the Batman

[AvionPrince16 · 9/10 · 25 August 2021]

What a wonderful world! A wonderful game that represent very well the world of batman. I enjoyed very much the gameplay: the fight scenes, the gameplay, the gadgets. The story between joker and batman. I also love the riddles and some iconic characters of Batman. A very good experience of video game. If you are a fan of batman, go take i!

This review is before I have played Arkham City or Knight

[Puroo · 10/10 · 30 March 2021]

Initially I was a bit reluctant to try this game, since I had heard that it takes place on one island, which is undoubtedly the smallest map any game has to offer nowadays. But then I decided to give it a go anyway when Epic gave it away. Before this I had only played Arkham Origins and seeing that the Batman in Arkham Asylum is that "underwear Batman", I was even more hesitant in trying it. But somehow I convinced myself that I can't understand Arkham City or Knight without playing this one so I will somehow "convince" myself into playing this.

Turns out I was wrong. This game is a downright masterpiece. Unlike most games that make your environment constricted, this one actually makes it feel very, very open. All the villains we knew are in this game - Joker (of course), Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc, Scarecrow. And then there's Riddler's puzzles which help us unlock the character bios and trophies.

Speaking of that, the side quests of this game are excellent. It's what one can enjoy doing once they've finished the main game. This review comes at a time when I haven't played Arkham City yet, so I don't know if they have maintained this level of side quests later on (it wasn't this entertaining in Arkham Origins so I'm a bit sceptical).

I can say this for sure that this is one of the best stealth games of the time it was released, with the only possible contender being Assassin's Creed II. I hope I will come back to this game at some other point in my life, since I want to solve all of Riddler's challenges.

The hero we deserve.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 10/10 · 27 June 2020]

'Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)' is one of the most influential video-games of all time, even if its own inspirations are equally evident. It's arguably the first great superhero game, one that treats its source material totally seriously and delivers a rock-solid story alongside its fun gameplay. The mechanics of the title are practically synonymous with the third-person action genre now, yet they really are revolutionary. The game's familiar mix of combat, puzzles, exploration and stealth is handled remarkably well, each element feeling cohesive and hand-crafted for the caped crusader himself. The rhythm-based combat is snappy, satisfying and suitably violent. It's remarkably deep, with a number of unlockable skills and advanced moves, and the enemy design is varied enough to keep things interesting, especially when several types are tossed at you together and you have to strategically work your way across the battlefield. The combo system isn't just for show or, even, style; it distinctly changes how you play because several abilities are contingent on it, ensuring you feel rewarded when you achieve a high level of play. Even though he can take on tens of foes at once, Batman isn't a tank. When bullets come his way, he has to hide. This is where the game's predator segments come into the fray. These sequences have you sneaking around the asylum and taking out guards as you see fit, every gadget in your arsenal uniquely equipped to deal with a given scenario. If you're spotted, you'll have to retreat to a vantage point with your grappling hook; you can't withstand much damage. The AI is incredibly effective at conveying the fear you expect from someone stalked by the Dark Knight, with enemies erratically slipping from calm to agitated depending on what they see. These segments are highly engaging and provide a great counterbalance to the thing's otherwise more overt combat. Other than taking out bad guys, you're also tasked with doing some detective work. With your X-ray 'detective vision', you can track subjects and even recreate what may have happened based on evidence you find. For the most part, this stuff is fairly simple but it's really satisfying. It tends to progress the story in a very natural way and makes you feel like an active participant in the narrative. That narrative is fantastic, too. It makes excellent use of its source material, bringing its dingy version of Arkham Asylum to life with striking detail. It also offers up a sizeable, fan-pleasing rogue's gallery of villains to face-off against. From the intimidating Bane to the psychotic Harley Quinn, each baddie is as distinct and compelling as the last. The main attraction is, of course, the Joker. Here, he is simply phenomenal, bolstered by a brilliant performance from Mark Hamill. He walks the line between cruel and crazy, as jovial as he is murderous, and it's great to see. He's a suitable adversary for the imposing and stoic Batman, voiced just as well by Kevin Conroy. Everything just comes together to create a completely cohesive world filled with colourful characters and gripping gameplay. It's great. Plus, there's a whole set of side content which sees you solving the Riddler's puzzles. These mostly optional quandaries consist of either a physical test - in which you must use your gadgets to obtain a small trophy - or a mental one - which have you photograph parts of the asylum that act as answers to more traditional, typically lore-based riddles. The side stuff also includes a set of challenges based around the combat and predator encounters found in-game, which are instantly enjoyable and infinitely replayable. Chasing the high-score on these might steal more of your time than you expect, rounding out the overall package and marking it as one that's a must-play for... well, anyone, really. It's absolutely fantastic and is, still to this day, one of the best games of its generation. 10/10

An amazing achievement

[XavierInVanCity · 9/10 · 26 August 2009]

This is the single most powerful video game I have ever played.

Let us start with gameplay. The stealth, action and gadget aspects are all top notch. The only flaw here is that the combat is somewhat repetitive. This is the only mark against this otherwise perfect game.

Every villain in this game has been realized and used to the utmost effect. In particular Mark Hamill's Joker is a terrifying beast, who's constant chatter over the megaphones is at the same time disturbing and hilarious.

The single most powerful moment in the game, however, is during one of the confrontations with scarecrow. The reliving of the murder of Bruce's parents genuinely affected me, and made Scarecrow's presence more than another another villain spot.

The points above, combined with beautiful graphics and animation and an engaging, dark storyline, make Batman: Arkham Asylym game of the year material for sure. A must play for anyone.

Superhero mayhem done very well.

[Rob_Taylor · 7/10 · 24 March 2015]

First off, I'll qualify this review by saying I'm not a big fan of the superhero genre, yet even I was favourably impressed by this (now 6-years old) game.

Since many others have already reviewed Arkham Asylum, I'll simply list what I liked and disliked about the game.

What I liked:

1. A nice power progression as Batman recovers various equipment and improves his abilities.

2. Decent graphics by today's standards.

3. A reasonable story that served the game well.

4. Exceptional voice acting, especially from Mark Hamill as the Joker.

5. When you are defeated by a villain (or his henchmen), there is a little scene with said villain coming out of the shadows to mock you mercilessly.

6. A "normal" difficulty that is actually challenging (especially in boss fights)

What I didn't like:

1. Rather on rails. There really is only one way to finish the game and complete the "levels".

2. Stealth is a little underutilised since to finish a level you must "secure" the area (i.e. beat every bad guy up).

As you can see, a lot more things I liked than disliked. Considering I played it six years after release, it has held up very well. If you are after a bit of superhero action, you could do far, far worse.

An Old-School Gamer Weighs In

[zkonedog · 5/10 · 11 March 2017]

About a year ago, my brother and I, being dissatisfied with the Nintendo Wii's childish nature, "traded it in" for an XBOX 360 system. "Batman: Arkham Asylum" was the first non-sports game we purchased for our new system, and for the first time since the heyday of the Gamecube, I was actually excited about a new adventure game. Unfortunately, this game proved to be much of the same for gamers who prefer the simplicity of older-gen adventures.

At face value, there doesn't seem to be anything to NOT like about this game. The graphics are excellent, the plot is interesting, and the basic movement controls (which are seemingly always an enormous problem in superhero games) are much more streamlined than in the past. The opening cutscenes are enthralling, and it seems for all the world as if this truly is going to be a game for the ages.

However, and I'm speaking as a rather old-school (growing up on the NES) here, the game never really sucks you in like some of the old classics. To be honest, I can't quite put my finger on what exactly is missing, but after those initial cut-scenes and beginner experimentation, the fun factor gradually fades away. Perhaps the fault comes in the game's trying to be too much on too many different levels. It wants to be an adventure-mystery...but nothing is ever really difficult to solve, thus no big emotional payoff due to time invested. The game also tries to be full of action...but aside from the basic kicks and punches, the other combos are too tedious to learn and don't really add anything to the plot of the game; thus you are left to just punching out all the bad guys and being spoon-fed your next strategic move.

Perhaps I have now turned into a "gaming old fart", but this game failed to really captivate me like, say, the classic NES version of the same character (I could literally play that game for hours on end). Like I said, I can't quite pin it down, but it seems as if most of the current adventure games (present company very much included) have lost that "it" factor and now just use kicks and punches to try and compete with the first-person shooter genre.

"Batman: Arkham Asylum" isn't a horrible game by any means, but just be warned that it may not live up to all the hype, either.

Really enjoyable game with varied game-play, all of which works really well

[bob the moo · 10 February 2011]

I came to this game after finishing the excellent Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and if I'm honest I did struggle to make the jump. Partly this is my age meaning I'm not as good at switching between controls as I was, but also a reflection on how much I enjoyed AC:B. Once I got over this hump though and got the feel for how Batman: AA plays and works, I got into it very quickly and found a very well designed game that features plenty of colour, plenty of variety and was a good solid challenge without ever being frustratingly difficult (in normal setting anyway).

The game play is impressive; in terms of the straight story you'll be called on to work out how to get to places by using your eyes and the gadgets available to you; you'll have combat where your timing and skills are pushed in terms of pulling of combos, blocking and countering attacks but you'll also have stealth sections against armed foes where you get to be the shadowy Batman - taking them out one at a time and disappearing back into the shadows as your increasingly panicked enemies try and find where you are. These were my favourite sections and I do enjoy the additional challenge mini-games you can do in the same format. Since it is a computer game the story is episodic but it still manages to flow pretty well and be quite cinematic in nature. The cut-scenes are well used and do not come too frequently.

Although not a huge free-roam world like Red Dead etc, Arkham Asylum still has lots to explore and find. The secrets maps help a lot but it still is a challenge and it does add material to the game rather than just charging through the main story. Some of these collectables also add detail and colour to the game - I won't say I listened to all the interview tapes, but the bio files (complete with comic-book pictures) were a nice touch and again added a sense of depth to the game beyond just the story.

I am a fan of Batman but not to the point where I know all the characters, but it was enjoyable to see so many main ones have a large role in the game. The Joker is particularly effective and is well voiced by Hamill but everyone does a good job - Poison Ivy was perhaps the exception for me but that is more down to me not really liking her character rather than a problem with the game. The Scarecrow sections were all great - easy enough to "beat" but the design of them and the flashes into Wayne's tortured psyche were really enjoyable. Speaking of the Bat himself, the game achieves the central goal, which is making it fun to play as the Goddamn Batman! The gadgets are cool, the voice acting is good and there is little more pleasing that pulling off those stealth moves without ever being detected and hearing the fear of the Bat enter the voices and behaviour of the remaining henchmen.

The graphics are excellent. Personally it took me a minute to get used to how much of the screen Batman took up (the view just seemed a bit too close for me) but otherwise it looked great. The Gothic atmosphere is tangible and the detective mode is very useful - the only downside of it was that the detective mode is so useful that you end up running around with it on most of the game - which does rather rob you of the atmosphere and the beauty of the "normal view" graphics; not a massive problem, but a shame for sure.

Overall Arkham Asylum is a really great game. Well designed, looks great, plays great and has a story that engages. The characters are full of colour and are well brought to the screen in terms of looks and voice work while the variety in the game-play means I was using my head, my eyes, a stealthy approach and also having button hammering combat - all of which worked very well together and individually.

Don the cowl, and bring them to justice

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 9/10 · 8 October 2013]

With a compelling opening that sets the creepy, gritty and bleak tone(with Gothic architecture - tall windows, and gargoyles that you can perch atop, and hang goons from) as you escort The Joker deep into the Arkham facility(which is now a full island, not merely the mansion - albeit that remains part of it), with several stops along the way(such as a doctor checking on him), and you expect that any moment now, he'll break free - he suddenly does, surprising you in spite of the anticipation, takes over, threatens that he'll detonate bombs all over Gotham if anyone approaches the Asylum and has graffiti tagged and a statue of the warden defaced, as you now have to track him down, rescue the hostages taken, fight his army of henchmen - and he may just send some supervillains your way.

Outside of The Killing Joke(which is where the inspiration for his appearance in this comes from) and Ledger, this is the best depiction of him. Hamill, aided by the solid, absurd material(he taunts you, and his goons, as you progress), renders him equally scary and comical - he leaves gift-wrapped, fridge-sized boxes around for you, and you never know where it'll be a bomb, or just a few of the chattering teeth he leaves around. He remains in control, and you are at his mercy. This explains, if doesn't fully excuse, the linearity of this - heightening the isolated, claustrophobic feeling. You can only choose where to go in the hub level of the outside, and when boringly backtracking to gain entry to areas earlier inaccessible. His final plan, while the scope befits the medium, is the one time something in this doesn't fit, as far as motivations go. He is joined by Harley(Sorkin), who's dependent and eerie as ever.

The characters in this are all gotten exactly right. And not everyone will survive the night... making this a tale with repercussions, and while those may be confined to these VG's, it's a notable risk to take. The villains(who all get epic, fitting entrances) are humans grotesquely transformed by tragedy into monsters - you are allowed to delve into their psyche(and their themes are explored) through interview tapes, that, like the story(original, and penned by veteran of the comics, Paul Dini - both ideal; you don't have people comparing it to the work it's adapting or knowing the outcome, and this gets the spirit), have twists, are impeccably paced, and develop the people. This gets right what most licensed ones don't - looking at why it's beloved, and making sure to replicate those elements, with a laser-like focus. Is this the best game ever? No. But in the sub-genre of hero ones, it is. And I retain the right to grant that to one of its sequels, when I get to playing those.

This is a real treat for those already in love with the property, but no matter how little you know about this franchise, you can appreciate this - it's quite self-contained, and actually serves as an introduction that will inspire many potential fans to get into it. It covers a lot of ground, without bogging down with excessive details. The cutscenes(either in-engine or pre-rendered so it never feels out of place) are cool, short, fast-paced and to the point. You get poisoned by Scarecrow, and have to struggle through terrifying, and sometimes quite personal, hallucinations(think Freddy Krueger). There is some Prince of Persia style acrobatics. The main campaign in this single-player(with 3 difficulties) only title(I'm glad they didn't push for multiplayer, or even co-op, if they didn't think they could make it work) is only 10 and a half hours. The replayability lies in unlocking statues, upgrades to improve your abilities, and challenge maps(in the GOTY edition, there are no less than 20!). That last one comes with international leaderboards, to entice you to do well. It does also highlight that there are essentially only two different playing experiences in this.

The first is the free-flow, hard-hitting martial arts. There is a rhythm to it - like in real life. Try to predict their behavior, and react in time. You have four moves: Strike(your attack), Block(stop another's blow and hit them), Stun(prevent one or two from punching) and Evade(any direction - including "at" them, bunny-hopping over them!). Click a button at the right time, directed in the right direction, and it might not even matter if you're not already close enough(you may automatically get close by flipping over there). As long as you don't miss, spend a full second not doing anything, or take damage(you'll heal after battle - no running away!), you'll increase your "combo counter", and once you have enough, you unlock Throw(literally toss one guy into a few others!) and instant Takedowns(the only time that doesn't take so much time that you can be stopped if seen!). There is no spamming. This is easy to learn, yet tough to master. How well you do translates to XP, and as already mentioned, that's vital.

And the other major aspect is stealth. As you can tell, these are the defining traits of Bruce Wayne's alter ego(along with his smarts - those make it in, without providing something hard to accomplish. This is highly creative - you can hide above(glide-kicking from there - yes, your cape always allows slow, or silent, descent), beside(around a corner, grabbing them from there), even below(from grates, travelling unseen - there are vents, as well), enemies. You can attract them with a Sonic Batarang(you can also throw more than one, there's a remote controlled one, and, like with the Bat-Claw which grabs objects, or persons, out of your immediate reach, there's a key to quick-use it... and auto-aim is actually *smart* in this, and aiming is possible when you have the time).

There is a lot of disturbing, violent content in this, and some blood. I recommend this to any fan of Batman, action and/or sneaking. 9/10

If this were written for the big screen, it would make for a great Batman movie.

[Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-2187 · 9/10 · 16 April 2018]

Batman: Arkham Asylum broke the conundrum that is licensed video-games: in an industry full of innovation and equal-parts shovel-ware, video-games based on longstanding properties like Batman usually tend to fail and fall hard (like Superman 64), the Arkham series proved that you can make a fantastic game franchise comparable to the likes of Grand Theft Auto, Legend of Zelda, Halo, Uncharted or Gears of War. This makes the case for video-games telling great stories comparable to (and even surpassing) a Hollywood blockbuster, and showing that gaming can make way for industrial breakthroughs like this.

Batman is one of the few superheroes to break ranks in all forms of media and succeed in doing so.

The Best Batman voice ever!

[hanifmuhammad92 · 10/10 · 24 March 2016]

Batman has never been more of bad ass! Batman Arkham Asylum is one of the finest outings for the caped crusader. Not only is it a top notch game with excellent attention to detail and amazing production value it is also an absurdly fun game to play. I couldn't even begin to count the number of hours I spent with this Masterpiece. I've beaten the main story several times and I suspect that I will continue to do so in the future. It's by far one of the best video games that I have ever had the opportunity of playing. The Game begins with Batman capturing the Joker and delivering him to the Asylum. Through a sudden turn of events we discover that The Joker had been planning his abduction all along. He takes over the Asylum with the help of Harley Quinn. Now it is up to the gamer to take back the Asylum as Batman. The Best part of it all is that it contains The voices from the animated series. These are both the quintessential actors for the roles. AS much as I enjoy hearing other actors portray the characters There is simply nothing that comes close to the chemistry between Conroy and Hamill. It's so magnetic that it draws the audience into the story like few games could.

The Gameplay is addictive and deceptively easy to grasp at first hand. Right from the start of the game Joker frees the thugs from black gate prison and it's up to you to take them out. To put it mildly The Arkham fighting system is Genius! I've never played an action game with a combat system that made you feel like such a bad ass It's just so simple and yet it looks so cool. There will be moments in the game where you'll find yourself fighting against a dozen to twenty guys at a time and all you have to do is alternate between the attack and counter buttons to dispose of them. But the thing that makes the combat so addictive is that it's easy to learn but insanely difficult to master.

The Other major corner stone of the game-play of Arkham Asylum is predator mode. During these sections of the game Batman will find himself in a room with several men patrolling it armed to the teeth with guns. With all the ass you've been kicking in traditional combat it's easy to forget that you're just a man but these sections of the game do a Masterful job in humbling the gamer. Once you get the hang of this aspect of the game you will truly feel as if you are a force of nature as you find ways to split the group of enemies apart and take them down one by one before anyone of them understand what's going on. There are a number of ways to do this which makes the process overwhelming. It's easy at first but towards the end of the game you'll find yourself in a room with twenty armed guards and you not sure who to take out first. Thankfully Predator is fast paced and aggressive thanks to detective mode. Detective mode is Batman's link to the Batman computer providing by his trusted partner Oracle and is useful in practically ever section of the game. It's basically X ray vision and it allows Batman to see threw walls and buildings as well as isolated armed henchmen. With this feature you will surely see enemies coming from a mile away and will have plenty of time to prepare for your next attack. The best stealth take downs are the inverted ones that you can do from the overhead interior gargoyles. Hanging enemies upside down while they scream in terror simply never gets old. This feature becomes the most enjoyable when the enemies fear meter builds up. At a certain point they become so frightened they begin to shoot into the air randomly. So despite the challenge the predator aspect of the game truly gives you the opportunity to feel like Batman and that perhaps is the highest praise that anyone can give it.

One of the best things about the game, aside from The fun game-play, Dark atmosphere, and great graphics are the memorable clashes that Batman has with some of the super villains in the Asylum. My personal favorite are the haunting dream like sequences with Scarecrow that pop up during certain moments of the story. There are simple no words to describe How Phenomenal this part of the game really is. My favorite moment was when Scarecrow's toxin actually forced Batman to be taken throw the murder of his parents all over again. I actually cried in that moment. No other video game has made me feel that way and I've played Shadow of the Colossus. That is all.

There is little I can say about Batman Arkham Asylum that hasn't been said already. It's just an amazing game and is certainly deserves it's game of the year award. It will be forever cherished in my memory as one of the finest renditions of the character of all time! A timeless classic and one of my absolutely favorites!

It all works surprisingly well

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 15 August 2013]

The idea of confining the main character to Arkham island for one hellacious night wouldn't usually make for a good Batman game. You don't usually think of Batman without being able to drive the Batmobile, swoop through Gotham, etc. But here, it totally works. The Joker's taken over the asylum, the inmates are freed, and it's up to Batman to fix this huge mess.

And while the people behind this game put some serious muscle behind the voice work (Conroy as Batman, Hamill as The Joker, Sorkin's back as Harley Quinn), the real winner is the gameplay. When you're not scanning the room in detective mode, preying on bad guys from the shadows, you're engaging with all manner of thugs in brutal combat. And that was one of my favorite parts of the game, the satisfaction of this mean bastard laying the smack down on bad guys.

The only disappointment is not being able to drive the Batmobile (the nature of this beast), and credit where it's due, that was one sweet- looking ride. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the distinct creepy atmosphere of Arkham, the thrilling fights and hearing these signature voices (Hamill really does make the Joker hilarious).

Great game.

8/10

Truly a classic

[Heartburnt_Kid · 9/10 · 27 January 2022]

Arkham Asylum's map is designed so well that even it's 2009 graphics didn't ruin the intended creepy and mysterious vibe the game was giving. Playing this at nights makes the experience even more magical. The map is also elaborative with puzzles that have a wide range of variety in solving them, I was amazed by how interactive the Asylum's world was given the game's age.

The story is unfortunately a bit too short and sometimes gives very little background to the cast characters. However, because of its short playtime you don't feel fatigued with the repetitive enemies and bosses.

The combat mechanics was fun and addictive, no wonder why the upcoming titles have been using the same combat gameplay with minimal changes.

I am Batman

[k_g_barreto · 10/10 · 25 December 2019]

Batman: Arkham Asylum is amazing, one of the best games I've ever played, I finished the story four times, and every time I finished I never doubted that the experience that the game proportioned me was wholesome. I did all the Riddler challenges as well, can be boring sometimes but it's satisfying, at least for me. Everything in this games is great. Batman is badass, the game respects the character and its mythology, Joker, Bane, Poison Ivy, all of the characters that we know and are in this game, they're all faithful to the source material and they're all perfect.

The voice acting here is amazing as well, one of the best things of the game. Kevin's voice is perfect for Batman, and I think he's better here than in Timm's Justice League and Batman cartoon, where he is great as well, but here, there's something more. Mark Hamill is perfect for Joker, his laugh, his tone, everything, and this version of Joker is one of my favorite, despite the whole desire to kill Batman, one of the best concepts is that Joker and Batman 'complete' themselves, Joker doesn't want to kill Batman because he is too much of a fun and Batman can't kill Joker because of his code. Here in this game, Joker is bored of Batman and want to kill him, but I understand why they did this, is a different media.

And for being a video game, the experience is really immersive, you ARE Batman in the game, you beat all the goons, the fighting system is perfect by the way, you go out there in the Asylum grappling around, have millions of gadgets. And it's impressive that Rocksteady, a small game developer when this game was relesead, did a masterpiece even with the budget they had in hands.

Not exaggerating, but everythign here is perfect: the soundtrack, the voice acting, the fighting system, the stealth parts, Batman being detective, something the majority of the movies doesn't show, Arkham Asylum is amazing, the aesthetics, the characters design, I could go on for a day listing everything that is perfect is this game. The boss battles, how haunting is the Scarecrow and the nightmares. It's just a masterpiece and you SHOULD play it, it's totally worth playing.

A great beginning to an amazing series...

[thatonereviewer · 9/10 · 10 March 2019]

When I was 8, I broke my only copy of LEGO Batman: The Videogame. I begged my parents to buy me another copy but they thought it would be in my best interest to move on from LEGO video games and divert my attention to more mature adaptations of my favorite superhero. They instead bought me Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2010. I was very disappointed in their purchase and didn't even open the game for weeks. Little did I know that what I saw as a disappointment would later become one of my favorite video games of all time.

Batman: Arkham Asylum begins with Batman having captured Joker after leading an attack on Gotham City Hall and now delivering him to Arkham Asylum. The game designers deviated from the common depiction of the asylum, creating an island that houses Batman's rogue gallery instead of one single building. The designers made a great decision in expanding on the Asylum, diving the purposes of an asylum into multiple facilities (such as the Intensive Treatment, Medical Facility, Penitentiary, and more). The buildings and the island overall are absolutely beautiful and well designed As the story progresses (after Joker having escaped from his restrains), Batman ventures throughout the individual buildings, fighting against adversaries that are up to no good.

I'll refrain from describing the entire plot so I'll leave it at this... Pros: -Amazing graphics (especially for a game released in 2009) -Easy controls (Not challenging to remember and not glitch-y) -Amazing soundtrack (Comes second to the soundtrack in Batman: Arkham City) -Variety of interesting characters, all voiced very well -Story is constructed well, as in the specific objectives and missions lead into each other smoothly.

Cons: As as child, I thought of this game as perfect. I do see now though that -There are quite a few plot holes and conveniences, some being ' How did Harley Quinn successfully take over the Asylum's security systems? It is never explained as to how she did so. ' Why didn't the GCPD make an attempt to regain control of the island once ' Oracle confirmed for them that there were no bombs/traps awaiting for them? ' How does Batman resist undergoing the biological changes from the titan formula ... mentally? ' How was Gordon recaptured by Joker's forces? This is also never explained.

• There are also instances of lazy writing, which can also reference to the points made above.
• The design of the locations and most of the characters are great, but there were only a few different designs for the prisoners and "thugs" throughout the game, which seemed both lazy and disappointing.
• The "boss fights" in the game were also very lacking of creativity and overall very repetitive.
• Besides the collectable Riddler trophies, there are no other side missions, so once a player completes the story mode, there isn't much that can be done.
• After the story is completed, the island remains desolate (aside from some wandering insane patients), which is odd since players saw the GCPD regain control of the Asylum so the lack of characters to interact with was disappointing.

Overall, this video games is actually amazing. I would have to assume I have played Arkham Asylum at least ten times over. The game does have some flaws, but all were addressed in the game's sequel, Batman: Arkham City. Even though there are quite a few cons listed, I very do much recommend this game for you. If you only have old-generation consoles (Xbox 360 / Playstation 3), buy Batman: Arkham Asylum, but if you have a new-generation console (Xbox One / Playstation 4 / PC), I recommend buying Batman: Return to Arkham. Batman: Return to Arkham consists of both Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. In this bundle, both games are remastered, meaning that while the games are identical to when they were first released, the developers improved the graphics/visuals and removed common glitches/bugs from the games.

A truly amazing work

[moudekerk · 10/10 · 30 June 2015]

Batman: Arkham Asylum is an excellent game by Rocksteady. I give it a full 10/10 because everything about it is perfect. It introduced a unique style of hand-to-hand combat that would stun players and be used in future Arkham games. The realism of the fighting is pretty good as well. The plot of the game is both epic and within boundaries. From the point of entering Arkham you will find that the environment is immersing and large. The amazing open world gives this game it's most key point to it's success: it's atmosphere. This is what really shapes up the game for me. The atmosphere makes you feel awesome yet somewhat eerie and disturbed. The boss battles have been called "just OK", but I think they are well put together and fun. The rouges gallery in this game is just great. You see many of your favorite Batman villains and can read up on many more by solving interesting riddles related to villains. The graphics are also very good. The Asylum has a very modern and dark tone to it, adding to the overall feel of the game. With Batman's load of gadgets, you'll have endless fun. Of course the street fighting combat is fun and well-recognized, the predator stealth combat is also great. If you beat the game, you'll most likely want to beat it again. Also, if you want to do something other than the campaign, there is a long Riddler challenge with collectibles and riddles hidden all over Arkham as well as fighting challenges to do. Overall, this an absolutely great game that you should play if you haven't.

Well made and fun to play, BUT... (7.5)

[mm-41448 · 7/10 · 14 January 2022]

I wish that I could heal myself during a battle or in general, maybe you get an upgrade later on but it's very frustrating. I'm currently stuck at the fight with Bane and as many more fights it's very frustrating and rage worthy.

The Game doesn't really focus on having a great story but it's more about combat and gameplay so it doesn't bother me too much although I wouldn't mind a compelling story.

Am I asking for too much? I don't know. I don't think so. Anyway, I hope you absolutely love this game and have the best time playing it.

It's fun. Maybe it didn't age well, though.

[M_Exchange · 5/10 · 21 April 2017]

I started playing this game for the first time a few weeks ago (it was made in 2009-- now it's 2017). I conquered "Arkham Knight" (2015) with the "Knightfall" (complete) ending. Now I'm more than halfway through this game, so I feel as if I'm qualified to comment about it.

I noticed that one of the most recent reviews channeled my primary thought about it as well: it was fun at the beginning; now I get bored with it easily. I want to complete the game, so it's entertaining. But I wanted much more.

As I've played this game it occurred to me that "The Last of Us" (2013), among maybe other games, probably borrowed/stole its sneaking and cloak and dagger concepts to take down enemies. Unfortunately, The Last of Us did it better. Arkham Knight also refined some of the upgrades and tools that Batman uses, so it renders some of this game's models amateurish.

Lastly, I am unimpressed with the manner in which the game just randomly inserts Batman's main villains into the story with little regard to how they play any sort of role in it. They obviously just wanted to showcase as many characters as possible. In the modern age of The Last of Us and Dragon Age franchises and other games that have deep, rich, coherent stories, it doesn't serve the game well. So Riddler, even though he escaped the island completely, is in it, and Scarecrow's appearances are unbelievably forced and take you out of the story. Lame.