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39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first great Super Hero game, 2 Sep 2009
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
Batman-Arkham Asylum is a pretty special game. It came out of the gates with the sort of demo that sprung from the shadows, grabbed me suddenly around the waist, shoved a bat mask onto my face before I knew what was happening and firmly insisted in a gruff voice on being played through at least 25 times, or else. So I did. And it was good. Very, very good. By the time I'd played it through only 10 times I had already fetched my childhood bat cape from the attic, dusted off my Michael Keaton/Kim Basinger posters, smashed up my favourite piggy bank and separated out the silver into a clearly marked plastic bag entitled "the bat fund." I was mildly excited.
Lucky for me then that the full Batman game turned out to be a true gaming treat. Great character models, flawless voice talent (care of Mark Hamil et al from the last animated series), inspired mood, lighting, and atmosphere, all tied together by a fluid, intuitive control system. We finally have a super hero game that not only doesn't suck, but that can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder and head held high with the truly great titles of this generation. But it does so with a little borrowing. Regular gamers will immediately sense the influence of other popular titles at work here. The artwork, presentation and atmosphere are heavily influenced by the classic first person-shooter Bioshock, as is the sense cultivated throughout of a world gone slightly mad. The regular use of the Joker's voice on the intercom to taunt you and comment on your progress also harks back to bioshock's Fontaine. No bad thing. Metal Gear Solid throws its hat in the ring next, being the clear model behind the stealth action (albeit with the fantastic twist here that the gunmen know you are around somewhere and are terrified of you, becoming more terrified as you pick them off). The intuitive control system has a distinct sense of Gears of War, and finally, at a stretch, you can even pull out gaming elements and level design from God of War (particularly in the fantastic fight with Scarecrow.) Of course, all of these comparisons are to top drawer, best of their generation titles. The fact that Batman pulls to mind the very best elements of these games speaks volumes for its class, and at worst it certainly presents an overall experience unlike any you will have had before in gaming.
The fact that this is a "Batman" title doesn't unduly carry the game through its ills, either. Yes, its great to have these characters to hand, but the story line that guides you along the game is well written and engaging in its own right (although I won't ruin it by going over it here). The character interpretations are also spot on. A Comic book look rather than photorealism has been adopted, but coupled with the grimy, frightening, brutal design of the Chris Nolan Batman films. There's less spit-shine and "Kabblams!" here than there is blood, violence, death and madness. Of course, whilst this may heartily stoke the excitement of older gamers, do bear in mind that this sort of game may not be suitable for your Bat Youngadult. Its important to look beyond the pointy ears and note that this game has been given a 15 rating for a reason. Uncertain parents should have a quick play themselves first and see what they think.
Other than that there's little else to say. If you grew up with Batman like me, you will love this game. And even if you didn't, well... you will still love this game. Its too good not too.
9.5/10.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dark Night, 23 Dec 2009
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
Single-handedly, Batman makes up for years of disappointing and underwhelming superhero titles. Any scepticism or reservations disappear once the game is playable, with a fine homage to Half Life during the opening moments. The storyline is based on the graphic novel of the same name. Batman has captured the Joker, and returns him to Arkham Asylum for the criminally insane. However, Joker escapes, and releases the inmates, leaving the Dark Knight to put things right. The game has an edge of realism, keeping in line with the inspiration, and Christopher Nolan's recent films. Every detail seems to re-enforce the mythology of Batman. For instance, he only incapacitates enemies, never killing them. Character bios can be unlocked, which give depth to the characters and location. Revealing the spirit of Amadeus Arkham is a fine example of this.
The open world of Arkham Island is a substantial size, but has extra layers of depth in the form of Riddler Challenges. These vary from locating hidden trophies, to solving cryptic brain teasers. Certain areas can only be accessed when Batman has the necessary gadget. These are unlocked during the course of the game, nearly all have a significant effect on gameplay, opening up fresh approaches to situations. The ultra batclaw can pull down walls, whereas the line launcher can access previously inaccessible areas.
Voice acting is absolutely outstanding. Mark Hamill, who voices the Joker, is a highlight. The Joker is also a playable character, on free to download maps. Although, story mode is worth playing twice, the Challenge modes will really increase longevity. These are broken down into combat and predator challenges, elements from the story mode that have been made into individual levels. Meeting the medal targets can be infuriatingly difficult, but thoroughly rewarding.
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I feel like Batman..but not THE Batman, 29 Aug 2009
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
This game (not demo) is, without doubt, marvellous.
'Does exactly what it says on the tin', is a perfect phrase to use, when describing this game. The gameplay is easy to pick up, the graphics are fantastic, sound and music fit the mood and feel of the source material perfectly and this all contributes to the overall success of the game.
Its a well written plot too, the premise, that Im sure you all know from reviews etc, is perfect for this type of game. Its not'Batman does God of War' as some reviewers will have you believe. Any game in which you can dispose of the henchmen without being seen in most of the game, can never be levelled with this description. If one must give it a brand as it were, I would describe it as 'Batman does Metal Gear', no sneaking or stealth in the Boss battles, but plenty in the game.
The good points covered..BUT
Im am still waiting for the Batman game to end all Batman games. A sandbox, GTA style game, a fully explorable Gotham, coupled with another comic-inspired plot, and of course full use of the Bat-Vehicles etc. Past attempts on the PS1 &PS2 have been weak, mostly because they have been based on the films, and have bitten off more than they can chew. This game is a good start to rejuvenating the Batman-Video game brand.
Arkham shows us the direction, hopefully someone will take advantage of a sole-PS3 release, and create a game of epic proportions.
Maybe just a far-flung dream? Maybe something that will finally unlock the full potential of the PS3.
Verdict: buy it, its great (simple as)
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