The Gaming Experiment

After several weeks of trying, I finally finished Batman Arkham Asylum on the PS3. The game was developed by Rocksteady Studios, a small UK based studio that made Urban Chaos for the original Xbox and PS2.

This game was definitely getting a lot of buzz in the months leading the release in late August. I’ve always been a huge fan of Batman. I loved the comics, movies, and animated series. Sure, there have been some examples of bad Batman, but overall my love for the caped crusader has been abundantly positive.

There have been some bad videogame adaptations of comic book properties for a while now. I’m looking at you Superman 64!

Batman: Arkham Asylum starts out amazing, and with a few small issues, remains fun, fast paced and varied throughout your entire 8-10 play through. Arkham Asylum is where Gotham City sends all their criminals. You may remember Arkham Asylum from the comics or from Batman Begins where Dr. Crane (aka Scarecrow) is the head. During the game you’ll meet some characters from the comics, and they are voiced by the actors in the animated series. The voice acting is worth the price of admission alone.

You start off the game with an amazing opening video/interactive intro. You capture your nemesis Joker and bring him to Arkham. As you walk Joker down through the asylum, he is shooting off his mouth, and you are able to get a first taste of what you’re in for. You’ll meet the new head of the Asylum, and meet some of the staff. Once joker is securely in the asylum, that’s when things get a bit crazy. There’s an inside job, and the Joker is free and has taken the new warden and your old friend Commissioner Gordon hostage. You’re job is to stop the joker and regain control of the asylum. Throughout your journey, you’ll meet several enemies that I thought we well designed and actually played an interesting role in advancing the story. I actually really enjoyed the story, the nods to Batman fiction were really great too.

The gameplay was great too. Batman is the caped crusader that works from the shadows, and the game requires you to play as such. Using your gadgets and grappling hook to evade, trap, and neutralize your enemies. There is a visor option called 'Detective Mode' that allows batman to see through walls, and pinpoints the locations or enemies and alternative routes. This mode was a really cool addition, however, there was no motivation to turn it off and really enjoy the fantastic art style and graphics. You be able to use a number of gadgets throughout the game like the Baterang, Grappling Hook, Foam Explosives, and bomb defusing equipment.

Overall the game is really great and on my short list for game of the year! You have to Add it to the pile . Here's hoping that Rocksteady comes back with another great game.

Have you played it yet? Let me know in the comments what you've thought about it!