Batman: Arkham Asylum Review
Joker takes control of Arkham Asylum, and sets an elaborate trap for the Dark Knight.
Platform: XBox 360, Playstation 3, PC (September release)
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Publisher: Warner Brothers
Genre: Action/Adventure
# of Players: 1
U.S. Release Date: August 25th, 2009
MSRP: $59.99
The hype for this game has been something else. Sometime a few weeks ago, the buzz about this game went from something you might expect from a decent game, to something people couldn’t stop talking about. I even read a story about it on the Yahoo homepage as the feature story!
Now hype can be a dangerous thing. It has a strange way of inflating expectations, and making a fairly decent game seem like a let-down. So I did my best to ignore the hype, and sat down to play the game. Plenty of time to think about that after I was done.
Obviously, this game is a superhero game, which has its own unique set of challenges. Sometime back in the mid-90’s, game technology advanced to the point where it was no longer acceptable to simply create a basic game and insert a superhero into the lead role. Sure, that worked back in the early days, when you could make a punch-em-up side-scroller and just make the avatar Batman. When you got to the level of platforms like the Nintendo 64, suddenly that formula started to make for a bad game. Anyone else remember Superman 64?
These days, to have a successful superhero game, not only does the game have to be well made, but it has to allow you to in some sense live the comic book experience. Spider-Man 2 (2004) successfully captured the feel of webslinging through Manhattan. X-Men Legends recreated the team-combat dynamic that is so integral to the X-Men comics. In order for Batman: Arkham Asylum to be a real hit, it would have to capture some part of what it is to be Batman – meaning master martial artist, detective skills, gadgets, and shadow-stalking. I am pleased to say that on all counts, this game nailed it.
Combat is fairly intuitive, and well designed. The system is simple – one button attacks, one button does a stun attack, one counters, and one dodges (with a double tap). The system is designed so that you can charge into a group of a dozen opponents, and take them all out without taking a hit. Early in the game, you quickly find yourself just chain attacking, but soon you discover that it is imperative that you not only master the timing of the attacks, but also that you incorporate counters and stun attacks at appropriate moments to keep the combo chain going. You are encouraged not only to win fights, but also to flow from opponent to opponent without taking a hit or missing a shot. The more consecutive attacks you can chain together, the higher your experience bonus is – experience points being the currency you use to purchase upgrades as the game progresses. Without a doubt, the game captures what it is like for Batman to combat multiple opponents that he far outclasses in skill. It really is only the numbers that give the sense of danger – as it would be for Batman. There isn’t a thug in the game that you can’t handle with ease 1 on 1, but in the flurry of combat, one lucky shot can turn the fight around.
Speaking of lucky shots, I can’t tell you how awesome it was to get hit in the head with a pipe in the middle of the fight. One moment you are in control, and then you miss that one counter, and CLANG – the pipe hits. The game actually blurs the screen, almost as if you were looking at something cross-eyed – you see double (maybe triple). You can still fight, and still move, but your vision is disrupted, and you just have to fight through it. An outstanding touch.
Of course, Batman is human, and despite the armor he wears, he is certainly not bulletproof. This game remembers that as well. You should not get shot – ever. Opponents with guns (with some exceptions) are better to take out with stealth – and this game allows for that as well. You can sneak up on opponents and silently take them out, stun them with a batarang or an explosion, or even drop down from a gargoyle and string them up. And yes, there are many occasions where you can drop down on top of a group from above, cape extended, gliding in for the surprise kick. Batman operates well from the shadows – and the variety of high ledges, low walls, and removable floor-crates allow you to find cover easily. So long as you remain aware of your surroundings.
The detective aspect is present as well – and the game wisely handles this in two ways. Of course Batman is a master detective – but how do you incorporate that into a game? Players would want to feel as if they were solving a puzzle the way Batman would, but you can’t translate keen intellect and a talent for observing small details into a series of button presses like you can with combat. Or can you?
Part of the way the game captures the feel of Batman the Detective is with the aptly named Detective Mode. With the push of a button, you engage Batman’s scanner. This will allow you to detect opponents, determine if they are armed or not, find passageways (like vents that can be removed), and even scan for DNA or other traceable elements that will allow you to track a target. If there is something you need to figure out in order to advance the plot, entering Detective Mode will eventually help you find the answer.
Some players might be looking for a little more though – and that’s where The Riddler comes in. Throughout the asylum are the answers to a series of Riddles that Edward Nigma have left for you, as well as some trophies and other bonus items. Solving the riddle requires you locate the solution and basically take a picture of it. For example, the Riddle “This room is the end of days for even the most celebrated killer.” requires that you take a picture of Calander Man’s cell – which you will recognize because it is covered in torn off calender pages.All of the items on the Riddler Grid will give you more experience points, which of course allow you to upgrade your gear. They aren’t required to advance the plot, but they definitely add another dimension to the game, a welcome one if you want
Atmosphere is such a crucial part of this game. To me, the game is somewhat reminiscent of “D” in that respect. Of course, “D” had the misfortune of being released when technology (in particular graphics) were at something of a transitional phase, but one thing it definitely got right was atmosphere. Halo also did this well, particularly when you were first introduced to the Flood. In Batman: Arkham Asylum, atmosphere serves as the mortar that cements all of the great individual aspects of the game together. The sense of danger throughout the Asylum is palpable, and the Joker’s voice taunting you over an intercom as the game progresses really gives the game some meat. Graphics (particularly lighting) and music make you feel danger when it is there, urgency when it is required, and calm when it is time to think. Atmosphere in this sense is something of an intangible, but there is no denying that it was handled masterfully here.
A lot of credit for the quality of this game has to go to the writing and the voice acting. The names might seem familiar to you – Paul Dini writing, Kevin Conroy voiced Batman, Arleen Sorkin voiced Harley Quinn, and Mark Hamill voiced the Joker – a real reunion from Batman: The Animated Series. Of course, this isn’t a game based on that property, but Batman in general, so no worries about the look. Speaking of the look, the folks at Wildstorm were behind Batman’s design for the game – continuing a tradition of comic professionals contributing to the success of games like this. Mark Hamill’s work was key – his Joker has reached an iconic status, and if anyone else was voicing the Clown Prince, it would have been jarring.
The graphics are gorgeous, but the cut scenes can be lacking, especially when you are watching a conversation. They basically use the same models you see in the game during these cut scenes – and that leads to moments of weird stiffness, unnatural eye-movement, and bad lip-syncing. The first instance of this you will notice right away on the opening screen (Press Start!) – you see Batman standing, his cape blowing in the breeze, a real feeling of action. Only his body doesn’t move at all. It is almost like they forgot to put a slight head and arm movement, and the result looks like an unnatural statue wearing a cape. Gotta be honest though – in today’s game industry, too often there is a focus on the quality of the cut scenes, and the game suffers as a result. Far be it from me to complain about a slightly sub-par movie, when the game play is so phenomenal. This game was slightly lacking in the one area where it is perfectly fine to be slightly lacking – there was a dip in quality there, but they deserve points for having their priorities right.
One other bit about the game that was a slightly bigger problem – the beginning. At this point, Batman has captured the Joker, and he is being processed for incarceration at Arkham Asylum. Batman is suspicious because Joker gave up too easily, and decides to accompany the Joker and his guards until he is satisfied that his nemesis is safely in custody. So you walk – and only walk – for at least 10-15 minutes, following the Joker until he makes his move. The voice-work during this time is outstanding of course, but it is long, and quickly becomes something you have to tough out.
Outside the game itself, there are several “challenges” that try your still at both group combat and stalking. I found these to be a blast – but also a great way of honing your skills for some of the more difficult encounters later in the game. The combat challenges were particularly valuable, as they help you get over just mashing X in combat, and actually timing your selected shots. Being able to fight mob after mob without having to die and watch a couple scenes again was a lot of help. Don’t skip these until you finish the main game – you will pick up skills there that will help you beat the game. Plus, its a fair bit of fun. Those challenges also keep track of your scores, which allows you to compete and compare with your friends, or with all online users. A nice couple of extras, and nothing forced.
Is this the “Greatest Comic Game of All Time” as some people are proclaiming it? I really can’t say – that kind of thing is whole lot of hype uttered by some pretty self-important folks.
But there are two things that are absolutely true about this game. One – its an outstanding comic game, that successfully captures what it is to be Batman.
Two – it is plain and simply an outstanding game. You owe it to yourself to check this one out.
Rating:
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