Skepticism….such is the feeling that simmered in my mind, as Arkham Asylum boot up on a nearby television screen. Perhaps it was the case of seeing countless favorite franchises getting ruined in their transition to videogame state that probably got the best of me. It's pretty rare, then, for a game to come up and prove you wrong on every front. Let's get one thing out of the way: Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games I've played all year and is probably the greatest licensed videogame out there. So what really is it about this game that distinguishes it from the vast number of licensed action titles released every now and then? Let's find out!
The game takes places at Arkham Asylum, an iconic mental institute located on an island in the outskirts of Gotham City. Comic book series fanatics should instantly recognize it as the place that plays hosts to the city's most dangerous and exiled criminals. Our caped crusader arrives to hand the Joker over to the asylum authorities, after another one of his crime sprees comes to an end. This triumph is short-lived, however, as the Joker manages to escape, with the aid of Harley Quinn, and releases several of his sadistic inmates. This, in turn, helps him gain control over the island's logistics and our hero's role quickly shifts from Captor to Captive, as he's caught up in yet another predicament where he has to foil the Joker’s devious plot and restore order in the region. During his quest, Batman encounters many obstacles as well as many of his foes from the past, who want nothing but revenge on him for putting them in the Asylum.
At its core, Arkham Asylum is a brawler. Using the “Free-Flow Combat” system, you effortlessly fight your way through a vast array of Joker's goons. Usually, this is the perfect recipe for a repetitive experience. However, in this case, the combat is made interesting by offering a unique blend of action and stealth. Batman may not be as powerful as your average superhero, but coupled with his agility, he's definitely a force to be reckoned with. The combat is extremely fast paced and you have to react quickly, in order to keep up with the pace of the action. Plus, the addition of a counter system makes things even more interesting, rewarding you for thinking fast and acting quicker. As a good change of pace, the game also pits you up against a few puzzles every now and then. There's also a riddle-based minigame of sorts scattered throughout the game, called the “World’s Greatest Detective”.
Thankfully, the stealth element doesn't feel like a tacked on afterthought. Instead, it adds a layer of depth brawler-heavy gameplay, essentially making the experience far more engrossing. Plus, it also fits in with Batman’s character, as he's not known for going all-out guns blazing. A remarkable aspect of his dexterity, whereby he tends to lurk in the shadows and remain unseen, has been translated perfectly into the game. There are certain situations that involve you having to isolate and takedown a bunch of armed henchmen one-by-one. Enabling the “Detective Mode” helps you to study their patrol patterns and memorize their movements, before quickly making quick work of them. It's scenarios such as this one that make the game satisfying for series and action/stealth fans alike.
Fans of the comic book series should be pleased with the amount of villains that make cameo appearances as inmates. From Scarecrow to The Riddler, every notable figure is covered in some form or the other. There are also over 30 Character bios for you to unlock, though not all of those characters make an appearance. Along with the Story mode, there's a Challenge mode, featuring two forms of gameplay: 'Invisible Predator' or 'Brawler'. With the addition of this mode, developer 'Rocksteady Studios' has done a fine job of adding some much-needed replay value to the game. As an incentive for playing the single-player game, players are rewarded with additional challenge mode maps for solving various riddles. Furthermore, you can also keep track of your challenge stats and compare them against other players via the online leaderboards.
Keeping consistent to its solid gameplay, Arkham Asylum seldom disappoints on the audio/visual front. Powered by the Unreal Engine 3, the game sports some clean textures and nicely detailed characters. Worthy of particular mention is Batman's damage detail, which is attributed to every bit of wear and tear that he goes through. Given the dark-themed setting, there isn't much to offer in terms of environmental diversity. Even then, the game manages to showcase quite a few distinct locations, each with a variety of textures and color variations. The orchestral score is graceful, and the sound effects satisfying, creating the perfect ambience to match the mood of the game. The voice work is equally compelling, and does a fine job of complimenting the character likenesses. Several actors reprise their roles from the long-running DC Animated series, including Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn.
Comparing the two console versions side-by-side reveals that the X360 version boasts slightly sharper looking visuals, thanks in particular to some better anti-aliasing. Other minor effects such as motion-blur and ambient occlusion, which increase visual depth, are oddly missing from the PS3 version. Though, their omission doesn't really have a drastic impact on the overall image quality of the game. The soon-to-be-released PC version should sport a much broader range of visual enhancements. So if you've got the wait in you, not to mention a well-equipped rig, then by all means, hold off on your Dark Knighthood plans for now. However, it's worth pointing out that the PS3 version has its own fair share of goodness, with some exclusive downloadable content that's available for free via the PSN. Fans of the Joker should be pleased to know that the PS3 version exclusively gives you the opportunity of playing the challenge mode as the ever-maniacal Joker.
In a nutshell, Arkham Asylum's unique blend of combat, stealth, and puzzle-solving works remarkably better than you'd expect, keeping you hooked till the very end. Whether you're a DC Universe fanboy, a comic book enthusiast, or simply a fan of action games, it's bound to impress you in some way or the other. Additionally, the challenge mode ensures that your copy won't be collecting dust any time soon.
Graphics: 9.5
Game play: 9.0
Sound: 9.0
Lasting Appeal: 8.5
Overall: 9.0
Chadoo Rating: 4 outta 5 CHANDERFUL!!!!!!!
Edited By : CerebralTiger
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