The World’s Greatest Detective has seen his fair share of sucky, terrible game adaptations. Previous attempts never got the atmosphere right. Some grabbed elements from The Caped Crusader’s decades of stories, then smashed them into disastrous monstrosities, effectively reducing Batman to a dull 007 with a cape. The iconic hero has seen an artistic resurgence in cinema as of late in the reimagining’s Batman Begins and the masterful The Dark Knight. These latest tales owe a large part of their success to the tone they set. Everything is on a razors edge: The Joker’s sanity, the stability of the city, Batman’s tiptoed tight wire walk between hero and vigilante. Batman: Arkham Asylum succeeds where all other Gotham adventures have failed: namely, it makes you feel like Batman as he goes through one of the most physically and mentally challenging night of his epic career.
First off: I love Batman. I have had everything in the merchandising line-up. From the fitted sheets on my toddler bed, to the highly detailed Dark Knight sculpture that graces my nerd shrine. So when the word was out that the story would be penned by animated series writer Paul Dini, as well as voiced by Kevin Conroy (Batman), Mark Hamill (Joker), and Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn), it was almost too much. Suffice to say, the old gang delivers. I’m not a real fan of Conroy’s Dark Knight, however I must concede he is one of the best at sounding calm, yet intense. Hamill’s take on the Clown Prince is worth the $60 admission price alone. I found myself forging through the madman’s traps and games with a mega grin on my face. His constant taunting and cajoling is incessant and thoroughly entertaining. So it’s no surprise that as much as I enjoyed Bruce Wayne, it’s the bad guys that continuously pique my interest. Almost all of the wonderfully disturbed super villains make some sort of appearance, even if it’s only an excuse for side missions. Everyone fits seamlessly into the plot, some characters are all aboard with Joker’s master plan, others wanting no part, and still others unwittingly dragged into the conflict. However, just as the villains typically overshadow Batman (R.I.P. Heath), the venerable gothic grounds of Arkham Asylum literally and figuratively surround and outshine every other character.
After the initial story elements are fleshed out, you /Batman are unleashed to complete the goals put forth. The first glimpse of the grounds of Arkham robs you of your ability to think, speak; control autonomic body functions. Horribly beautiful, the Asylum lives. Every corner, cell, and crazy encrusted corridor acts perfectly as supporting cast. Arkham is a character as much as Batman or Joker, and arguably steals the show from both. The layout is wide open, only limited by how many of Batman’s toys you’ve acquired. You almost feel yourself getting grime in your fingertips as you sneak through the holding cells. The Botanical Gardens ooze life and malice. As the story progresses, Arkham changes through a series of scripted plot points, while simultaneously opening new avenues and sealing others.
The visuals are awe-inspiring, period. What’s more, you will rarely find a loading screen while exploring the island. Collision detection is most impressive; when Batman roundhouses a thug you can see the Kevlar meeting the tartar stained few remaining teeth before they crumble to the pavement. The famed Utility Belt is put through more moves than a week long P90x session. All of the favorites are represented, albeit without any real creativity in implementing them. You see a ledge =Batclaw; a security box= Crypto Gun. However, this is a minor gripe, akin to a child who devours a cake, only to complain with sugar smeared lips about the flavor of the frosting. Various villains step in and provide challenges, from pure combat to cerebral. Some of my favorite moments dealt with the menacing Scarecrow where, without giving much away, I became the hunted.
This is the best Batman game ever made. It is possibly the best super hero game as well. Contrarily, it is not the best game ever. Some simple missteps hold it from sheer perfection. I couldn’t understand why the design team put so much work into making the gadget selection seamless and out of sight, yet did not place a mini map on the HUD. Many times I had to pause and consult the map screen to reorient myself. Boss battles are, for the most point, quite disappointing. There are a few different scenarios that repeat a number of times. Don’t get me started on the final battle…such wasted potential.
Ultimately, don’t let the nagging imperfections make you miss arguably the most rewarding experience in video games this year. Rocksteady has crafted an opulent opus, a digital love note to all faithful followers of the Caped Crusader. A true contender for Game of The Year, Batman: Arkham Asylum will shock, wow, and amaze you.
Can you play it?
The controls are spot on. Everything works how it’s supposed to. Perfect.
Can you stand to look at it?
The Unreal Engine powered environment screams quality. Character models do look MLB Homerun Derby regulars.
