Batman : Arkham Asylum Review

Batman has been something of a joke when it comes to video and digital. From
Adam West in his tight spandex and homoerotic exploits, to George Clooney with
his rubber nipples and ‘Codpiece Of Terror’, one of the most beloved comic book
heroes in history has been truly misunderstood by directors and developers
alike. It wasn’t until the series’ rebirth with Christian Bale that we have
seen something approaching what should have been presented a long time ago.

See, what we fans of the comic have known forever is that the real appeal of
these comic books and their larger than life villains and heroes is not the
fantastical. It is not the wall-climbing or the jumping of buildings. Instead,
it is the human behind the ‘super’. It is the flaws and the frailties that make
us come back for more. When Christopher Nolan brought us Batman Begins, he
showed us an understanding of the man behind the mask. He presented us with a
flawed, conflicted human being, and this became the centre piece for both this
movie, and its sequel.


Holy Getting On Topic Batman

Previous Batman films, and indeed games, have been determined to present
Gotham as a Gothic/Neo-modern tour-de-force of construction. It wasn’t until
Nolan took the series and placed it in a real world setting that we began to
correctly empathise with the Dark Knight. I mean, an entire city built in this
way? Come off it. Rocksteady, the developers, realised that gothic imagery has
its place in Batman, but maybe not in the entire living universe. As such, the
morose symbolism is used in the realisation of the eponymous Arkham Asylum - an
institute as iconic to the Batman Universe as Bruce Wayne himself - but not too
much. Correctly, institutions of this type aren’t generally brand spanking new
architecturally dull places, and as a result we are presented with a huge,
foreboding establishment. It looks, stunning, scary, old, and everything else
you would want it to be.


Once inside the gates, you find a world that, yes, may be built in the same
way as interiors are in every single video game – namely create one gargoyle,
for example, and just stick copies of that one gargoyle in as many places as is
necessary – but it doesn’t matter. As you progress throughout the asylum, the
environments change, partly due to where you happen to be, but also partly to
reflect where you are up to in the story. It may be a copy and paste job, but
this is only noticeable if you really look for it. In general, the developers
have done a solid job of hiding the cracks and presenting incredible locations
to swing and sneak around in.


The beauty doesn’t stop there. There are a talented bunch of artists at
Rocksteady, and we discover just how good they are when we hit upon the
character design. Whether it be the incredibly menacing Scarecrow, complete
with syringes for finger nails, or Harley Quinn, resplendent and sexy in her
slutty nurse outfit, the bad guys of Gotham have never looked so good. Add to
the mix that a good chunk of the voicing for characters throughout the game is
provided by the voice actors from the animated series, and we find that these
are some of the most convincing interpretations of these characters ever
presented outside of paper and ink.



“Well, you look nervous. Is it the scars? You want to know how I
got ‘em?”
So what about the storyline, I hear you ask. Yes, there is one. Look, this is a
videogame based on a comic book hero. The basic premise is standard comic-book
fare, and as such, you have to take everything in your stride. Try to analyse
too much and the whole thing falls apart in a cloud of disbelief. Upon his
return to incarceration at the aforementioned asylum, Mr Joker escapes and
releases everyone, included the currently housed super-psychopaths. Immediately
they set about putting a plan into action that is what we come to expect; grand
plans leading to the amusement of the Joker, and the demise of the Bat-sapien.
Thankfully, the fabric of the story is woven a little finer, and with much
greater aplomb than you would expect.


The game-play sits like a cross between a 3d version of Final Fight, Metal
Gear Solid and a Sherlock Holmes Novel. And this is exactly how it should be.
Batman, and indeed other super-heroes, aren’t just about the explosions and the
fighting. Batman, even in this game, is often referred to as the master sleuth,
and this is an aspect that is often criminally ignored.


The very nature of Batman means that he must stick to the shadows ,and
thankfully Rocksteady have finally done justice to the source material. So,
during game-play, you will be zipping around from gargoyle to gargoyle,
crawling through air ducts, scanning the environment for clues and, yes,
beating the crap out of multitudes thugs . The balance is just right. Enter a
new room, find a high spot, and survey the room, planning how best to proceed. But
what really sets this game apart is the freedom it grants you.


For example, there is a section where you enter a room. In the centre of the
room is a small enclosed office. You could jump down from the ceiling, fists
flailing, and hope the element of surprise will enable you to take all the
guards out before the good doctor cowering in the corner is shot. Or, you could
sneak around the exterior, spraying your explosive gel onto walls, before
igniting them simultaneously, ensuring the resulting blast will take down the
bad guys all in one go.



Set pieces are there, intricately spliced into proceedings so as not to
disrupt anything. Instead of the usual boss battle that games of this ilk
present, namely at the end of a particular area, B:AA springs them on you out
of the blue. Your first real encounter is with the Scarecrow, and you have no
idea he is all over you until he is, well, inside your head. He strikes just as
you enter the morgue, and what ensues is one of the creepiest moments in video
game history as you try to examine the room. The next 10 to 15 minutes are
truly memorable, and as outstanding a set piece as I have ever experienced in a
game.


As you progress, the challenges become more intricate, and the storyline a
little deeper, ensuring you keep your wits about you at all times. The Unreal 3
engine is put to fine use, once again, and helps drive a stunning looking game,
whilst only occasional throwing out a touch of clipping now and then.


“I think you and I are destined to do this forever.”

The extras really shine through as well. During the course of the game, full
character bio’s present themselves to you, and whilst exploring you will find
audio recordings. These, when listened to, turn out to be psychiatric
interviews with some of Arkhams’ more notorious residents. Wildly entertaining
and informative, I suggest you spend the time to listen to them.



There is no multiplayer on offer here, but it isn’t missed. All too often
multiplayer is tagged on with no real thought or care gone into it, and the
online community abandon it quicker than a politician resigning after an
expenses scandal. What we get instead is a series of challenges. Split into two
separate styles, the player – using everything carried over from the single
player experience - must either fight through wave after wave of increasingly
difficult minions by way of leather clad fist, or stick to the shadows,
stealthing your way from takedown to takedown. It is a wonderful addition, and
the inclusion of online leaderboards means you can compare your efforts with
your buddies.


Closing Comments

The beautiful thing about this interpretation of the Caped Crusader is that
it has masses of appeal to different people. From the die-hards to the casuals,
the stealth fans to the beat-em-up nuts, there is something for everyone. Even
replay value is there in spades, as during the course of the game, The Riddler
throws out, well, riddles a-plenty that only the most careful first walkthrough
will find the solutions to.

I very rarely take the time to hunt for hidden odds and sods in video games
as the reward often belittles the excursion. In this instance, I have found it
to be both enjoyable, and, given the rewards on offer, very satisfying.

Now I know some of you are wondering whether it’s a buyer or a renter, and I
can’t really help you with that. It’s all down to whether this type of game
normally stays in your collection for a long time, or if you plan to hammer it
for a weekend and never play again. All I can ensure you is that while you are
playing it, you will thoroughly enjoy it.



This is the Batman game we have all been waiting for. About time too.
9/10