Let's play a (love) game: Arkham Asylum

To be clear, I was way late on the Batman gaming train. In mid-2011 I had heard mumbling's and grumblings on the internet about Arkham Asylum, and occasionally I would see the box for the game in a store and be drawn immediately to the imagery on the cover. So I went out and I purchased this 2009 dated title and was blown away. The platform/sandbox style of gameplay appealed to me and though the world was significantly smaller than other titles I was used to (like the KOTOR games, or the classics Super Mario 64 and Banjo Kazooie, also for the N64), the quality was there to see.

'Is something funny about to go down?'

I was shocked one day to find out that Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker himself, had voiced the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. It seemed such a bizarre career turn, and having never seen the aforementioned but highly acclaimed cartoon series I could never imagine this actor, who I had known for so long in his most significant role to that time, as the prime villain to Batman. However I quickly discovered just why his performance had been met with such success as to almost (and in some cases, undoubtedly)  overshadow his role as Luke Skywalker. The man is brilliant and equals, if not overshadows the Nicholson/Ledger performances in this same role. You will frequently find yourself entertained to no end with his PA announcements after he has taken over the Asylum with so many memorable quotes.

Kevin Conroy reprises his role from the same animated series as Batman, and does a great (if slightly limited) job. Though a bit too often the dialogue between the two foes does seem slightly repetitive.

The cinematics are well directed also, and the detail is high, understandably, the regular cutscenes do not share this level of detail, but that is forgivable, and I'm sure we're not far off the point where images like the one of Joker above can be standard for games.

The game begins with Batman returning Joker to Arkham Asylum on Arkham Island. It all seems too easy and it's not long before the Joker breaks free of his flimsy shackles and soon enough, the asylum is over-run by the insane criminals who populate it, courtesy of Harley Quinn, who had been working from the inside to help Joker's plans come to fruition. You take on the role of the titular Batman in an effort to bring order to the chaos, and put at stop to Joker's plans.

The atmosphere in this game is probably the best feature, from the clever title sequence in which you slowly stroll through the corridors of the Intensive Treatment centre, escorting Joker and the armed guards of Arkham while the credits role, to the moment of Joker's escape, you suddenly feel so alone and claustrophobic in en environment from which there is literally little solace till you've cleared a building filled with goons, and taken on the bosses each 'level' presents. While there are innocent doctors and security staff on, you're the only one with the ability to take on the madness that overcomes the facility. But it never feels like too much if a challenge while you're in control of the Dark Knight. Brute strength is his key weapon against the inmates and I was taken by the combat system of this game. Most others I had played involved turn based moves, more often than not with a ranged weapon or otherwise, so the fluidity of the combat was surprising, as the Dark Knight effortlessly moves from dispatching foe after foe, the controls and the movement seem so well coordinated that combat is a breeze. Combo's can be achieved and increase the overall damage output, and XP gained from fights replenishes lost health, so there is a greater incentive to build up combos if you're low on health, or looking to level up to earn rewards like increased armour, more combat moves or gadgets.

The gadgets too are well worth a mention, you're equipped with your standard Batarangs of which there are infinite numbers of, and along the way you pick up more and more items which are necessary for progressing through the game, like explosive gel, the cryptographic sequencer which can unlock doors and disable forcefields, the remote control Batarang, or the Batclaw (like a grappling gun which can bring down weakened floors). Detective mode is also another key gadget, which brings you into first person perspective but filters everything with a blue hue and highlights objects of note, which are normally meant to be scanned and a path is then traced from said object to allow progression through to the next area.

And if you're not into head on combat, there is also the option to clear rooms via stealth. Most larger rooms (which show up as challenge maps once unlocked) are littered with plenty of hiding spaces and gargoyles (apparently donated very generously by Bruce Wayne) that offer places to hide so you can plan your attack and strike from the shadows, instilling fear in each goon till their solidarity breaks and fear takes over.

And when you're not taking down hapless goons through sheer force or predator tactics, you'll be facing off against the bosses, the final one I wont spoil (though I'm sure everyone knows who it is by now), but Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy and Killer Croc will all ask something different of the player, which is a step up from the other battles you'll face against the Titan-enhanced goons, who are all dispatched in the same manner, making for some repetitive fight sequences.

Battling Bane and other inmates is the first big boss fight of the game.

Killer Croc tests your nerves in the sewers of the Asylum, as you navigate your way across flimsy pylons, keeping as quiet as possible as to not be dragged under and added to Crocs menu for the night.

Poison Ivy, lends more weight to the truth we all know, redheads are evil (but also kind of hot) . 

But the most memorable of these boss fights, are the mind-altering, fear-toxin acid/trip sequences provided courtesy of Scarecrow:

Scarecrow pops up at intervals in the game to inject some amazing surrealism into a game almost as heavily based in reality as the Nolan-Batman films. Gassing Batman with fear toxin, you'll find the Dark Knight suddenly in a twisted dreamscape of platforms featuring portions of the Asylum floating over an abyss, your task is to navigate each of these dreamscapes in an effort to escape back to reality. These are probably the best sequences/boss battles in the game, timing is required to avoid the 'gaze' of Scarecrow which will kill you, and in latter stages, combat is required to take on the apparitions of skeletons while Batman tries to maintain his sanity. This interpretation of Scarecrow is quite chilling and though I am no expert on the comics or cartoons, one of the best I've seen (alongside Cillian Murphy in Batman Begins).

The levels are all wonderfully detailed, you'll find yourself battling through a decrepit hospital, an abandoned Mansion, the botanical gardens, and the grim jail as you further the story along bit by bit. There's lots of eater eggs and nods to various other villains from the canon, and it's a great experience up till the final (and disappointing) boss battle.  The island itself is spacious enough to make use of Batman's gliding and grappling abilities, and there's fun to be had jumping from the highest point of Arkham manor and seeing how far you can go. 

And in amongst this environment are , amongst other things are Riddler Trophies, Patient Interview tapes and Question marks you need to align and scan with Detective Mode to shut up the pestering nagging of the Riddler who has hacked into your communications systems, goading you to find more of his trophies and clues. The reward for this is almost satisfaction enough, but at least there's only 240 'challenges' to complete.

The Riddler, just...TOO pimpin'.

And there is also the after-game content, progressing through stages unlocks the challenge maps in the form of combat or predator challenges which ask you to beat down on waves of thugs to achieve a high score, or perform predator tasks, 3 per room. Personally I found the Predator maps more enjoyable. Downloadable content was also released for the game which had more challenge maps for Batman, and for PS3 owners, challenge maps where you play as the Joker.

Critics hailed this game and rightly so, even if you're not a hardcore Batman/Comic Book fan, you'd still find enjoyment out of this despite a few misgivings about boss-fights, the length of the game, and the after-game content. And if you are a Batman fan, well, I don't think I need to recommend this as I'm sure you've already played and completed it multiple times.

Batman: Arkham Asylum - 9/10.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the property of Rocksteady Studios.