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Batman: Arkham Asylum is played as an over-the-shoulder, third-person perspective action-adventure game, similar to Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space. The player controls Batman as the superhero makes his way around the island and structures of Arkham Asylum. In addition to running, jumping and crouching, Batman is also able to glide from heights using his cape, and use his grappling hook to ascend short heights or escape and hide from foes on gargoyles statues. In order to track Joker and other archenemies, the player can switch in and out of "detective mode" which activates special visors in Batman's cowl.[10] In this mode, most of the game world is rendered in darker colors, but objects of interests and people are highlighted, including limited x-ray ability to detect the location of people. Special objects that Batman can interact either directly or with a number of gadgets that are gained over the course of the game are also highlighted. The detective mode will automatically be switched to special scanning modes to track the presence of compounds, fingerprints, and other unique data, which are used to direct the player to the next location to explore.[11]
Gadgets include the Batarang, an explosive compound sprayer and detonator, grappling gun, and a frequency scanner that can be used to overload security panels.[11] Some of these can be used both during normal exploration of the game world as well as in combat. The game world, though presented in a linear path, allows for exploration at any time, and recently-acquired gadgets can often be used to access areas that were previous inaccessible. Exploration of the world is prompted by items and clues left by The Riddler for Batman to find; in addition to objects to be collected, some of the Riddler's riddles require the player to seek the item in that area that is the answer to a riddle and scan it with Batman's visor.[8] Solving theses riddles unlocks special content for the game, including challenge levels that tests the player's skill at the game's free-form and "predatory" combat system. Riddles, as well as defeating foes, also lead to experience points, which can then be spent on several possible upgrades to Batman's arsenal at any time.
Combat
The game uses a "Freeflow" combat system,[11] accomplished by using only three buttons: Attack, Stun and Takedown.[9] used to emphasize the primarily-physical system of combat that Batman employs. It is based on using only three basic attacks: Attack, Stun, and Takedown.[9] When enemies are ready to strike Batman, a brief indicator is given off, during which the player can respond with a counterattack before the blow lands. By chaining regular and counter-attacks, the player can build up a special experience point multiplier. When this surpasses a specific threshold, the player then has access to an additional special attack that can quickly take down a single foe. Batman can take damage from his foes, and can be knocked out or killed should it fall too low; when combat is completed, Batman regains a portion of his health related to the experience earned in combat. The player can also employ "Predator"-type tactics through stealth to improve the odds in their favor. This includes silent takedowns by sneaking up on foes, dropping from overhead perches and snatching a foe into mid-air, or using the explosive compound on destructible objects to knock foes off their feet. Some areas features sections that require the player to employ these tactics to avoid alerting Joker's henchmen and failing to meet an objective.
Plot
The Joker attacks Gotham City's Mayor's office, but is foiled by Batman, who escorts him for incarceration at Arkham Asylum. The same night, a mysterious fire at Gotham City's Blackgate Prison has required using Arkham to house several hundred prisoners temporarily. As Batman escorts the guards as they take Joker inside, the asylum's security is overridden by Harley Quinn and the Joker is able to escape and take control of the facility, enlisting the Blackgate prisoners in addition to other rogue characters imprisoned at the asylum. Batman quickly realizes that this has been part of Joker's plan including the Blackgate fire, having double-crossed a security guard to help him escape. The Joker threatens to blow up bombs scattered around Gotham City should anyone attempt to enter Arkham, forcing Batman to work alone, guided by the voice of The Oracle to help. Batman is able to gain access to an adjunct of the Batcave he had set up years ago on the island, and is able to use his sleuthing skills to learn of Joker's plan. It is eventually revealed that the Joker is seeking a chemical called Titan that is produced in the asylum, which is based on the same chemical that Bane uses to become super-powerful, though the Titan formula is much more potent. Not only does the Joker plan to use it on the various Blackgate inmates to create an unstoppable army, he plans to dump the waste product into Gotham's water supply, which could have disastrous effects on the city. This also has the side effect of causing Poison Ivy's plants to mutate and take over the island.
Batman, after defeating several of his archenemies, is able to return to the Batcave to create an antidote to Titan, and uses it to destroy the mutated plant life and put a stop to Joker's army. With all of his henchmen defeated, the Joker invites Batman to his "party", where Batman sees Joker holding and manipulating Scarface and sitting upon a throne of mannequins. Joker then reveals that he has captured Commissioner Gordon and attempts to shoot Gordon with a Titan-filled dart. Batman jumps in front of it, taking the injection himself. With Batman attempting to resist the change, Joker feels defeated and shoots himself with the Titan gun and becomes a massive monster. Joker proudly displays himself to news choppers before Batman defeats him in a final battle. As Joker transforms back to normal, and is taken back to his cell, Batman hears that Two-Face is robbing the Gotham National Bank. Batman summons the Batplane, and flies away, towards Gotham. In a short post-credits scene, a box stamped with the word "Titan" floats in the water. A randomized appearance of Bane, Killer Croc, or Scarecrow grabs the box.
Batman[12], along with allies Oracle[12] and Commissioner Gordon[12] appear in the game. In addition to the Joker, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy,[13] Batman encounters other archfoes. Batman is forced to defend himself from an enraged Bane,[14] sneak up on Mr. Zsasz before he can harm innocent guards and doctors,[15] battle his way through hallucinogen-induced nightmares brought about by the Scarecrow,[10][16][17] and silently collect samples from Ivy's plants located in Killer Croc's lair without disturbing Croc.[18] The Riddler does not appear in the game, but communicates to Batman in order to make him find the hidden clues he has placed around the island.[12][19] Other Batman allies and enemies are presented in the game as character information that can be unlocked from finding Riddler's clues.
The game reuses many voice actors from the DC Animated Universe shows. In particular, Batman is voiced by Kevin Conroy, the Joker by Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn, all who have voiced these parts since Batman: The Animated Series.
Arkham has been well received so far, and holds a 91% at GameRankings based on 12 reviews.[33] Metacritic currently holds the game at 91% (based on 13 reviews). The first review of the game was published by GamesMaster. The magazine awarded Arkham Asylum a 96%[45]. Game Informer praised the game, stating "Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's "BioShock," not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other." It was rated 9.5/10[37] OPM gave Arkham a 9/10, citing "Arkham Asylum is comfortably the best comic book game that PlayStation's ever had, and is up there with the system's best actioners, full stop." OPM summarized the game as "a class act".[42] Xbox World 360 scored Arkham 95%, stating "a massively impressive licensed game."[46] IGN's Greg Miller gave the game a 9.3 out of 10, praising the voice acting, the story and overall gameplay and called it "the greatest Comic Book game of all time."[41] Eurogamer also praised the game, stating "this isn't just the best grown-up Batman game, it's the best superhero game, bar none", and scoring Arkham with a 9/10.[36] 1UP.com's Thierry Nguyen gave the game an A-, stating that developer Rocksteady "manages to combine combat, stealth, storytelling, and cartoon voices into the best digital Batman simulator we've seen to date."[35] Gametrailers praised the game's "little details that truly bring Arkham Asylum to life", and that consumers should "know that this is a game worth playing", giving Arkham a 9.0/10.[40] That high reviews have lead to Arkham Asylum a passage into the Guinness World Records for ‘Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever’. The game was given top scores across the board from National newspapers and specialist game reviewers. The game has broken the Guinness World Record in this category by achieving the highest average score of 91.67 from reviews around the world. The previous record holder was Marvel vs Capcom 2 which had an average of 90.0.
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Has any one played/bought this game yet? I have and it's great but a bit short also.
