The Big Bad Bat Wants to Play

By now it is well established that I love superheroes or anything to do with superheroes. We go together like processed chocolate syrup and one percent milk. I know it's not the best analogy but you get the point - it is deeeelicious! With so much love for heroes I am always looking for a game to spend some quality time with. The problem is that the majority of games in that genre are well…complete shit. They can take an awesome character like Spider-Man, or Superman and drive the entire game into the ground. I am no game developer but it amazes me when you can't come up with a decent story for a comic book character when there are thousands of comics dedicated to these guys. It can be frustrating but then you come across games such as Batman Arkham Asylum and you see how those types of games should be. This games taps into everything that Batman is and should be and I will go a step further saying that I enjoyed this about as much as the newest Batman with the late Heath Ledger. With that being said pull up your tights, put your cowl on and let's see what kind of cool stuff we can find in the Batcave.

Story:

If you have watched or read enough Batman you know he is a man with many enemies (everyone from Joker to Killer Croc). The man makes a living on being the predator and not the prey when it comes to these bad guys (which is pretty awesome since he technically has no super powers). So it is an interesting twist that your main nemesis (the Joker) tries to flip the script and make you feel helpless. After capturing Joker again you bring him back to Arkham Asylum but then entire time you feel as if something is wrong. He doesn't put up his usual fight when you bring him down and that sets off alarm bells in that huge detective brain of yours. As he is being escorted back to his cell Joker springs his plan into action and you now have a front row seat to the whole show. You get to be locked up with every psycho that Gotham City has to offer and it is up to find out with the maniac is doing here. I would like to take a minute to say that even though it is one versus many, the way that Batman is portrayed in the game you never feel that way. It's almost as if, once you get a handle on the fighting system and all of his fancy tools, these inmates have no shot against you. That is one key element of Batman that most movies, let alone most games, never seem to get right. He is one of the greatest detectives in the super hero universe and knows how to exploit all the weaknesses of his opponents. You will come across such super villains as Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, The Scarecrow, and of course Joker. The game does a great job to lead you in the right direction without handholding the entire way to get you through. There is a mode called detective mode, which is invaluable, where you will be able to see your environment in a whole new light. You will be able to see through walls, see certain passage ways, where bad guys are located on the map (and if they are armed) and so much more. What I like best about the game is that you there isn't just one way to play. In some stages you will have to use stealth in order to progress while in others you will have to fight your way out of a room of thugs using precise timing on when to attack and when to counter an attack. Just wait until you get into that first room of thugs and see the panic start to set in as you pick them off one by one (and I mean it, you can actually see their heart rate rise). Without giving any more away, the story feels very well put together and something you can imagine seeing on the big screen and when it comes all together you can actually see the plot being something they could have used in a comic.

Collectables & Other Game Modes:

Once you come to the end of the game, and by now it is no surprise that a second Batman is coming out within the next year or so, there is reason to go back and replay the game. There are tons of interesting unlockables that give you back story on some of the main characters, hidden gems that you have to find by solving the Riddler's puzzles and gauntlet challenges where you will fight through waves of enemies for the best score. Not to mention the downloadable content (free, I might add) where you can play as the Joker. I did not use this mode, however, so I can't comment on it.

Batman Arkham Asylum is a game many people have been waiting for. The voice acting and writing are great and the mood of game feels like something ripped right out of the comics. It uses stealth, strategy, intelligence and brute force, just like the dark knight would, to engage you in a good story that will leave you wanting more by the end. And from the looks of what I have seen of the new game things are only going to get better!