Issue #31 Vol. 35, September 8th, 2009
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Arts & Entertainment

Arkham Asylum could be the best ever

By Garth McLennan

Batman: Arkham Asylum could possibly be the best video game of all time.

That may sound like a pretty bold statement to make but it’s true. This is one of those few games that come around once every blue moon.

The game is a perfect meld of action-adventure and problem solving, sort of like The Legend of Zelda on steroids. The best parts of this game will blow your mind, and the worst will still leave you amazed. The absorbing storyline, written by acclaimed Detective Comics scribe Paul Dini, is simply superb, and you’ll find it increasingly difficult to put down the controller.

Arkham Asylum sets a new height for outstanding graphics, and the actual gameplay is easy but complex at the same time. The fight scenes are terrific, and really capture the essence of Batman from the comic books. Almost every room inside Arkham is laced with secret passages, mysteries and riddles that get tougher and tougher to crack. Virtually everything has the potential to be a clue. Much like the Grand Theft Auto series, Arkham Asylum has a free roaming style of play, which allows you to move through and backtrack around Arkham. There are certain puzzles and clues in all areas that can only be solved or obtained after completing later parts of the game, so you’ll find yourself repeatedly going through already finished levels.

A vast selection of Batman’s rogues gallery appear in the game and the voice cast is just perfect. Kevin Conroy and Star Wars’ Mark Hamill return from Batman: The Animated Series as Batman and The Joker, respectively.

The plot involves the player as Batman moving through Arkham Asylum, which has been overrun and is now controlled from the inside by The Joker. As you make your way through the mad house, you’ll have to figure out creative ways to subdue multiple opponents at once. Stealthily, you need to avoid detection on a number of occasions, level up Batman and upgrade everything from your basic move-set to the attributes of the Bat-suit. Special challenges can be unlocked as you progress through the game and find hidden bonuses.

The story is richly woven, and it’s unmistakable that Dini has really brought the images from the comics to life. Plain and simple, it really feels like a classic Batman story. Like Batman comics today, the plot isn’t necessarily for kids, it’s very mature and remains dark throughout.

When it’s all said and done, this is a game that people will remember for years to come. In a short time, people will be comparing it to such classics as Super Mario Bros’, GTA: Vice City, The Secret of Mana and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Do yourself a favour and don’t miss out on this one.

Arkham Asylum is available for PC and Xbox 360 but the Playstation 3 version allows you to play certain levels as The Joker.