Review of Batman Arkham Asylum for Xbox 360

What to say about this game? How about finally a Batman game that doesn't stink...or even better a
licensed game that doesn't suck. This is probably one of the best games ever made based on a comic
book/ movie since Goldeneye 007 for Nintendo 64. The characters are true to the source material, yet
still feel new and refreshing. Batman is suitably dark in mood while the Joker is off his rocker. I
found myself not so upset that I died because of the Joker's hilarious remarks as I lay dying. The
Riddler is also fairly entertaining with his quips as you find different secret items he has strewn
through out the levels.

The graphics and level design are as good as it gets these days. I did find that while moving
through the levels is mostly linear there are a lot of side areas to explore. As a fan of hidden
goodies I love all the exploration in Batman Arkham Asylum. The levels may not be wide open, but
there are still plenty of out of the way places to check out. The crew over at Rocksteady Games
really brought the so far fully unrealized Arkham Asylum and the island it rests on to life. Add in
all the extra Riddler challenges and you find yourself looking to every nook and corner for hidden
items.

Because of the hidden and secret parts of the game I did find myself playing the game mostly in
detective mode. I would move along the areas with detective mode on as to not miss any hidden clues.
The game does demand that you use the detective mode to follow differing trails to continue the
plot, but I don't think it was made to play in detective mode like I did. The detective mode is cool
allowing you to see things not visible to the naked eye and enemies through walls. The enemies show
up as skeletons a la' the scene from Total Recall at the metal detectors. The normal view mode is by
far the prettiest, but it may cost you in the long run if you don't switch over to detective mode
often looking for secrets.

No Batman game would be complete without the full range of gizmos at your disposal. Not only does
Arkham Asylum include of all the well known Batman gadgets, it has some well thought out variations
of use for them. The Batarang can be made stronger, into multiples, and even remote controlled. The
grappling hook allows you to swing all over the levels, but can also be used as a stealthy
alternative to fighting by stringing baddies from the ceiling. Also included in Batman's arsenal is
an explosive spray gel, the Batclaw, gliding on the Batcape, and a kick-ass open combo melee system.

Combat is fluid and exciting, if a little bit of a repetitive button-mashing affair. You can easily
move from target to target within a combo to multiply your combo strings. The action during a fight
is hot and heavy; allowing for strikes, kicks, slams, counters, and slow mo finish type moves. I had
fun fighting large groups of enemies, yet never felt I was totally in control of what was occurring.
Fans of the button crushing action genre will feel right at home with the combat.

Overall I would rate Batman Arkham Asylum an 8.75 out of 10. I personally don't think that a 10 of 10 game has been made yet, so this game ranks high on the scale. It is an overall fun experience to be the man behind the mask, tearing through a nicely detailed game, beating hundreds of bad guys senseless. Some of the boss fights can be tricky and finding all of the secrets will take a lot of time but the game is worth the time and effort.