[Official] Batman: Arkham Asylum

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Developer: Rocksteady Studios

Publisher: Warner Bros./ DC Comics & Eidos Interactive

Distributor: Time Warner

Writer: Paul Dini

Engine: Unreal Engine 3 & PhysX

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Release date: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

NA August 25, 2009

EU August 28, 2009

Microsoft Windows

NA September 15, 2009

EU September 18, 2009

Genre: Action-adventure, Beat 'em up & Stealth

Mode: Single-player

Hands On

Batman: Arkham Asylum Hands On

by Tom Bramwell

On the one hand, there's something maddening about turning up to Eidos' Wimbledon headquarters to play Batman: Arkham Asylum and discovering that it's another two challenge rooms - self-contained, unlockable leaderboard-based action set pieces - that I'm here to play, rather than the single-player story mode itself. But on the other, there's something unusually reassuring about it: I'm desperate to play Batman: Arkham Asylum, a licensed superhero videogame. This may actually be a first.

This preview isn't though, as you will know if you've followed our coverage so far, including last month's hands-on with the first two challenge rooms. This time Eidos is showing off a more developed Batman from later in the game, and I'm guiding him through an "extreme" version of the first Combat room, Intensive Treatment, and an Invisible Predator section unlocked closer to the middle of the single-player campaign.

Relatively little has been said in public about how the story mode plays out, but we can infer a lot from the manner in which the challenge rooms are unlocked and the states in which you face them. There are 16 rooms in total, and some are opened up based on progress, while others become available when you collect a certain number of Joker teeth hidden around Arkham. Staggered between these will be other Brucie bonuses, which develop Batman's battlefield vocabulary through variation, physical enhancement and new gadgets. In other words, there are regular rewards, and they take some digging out.

The challenge rooms, which alternate between Combat and Invisible Predator, are designed for high-scores repeat play, and become more enjoyable as Batman becomes more potent. Whereas last month's trip to Intensive Treatment was a rhythmic but limited procession of twirling strikes, disorientating counters and the occasional leg-break, the Batman facing today's extreme alternative is more sure of himself.

Close combat in third-person games usually goes one of two ways - complex hackandslash, or one-hit-killery - but Arkham Asylum is closer to capoeira, as Batman spins and pirouettes through the Joker's goons, following your analogue direction to a specific target and improvising the encounter based on a catalogue of contextual blows, providing you hit the single attack button within a certain window. Distance isn't a factor, and combos follow, counting up at the side of the screen.

Complication stems from counters, the need to stun certain enemies with your cape-spin, and the availability of multipliers, throws and takedowns once you cross combo thresholds. Throws can be used to toss enemies over barriers or into electric fences, and the more elaborate takedowns bend backs and twist limbs to breaking point, the savagery of the spectacle matched ably by the grace of the animation and the wet crunch of fist and boot on muscle. Gadgets like the batarang and bat-claw trigger-button moves encourage experimentation, which is useful because you accumulate score bonuses for things like variety and avoiding damage. Both Combat and Invisible Predator feed into leaderboards, with global and friends filters, and the best scores will rely on those bonuses.

It's not just Batman with more to say though; the Joker's goon squad is out in greater force, and with new tricks for Intensive Treatment Extreme. Crowd control is ramped up as henchmen start to attack with lead pipes and go for a locked gun cabinet, which sounds a siren. With gunfire tearing Batman down so easily, it's important to keep their hands off it. Health regenerates between enemy waves, but only slightly, and the final opposition line-up gives you a knife-toting Victor Zsasz to worry about, forcing you to reach for cape-spin stun moves rather than traditional counters. Skill prevails, except I didn't have enough of it across half a dozen attempts.

Continues..

Screenshots

Videos

Freeflow combat trailer

Freeflow combat walkthrough

Poison Ivy trailer

Exclusive Joker trailer

Villains trailer

Playing the game featurette

Demo trailer

Behind the scenes making the game

Exclusive gadgets trailer

Xbox 360 Achievements

PS3 Trophies

Edited August 23, 2009 by DrunknMunky

[Piggy]

Oh now this I gotta try!

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

For a second there I thought it would be console-only. I'm definitely gonna try the demo. Thanks for the heads up!

[Massiveterra]

this demo should help me make the decision of whether to play it on ps3 or 360

[Remysaus]

Nice, can't wait to finally play it. I've effectively ignored any video that was released so I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

[Razorwing]

Even in death, there is no command but mine.

cookie to the people who get this. :D

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Megatron

[HTF]

excellent news. didn't know if i should get this for ps3 or pc. now i can try them both out.

[sn00pie]

I will be buying this game on day 1. I have played the demo that was given to Best Buy retail units and it was superb. :D

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

OPM - 9/10

Here are the highlights of the review:

Pros:

Fighting gameplay is very easy to use but deeply satisfying and really responsive. Theres a trophy for flowing together 40 consecutive strikes).

A terrific sense of care to DC's heritage - rivals Bioshock in terms of depth and detail.

Riddler's puzzles are brilliant and add depth and longevity to the game in an unforced way.

Cons:

Batclaw might be slightly overpowered, and along with the Detective Vision they seem 'almost too easy to use'.

The convenient placing of the gargoyle statues stretches believability to breaking point.

Overall - "Basically, the whole game is a class act. the fighting is sophisticated but acade-addictive, the visuals are stylish, and the Lara-like exploration is smartly done. Plus the DC heritage feels all-encompassing like a big blanket. Akham 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."

[Minifig]

OPM's reviews are slightly over hyped though.

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

I am officially excited for this game. Some parts of that Game's Master review are hard to read, but it pretty much sets the scene exactly like I imagined.

The game just screams of brilliance in attention to detail, and it too reminds me of Bioshock as well as The Darkness and Chronicles of Riddick. All with a dash of Splinter Cell mechanics for good measure.

I think for the ?22 I have preordered it for, it will be hard to complain too much over if there are some faults. Eidos really should have just left the reviews handle themselfs and it wouldn't have this tarnish perception like the last couple of games they released. For once it looks like they have a solid game which will just win the masses by itself.

Hope I'm not wrong though or I will be eating my hat.

[Razorwing]

Megatron

Andy wins! lol. I just had to put it. I probably won't get this game, because my friend will be getting it. lol. I'm not really a batman fan.

[carmatic]

is this the game they kept calling 'Metal Gear: Batman' ?

[t0mbi]

Wow..this game looks great! I was a bit skeptical at first but it seems to be getting some really good reviews, so i shall give this a go!

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Deal for the Americans here

No joke: Batman Arkham Asylum for $48 on consoles, $40 on PC

by Richard Mitchell

It's true, you can snag Batman: Arkham Asylum from Amazon for only $47.99. There's no need to pull out your handy Bat-Price-Reducer either. You need only place a pre-order for the Xbox 360 or PS3 version. Then, at checkout, simply enter the code 5OFFARKM for five smackers off Amazon's asking price of $52.99. Using free shipping, that's a brand new copy for $48. Even better, using the same coupon, the PC version can be had for only $40.

That's a deal only the Joker could refuse. After all, saving money is no laughing matter.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/no-joke-...soles-40-on-pc/

And for the UK Neowinians:

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3): ?24.93(10% off code: HUT10 expires Weds 5th 8am)>

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PC): ?24.95

Batman: Arkham Asylum (X360): ?34.85

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Just a shame the hut isn't doing the 360 version for the same price :/

Guess for multiplatform owners the free Joker DLC makes it pretty enticing as well...

Wonder why there's such good deals on this game anyway, it seems like it's going to review pretty well and should sell well! (not that im complaining)

[NoLiMiT06]

Can't wait for the demo, if I like might pick it up when I get my (new) 360 next week.

[StealMySoda]

Hopefully the hype will be justified :)

I'm excited.

[TheFlusher]

Me too. Finally a batman game without any tie-ins to any movie. I first saw the demo of it on PS3, drooled and played some of it. Gameplay is indeed awesome. But that's just demo so I'm much looking forward to its release!

If they need other story for next batman game, they should do batman hush...awesome storyline!

[DrunknMunky Veteran]

Just a shame the hut isn't doing the 360 version for the same price :/

Guess for multiplatform owners the free Joker DLC makes it pretty enticing as well...

Wonder why there's such good deals on this game anyway, it seems like it's going to review pretty well and should sell well! (not that im complaining)

At least there is other money saving options :p And if you used the ?10 voucher for Game 2 months ago like I suggested at the time, it's ?30. Still not great, but it's another ?5 off.

[WastedJoker]

I am literally going to sex wee over this.

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

Demo today :D

[+BeLGaRaTh Subscriber¹]

Isnt the demo tomorrow? Today is the 6th :)

[Jimmy0]

Isnt the demo tomorrow? Today is the 6th :)

Demo is up today (on the PSN at least).