I recently got this game and I've been quite shocked at how much I'm enjoying it. I was a little put off by the overwhelming normal maps on the characters and Harley Quinn's redesign, but the gameplay and environments totally make up for it.

Arkham Asylum gives us a stunning and detailed environment in which to live out all your superhero fantasies. It's filled deranged villains and Batman's arsenal gives you a multitude of ways to dispatch them. I've taken a particular liking to the stealth elements of the game in which you pick off armed guards one by one, slipping off into the shadows after each takedown and watching the remaining goons become increasingly terrified. Batman controls smoothly and simply. You feel like you're him.

My roommate is a Batman buff and he has been glued to the couch as I play, watching and delighting at all the Batman facts and trivia littered throughout the game. Arkham Asylum is the kind of game that should please hardcore Batman fans as well as those not as familiar with his more obscure adventures.

I definitely recommend the game. Has anyone else here played it?

I finally downloaded the demo today and gave it a go. The demo is way too short! >:[

I immediately went onto amazon and bought it, but I won't get another chance to play it now til next weekend. :[ If I'd played the demo sooner I'd have had it for this past long weekend and that makes me sad.

Poison Ivy needs some pants. >: It's fun just to watch Batman fight, I like the combat system and how it seems like there's a move (which it chooses automatically) for whichever direction and distance you need. I don't think the fighting will get boring. And swooping down on bad guys and kicking them in the face is not gonna get old.

Let's not forget to mention the wonderful voice acting of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as the Joker!

...memories.

So far I'm kind of liking the gameplay. I really wish they had spent a littl more time coding the graphics engine for the consoles. The PC version has some great atmospheric effects that just aren't there in the console versions (like some really cool steam/smoke effects, papers and trash that blow around as you walk through them or fight, cloth effects, and breaking tiles on the floor and walls when you bash enemies into them). For some reason, I also like the mouse controls a little better. It's too bad they did the whole LE only on the consoles and exclusive content for the PS3 thing.

Beyond that, I do kind of wish they hadn't brought in elements from the comic of the same name. The story really doesn't follow the graphic novel in any way, so the Arkham tablets are kind of awkward. The voice acting is decent for the most part (I hate Gordon, though). Some of the writing seems suspect in places. For instance:

Insisting on saving a con who you drop into the Joker gas because you value life, but then hitting Bane with the Batmobile and dumping him into the river without batting an eyebrow or telling Gordon and the police to fish him out. Nice double standard there.

At the moment, though, I'm conflicted over whether I should keep playing or wait for the PC version to hit next month and start anew on that version of the game.

Great game despite the final boss being retarded as hell.

lefarce
Great game despite the final boss being retarded as hell.

This.


Seriously, why does the Joker need to basically turn into the Hulk if you never really see him use that strength? You fight generic baddies for the most part and then just give him a little chin music. Injecting the titan into himself was completely unnecessary.

Otherwise, I enjoyed it. Though, a bit disappointed that they continually referenced Two-Face and Riddler but never actually showed them.

Well

It would make sense considering TITAN is a central part of the story to end on something very TITAN-related. Joker using it is something crazy enough for him to do, so it makes sense. But, that doesnt stop it from being lame, easy, and incredibly generic of almost every other boss in the game. Boss has an opening - attack - swarm of bothersom goons - opening - attack. What would have been an interesting end game twist turned into something generic and uninspired. Also I really wish the last area was just a full area for you to explore, working towards the final boss, instead of just one room and then the boss (even though taking on that many guys was awesome)

I loved it, but it wasn't great. It was really good, but there's so many things they could have done to have made it so much better. Scarecrow pretty much makes up for most of the problems I had though.

isukun
Insisting on saving a con who you drop into the Joker gas because you value life, but then hitting Bane with the Batmobile and dumping him into the river without batting an eyebrow or telling Gordon and the police to fish him out. Nice double standard there.

Bane is virtually indestructible, I doubt being hit by a car and falling in a river is anywhere near enough to finish him off for good, or even knock him out for more than an hour or two. What gets me is that he lets Killer Croc drag Scarecrow off into his lair and not make any effort whatsoever to prevent it. In fact, that entire segment pissed me off a bit. Blatant length padding if I ever saw it.

It's not just that he gets knocked into the river, he gets knocked into the river UNDER the car and sinks. Yeah, maybe he can survive getting hit by the car, but how long can he go without breathing?

isukun
It's not just that he gets knocked into the river, he gets knocked into the river UNDER the car and sinks. Yeah, maybe he can survive getting hit by the car, but how long can he go without breathing?

One of the endings Is bane reaching his hand out of the water and grabbing a box of Titan. It's assumed that everyone who grabs that box lives the enouncters with Batman. Dont be stupid, it's a game based on a comic involving impossible body transformations, tools that would not work, and batman tapping buttons on his arm that arent there. Quit taking shit so seriously.

Wait! There are multiple endings?

Custard Trout
Wait! There are multiple endings?

The after credits are randomized between three endings, yes.

I say it was really fun, but since this actually took place in Arkham Asylum there should've been a LOT more baddies at least seen if not fought...and I think even Clayface would've been more interesting than Croc or Bane. >_> The Scarecrow parts were VERY awesome though.

So yes, good game, but needs a sequel or a whole lot of downloadable new levels.

I agree the ending was a bit lame but not surprising on Joker's part. The people who made this game sure love huge buff guys... I bet they were SO tempted to make Batman go all Titan-ey too when he got injected with that stuff.

There are only so many villains because Rocksteady didnt want to blow their load on the first go. I'm sure they saw the game's potential to become a new series and wanted to reserve some encounters for future games.

Would have still loved a Laughing Octopus-esc fight with Clayface through the damp ruined halls of Arkham.

lefarce
The after credits are randomized between three endings, yes.

Oh great, so you get to play through it several times and still not see every ending? Oh well, that's what youtube is for, I suppose.

Custard Trout

lefarce
The after credits are randomized between three endings, yes.

Oh great, so you get to play through it several times and still not see every ending? Oh well, that's what youtube is for, I suppose.

It's the exact same after-credits only with a different character doing the same thing out of a total of three characters. That's being as unspoiler as I can be about it. vOv

lefarce
It's the exact same after-credits only with a different character doing the same thing out of a total of three characters. That's being as unspoiler as I can be about it. vOv

Oh right. That explains that I thought it was Croc, rather than Bane. Who was the third? Edit: Never mind, my brother said it was Scarecrow.

Also, did anyone else think was weird that Scarecrow's mask looked like it was just two cylinders jammed into his face, rather than an actual gas mask? That really freaked me out.

Custard Trout

lefarce
It's the exact same after-credits only with a different character doing the same thing out of a total of three characters. That's being as unspoiler as I can be about it. vOv

Oh right. That explains that I thought it was Croc, rather than Bane. Who was the third? Edit: Never mind, my brother said it was Scarecrow.

Also, did anyone else think was weird that Scarecrow's mask looked like it was just two cylinders jammed into his face, rather than an actual gas mask? That really freaked me out.

I think its that he wears a gas mask under the sack, but just hase holes cut through for the cylinders. Although I'm probably thinking too deeply into things.

I keep getting around 200k on the Totally Insane map and thinking I'm hot shit.

Then I load up the leader board. 3mil? What the christ. Just when I think I'm great at this game I see stuff like that.

Yeah, I have no idea how those people get 3 medals in 25 seconds in the predator maps.

I prefer to take my time on those anyway :]

skoolmunkee
Yeah, I have no idea how those people get 3 medals in 25 seconds in the predator maps.

I prefer to take my time on those anyway :]

I can see that on some of them, but that would just take the fun out of it. The whole appeal to those challenges is taking my time to scare the hell out of the guards, then drop down when they least expect it.

This game does way too good of a job making you feel like Batman.

I agree too. Those predator challenges are something to savor and enjoy. Watching them go from calm to terrified as you take them each down a different way is what makes it fun.

The thing I love most about this game is how it makes me feel like I AM THE GODDAMN BATMAN

Whenever I mess up at something I get all mad and disappointed in myself because BATMAN wouldn't have done that. >:

Does anyone else think it would have been much better if: Batman did turn into Titan Batman and had to get the antidote from Joker without giving in and simply ripping him limb from limb.

I guess him going all Titan on Batman made sense but it still felt pretty stupid and the fight wasnt really any fun. I think I would have enjoyed it more had I actually been able to fight him directly as opposed to relying on the batclaw and beating up some goons. I think Arkham's one true flaw is that it relies too much on the Titan boss formula, and I really hope the next game doesnt fall into the same trap.
God damn though, I cant get enough of these challenge maps. And a new map pack is going up on Thursday (also for free), which is just awesome. I never thought I would enjoy a Batman game this much.

No, I agree with that- too much reliance on the same methods, and pretty bad form for a final boss. Not a very satisfying ending after all the build up.

Another new map pack? They just released Insane Night (or whatever) a few days ago...

Hey, I already rented and beat the game, but with all the DLC coming out I'm considering buying it when it drops in price. I've already beat it though, so are the extras worth it?

Well, the DLC that is already out is a new combat challenge map where you fight wave after wave of baddies until you die, unlike the 4-round combat challenges you unlock by playing the game- and a new predator challenge map not seen in the game which has some rather complex opportunities.

I'm guessing the next DLC (which I can't find much about) is going to be new challenge maps too, they probably won't change anything significant for free.

As far as buying it, it depends on how much you liked playing it. I've already played story mode twice, and it will probably become my go-to game for a quick, fun pick-up if I have half an hour here and there. The challenges are interesting if you really like the combat, or messing around as a predator. I'm guessing if you already beat it though, you can just wait til it comes down in price and pick it up cheaper. I think you're able to download the DLC without having the game, in case they charge for it later or remove it.

I would give it a shot. It's obvious that Eidos is going to reward people with tons of content. I already have the Joker maps, Dem Bones, and Insane night; all of which are free (though under some conditions), and incredibly fun.

At least download Insane Night while you have it, the freeflow room is addicting.

I mean there is just limitless fun there. I'm just flying between guys while they try swinging at me, only to catch air because I've vaulted like a spinning murdertop to punch a dude in the nuts on the other side of the room. I am the bat.

Bumping this with a little update:

Apparently the new map pack is PS3 exclusive, so Xbox owners can sit and spin (unless you're in the UK in which case you will get it on the Xbox). This is according to Joystiq, so I've got no reason not to put some faith in it.

I guess besides the Xbox version looking sliiiightly better than the PS3, it continues to get screwed on DLC for this game. :V