Xbox, PS3, PC: Arkham Asylum doesn't disappoint

Title: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Price: $59.99 ($49.99 on PC)
Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
ESRB Rating: T for Teen
Score: A

The name "Batman" strikes just as much fear into the hearts of gamers as it does the villains of Gotham City. The Dark Knight's foes cower in fear of justice, but I'm cringing because of the never-ending stream of downright terrible games that have been abusing the Batman license since as far back as the original NES. The legacy is so bad that I'd considered it almost a foregone conclusion that Batman: Arkham Asylum would be nothing more than the next heap of garbage to add to the pile.

Instead, I found a game that guides you through some of the darkest places in the Batman universe while constantly leaving you eager to find out what's going to happen next.
Though not related to the storyline of the most recent Batman movie, “Dark Knight,” Arkham Asylum strongly embraces the same sinister look and feel. This isn't the relatively cheerful Batman and cast you'll find in the Saturday morning cartoons.

The story locks you inside Gotham's infamous madhouse, Arkham Asylum, along with the long list of super-villains serving time there thanks to Batman.

Fighting your way out involves working through some wonderfully creative gameplay that always has something new to keep you on your toes, while unraveling pieces of a storyline that fits perfectly with the setting and its cast of characters.

The pacing of Arkham Asylum is one of its strongest assets. A relatively calm and mundane puzzle section will have your brain working one moment, while taking on a group of escaped inmates will keep your thumbs busy the next. Deciphering one of The Riddler's clues might be followed up by a stealth segment, or a situation that requires one of Batman's many gadgets that you'll eventually gain access to. It always feels like there's some new spin being put on the things you've already done, allowing you to build upon the skills you develop as you progress. Rarely does the game get stale or boring, though the inability to change the difficulty setting on the fly can lead to a few frustrating boss fights or other encounters.

Part of what keeps things interesting are the upgrades you'll earn as you gain experience. Solving puzzles, beating up bad guys and generally just doing what you're supposed to will earn you experience points. These can be spent to unlock new fighting moves or gadgets, upgrade existing equipment or add other special abilities to your arsenal. Most of these were items I couldn't wait to unlock, but a few seemed pointless, even after trying them in several different situations.

One of the coolest gadgets is Detective Mode, a sort of x-ray vision that you'll have access to from the very start. With it you can spot enemies through walls, discover secrets or just observe while you plan your next move.

The combat in Batman: Arkham Asylum isn't quite like any other game I've seen. The controls are fairly simple, with each button corresponding to an attack, a counter attack and throwing a batarang, among other options.

The interesting part is the ebb and flow that each fight has. Stringing together attacks with the right timing and coordination allows Batman to move smoothly from one opponent to the next, and it's amazingly satisfying to put an entire room of henchmen down without taking a scratch.

A counter builds as you pull off uninterrupted series of attacks, allowing you to perform even more powerful moves if you can get the multiplier high enough. It's a new way of approaching things, but it matches up perfectly with Batman's feel and fighting style.

Every new room, every character that you meet and every situation that Batman is placed into points to a development team that truly cared about the project they were working on. There's a level of polish, an attention to detail that's just not found in many games. Character bios, a challenge mode and a ton of little secrets to find lying around Arkham Island are but a few of the extras that could have been left out by a lazier developer.

Also of note is the absolutely top-notch voice acting. Many long-time voice actors from the Batman cartoon series reprise their respective roles in Arkham Asylum, with Mark Hamill's Joker providing a chillingly psychotic antagonist.

They recently announced a sequel to the game, and I can't wait to see these voice actors back to play their parts once more.

Like some sort of comic book come to life, Batman: Arkham Asylum puts you into Bruce Wayne's rubber suit before sending you down the dark and twisted path of its narrative. It's a worthwhile trip, and the time and effort spent constructing it all is evident throughout. Far and away the best superhero game of the year, this is a title you shouldn't miss.