Once you reacclimate to the changes, it's still a very good game, albeit a more simple one. I found myself missing attacks or trying to perform moves that hadn't yet existed. The sequel Arkham titles make a bunch of minor improvements to combat and targeting, which make it tough to go back to the original. The pacing, structure and basic gameplay systems are a solid mix of accessible and enjoyable. The game is still as fun to play as the day it came out. Every time you think you've reached the end of his bag of tricks, Batman will find a new gadget or encounter a new enemy type that helps pull things through.Īrkham Asylum has aged exceptionally well. It's bolstered by strong level design, which constantly introduces new concepts and twists to prevent the game from getting tedious. Optional challenge missions allow to you take on enemies for high scores and do a lot to show off the intricacies of the game. The stealth mechanics are similarly designed to be accessible to casual players and yet offer plenty of options for die-hards. The oft-copied combat system allows for stylish and fast multi-enemy battles that are simple to learn but complex to master. There's not much in the way of freedom when it comes to objectives, but the game is structured well enough that you won't really notice.Īrkham Asylum's an incredibly well-designed game. It's a semi-linear experience, with a guided main storyline but optional backtracking for collectibles, including a series of Riddler trophies hidden throughout the world. It's a combination of Batman and Metroid, and it invites players to explore the overtaken Asylum while gradually unlocking new powers and abilities for the caped crusader. It was called one of the best superhero games ever, and it's easy to see why. If you've never played the original Arkham Asylum, then you're in for a treat. The Joker's plot is pretty lackluster, but it is mostly there as an excuse for Batman to punch his way through the entire rogue's gallery. If this is just taken as a Batman game and not the start of a trilogy, it provides the best experience you can imagine. The later games in the series are more involved in building their own Batman mythology. Rather than focusing on creating a cohesive world, it throws together all of Batman's greatest villains for a rollicking comic book event. It's more of a who's who of Batman mythology from around 2009. Good thing he's always prepared.Īrkham Asylum was created before the developers had an inkling the Arkham games would be a franchise, and it shows. Batman is forced to go through a gauntlet of villains - from Poison Ivy to the Riddler - to stop the Joker before he unleashes an army of mutant monsters on the innocent people of Gotham. Of course, this was the first step in the Joker's master plan, and before you can say, "Holy Prison Break, Batman," the Joker is out and inmates are running the asylum. The first game in the series, Arkham Asylum, puts players in the shoes of the Caped Crusader as he delivers a captured Joker to the asylum. (The outsourced prequel, Arkham Origins, is MIA from the collection.) Unfortunately, the quality of the port is mixed. Batman: Return to Arkham offers next-gen players a chance to experience both of Rocksteady's last-gen entries. It was no surprise that Rocksteady's series was held up as an example of how to do a licensed game well. Arkham Asylum came out of left field to create a good licensed game that was one of the absolute best titles of the last generation. It seemed tough to make a good adaption of almost any popular license, especially superheroes. The Joker: I've spent weeks shipping samples of my blood to emergency rooms all over the city.īatman: So that's Protocol 10: poison Gotham.For a long time, "There's no such thing as a good licensed game" held true. sucking down that last breath, knowing Gotham is doing the same. I nearly had a cure it was so close and then it was taken from me.īatman: So we both die. Look, we're running out of time, I need your help. Don't tell me it's not what you always wanted. you have a teeny little bit of me in you too, Bats! The Joker: Nice of you to say, but you of all people should know. Why spoil the fun?īatman: It was all a lie. The Joker: No one's who you think they are, my dear. Harley Quinn: Aw, but I wanna know who he is, sweetie!
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