Batman: Arkham Asylum [Game of the Year Edition] (Platinum Hits)

Every once in a while there comes a videogame that is so well produced and so well received that it is destined for eternal gaming greatness; something so incredibly good that it begs the nostalgic gamer to power up older consoles years into the future, just to relive the thrill. Batman: Arkham Asylum is most definitely one of those titles.Quite simply: what Rocksteady Studios has created, here, is one of the most engaging and entertaining gaming experiences ever released, much less for a genre (comic book adaptations) which has suffered from one disappointing release after another. Best of all, the development team cast such a large net onto the gaming world - from the casuals just looking for a satisfying 'smash 'em up' game, to the fantatic who knows everything about Bruce Wayne - and has succeeded in captivating them all!From the get-go, the storyline is enthralling to the point that it is hard to call it quits. Start to finish, the plot is evident and beautifully depicted through cut scenes and missions that genuinely make sense and aren't just fluff challenges to move you along. Completing one task leads to a whole new assortment of twists that has become commonplace in the Batman franchise, but is done in such a way that develops intrigue and excitement. Each and every objective has a purpose, surrounded by mischief that puts the gamer's bat skills to the test. Clearly, Arkham Asylum's writers have hit their mark with a script that awes for hours.The environment of Arkham Asylum is fantastically arranged and stunningly adorned with cues which set the tone in such brilliant fashion. Everything looks as it should and nothing is out of place. From interior to exterior locales, the set design is spot on with everything it tries to emulate - a detached and overrun detention facility, littered with chaos caused by baddies that run amuck. To say that this is the best looking superhero videogame would be understatement. No superhero game, to date, has ever come close to looking this good, and it may be a very long time before another studio comes along to create a game that does.Embeded in Rocksteady's rendition of Arkham Island is an assorted combination of the franchise's most reknowned and less-known enemies. Each sporting their unique traits, all characters have been modeled to mimic their comic book presentation. Complimenting some of the splendid virtual reencarnacions are voices by names all too familiar to DC Comics world: Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker, and Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn. Even if these names don't ring a bell, the instant dialoge strikes up, the gamer is treated with voice acting that is on par with any big budget, silver screen flick.Likewise, character animations are fantastic - movement is smooth and precise, making the combat system amazingly enjoyable. The combo-based fighting system creates riveting action scenes that only get better as the player executes chained attacks. Added up, points can be used to acquire new abilities that increase Batman's effectiveness and sheer brutality. With a controller in hand, Arkham Asylum is the epitome of an open-world fighting game that excels in the most important aspect of gameplay.To increase replayability, a scattering of collectibles and side-missions offer up the chance for gamers to take a break from the storyline action or to roam the map when the antagonist meets his demise. The amount of extras included in Arkham Asylum ehance Batman's adventures for those inclined to track down every item, or can be ignored with no reprecution to the game's core. But, with so much more fun to had, it is hard to imagine not trying to get the most out of this title.Serving as the proverbial 'cherry on top', Arkham Asylum's score is a mystifying soundtrack fit for the oddities of the prison facility. Music tempo peaks in battle segments, while quieter and darker sounds play in the background during free roaming. The audio elements are so remarkably uncanny that it would be hard - through sound alone - to mistake this for anything but a Batman theme. Coinciding with the aforementioned voice overs, Rocksteady has brought every relevant element imaginable to this title and has done so beautifully.For anyone looking for that 'must play' experience and, somehow, has steered away from Batman: Arkham Asylum, there is no better time to give it a go. With the Game of the Year Edition, this title is packaged with every bit of content and, at its low price, is worth every cent. To add more 'bang for the buck', 3D functionality has been added - if that is your kind of thing; but, it is in no way required for playability.Rated 'T', parents who are looking to purchase this game for a child should consider the more adult oriented themes and accompanied violence. Otherwise, I highly recommend this product to any gamer, especially those who enjoy open world, third-person fighting games.

I don't even know where to begin with this game. I'm a big superhero geek so I dig a good story involving a superhero. I don't like every piece of garbage that might pass as a "superhero" tale, but once in a while you get a really legitimate piece of gold that contains everything you want in a superhero/comic book game.This game essentially can be broken into four parts: fighting, scarecrow sequences, riddler challenges, and exploration/plotline. The plotline really delivers on a few really awesome notes. One thing that everybody loves about a good comic book hero/superhero is the he always has a history. A superhero doesn't just pop into existence and start beating the crap out of people. They become this hero. Batman especially has this extremely rich backstory that has been built upon and delved into numerous times. Enough that it's almost common knowledge. This game truly is a love story for anyone that loves the Batman universe and mythology. The shoutouts to old villains and characters that have somewhat fallen by the wayside are amazing little tidbits that captivated me almost more than the main story or gameplay. Which leads me neatly into the next part.The Riddler challenges are a glorious little gem that may be somewhat overlooked in most reviews. If you don't really like thinking too much and exploring the environments to find little nuances in the scenery than don't bother too much. However, if you want to take a break from the fighting and bataranging, just open up these riddles and get searching it's awesome to see these homages to old characters in the Batman mythology. Definitely a great addition. The Scarecrow sequences don't really make up a very integral part of the story, but it does help to flesh out Batman's backstory as you delve into why Bruce Wayne became Batman and what really haunts the Dark Knight.Last of all is the fighting. I love the way that this brawler is done. The animations are fluid and there are rarely times when the character models glitch and a henchman receives a phantom blow. 99% of the animations are flawless and look as though the bad guys are getting hit. The overall mechanic to the fighting is simple to use, but really hard to master. The mixture of strike, counter, stun, and the occasional gadget make it a three ish button system. As you strike, you bring henchmen to the ground. The occasional baddy does come up and try to throw a punch, but a quick counter fixes that. Nothing feels better than stringing torgether a 30+ combo in a huge fistfight. With the addition of 3 new challenge maps and 3D the game really is awe inspiring. (The 3D of course is not even noticeable unless you have an HD TV, btw)Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games I have ever laid my hands on. It deserves Game of the Year completely and delivers at every turn. A complete story, collectibles, challenges, fighting, exploration, and thinking make this game worth every cent you would pay. Definitely worth whatever you pay.

Best batman game ever made

Fantastic Game. Have always loved playing these kinds of Batman games.

I'll start with two words that I can guarantee you it'll summarize all I'll tell you below: Epic. Outstanding.This was absolutely a great and pleasant surprise. I was looking for reviews on the best games for Xbox 360. But I wanted something different, something new. This was on every list I found; all I could read it certainly inspired me to purchase it. So I decided to give it a try and make sure by myself if all I had read was true.The most amazing thing about this game is that it let you be Batman in any way like never before in any previous game based on him. The part I most liked? No one in particular, but everything. From Detective Mode to Inverted Takedown, and from every gadget available -from Batarang to Cryptographic Sequencer-, this game was designed carefully so you can be within Batman's suit and feel what's like to be him.The narrative is really, really good, amazing. The storytelling and every single detail are outstanding. The voices are incredibly good. The design, characters, riddles, challenges; everything is perfectly well done.When I purchased the game -I'm not going to lie- I had my doubts, even after all I had read. All was gone when I started to playing it. And as I headlined, there's no doubt that this is the best Batman game ever made. If you're a great fan of him just like me, believe me, you have to play this game. It worth every penny and every second. You'll regret it if you don't do it.