Arkham Asylum is, at last, an attempt to reposition the videogame Batman as the more strategic, measured figure seen in the comics and films. It helps that the game itself is, so far, hugely mysterious too. Storyline details are closely under wraps and IGN still knows very little about the core single-player campaign.
Now, however, they do at least know a ton about two of the bonus modes that will ship with the game. 'Bonus' perhaps makes them sound a little more throwaway than they are – really, they're both a smart substitute for multiplayer and an intent to extend the game's lifespan well past the main campaign. And, as far as this hands-on piece goes, they're also an excellent way to introduce some of this much-anticipated superhero game's core mechanics.
Discover the best Batman Arkham games ranked from Asylum to Knight, including Origins, VR and more, with a focus on combat, story, and world design.
Batman: Arkham Asylum's powerful intro paves the way to an excellent gameplay experience, even almost 15 years later.
Want to be The Batman? Of course you do! Check out GameSpew's list of the best games that let you become the Caped Crusader.
