Batman: Arkham Asylum

Raz Review:  "Mark Hamill voices the Joker in this game, and does an amazing job.  Even without that little extra, this is still the best Batman game ever made, in my humble opinion.  Just like Heath Ledger raised the bar on Nicholson's performance, this could easily become a new standard.  I'm hoping the inevitable sequel will let you fly the Batwing or drive the Batmobile around Gotham.  The Batbike and Batsub would be the frosting on the cake. 

It isn't as open-world as I like a game to be, though you can explore a fair bit and Arkham is a big island.  There are three basic modes of play as you progress - stalking, fighting and detective work.  That last one will keep you fairly busy trying to solve all the Riddler's puzzles.  Fighting is simple enough, but difficult to master.  The challenge modes are a good way to practice.

Stalking is the most fun.  You have to assess the area, move silently and invisibly, and take out every enemy without sounding an alarm.  Ghosting guards from above, popping out of grates, setting traps...whee!  Heady stuff - watch your victims panic in terror as their friends disappear one by one.

Batman's gadgets are tons of fun.  Line launchers, batarangs, claws, special armor, explosives...all upgradable.  You'll need to acquire some of these from special locations to access all of the nooks and crannies of Arkham.

The storyline is well-crafted, the graphics are amazing.  This is not a kids' game either, despite the comic book appeal - the themes are decidedly adult, from Ivy and Harley's tight little outfits to some very disturbing imagery and ultra-violent scenes; this is something for teens and up. 

My only beef is that I'm still doing the same 3 things over and over again.  Meh - there's always room for improvement, right?"

Online: No
Rated: 8/10