"Batman: Arkham Asylum" I See the Vision

 

    Look, I am most definitely not the first, and I won't be the last to rave about Batman: Arkham Asylum, from what I remember people looked at Batman: Arkham City most favourably, but that's just what I remember being a kid, and considering this game was released almost 15 years ago, it holds up remarkably well. In fact, if I had to complain about this game there's only one real thing I feel like is slightly holding it back, other than the fact that it feels relatively short, combat. That I will touch upon later, but right now I think it's prudent that I continue to give this game the flowers it deserves almost 15 years later, because from what I've seen from other superhero games, having a success like this isn't given.

    First of all, it's clear it's a bundle of love, look for some open-world games, I'm looking at you Bethesda, it's not a given that it'll be relatively bug-free, but with this game the map might be smaller but you can spend hours scouring it looking for little details here and there. Oddly enough, even though there are 240 Riddler trophies, I recommend you do them, it doesn't take long to find many, and once you find the Riddler maps it's a breeze. The reason I say pursue them is because they fit in so many different easter eggs and references to the deep Batman lore that exists, without it feeling forced, so it really makes you appreciate how much love went into hiding trophies into nooks and crannies. I mean some of them were so obscure I didn't even know them, looking at Greek God Gang dude (I don't know his name but he had a character bio.

    It really does feel like you're playing as Batman, and one of the ways it does that it with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. It truly has been a blessing to see those two carry the mantle of Batman and the Joker respectively, especially as I go through their work watching Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. The game also does not overstay it's welcome, it's very clear that even though you're going through multiple characters in Batman's rogues catalogue that it takes place in one night, and it doesn't try and stretch anything out to pad for time. I played this game for only 15 hours, and completed everything I wanted to, sans the challenges, and I felt quite satisfied with it all. I mean sure it could use more content, but in this case I think I prefer quality over quantity.

    I do have to admit, when it comes to the fighting in this game, they definitely need more quality. The dodging is less than optimal, the fighting requires you to press about two buttons, and honestly the greatest hurdle is the amount of enemies they throw at you. As someone who played on normal, I don't think any of the boss fights really gave me any fits, especially the final Joker one. Honestly, I thought Poison Ivy was the most difficult supervillain to fight. The same could be said about the upgrades and weapons Batman uses. It's basically batarang or bust. Everything else is geared for finding collectibles/enhancing stealth, which is pretty good but nothing to rave about in my opinion. I do hope that when I play Batman: Arkham City they do a better job of diversifying the combat, making it feel more satisfying. What's the point of a Batbelt if half of it is filled with different variants of batarangs and grappling hooks?

Final Score: 75/100

    A strong score for a bundle of joy. Even if you don't like video games I implore you to play this game. It doesn't overstay it's welcome like a lot of open-world exploration games, and in return you get a relatively short, sweet gaming experience that is oozing with passion for Batman, which isn't a given when you're playing superhero games believe it or not. I find it hard to find a reason not to play the game. The combat is weak but it's still pretty easy, and most of the game is about exploration/stealth anyways, so who cares am I right? If you haven't played this game yet, or can't get into it I implore you to give it the chance it deserves, because it will deliver.