Beautiful batarangs fly from reviewers as ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ is released
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The cool marketing schemes are (mostly) over and the midnight madness release has been done, so ‘Batman Arkham Asylum’ is now available to all on almost every platform there is.
Reviews came fast and furious as game sites, tech sites and general fandom sites all rushed to give their opinions of the new Dark Knight game, one that ultimately may use more of his skill as a detective and strategist than as a martial artist and brawler.
This version of the vigilante is universally praised. ‘All-time’ banners are thrown about here and there, but the general consensus is that it’s one of the best games of the year. Here’s the trailer again, and then a few opinions afterward:
‘I really enjoyed this game, so much so that I would have its babies if such a thing were possible. Sure, the last two boss fights sour the attraction a little, but all relationships have problems. Just look at Batman’s list of lovers and Robins if you want examples. Seriously, though, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an excellent game. Buy it, play it and bask in the glow of the brightest Batman game to date.’
‘Arkham Asylum is a must-play for Batman fans, but it also presents a highly satisfying option for action game aficionados, between the platforming, elegant combat and effective use of stealth play.’
Rest assured, I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that Batman: Arkham Asylum is unquestionably the best licensed game I’ve ever played. At the end of the day, however, that’s a fairly low hurdle to clear -- it better reflects the game’s quality to say it’s one of the best stealth-action games ever made, and easily the best video game 2009 has had to offer thus far.
‘Everyone stand up and give Batman: Arkham Asylum a round of applause and a pat on the back. It has done what many were beginning to say was impossible... delivered a good - nay, a great Batman game; possibly the greatest of all time! ... one of the main signs of a great game is whether when you finish it do you want to play it again? For me, the answer is definitely yes.’
Game Informer
Like BioShock’s underwater dystopia, Arkham Asylum is a place of wonder and inexplicable horror. The demonized Victorian architecture blends seamlessly with a lifetime of comic book history to create a tourist attraction that steals your attention away, and makes you wish you had a camera to preserve the unbelievable imagery. The Asylum isn’t just a backdrop for this twisted tale, it is its tone-setter and driving force. The Asylum pumps just as much excitement into this adventure as the pointy-eared vigilante, Batman, does.
-- Jevon Phillips
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