User reviews

A lot of people rolled their eyes when Arkham Asylum got 9s and 10s across the board from reviewers, myself included. Although it's a dirty little secret of the video game industry that big companies often buy high scores from media outlets, I am happy to say this time, they didn't have to. The game sells itself, and several hours into it, the jaded cynic within me was brutally beaten and tossed from the establishment.

They have done nearly everything right with this game; the only flaw I could find was that it has a final boss and an ending, and thus does not, as I had hoped, continue into perpetuity.

Let me list a few of the game's good points:

1. You don't die nearly as often as in other games. That might sound like another case of the dumbing down of games for casuals, but it does away with cheap deaths like slipping and falling off a ledge (anytime you miss a dangerous jump, you have a brief chance to press the grapple button to escape death). It's good design, in my opinion, something you'll find a lot in this game.

2. The gameplay has been unfairly skewed to be the most fun thing you've ever experienced. Fights against multiple opponents border on poetic at times, as Batman smoothly segues between attacks, counters, and throws. The secrets riddled (no pun intended) throughout the game that can be accessed with specific gadgets require frequent backtracking, but none of it feels repetitive, which is a credit to the devs.

3. The voice-acting is straight up flawless. Repeat: it is without flaw. Every actor is perfectly cast for his or her role, and they deliver their lines very much in character. The long-time voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, reprises his role as the Caped Crusader, and Mark Hamill sounds appropriately sociopathic as the Joker, one of the best voice-over jobs in the game, and that's saying a lot.

The bad? The game can seem a tad easy at times, as too many obvious hints are dropped when the game senses you're stuck, however briefly. Also, at 12-15 hours, it's a short game, made even shorter by the fact that you can't stop playing. That's nitpicking, though, and if you see these drawbacks as a reason not to buy the game, you've taken one too many batarangs to the head.

TL;DR version: 10/10. MUST-BUY.

WOW! After months and months of anticipation for this game, it has finally been released and I must say that it not only lived up to my expectations, but has far surpassed them.

The game begins with Batman (Kevin Conroy from the 1992 Batman Animated Series) returning The Joker (Mark Hamill) to Arkham Asylum after an attempt is made on the Mayor of Gotham City's life. Once inside Arkham, Batman, along with Comissioner Gordon, deduce that Joker planned to be caught and returned to Arkham because of how simple it was to catch Joker in the fist place. Not to soon after this, Joker does escape custody and (with help from Harley Quinn) sets all of the asylum inmates free. Batman now must save any innocent doctors and cops as well as beat all of the Joker's henchman to a pulp. Some of Batman's greatest enemies make appearances in the game as bosses (Joker, Poison Ivy, Harley, Scarecrow, etc...) and other great villains are not in the game at all, presumably running rampant in Gotham, but files and trivia on these villains can still be found around the game. Story: 10/10

The graphics are truly a marvel to behold with Batman looking especially excellent, you can see each cut on his suit and even his 5 o'clock shadow, Arkham is enormous and is almost fully accessible, and Harley Quinn has never looked better! Visuals: 10/10

The audio is also brilliant, the game has fantastic music and sound effects that are great and totally unique. Each of Batman's cool gadgets give off sounds that almost make them sound as if they are real. Audio: 10/10

The best part of this game is how you actually FEEL like Batman, solving the mysteries of Arkham Asylum as if you were the real Dark Knight. Batman has such a vast array of gadgets from batarangs to his trademark grappling launcher. The combat in the game is very responsive, the stealth elements fit Batman's character well, and the "Detective Mode" becomes more essential to the game the further you go. The only negative point I can think of is that the game is a bit short, but it is totally satisfying. This is the best comic book game of all time, finally breaking the DC Comics video game curse (though Lego Batman was a pretty good DC Comics game, too). Gameplay: 10/10

Just like how The Dark Knight was my favourite film of 2008, Batman: Arkham Asylum is my favourite game of 2009. Get this game, it ROCKS! My overall score: 10/10

Also, is it just me or does Batman look an awful lot like Michael Keaton?

First of all i am a huge batman fan. I was looking for a batman game for many years and EIDOS has just given the perfect game.

This is the type of game i was expecting after Splinter cell, Hit man and Max Payne..... the game is excellent in all aspects (Story, game play, actions, level designs, graphics).

The story starts with joker taking over the control of ARKHAM ASYLUM leaving batman into a trap. Batman has to save and infiltrate the arkham asylum to stop joker from doing bad to Gotham.Not only against joker but batman also has to fight against his enemies like croc, ivy, bane, scarecrow ....

It is a must play game for batman fans. And if any one is looking out for a best 3rd person action game then they should go for BATMAN:ARKHAM ASYLUM I give 10/10 for the game.. so go buy the game and enjoy it

In fact, this game is probably the first game I have rated a ten and it not be a role playing game. It also saddens me a bit as Spider-man is my favorite comic book character of all time, however Batman has now claimed my favorite movie based on a comic character in "The Dark Knight" and now my favorite video game. Spider-man has made some good games, but nothing as complete. They usually end up missing an element that detracts from game play such as the fact the web slinging kind of sucks as it is just him swinging from nothing and he might as well be flying or the web slinging is great, but the fighting and Spidey's strength is a non factor. This game though combines all of Batman's abilities to perfection as the fighting is fun and satisfying as you clobber wave after wave of Joker henchmen. His gadgets are done nicely as you throw batarangs, set explosive gel, and use grapples to perfection. Then if you are up to it you can hide in the shadows, perch on a gargoyle statue, or hide in the air vents to sneak up and silently take down Joker's men. The story too, is top notch. I enjoyed the opening as Batman once again escorts the Joker to Arkham asylum for the umpteenth time, only this time something seems strange as Joker seemingly wanted to get captured. Well you soon find out that Joker with some assistance from his crazy little gal sidekick Harley Quinn had a plan for escape and soon after the entire island of Arkham is under the Joker's control. Throw in a mad Killer Croc, the insane Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and the Riddler and you have yourself a challenge. Though the game was never really annoying at any point and the game play was quite smooth transitioning from story point and area with ease. You can solve riddles from the Riddler and it is done a lot better than the collecting in most games of this type as the interview tapes and the spirit of Arkham things do not have to be found in any particular order. That and the riddles may be well hidden, but not nearly impossible to find like in a Tomb Raider game. Granted, there could have been a few more villains added to the mix, but I can understand why they did not try to add everyone as that may have detracted from the story a bit. Mark Hammill does the voice of the Joker just as he did on the cartoon and he does it so well that it is scary. Nice to see he found a niche doing voice over work. Kurt Conroy does Batman's voice as he did in the cartoon too. Great game, I would like to see a sequel, but one of even grander scope as I would love to see one in the streets of Gotham, however they could really bungle that so I am also dubious if they did one like that too.

Pros:

• Great story and characters
• Great gameplay
• Amazing voice acting
• Great graphics and animation
• Great boss fights
• Unique horror elements

Cons:

• Lacklustre final boss

Verdict: Thou improved by City, the original is a great game and is a pioneer of the progression of the making of good superhero video games.

9/10

Having played many Batman games throughout the years, FINALLY a game that really gives you the feeling of being Batman with his arsenal of gadgets and fighting styles that is innovative in execution. Batman: AA is simply THE best Batman game ever created. You got all of Batman's rogues gallery that includes The Joker, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Bane, Scarecrow, and Harley Quinn; some of which are voiced by fellow "Animated Series" veterans such as Kevin Conroy and of course, Mark Hamill, whose chilling portrayal of the Joker is simply the highlight of the games overall narrative.

In visuals, Arkham Asylum is a beautiful game, with a level of detail that's very impressive with stunning animation and lighting effects. On playing the game, I barely noticed any pop-up and polygonal tearing evident on some games, but not hear. Everything is rendered in crisp and clear clarity and if you have a Hi-Def setup, it's all batty.

Historically, Batman has been relegated to mostly side-scrolling fare with limited set of moves and gadgets. The games were good, but never gave you the feeling of being the Caped Crusader. Now with today's technology, gamers and comic-book fans alike can truly experience the Dark Knight in a way never before seen in gaming. Batman: Vengeance, which I admit is the first game to feature Batman in a 3d environment with aforementioned talent on board and it was an impressive game no doubt. But Arkham Asylum is so much more. It delivers the true experience of being Batman to a T. With stunning visuals, superb voice acting, and an innovative combat system that has you beating thugs like a pro, Arkham Asylum is simply the GREATEST Batman video game ever made. Having just beaten the game, I'm ready for Arkham City.

What a wonderful world! A wonderful game that represent very well the world of batman. I enjoyed very much the gameplay: the fight scenes, the gameplay, the gadgets. The story between joker and batman. I also love the riddles and some iconic characters of Batman. A very good experience of video game. If you are a fan of batman, go take i!

'Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)' is one of the most influential video-games of all time, even if its own inspirations are equally evident. It's arguably the first great superhero game, one that treats its source material totally seriously and delivers a rock-solid story alongside its fun gameplay. The mechanics of the title are practically synonymous with the third-person action genre now, yet they really are revolutionary. The game's familiar mix of combat, puzzles, exploration and stealth is handled remarkably well, each element feeling cohesive and hand-crafted for the caped crusader himself. The rhythm-based combat is snappy, satisfying and suitably violent. It's remarkably deep, with a number of unlockable skills and advanced moves, and the enemy design is varied enough to keep things interesting, especially when several types are tossed at you together and you have to strategically work your way across the battlefield. The combo system isn't just for show or, even, style; it distinctly changes how you play because several abilities are contingent on it, ensuring you feel rewarded when you achieve a high level of play. Even though he can take on tens of foes at once, Batman isn't a tank. When bullets come his way, he has to hide. This is where the game's predator segments come into the fray. These sequences have you sneaking around the asylum and taking out guards as you see fit, every gadget in your arsenal uniquely equipped to deal with a given scenario. If you're spotted, you'll have to retreat to a vantage point with your grappling hook; you can't withstand much damage. The AI is incredibly effective at conveying the fear you expect from someone stalked by the Dark Knight, with enemies erratically slipping from calm to agitated depending on what they see. These segments are highly engaging and provide a great counterbalance to the thing's otherwise more overt combat. Other than taking out bad guys, you're also tasked with doing some detective work. With your X-ray 'detective vision', you can track subjects and even recreate what may have happened based on evidence you find. For the most part, this stuff is fairly simple but it's really satisfying. It tends to progress the story in a very natural way and makes you feel like an active participant in the narrative. That narrative is fantastic, too. It makes excellent use of its source material, bringing its dingy version of Arkham Asylum to life with striking detail. It also offers up a sizeable, fan-pleasing rogue's gallery of villains to face-off against. From the intimidating Bane to the psychotic Harley Quinn, each baddie is as distinct and compelling as the last. The main attraction is, of course, the Joker. Here, he is simply phenomenal, bolstered by a brilliant performance from Mark Hamill. He walks the line between cruel and crazy, as jovial as he is murderous, and it's great to see. He's a suitable adversary for the imposing and stoic Batman, voiced just as well by Kevin Conroy. Everything just comes together to create a completely cohesive world filled with colourful characters and gripping gameplay. It's great. Plus, there's a whole set of side content which sees you solving the Riddler's puzzles. These mostly optional quandaries consist of either a physical test - in which you must use your gadgets to obtain a small trophy - or a mental one - which have you photograph parts of the asylum that act as answers to more traditional, typically lore-based riddles. The side stuff also includes a set of challenges based around the combat and predator encounters found in-game, which are instantly enjoyable and infinitely replayable. Chasing the high-score on these might steal more of your time than you expect, rounding out the overall package and marking it as one that's a must-play for... well, anyone, really. It's absolutely fantastic and is, still to this day, one of the best games of its generation. 10/10

Initially I was a bit reluctant to try this game, since I had heard that it takes place on one island, which is undoubtedly the smallest map any game has to offer nowadays. But then I decided to give it a go anyway when Epic gave it away. Before this I had only played Arkham Origins and seeing that the Batman in Arkham Asylum is that "underwear Batman", I was even more hesitant in trying it. But somehow I convinced myself that I can't understand Arkham City or Knight without playing this one so I will somehow "convince" myself into playing this.

Turns out I was wrong. This game is a downright masterpiece. Unlike most games that make your environment constricted, this one actually makes it feel very, very open. All the villains we knew are in this game - Joker (of course), Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Bane, Killer Croc, Scarecrow. And then there's Riddler's puzzles which help us unlock the character bios and trophies.

Speaking of that, the side quests of this game are excellent. It's what one can enjoy doing once they've finished the main game. This review comes at a time when I haven't played Arkham City yet, so I don't know if they have maintained this level of side quests later on (it wasn't this entertaining in Arkham Origins so I'm a bit sceptical).

I can say this for sure that this is one of the best stealth games of the time it was released, with the only possible contender being Assassin's Creed II. I hope I will come back to this game at some other point in my life, since I want to solve all of Riddler's challenges.

I came to this game after finishing the excellent Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and if I'm honest I did struggle to make the jump. Partly this is my age meaning I'm not as good at switching between controls as I was, but also a reflection on how much I enjoyed AC:B. Once I got over this hump though and got the feel for how Batman: AA plays and works, I got into it very quickly and found a very well designed game that features plenty of colour, plenty of variety and was a good solid challenge without ever being frustratingly difficult (in normal setting anyway).

The game play is impressive; in terms of the straight story you'll be called on to work out how to get to places by using your eyes and the gadgets available to you; you'll have combat where your timing and skills are pushed in terms of pulling of combos, blocking and countering attacks but you'll also have stealth sections against armed foes where you get to be the shadowy Batman - taking them out one at a time and disappearing back into the shadows as your increasingly panicked enemies try and find where you are. These were my favourite sections and I do enjoy the additional challenge mini-games you can do in the same format. Since it is a computer game the story is episodic but it still manages to flow pretty well and be quite cinematic in nature. The cut-scenes are well used and do not come too frequently.

Although not a huge free-roam world like Red Dead etc, Arkham Asylum still has lots to explore and find. The secrets maps help a lot but it still is a challenge and it does add material to the game rather than just charging through the main story. Some of these collectables also add detail and colour to the game - I won't say I listened to all the interview tapes, but the bio files (complete with comic-book pictures) were a nice touch and again added a sense of depth to the game beyond just the story.

I am a fan of Batman but not to the point where I know all the characters, but it was enjoyable to see so many main ones have a large role in the game. The Joker is particularly effective and is well voiced by Hamill but everyone does a good job - Poison Ivy was perhaps the exception for me but that is more down to me not really liking her character rather than a problem with the game. The Scarecrow sections were all great - easy enough to "beat" but the design of them and the flashes into Wayne's tortured psyche were really enjoyable. Speaking of the Bat himself, the game achieves the central goal, which is making it fun to play as the Goddamn Batman! The gadgets are cool, the voice acting is good and there is little more pleasing that pulling off those stealth moves without ever being detected and hearing the fear of the Bat enter the voices and behaviour of the remaining henchmen.

The graphics are excellent. Personally it took me a minute to get used to how much of the screen Batman took up (the view just seemed a bit too close for me) but otherwise it looked great. The Gothic atmosphere is tangible and the detective mode is very useful - the only downside of it was that the detective mode is so useful that you end up running around with it on most of the game - which does rather rob you of the atmosphere and the beauty of the "normal view" graphics; not a massive problem, but a shame for sure.

Overall Arkham Asylum is a really great game. Well designed, looks great, plays great and has a story that engages. The characters are full of colour and are well brought to the screen in terms of looks and voice work while the variety in the game-play means I was using my head, my eyes, a stealthy approach and also having button hammering combat - all of which worked very well together and individually.

Batman: Arkham Asylum broke the conundrum that is licensed video-games: in an industry full of innovation and equal-parts shovel-ware, video-games based on longstanding properties like Batman usually tend to fail and fall hard (like Superman 64), the Arkham series proved that you can make a fantastic game franchise comparable to the likes of Grand Theft Auto, Legend of Zelda, Halo, Uncharted or Gears of War. This makes the case for video-games telling great stories comparable to (and even surpassing) a Hollywood blockbuster, and showing that gaming can make way for industrial breakthroughs like this.

Batman is one of the few superheroes to break ranks in all forms of media and succeed in doing so.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is amazing, one of the best games I've ever played, I finished the story four times, and every time I finished I never doubted that the experience that the game proportioned me was wholesome. I did all the Riddler challenges as well, can be boring sometimes but it's satisfying, at least for me. Everything in this games is great. Batman is badass, the game respects the character and its mythology, Joker, Bane, Poison Ivy, all of the characters that we know and are in this game, they're all faithful to the source material and they're all perfect.

The voice acting here is amazing as well, one of the best things of the game. Kevin's voice is perfect for Batman, and I think he's better here than in Timm's Justice League and Batman cartoon, where he is great as well, but here, there's something more. Mark Hamill is perfect for Joker, his laugh, his tone, everything, and this version of Joker is one of my favorite, despite the whole desire to kill Batman, one of the best concepts is that Joker and Batman 'complete' themselves, Joker doesn't want to kill Batman because he is too much of a fun and Batman can't kill Joker because of his code. Here in this game, Joker is bored of Batman and want to kill him, but I understand why they did this, is a different media.

And for being a video game, the experience is really immersive, you ARE Batman in the game, you beat all the goons, the fighting system is perfect by the way, you go out there in the Asylum grappling around, have millions of gadgets. And it's impressive that Rocksteady, a small game developer when this game was relesead, did a masterpiece even with the budget they had in hands.

Not exaggerating, but everythign here is perfect: the soundtrack, the voice acting, the fighting system, the stealth parts, Batman being detective, something the majority of the movies doesn't show, Arkham Asylum is amazing, the aesthetics, the characters design, I could go on for a day listing everything that is perfect is this game. The boss battles, how haunting is the Scarecrow and the nightmares. It's just a masterpiece and you SHOULD play it, it's totally worth playing.

The idea of confining the main character to Arkham island for one hellacious night wouldn't usually make for a good Batman game. You don't usually think of Batman without being able to drive the Batmobile, swoop through Gotham, etc. But here, it totally works. The Joker's taken over the asylum, the inmates are freed, and it's up to Batman to fix this huge mess.

And while the people behind this game put some serious muscle behind the voice work (Conroy as Batman, Hamill as The Joker, Sorkin's back as Harley Quinn), the real winner is the gameplay. When you're not scanning the room in detective mode, preying on bad guys from the shadows, you're engaging with all manner of thugs in brutal combat. And that was one of my favorite parts of the game, the satisfaction of this mean bastard laying the smack down on bad guys.

The only disappointment is not being able to drive the Batmobile (the nature of this beast), and credit where it's due, that was one sweet- looking ride. But that disappointment pales in comparison to the distinct creepy atmosphere of Arkham, the thrilling fights and hearing these signature voices (Hamill really does make the Joker hilarious).

Great game.

8/10

Arkham Asylum's map is designed so well that even it's 2009 graphics didn't ruin the intended creepy and mysterious vibe the game was giving. Playing this at nights makes the experience even more magical. The map is also elaborative with puzzles that have a wide range of variety in solving them, I was amazed by how interactive the Asylum's world was given the game's age.

The story is unfortunately a bit too short and sometimes gives very little background to the cast characters. However, because of its short playtime you don't feel fatigued with the repetitive enemies and bosses.

The combat mechanics was fun and addictive, no wonder why the upcoming titles have been using the same combat gameplay with minimal changes.

With a compelling opening that sets the creepy, gritty and bleak tone(with Gothic architecture - tall windows, and gargoyles that you can perch atop, and hang goons from) as you escort The Joker deep into the Arkham facility(which is now a full island, not merely the mansion - albeit that remains part of it), with several stops along the way(such as a doctor checking on him), and you expect that any moment now, he'll break free - he suddenly does, surprising you in spite of the anticipation, takes over, threatens that he'll detonate bombs all over Gotham if anyone approaches the Asylum and has graffiti tagged and a statue of the warden defaced, as you now have to track him down, rescue the hostages taken, fight his army of henchmen - and he may just send some supervillains your way.

Outside of The Killing Joke(which is where the inspiration for his appearance in this comes from) and Ledger, this is the best depiction of him. Hamill, aided by the solid, absurd material(he taunts you, and his goons, as you progress), renders him equally scary and comical - he leaves gift-wrapped, fridge-sized boxes around for you, and you never know where it'll be a bomb, or just a few of the chattering teeth he leaves around. He remains in control, and you are at his mercy. This explains, if doesn't fully excuse, the linearity of this - heightening the isolated, claustrophobic feeling. You can only choose where to go in the hub level of the outside, and when boringly backtracking to gain entry to areas earlier inaccessible. His final plan, while the scope befits the medium, is the one time something in this doesn't fit, as far as motivations go. He is joined by Harley(Sorkin), who's dependent and eerie as ever.

The characters in this are all gotten exactly right. And not everyone will survive the night... making this a tale with repercussions, and while those may be confined to these VG's, it's a notable risk to take. The villains(who all get epic, fitting entrances) are humans grotesquely transformed by tragedy into monsters - you are allowed to delve into their psyche(and their themes are explored) through interview tapes, that, like the story(original, and penned by veteran of the comics, Paul Dini - both ideal; you don't have people comparing it to the work it's adapting or knowing the outcome, and this gets the spirit), have twists, are impeccably paced, and develop the people. This gets right what most licensed ones don't - looking at why it's beloved, and making sure to replicate those elements, with a laser-like focus. Is this the best game ever? No. But in the sub-genre of hero ones, it is. And I retain the right to grant that to one of its sequels, when I get to playing those.

This is a real treat for those already in love with the property, but no matter how little you know about this franchise, you can appreciate this - it's quite self-contained, and actually serves as an introduction that will inspire many potential fans to get into it. It covers a lot of ground, without bogging down with excessive details. The cutscenes(either in-engine or pre-rendered so it never feels out of place) are cool, short, fast-paced and to the point. You get poisoned by Scarecrow, and have to struggle through terrifying, and sometimes quite personal, hallucinations(think Freddy Krueger). There is some Prince of Persia style acrobatics. The main campaign in this single-player(with 3 difficulties) only title(I'm glad they didn't push for multiplayer, or even co-op, if they didn't think they could make it work) is only 10 and a half hours. The replayability lies in unlocking statues, upgrades to improve your abilities, and challenge maps(in the GOTY edition, there are no less than 20!). That last one comes with international leaderboards, to entice you to do well. It does also highlight that there are essentially only two different playing experiences in this.

The first is the free-flow, hard-hitting martial arts. There is a rhythm to it - like in real life. Try to predict their behavior, and react in time. You have four moves: Strike(your attack), Block(stop another's blow and hit them), Stun(prevent one or two from punching) and Evade(any direction - including "at" them, bunny-hopping over them!). Click a button at the right time, directed in the right direction, and it might not even matter if you're not already close enough(you may automatically get close by flipping over there). As long as you don't miss, spend a full second not doing anything, or take damage(you'll heal after battle - no running away!), you'll increase your "combo counter", and once you have enough, you unlock Throw(literally toss one guy into a few others!) and instant Takedowns(the only time that doesn't take so much time that you can be stopped if seen!). There is no spamming. This is easy to learn, yet tough to master. How well you do translates to XP, and as already mentioned, that's vital.

And the other major aspect is stealth. As you can tell, these are the defining traits of Bruce Wayne's alter ego(along with his smarts - those make it in, without providing something hard to accomplish. This is highly creative - you can hide above(glide-kicking from there - yes, your cape always allows slow, or silent, descent), beside(around a corner, grabbing them from there), even below(from grates, travelling unseen - there are vents, as well), enemies. You can attract them with a Sonic Batarang(you can also throw more than one, there's a remote controlled one, and, like with the Bat-Claw which grabs objects, or persons, out of your immediate reach, there's a key to quick-use it... and auto-aim is actually *smart* in this, and aiming is possible when you have the time).

There is a lot of disturbing, violent content in this, and some blood. I recommend this to any fan of Batman, action and/or sneaking. 9/10

Batman Arkham Asylum is an absolutely awesome classic! This game was so awesome it revolutionized the experience of video games forever! The punching, kicking, stealth, and gadget combat was very fun! The boss battles were very fun! It was another extremely good story about take the fight to evil in order to save lives, move on from your past, and don't ever commit murder. The music was good. The scenery and attention to detail with the Arkham Asylum was beautiful and looked great. Without doubt this video-game is a classic and is one of the best ever made! Have a great day and goooo Batman Arkham Asylum!

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a pretty good game and a really good Batman game. The mechanics in Arkham Asylum are crafted really well to showcase all attributes of Batman from his cool gadgets and martial arts mastery to his detective genius and overall badassery.

Presentation is also nice, with it's comicbook menus etc but I do wish they leaned into that aesthetic a littlebit more with the overall look of the game. The character designs are all pretty cool though, I love this games rendition of the Joker and Scarecrow for example.

The overall design has a pretty metroidvania-ish feel to it with abilities and places to use them opening up as the game goes along, which I do quite like but again, I wish they leaned a bit more into that as the collectables aren't the most compelling thing. The overall level design and Arkham itself do make for a nice setting for this game.

Overall I really enjoyed my time with it but I can really see a lot of places for it to improve upon, so I am excited to check out the sequels.

I started playing this game for the first time a few weeks ago (it was made in 2009-- now it's 2017). I conquered "Arkham Knight" (2015) with the "Knightfall" (complete) ending. Now I'm more than halfway through this game, so I feel as if I'm qualified to comment about it.

I noticed that one of the most recent reviews channeled my primary thought about it as well: it was fun at the beginning; now I get bored with it easily. I want to complete the game, so it's entertaining. But I wanted much more.

As I've played this game it occurred to me that "The Last of Us" (2013), among maybe other games, probably borrowed/stole its sneaking and cloak and dagger concepts to take down enemies. Unfortunately, The Last of Us did it better. Arkham Knight also refined some of the upgrades and tools that Batman uses, so it renders some of this game's models amateurish.

Lastly, I am unimpressed with the manner in which the game just randomly inserts Batman's main villains into the story with little regard to how they play any sort of role in it. They obviously just wanted to showcase as many characters as possible. In the modern age of The Last of Us and Dragon Age franchises and other games that have deep, rich, coherent stories, it doesn't serve the game well. So Riddler, even though he escaped the island completely, is in it, and Scarecrow's appearances are unbelievably forced and take you out of the story. Lame.