An Atmospheric Masterpiece

By Daniel O'Loughlin

Superhero Video Games have gotten a bad reputation. That’s not to say that all of them were bad per se. No one expected a Batman game to introduce gameplay mechanics that would get copied by other AAA studios. This all changed when Batman Arkham Asylum came out in August 2009.

The story starts with Batman bringing the Joker to the Prison in Gotham City, Arkham Asylum. Batman tells Commissioner Jim Gordon that Joker “ surrendered without a fight. I don’t like it”. Batman’s suspicions are confirmed when Joker breaks free and reveals the inmates have taken control of the Asylum. So begins the longest night of Batman’s life.

The gamplay is superb, making you feel like Batman. Yes I am aware of how many times Video Game Journalists have used that phrase but realistically there isn’t another phrase that describes what Arkham Asylum does best out there. The gameplay can be broken into three sections. Combat, stealth and gadgets. The appropriately named Freeflow combat system is easy to play but difficult to master. The stealth is suitably tense and engaging. Gadgets can be used to find the many secrets on Arkham Island and can be used in combat too. These three types of gameplay are masterfully balanced. The Dark Knights rogues gallery take turns to take down the Bat.

The highlight for the games campaign for me have to be, without spoiling, the brilliantly sadistic and creative encounters with The Scarecrow. By the end of the game Batman’s character model looks battered and broken. These little details and more make it one of my favourite games. Anyone who dreams of becoming the caped Crusader should play it immediately.

Available on PC, PS3, XBOX 360, PS4, XBOX ONE, PS NOW, and XBOX Game Pass.