IGN: Batman Arkham Asylum Review

It's not often that I'm conflicted about a game. Don't get me wrong, review scores are in the eye of the beholder so I'm sure there are plenty of times that you've read something I have written and not agreed with me. I mean that it's rare for me to play a game during a demo and not have a solid idea of what the final product is going to be. I played bits of Batman: Arkham Asylum a few times before I finally got a copy to review, and I always found myself coming away with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the combat and attacking from the shadows, but the pacing seemed off and Batman's movements seemed stiff. Could Rocksteady really pull everything together to deliver on one of DC Comics' biggest franchises?

After having beaten the game, I can tell you the answer is most certainly "Yes."

[Masamori Sumimura]

Batman's video game reputation got it's Honor back.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

Never had any honour, but now it's got some.

Edit: I'm sure it's good, but always be weary of exclusive reviews, especially on IGN.

"GTA IV is oscar worthy." LOL

[Montrealien]

@1.1 never had any honor? how old are you? 12?

Konami`s Batman Returns on the Snes, Sunsoft`s Batman on the NES. The franchise had its ups and downs with videogames but there where some good batman games.

and BTW GTA 4 was a great game, you just didnt like it, sh*t happens.

As for the review, great score, and you know whats even better? It arrived into stores today, the perks of running a videogame store, nothing better the getting to play games before release.

[Chubear]

Batman on the N64 (or SNES can't remember which era) was the last true great Batman so yes, I get what the OP is saying.

[StanLee]

Seems like Rocksteady delivered on their promise of a AAA title. I was skeptical after playing the PS3 demo available at Gamestop for a number of weeks but early reviews have been glowing.

[chaosatom]

I mean I played the demo, but the gameplay looked standard to me.

The graphics, the presentation, and the story were top-notch but the gameplay wasn't all that exciting after 15 mins.

I guess there is more to it than meets the eye.

[Christopher]

This and Game Informer's 9.5/10 score make me very happy about my pre-order of this game. Can't wait till next week.

[mastiffchild]

OPMUK gave it a 9/10 as well which is way high for a multi platform game with only the likes of MW and Bioshock usually getting that kind of number!

Haven't played the demo yet as people said it wasn't all that but if the games going to keep getting these reviews I'll have to look into it. After all VC demo was AWFUL and that's one of the best games I've played this gen.

[Marceles]

lol Montrealien, I was gonna say the same thing. Batman on NES is one of my favorite games, Batman Returns wasn't bad either, I didn't like Batman Forever too much but it was kinda cool that it had MK controls to do the moves. The Batman games haven't been bad, but this seems like it'll definitely be the best. The first Batman is a classic though, but of course I expect alot of people here to not have even played it.

[PrimordialSoupBase]

@Montrealien

Who said I didn't like GTA IV?

I'm stating the obvious: IGN goes overboard with game reviews, only for readers to realize later that a game isn't nearly as good as the intellectually stunted reviewers prescribe.

[Bnet343]

I'm surprised it got that high of a score. I wasn't impressed with the demo at all. I can't imagine someone throwing down $60 for this, but to each their own I guess.

[Lifendz]

wow...that's pretty good. I really want to buy this game but I'm so broke right now. Gamefly it is.

[Briyen]

sort of like the first square enix game on ps3 hahah, since they own eidos now.

and it was goood. but laughs aside

i'm really happy it was a great batman game, i might buy it just for support.

[jammy_70]

just why!

[InfectedDK]

I remember playing Batman on the Gameboy and it was a very great game at the time as I remember it..

[Domenikos]

IM BATMANNNNNNN....

[Pika-pie]

9.3 Hmmm. Better than Infamous, Uncharted. Greg Miller - what the hell is it with you these days. First you give Ghostbusters a good score (and it sucked) and now this?

[thewhoopimen]

There are pretty much two types of gameplay like the review says. A stupid simplistic brawler with "exp" add-on moves, and a pseudo stealth take down "detective" mode.

I think the story must be pretty good, because I seriously as heck did not see 9.0+ material in the gameplay. I'm sorry but to me it plays like gears of war melee and the batarangs in the demo didn't do much. I guess they explode later on... but to me it looks like one of those, "selective" scenario environmental wall explosion. I mean did you guys try throwing the batarangs at different objects? Nothing ever happened there was like no interaction with any of the game set pieces really.

[vickers500]

Wow, good score. I might have to consider actually buying this game.

[plum30]

Looks gud, but ill save the little cash I have left for Uncharted 2.

[Double Toasted]

and IGN giving it a 9.3(right?)...is very surprising. I mean the game play was there but, where the story was heading, really didn't grab me.

[Chubear]

... "where the story was heading"?... it was a demo. How the hell could you even have the slightest idea where the story for a game is headed from a demo? o.O

[cr33ping_death]

wow dude really??? i thought the story was heading in a great direction....... oh wait. IT WAS A F@CKING DEMO!!!! really dude.... i mean really? how could you have gotten that from a DEMO!!!!

[chaosatom]

gameplay was decent, not outstanding in anyway.

[Double Toasted]

plenty of games from playing demos, most recently, Shadow Complex. Those games grabbed me...from the demo.

[topdawg122]

loved the demo, and I actually can't wait to play as the joker either

[Defectiv3_Detectiv3]

I thought the combat was way too easy and the stealth elements didn't seem all that great. Im going to get NG2Sigma when it comes out for the PS3 and just rent this.

[supahbad]

i played the demo and thought this game was boring and easy. the only thing you do is tap square to fight all of the enemies, and sneak around grabing bad guys. i dont understand how the whole game even with the joker could be all that much better. but thats just me

[ButterToast]

I'm with you on that. I thought the demo was a complete bore fest.

[Sarcasm]

Sadly it's true, people won't like a demo. But sometimes it's not an indication of the full game.

A lot of people thought the Uncharted demo was boring, then they played the full game and enjoyed the exciting cinematics, story, and the rest of the gameplay.

But if you guys don't like the batman demo, then that's ok.

[Snatcher]

Pre-ordered it. I played the demo atleast 20 times, and I'm a big fan of Batman.

[Javier19]

Im going to rent this for sure.

[Veneno]

I think the only reasons it gets a high score is because game reviewers are major nerds and love the fact that they got the voices of batman and joker from the animated series. Also it doesn't look like crap, but still to me, looks like a last gen game. Animations suck balls too. playing games like Uncharted kinda spoil you...

[TheBand1t]

Comparing it to Uncharted seems lame. I love Batman and this game = win.

[Veneno]

To me how a character does facial and body gestures says a lot about them, and when I watched the video review, these animations just seemed so generic. Like Joker, yeah the things he says let you know he is the Joker, but the gestures he does could be done by anyyone. No personality. My point is is that this is just another game based on a license in order to cash in. They don't have to work as hard for gamers' dollars.

[gravv]

damn.... i dont have more money

[Socomer 1979]

I really want to play as the joker.
watching video, I have to because he makes me laugh.
in the demo when batman dies the joker says something sinister that makes you want to continue again and kick his A$$.

[Myze]

They said in the review they weren't gonna comment on the Joker DLC since you get it from PSN, and I'm guessing they don't have access to it yet.

[micro_invader]

Woah, a 9.3? They must be really impressed. I'm definitely downloading the demo when I get back to my ps3 in a few weeks time.

Reading the review now.

[Faztkiller]

but the demo was boring and slow to me seemed like another avg batman game. After reading the review I'm going to rent it to try to see if the full game can pull me in

[ItsIncognito]

well i agree. I have mixed feelings. But then again that is a normal thing when you are wondering around in a asylum.

[Pennywise]

Dont feel bad. This game is a rental. Too many games to buy!

[JonnyBigBoss]

Wow, I was NOT expecting that high of a review. Very good!

[flip-it3]

Greg Miller is one of the best reviewers IGN has.

[ace0991]

I wanna buy this but i might rent it because once you beat it seems like theres nothing else to do.

[Supernatural24]

Sure, it was a little bit boring. But that is the demo. We don't get to see a lot.

Now, with such a review (9.3) and the fact that the writer is an award winner, can we see other franchises get pulled into this?

Personally, I like X-Men, but I would definitely want to see a game featuring Iron Man. With the sequel on it's way for Summer 2010, they could maybe start making it soon and have it released coincidentally with Iron Man 3. Wouldn't it be cool to fly around, dodging missiles and returning some along with beams?!

Hope that DC bites the rod with another superhero and or that Marvel decides to do the same.

In the end, it would also be cool to see it based like GTA and inFamous. Just by avoiding the boring and annoying moments (which GTA has had for many years now; and Cole grabbing to everything).

[Cenobia]

There already is an Iron Man game, but I don't think it's very good (I only played the demo). It is basically what you described though.

I think that going for a super hero "movie game" would basically kill it. Movie games always suck because of the strict deadline and small amount of development time. Games like this should avoid the movie plot lines and deadlines as much as possible. I never really got into super hero comics, but I agree that I'd like to see more (like Spiderman, or original IPs like Infamous).

[Spike47]

Along with playing as the joker!!!

[xztence]

*Adds Rocksteady to the list of AAA developers*

[FF7numbaone]

thank god they did not release it when the movie came out. would have been bad.

[ThaGeNeCySt]

Yeah the score seems about right so far with what I've played. Great read

[ZOMBIEMAN1]

"It not what I say that defines this video review, but what I do" oh Greg you nerdy S O B man he's the best reviewer in IGN . let me try to work in dialog from the movie . " it may not be the Batman game we want but it's the Batman game we deserve "

[Qazdaz]

Has anyone else seen this crap? - http://rr.ps3.ign.com/rrvie...

[Supernatural24]

Yeah, I know, lol.

That prick is nothing more than a fanboy.

Have you read the other 0.0? Same writing, different name. But probably the same punkass.

[The_Zeitgeist]

Now that is funny! Xbox 360 is like most American products. They are cheep and brake easy. That's why everyone likes foreign cars.

[mephixto]

Correct me if wrong, but the Xbox360 is made in China...

[Supernatural24]

I don't really agree with that..actually I don't at all.

Challengers, Chargers, Corvettes, Mustangs & Vipers are the best.

[Veneno]

is that the dweeb's name is "Magi-Kyo". Kyo is a Japanese name.

Holy F-ing fail!!!!!!

[MontyFontaine]

Add to that that the game is actually produced by an English company.

What a bellend

[Pennywise]

pp is reviewing games now? lol

[meetajhu]

The first Video game + movie(Dark Knight) which is become a big hit. Before either the game will be a flop or the movie will. But this time i'm going out and getting a DK Blu-ray and Batman:AS Blu-ray. Enjoying!

[HungPHAT]

Im gameflying it day one . I just can't see buying a single player non AAA Exclusive these days , multiplayer is a must today

[beavis4play]

give me a SP game with great story, atmosphere, and gameplay and i'm set. don't get me wrong. MP isn't bad.........but it's hardly a "must".

[DelbertGrady]

I've played the first 3 hours at a friends and this is THE best action adventure game I've played this gen. 10/10.

[kingme71]

Cool! Wolverine was a fun game and now Batman looks to be a winner, what is this world coming to? If Ultimate Alliance 2 does well, I may have to rethink my superheroes.

[Wolf873]

this is a must buy now. I really enjoyed the demo. My only complain, though minor, was that with all that armor-plated suit: his health was draining like water from pipe just with one henchmen shooting. Even so, this game is what Batman games should have been like.

[ElementX]

Day 1 for sure!

[Pennywise]

Day 1 rental for sure! /fixed.

[ElementX]

I don't rent games. I can afford to buy AAA games, which Batman clearly is, according to reviews

[NegativeCreep427]

So its very good to see that The Dark Knight coming back and regaining some lost ground within the comic hero gaming landscape.

Batman has been kicking so much ass for the past few years, but unfortunately there is still one person that can own Batman anytime of the day...

[user858621]

people thought batman was gone with its movies then it made a comeback with begins n dark knight

people thought batman was gone with its game now its back with arkham asylum

:D arghhh wish next friday wud come sooner!

[bunbun777]

was the video i found when i put in "biggest ass kicking"

[Nikuma]

I'm debating on buying or gamefly.. Either way I want to play this game. :D

[Enigma_2099]

I didn't expect THAT kind of score.. and I'm told my anger was misguided...

[PS360PCROCKS]

This years Bioshock. Came outta nowhere with snazzy graphics and a cool setting.

[RockmanII7]

First dark knight, and now this. Hopefully they both get great squeals.

[Saaking]

I don't know if a sequel would work unless they completely leave the Joker out of I don't think anyone can capture what Heath Ledger did; however, have confidence that Christopher Nolan can deliver a satisfactory third film

[memphis2]

wow i was really surprised and still shocked that a comic book game got such high ratings from different game resources. i don't think anyone though batman would do so good lol. now i am going to buy this game.

[IWentBrokeForGaming]

traded in Ghostbusters and Prototype (both on 360) for the PS3 version of this game. Cannot wait to get it!!!

But Im baffled as to of why this game is getting a midnight release here in St. Louis... guess it's kinda a pun for The Dark Knight?... corny haha

[HubbaBubba]

great review
im really happy the walmart in Canada actually has a sale where they're selling BATMAN: AA for 38.00

[bigjclassic]

the pub slipped some money into reviewers pockets. From playing the demo it felt like a PS2 era game with HD graphics. Just from the demo alone I would have given it a high 7 low 8.

But HD era games, dont have to do much to get high scores these days. This is another clue on how HD era games get a free pass. Nothing innovative, average HD era graphics?? Well I was never one for reviews but now im really done.

Seriously this scored higher than Uncharted 1?? WTF!!??