| Pros Villainy at its very best. Mark Hamill's more vicious take on his Batman The Animated Series Joker stands equally beside Heath Ledger's in my opinion. But Batman is done right as well. The fleshing out of all the characters we've come to know and love is far an away the stand out in this impressive game. |
Cons Although appearances do fool a lot in Arkham, the fact remains the game is in an asylum and the free roaming aspect of other recent blockbuster games is missing here. It is not an issue for the most part but you do notice the linear nature of the game at times. |
| The Verdict | One of the best games of 2009 and the greatest comic book based game ever made is not hyperbole its true. Play this game as soon as you can. |
Welcome Caped Crusader fans to the freak show that is Batman Arkham Asylum you are in for a treat of the most macabre and darkly twisted kind.
If you are a watcher or a fan of Batman: The Animated Series you will be thrilled to know that both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, who play Batman and the Joker respectively are the voices of the two central characters. What that means is we get the best ever Joker portrayal possible from a living actor. Heath Ledger, you still rule.
The game starts slow but with plenty of humour that only the Joker can deliver and boy does Mark Hamill revel in the role, he was good in the cartoon he’s sick in the game. Freed from the conventions of kiddy TV he brings the same warped and perverse spin on the green haired one that Heath Ledger did in the Dark Knight.
The Batman role is also darker more sinister than many would expect and has an added element of returning the character to his analytical detective roots. The detective mode serves a critical purpose throughout the game helping the dark knight out of many a conundrum but the challenge to gamers is can you succeed by turning it off after learning the intricacies of the game?
All the essential elements to a Batman game are there including gratuitous violence for the sake of a supposed higher moral code or higher cause and maybe because of the very real need for Batman to vent…Combat takes either the in-your-face grisly violence road or the more traditional in the shadows stealth road which is better for dealing with guys with guns. Either way it’s deeply visceral and rewarding
There are also the villains, the delicious villains, villains almost unparalleled in comic book lore. All your old favourites are here and some of them can really mess with your mind and your senses…if you know who I mean.
A view from the outside
I’ve said this before in reviews but for me villains or the baddies make a game, I want mine warped, nasty and clever…funny too. I get my fill in Batman Arkham Assault and then some. I’ve always loved the Riddler and I have to mention him here just to say he steals all the scenes he is in just as the Joker does in most of the game.
Batman Arkham Assault is a violent game, a menacing perverse but accurate take on the Batman universe. It plays well, looks fantastic and has a great reply value. This is a must have game for 2009, you will not be disappointed.
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