Batman: Arkham Asylum

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3029 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,598 out of 3029
  2. Mixed: 354 out of 3029
  3. Negative: 77 out of 3029
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  1. Marick
    Jul 28, 2015
    9
    One of the best games .
  2. aver233
    Jul 24, 2018
    9
    An excellent game in all aspects. My favourite of the Rocksteady Batman trilogy and in my opinion the best superhero game ever made. Will be exciting to see if the new Spiderman game will be better than this one. We NEED a Superman game developed by Rocksteady tho. That would be the dream.
  3. aadityamudhar
    Apr 17, 2016
    9
    Waaaaay too many 10s on this list for my liking. A 10 is a perfect game that hits all the buttons and while Batman: Arkham Asylum is a really great game it does have its drawbacks. The combat is fluid and smooth, as well as the movement, grapple and gliding. The Graphics are great, the combos are excellently scripted and executed and the boss battles are unique. The game has tons ofWaaaaay too many 10s on this list for my liking. A 10 is a perfect game that hits all the buttons and while Batman: Arkham Asylum is a really great game it does have its drawbacks. The combat is fluid and smooth, as well as the movement, grapple and gliding. The Graphics are great, the combos are excellently scripted and executed and the boss battles are unique. The game has tons of minigamers to enjoy, including riddler challenges and extra fight content as well as other stuff. Now for my small criticisms and why the game doesnt deserve a 10. One, the use of the detective skill is somewhat demeaning. They arent mysteries, more like follow this here, take picture, move on, Batman thinks through the rest. My 2nd qualm is the xray type vision you get. This is the single most exploitative and useful piece of equipment in the game. I love it and I hate it. It makes those beautiful takedowns too easy and I am always aware of everyone else's presence in a room. This really diminishes from the feectiveness of the challenge. Most people would say "Wlel just dont use it", but its there. I dont agree with the assessment on the voice acting as the cold comments made by Batman and the great liners made by Joker and Harley were amusing. As well, I must defend this game from the idea of no-multiplayer. What doyou want, Joker fighting Batman in 1v1? Team plays? A multiplayer for this game would have been no more then a cheesy gimmick. My only other qualm was that the storyline was somewhat short. However, this isnt the fallback of the game, its more the experience of the gamer. People new to games or whom like to take this time could easily rack up 6-12 hours of gameplay while the traditional and experienced gamer could probably navigate the game in one sitting of 4-5 hours. However, thats only a minor drawback but it would have been fun to see more content. I hope that the sequel will be of as good quality.… Expand
  4. omer123
    Jun 29, 2018
    9
    if u are a batman fan and never played then u missed one of the best story telling in a batman game yet
  5. Vicente_ao
    Apr 13, 2016
    10
    El primer Batman Arkham que jugué (no en steam la primera vez) y es el último que juego teniendolos todos en steam.
    Con este juego señores comenzó una gran saga ,donde la mayor cantidad de mecánicas fueron empezadas en este juego.
    Si tuviera que elegir cual de los 4 arkham es mi favorito, no sabría decirlo, pero estaría entre este o el city. La gran gracia que tiene Asylum, es que es el    El primer Batman Arkham que jugué (no en steam la primera vez) y es el último que juego teniendolos todos en steam.
    Con este juego señores comenzó una gran saga ,donde la mayor cantidad de mecánicas fueron empezadas en este juego.
    Si tuviera que elegir cual de los 4 arkham es mi favorito, no sabría decirlo, pero estaría entre este o el city.
    La gran gracia que tiene Asylum, es que es el batman más como lo queremos, no tan super op en combates como en las posteriores entregas (ojo que no critico la jugabilidad, me refiero a la sensación de sentirse un Batman) y ese espíritu más como de metroidvania, donde vas adquiriendo mejoras y tienes que volver a las primeras zonas para econtrar nuevas rutas y coleccionables. Sin duda un gran juegazo de la pasada generación, un paradigma, un juego que hay que jugar, sobre todo si te gusta el universo DC. La saga Arkham le debe todo a esta gran piedra angular.
    Me la pasé muy bien juntando todos los colectibles del Riddler, no así con las sgtes entregas que lo encuentro más tedioso, quizás lo intente con el Arkham City. veremos...

    9.8/10    … Expand
  6. likevin96
    Feb 5, 2018
    8
    Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty at ~75% completion. Did not do challenge or DLC missions.

    Pros: - Excellent voice acting - with many rolls reprised from the animated series. - Story is solid for what it is - Collectables are decent, although there are definitely a few unfair or simply annoying riddles. The lore and story tidbits serve as great incentive to explore.    Completion: Finished game on normal difficulty at ~75% completion. Did not do challenge or DLC missions.

    Pros:
    - Excellent voice acting - with many rolls reprised from the animated series.
    - Story is solid for what it is
    - Collectables are decent, although there are definitely a few unfair or simply annoying riddles. The lore and story tidbits serve as great incentive to explore.
    - Incredible theme and atmosphere. The Scarecrow fight(s) are a highlight. One of the best interpretations of Batman I have ever experienced. I don't know if I've played a licensed game that made you feel so much like the character itself. This is by far the most impressive part of the game and propelled it to much greater heights for me. Given, if you are not a big Batman fan, this will not be nearly as important of a point.
    - Very well thought out encounters, particularly in the stealth parts
    - Combat is simple but does its job - could've been a greater focus in the game though

    Cons:
    - Very low enemy variety can make some of the encounters pretty boring later in the game. There are only really 6 different mobs in the game (with one of these being just a straight up reskin) and the game could've really improved on this front.
    - Boss fights are great thematically - but actually playing them out can be underwhelming. A huge number of them are essentially just remixes
    - Some of the environments can get a bit too samey - although this is of course a product of the setting, it doesn't make it any more interesting to look at
    - Poor facial animations
    - Technically was a bit strange due to the janky PhysX implementation
    - Context controls are a bit iffy - especially when coming back to these game from a decade after release. Batman too often does not do what you would expect him to do.
    - The upgrades are fine as best. While some of them do make a large impact, few are actually exciting or fun to play with

    Final Word:
    Batman: Arkham Asylum manages to intricately recreate the world of the Dark Knight through its atmosphere and world building - however it falls a bit short when it comes to combat and its age definitely shows on the technical side.

    True Score:
    8.3    … Expand
  7. DanBenevenuto
    Dec 11, 2018
    9
    One of the best super hero games ever. The history is so good, but, the last boss fight is terrible. On the other hand, the rest of the boss fights are exciting, the combat mechanic is excellent, detective mode is a great functionality, bat equipments are so cool. You must play the first game of Arkham series.
  8. Mitya64
    Jan 27, 2018
    10
    Неожиданная игра про бетмена. Шикарный геймплей. Крутые драки. Бетмен выносит толпы заключенных. Интересный режим детектива. Крутой стелс, но быстро надоедает, но разрабы не дают заскучать постоянно повышая сложность стелс моментов. Много злодеев: пугало, крок, харви, джокер и трава. Графика для того времени хорошая. Музыка и звуки отпад. На моменте с кроком раньше ссался и с психами.Неожиданная игра про бетмена. Шикарный геймплей. Крутые драки. Бетмен выносит толпы заключенных. Интересный режим детектива. Крутой стелс, но быстро надоедает, но разрабы не дают заскучать постоянно повышая сложность стелс моментов. Много злодеев: пугало, крок, харви, джокер и трава. Графика для того времени хорошая. Музыка и звуки отпад. На моменте с кроком раньше ссался и с психами. Атмосфера темного готыма есть. Битва с Джокером было легкой. Это мне не понравилось. Локация небольшая. Но есть здания с кучами коридоров и комнат. В общем здания сделаны как уровни, потому что основное мясо в зданиях. Куча гаджетов. Система прокачки есть, но она небольшая. Можно прокачивать приемы, стелс приемы, броню и гаджеты. В общем игра на 10 из 10. Лучшая супергеройская игра… Expand
  9. Diegochocho
    Jul 3, 2018
    8
    Gracias a este juego Batman se convirtió en mis super héroes favoritos, tiene una gran historia respetando los personajes como en los comics, un hermoso motor que envejeció muy bien y una jugabilidad hermosa, en especial el modo de combate que hasta se copio la formula en otras sagas
  10. user12
    Jun 21, 2018
    10
    A great game on many levels, possibly even better than Arkham City, which I always considered to be the best in the series. Arkham Asylum is a game that features almost flawless combat and stealth mechanics, brilliant atmosphere, writing, voice acting, story, and graphics. Definitely worth buying. An incredible game that certainly deserves the GOTY award of 2009.
  11. Trenos
    Nov 29, 2017
    8
    One of the best game(if not the best) Action-Adventure game. Amazing characters, very good game-play and good story. If you have never played this game before than you should do it.
  12. Darkison
    Jan 25, 2018
    9
    Simplesmente o melhor jogo de super-herói até hoje. Incrível. Ótimos gráficos e vilões bem aprofundados com ideologias decentes. Recomendo
  13. Nazar228
    Feb 27, 2018
    9
    Super game about Batman! Atmosphere, action, picture, characters - all at the highest level!
  14. Mpbpl
    May 10, 2018
    9
    Almost perfect game.
    If DC can't make movies, they sure can license the right people to deliver on games of their universe. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of those games!!! EXTREMELY FUN, EXTREMELY WELL CRAFTED, with a great storyline, characters are loyal to their comic counterparts, great voice work, amazing looks, incredible sound design, action, stealth, lots of collectables,    Almost perfect game.
    If DC can't make movies, they sure can license the right people to deliver on games of their universe. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of those games!!! EXTREMELY FUN, EXTREMELY WELL CRAFTED, with a great storyline, characters are loyal to their comic counterparts, great voice work, amazing looks, incredible sound design, action, stealth, lots of collectables, challenges, mechanics... DAMN this game is great!!!
    I don't give this game a 10 because the detective mode is so OP that I never turn it off, so the actual looks of the game are not seen often, and the last boss fight was kind of a let down, besides that the game is masterful in everything it does!!    … Expand
  15. Aladdin718
    Nov 5, 2018
    9
    Trying to be as unbiased as possible, this is a solid open-world, action / stealth game. And if you happen to be fan of Batman, the story, writing, abilities, characters, EVERYTHING, is a true joy to experience. One of the only negative things I can think of is I wish there was more game! Off to the next in the series, Batman: Arkham City.
  16. mario_sparrow93
    Apr 16, 2018
    9
    Juegazo, como lo ha sido uno y cada uno de los juegos de esta saga que, para mí, es una de las mejores trilogías de los últimos años. Yo lo he jugado después del Batman Arkham City y el Batman Arkham Origins respectivamente, por lo que me ha chocado un poco la "pobre" jugabilidad que tiene respecto a las demás entregas en todas las facetas: en el combate, en el sigilo, en la variedad deJuegazo, como lo ha sido uno y cada uno de los juegos de esta saga que, para mí, es una de las mejores trilogías de los últimos años. Yo lo he jugado después del Batman Arkham City y el Batman Arkham Origins respectivamente, por lo que me ha chocado un poco la "pobre" jugabilidad que tiene respecto a las demás entregas en todas las facetas: en el combate, en el sigilo, en la variedad de "juguetes", etc...aún así para los nuevos que se inicien en la saga con esta primera entrega fliparéis jugándolo. Incluso para los que han jugado ya algún título posterior de la saga es totalmente recomendable, porque la historia principal sigue siendo BRUTAL, es como leerte un CÓMIC VIRTUAL. Da igual que seas fan o no del hombre-murciélago que disfrutaréis igualmente de su excelente guión, incluso los que no sois fans podéis convertiros en uno después de jugar a este título o algún otro de la saga (lo digo desde la experiencia XD).

    Un título muy notable de una saga super épica como es la de "Batman Arkham".    … Expand
  17. aralath
    Aug 7, 2018
    10
    This game changed the game mechanics for successors completely. Excellent game.
  18. tommydlbass
    Aug 16, 2020
    8
    Must play game, with stuning gameplay for the time and good story. Not as good as the sequel but pretty good start.
  19. Kreshton
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    it's very nice game about Batman and very interesting plot.If you fan of comics,i advise you to play this game.
  20. Karlsefniy
    Jul 7, 2022
    8
    One of those games that left its mark in videogame history with a brilliant combat system. Other than combat, story and dark theme are also amazing. I would gave it a even higher score but boss fights pushed it down.
  21. MaxieZeus
    Sep 6, 2022
    10
    Absolute masterpiece, excellent atmosphere, revolutionary combat, great side challenges and maps and a great introduction to the batman universe. A must buy for everyone especially batman lovers.
  22. chrisa
    Sep 16, 2009
    9
    By far the best Batman game out there. The PC version is the superior version as it offers two different ways to controle (keyboard/mouse or controller) that both work well and has Physx enhancements to the graphics and higher resolution then the consoles. This is the game to have!!
  23. tylerk
    Dec 31, 2009
    10
    one of the best superhero games out there give it a 10 hands down!
  24. BrianWeegar
    Sep 15, 2009
    10
    Best Batman game to date and will probably remain so for some time, it's like the Dark Knight movie put into a game. The atmosphere and the... maturity I suppose is what really sold it for me, its like The Dark Knight in that it is gritty, real, people are tortured and killed by The Joker, HQ, etc. just as a psychopath should. None of this rated E comic book nonsense.
  25. KennyG
    Sep 19, 2009
    10
    Let's go down the list of what makes a game good. Graphics: Every single brick in every single level has been laid by hand it seems. Its not gritty metal brown or gritty metal gray. All the models are great representatives of the character they represent. The graphical detail is immense and seamless. Characters do not walk against walls or does Batman punch 2 feet away from where the Let's go down the list of what makes a game good. Graphics: Every single brick in every single level has been laid by hand it seems. Its not gritty metal brown or gritty metal gray. All the models are great representatives of the character they represent. The graphical detail is immense and seamless. Characters do not walk against walls or does Batman punch 2 feet away from where the person was hit. With the exception of lip-syncing this game modeling and animation teams must of been worked to the bones. Gameplay: Stealth gameplay that melds SEAMLESSLY with combat. You can come out of hiding on a perch. Glide kick, take down, and swoop back out without having to switch stances, modes, weapons, nothing. There are so many variables and unique bits of stealth gameplay that you can play a room 10 times and have a different approach each time. You can set traps, pick off one by one, or just run thug to thug taking them down. Thugs are not as simple as press Mouse2 to counter. There are thugs that will alert everybody if they are unconscious, thugs that stick together while roaming, thugs that have guns that can hurt batman very quickly. Approaching rooms is a science in it self, with the great AI, and many faceted tactics, it is nothing short of a challenging puzzle that is fun every second of it. Also combat. Dropping into a room of 15 people, punches flow from 1 thug to the next. Counters and throws and batarangs. Each requiring careful timing and execution. Combos, Special moves, the use of gadgets while sparring. Its almost too much fun. I could flow through a football stadium full of thugs as Batman and not at one point ever become board. Also. Great voice acting, unique immersive story. The script is comic book grade. I wouldn't want to watch the Shawshank redemption reenacted by Batman and Robin. Sometimes, not everybody needs to be a philosopher for a script to get the job done. Tons of riddler challenges, out right brilliant scarecrow sequences. The game calls the whole cast from all Batman media and they don't show up just to be there. They contribute to the story. There is not a person I know who likes good games that I would not recommend this to.… Expand
  26. AndriykoD
    Sep 21, 2009
    10
    @Steven H: Your review is completely ridiculous. You cannot base it on the "comic", as most lf the players are not even old enough to have read the "original". I, for one, certainly don't care about it. When I play the game I don't care how "accurate" it is to the fictional setting! It is Fictional!!! Lip syncing is pretty good so I don't know what you are complaining @Steven H: Your review is completely ridiculous. You cannot base it on the "comic", as most lf the players are not even old enough to have read the "original". I, for one, certainly don't care about it. When I play the game I don't care how "accurate" it is to the fictional setting! It is Fictional!!! Lip syncing is pretty good so I don't know what you are complaining about. There are A Lot of little touches in this game. It did Not remind me of assassins creed, where the gameplay is recycled over and over. On the contrary - batman features many mini-games and twists to keep you entertained. Rather, I was reminded of Fallout 3, and the interesting setting that emerges you into the game, makes you feel it, and identify with the main hero. The little elements like torn cape, and the "Unshaved" look, the spectacular elements that you "discover" by yourself - like gliding of the very tall building and realizing that it's pretty cool - all add to the experience. The story is not mind blowing, but it keeps you interested. The boss battles are just right to make you go "Neat!" and everything else just feels right. Even the length of the game, comparative short to some other similar styled games (Fallout3, Oblivion) - I feel is the right decision. Drag it on any longer, and the gameplay would become repetitive. If you want more - go play challenge modes. Well worth the $50 of entertainment, and I hope they produce more.… Expand
  27. Skawn
    Sep 21, 2009
    9
    Excellent game. It's got all the classic moves and toys, superbly fluid combat animations that make fighting a whole loada fun, great atmosphere and an OK story. While it may not be ground breaking, it's a lot of fun to play and one of the most polished games I'm yet to come across. It barely puts a foot wrong.
  28. MarioP.
    Sep 21, 2009
    9
    I am a gamehaolic and i buy a game almost everyweek and this game is by far the most unexpected surprisingly good game i ve played in a long time... amazing graphics..amazing characters and flawless esthetic and...enjoyable so much you wanna play it again and again....i play it on my pc at 1900x1200 and it runs perfect like 60 fps everything max...great game engine...a must.
  29. BenC
    Sep 23, 2009
    10
    This game is just great. In fact I would say it's the most fun I've had in a long time and what's most amazing about it is the absence of mindless swearing and blood spurting all over the place. It really feels fun and looks cool beating up the bad guys. Moving around is also a breeze. I also loved the quirky cut seens for when you die. I also had a chuckle at the This game is just great. In fact I would say it's the most fun I've had in a long time and what's most amazing about it is the absence of mindless swearing and blood spurting all over the place. It really feels fun and looks cool beating up the bad guys. Moving around is also a breeze. I also loved the quirky cut seens for when you die. I also had a chuckle at the Joker's humor. Batman: Arkham Asylum has a lot going for it if you are a fan or not. I would definitely recommend it. So stop wasting time and go get it!!!… Expand
  30. MohJL
    Nov 16, 2009
    9
    The game is good. That sums it up. However, once you've completed the game and got bored of the challenges, there isn't much else to do. Well, except repeating the game again, which is not nearly as thrilling as the first play-through. 8.5/10
  31. Matt
    Sep 17, 2009
    10
    This game is AMAZING. I haven't given a 10 to a game and meant it in a loooong time. Everything about this game is great. The story and voice acting is absolutely top-notch. For the first time in a while, I've been playing a game obsessively not because I want to get some dumb achievement or unlock something, but because I actually want to know what's going to happen next! This game is AMAZING. I haven't given a 10 to a game and meant it in a loooong time. Everything about this game is great. The story and voice acting is absolutely top-notch. For the first time in a while, I've been playing a game obsessively not because I want to get some dumb achievement or unlock something, but because I actually want to know what's going to happen next! The combat system in this game is amazing, on many levels. First off, it is simple to master, but still requires some skill. Contrary to the way it might seem in the beginning, it isn't just a matter of blocking and clicking and watching Batman do his stuff. Later on in the game, it shows some pretty hard enemies at you that requires some fairly difficult combat moves, such as guys dual-wielding knives or guys with stun batons. Not only is the usage of the combat system great, the fighting animations in this game are absolutely astounding. I never would have thought it would be possible to make a game with such dynamic and fluid combat animations. When a guy goes to kick you from behind, when you click block, Batman fluidly reaches down and actually grabs the guys leg...not around his leg, not his torso then the engine draws his leg in Batman's arm...it looks for all intents and purposes absolutely REAL. Also, the atmosphere in this game is perfect! It's a perfect blend of comic book lore, the animated series, the Burton films, and the Nolan films. It is dark, but not overly serious like the recent films. The Joker is brightly colored and humorous...yet also grizzly, violent and nasty. Batman's suit does have gray in it, yet it brings nothing to mind from the Adam West days. This is an amazing game. Highly recommended.… Expand
  32. AaronS.
    Sep 18, 2009
    10
    Don't listen 2 Steven.H this is nothing like a normal bash'em'up. There is a perfect blend of stealth and action. The voice acting is superb and the effort that has gone into make it is amazing. This is probably 1 of the best of its genre i have played in a while with mind scratching puzzles, great levels and u can still play it when u have finished it because u will always Don't listen 2 Steven.H this is nothing like a normal bash'em'up. There is a perfect blend of stealth and action. The voice acting is superb and the effort that has gone into make it is amazing. This is probably 1 of the best of its genre i have played in a while with mind scratching puzzles, great levels and u can still play it when u have finished it because u will always have more riddler puzzles to do. I gave it a 10 because of the amount of fun i had while playing it. Better yet it isn't "repetitive" 'not shore if i spelt that correct'. Must Buy of 2009.… Expand
  33. Tridus
    Apr 4, 2011
    9
    This is a must have for any Batman fan. It's a fun game with an interesting story and great atmosphere. Fans of the 90s Batman cartoon will even recognize some voices. Only real negative here is GFWL, where it takes 15 minutes of constant logging in and patching (took several times for me) before it's playable. But I don't hold Microsoft's massive failure against the game. Still, hopefullyThis is a must have for any Batman fan. It's a fun game with an interesting story and great atmosphere. Fans of the 90s Batman cartoon will even recognize some voices. Only real negative here is GFWL, where it takes 15 minutes of constant logging in and patching (took several times for me) before it's playable. But I don't hold Microsoft's massive failure against the game. Still, hopefully the next one uses Steamworks.… Expand
  34. JonesR
    Mar 7, 2012
    8
    POW! BAM! Batman never looked so good! Cool gadgets, a great variety of bad guys, and a diverse story line keep this game enjoyable throughout. The character models on this game are sick--such intricate detail. Although there aren't too many fighting moves, the game play is still fun plus the gadgets and stealth kills make up for it. Even non Batman fans will have no problem enjoying thisPOW! BAM! Batman never looked so good! Cool gadgets, a great variety of bad guys, and a diverse story line keep this game enjoyable throughout. The character models on this game are sick--such intricate detail. Although there aren't too many fighting moves, the game play is still fun plus the gadgets and stealth kills make up for it. Even non Batman fans will have no problem enjoying this game, however I definitely recommend a gaming controller for the best experience. Good stuff.… Expand
  35. Shtiggy
    Dec 26, 2011
    9
    Pure perfection on every level. This is a must own for any casual gamer. The only knock I can give it is the controls using my xbox 360 wireless which needed to be modified because the direction stick was backwards. Outside of that, it was a great storyline and one of the funnest games I've ever played.
  36. TheMitherer
    Oct 23, 2011
    8
    This game is just plain old-fashioned fun all the way. I'm not really a fan of Batman or the genre but I enjoyed this from start to finish. The penultimate battle was the most fun I've had in gaming for a long time. The couple of criticisms that I have are that the final battle is disappointing as you don't get to go one on one with the ememy. Also I hate games that flesh out their playingThis game is just plain old-fashioned fun all the way. I'm not really a fan of Batman or the genre but I enjoyed this from start to finish. The penultimate battle was the most fun I've had in gaming for a long time. The couple of criticisms that I have are that the final battle is disappointing as you don't get to go one on one with the ememy. Also I hate games that flesh out their playing time by sending you out to find dozens of hidden objects. This is just laziness on the devs part. But really, they have been anything but lazy on the rest of the game so can be forgiven to a large extent. Gaming is all about enjoyment isn't it? This game delivers it. Definitely worth your time.… Expand
  37. lagendofdoom
    Mar 18, 2012
    10
    At first i was skeptical and thought that this will be another average heroes game, how wrong i was. Batman Arkham Asylum is the best example of how heroes game should be done or at the very least how a great game should be done. This is the first time that i felt like being Batman, and i can tell you that this feeling is great, The game has everything done perfectly from theAt first i was skeptical and thought that this will be another average heroes game, how wrong i was. Batman Arkham Asylum is the best example of how heroes game should be done or at the very least how a great game should be done. This is the first time that i felt like being Batman, and i can tell you that this feeling is great, The game has everything done perfectly from the gameplay,graphics,enemies,story,sound and everything else that you can think of, Batman Arkham Asylum was so great that even though i finished the game first time by downloading the game from the Internet i couldn't help myself but buying this game and finishing it the second time.… Expand
  38. KraniX
    Jan 15, 2012
    9
    Fantastic game, excellent story, very atmospheric and lovely graphics which look good even on a moderate PC. Thankfully we don't have to hear Batman's beginnings for the millionth time, the game starts with Joker in chains in Arkham Asylum and all hell lets loose from there. The fights are challenging if a little basic but do develop as you unlock more powers, great that you can tackleFantastic game, excellent story, very atmospheric and lovely graphics which look good even on a moderate PC. Thankfully we don't have to hear Batman's beginnings for the millionth time, the game starts with Joker in chains in Arkham Asylum and all hell lets loose from there. The fights are challenging if a little basic but do develop as you unlock more powers, great that you can tackle each area in your own way, you can glide kick in from a gargoyle in the ceiling and let the fists fly or take the baddies out one by one, picking them off silently and laying explosive gel on an in-mate so you can blow his buddy when he comes investigating or silent inverted takedowns... the choice is yours. The game of the year version can be picked up very cheaply now making this even more of a bargain. It's not a long game if you just follow the story through on easy/normal but play on hard and try to complete it 100% with all the collectibles/riddles and you have a much more substantial game, plus there are lots of extras, surviving wave after wave of baddies Left for Dead style for high scores is great fun and not something I'd usually bother with. Even if you choose not to dabble with these the game is worth it for the main story alone plus seeing one of the best incarnations of Joker... and Scarecrow is frightening good. It does use Games for Windows Live which we all know sucks but after the initial setup has worked flawlessly so far so can't complain. Not only one of the best Batman games of all time but a really polished affair that shows how superhero games can be tackled in a mature way, well done Rocksteady Studios.… Expand
  39. Mystril
    Oct 20, 2011
    9
    The first time I started this game up and played for a few hours (with some problems mind you), I really didn't like it. I had problems with Games For Windows Live, I had problems with PhysX (I have a GTX 460 and NOW it's not a problem, but was back then), and I didn't really like the combat system. In addition I wasn't exactly into the whole super hero thing, let alone batman thing.
    I    The first time I started this game up and played for a few hours (with some problems mind you), I really didn't like it. I had problems with Games For Windows Live, I had problems with PhysX (I have a GTX 460 and NOW it's not a problem, but was back then), and I didn't really like the combat system. In addition I wasn't exactly into the whole super hero thing, let alone batman thing.
    I started hearing a little bit about Arkham City and it peaked my interest, so I decided to install this one again and see if I would enjoy it, and thereby see if Arkham City would be something for me. This time aorund, with the latest patches, and latest drivers etc, it blew me away. I find the game to be looking really good (and love the use of PhysX), I find the combat fun and engaging, I liked the story. AND OMG THE JOKER IS SO FRICKIN AWESOME! voice-wise it's on par with Heath Ledger's Joker in Batman - The Dark Knight, I liked the story, although time frame seems a bit off, but no matter. The joker is awesome in this game, I really like how **** up insane this guy sounds and acts, its amazing. I also like Harley Quinn, she acts pretty damn well too, although, as others have pointed out, the lip synch could be alot better.

    There are some misses, some times you die just because something completely silly, like the camera turning the wrong way, or a graphical misshap making the scarecrow see you etc. therefor I cannot give it a 10, but a 9. It has charm, its funny, its witty, and the voice acting is great (the lip synch could be alot better), I like the combat, its flashy, easy to use, hard to master. so a 9/10 from me.    … Expand
  40. ErictheRe0
    Jun 21, 2011
    9
    Captures Batman to the "B"! Excellent game. Great, fluid game play, making this game what games need to be.... enjoyable! Now If I could only do this with a friend, we'd be talking one of the best games around.
  41. DarkCowboy
    Aug 2, 2012
    9
    I'm not really a Batman fan. But this game is AWESOME :-D
    Controls are very intuitive which makes fighting bad guys really fun.
    The game has great graphics and nice slow motion effects when you off badguys in style.
    A solid 9.
  42. Riot
    Feb 12, 2012
    10
    I am not a Batman fan, nor a comic book movie/game/magazine one, but this is probably one of the best games I've played in the past years. I cannot complain about windows live and other problems because I played this on my MAC. YES, this game is also available on OSX and it runs like a charm if your system not very old or basic.

    I have to say I enjoyed it better than Alice: The Madness    I am not a Batman fan, nor a comic book movie/game/magazine one, but this is probably one of the best games I've played in the past years. I cannot complain about windows live and other problems because I played this on my MAC. YES, this game is also available on OSX and it runs like a charm if your system not very old or basic.

    I have to say I enjoyed it better than Alice: The Madness Returns, although I am deeply unsatisfied with both games' maniacally obsessive compulsive collection of thousands of crap scattered around just to keep you from focusing and enjoying the story line.    … Expand
  43. psicolico
    Jan 10, 2012
    9
    Probably the best (definitely one of the best) video game based on a superhero character and even if you don't like superhero comics, you still get a great metroidvania game.
  44. sinadoom
    Oct 22, 2013
    9
    You can tell a game is amazing when someone who doesn't know anything about Batman or have any interest in action-adventure games manages to play it to 100% completion five times and STILL be prepared to play it through again. Honestly, Arkham Asylum is such a gemstone in video games and almost revolutionary for the genre. The collectibles are not a grind yet provide a challenge WITHOUTYou can tell a game is amazing when someone who doesn't know anything about Batman or have any interest in action-adventure games manages to play it to 100% completion five times and STILL be prepared to play it through again. Honestly, Arkham Asylum is such a gemstone in video games and almost revolutionary for the genre. The collectibles are not a grind yet provide a challenge WITHOUT requiring you to look them up. The stealth is tactical yet intuitive and skilful without being overcomplicated or difficult. The level design is often unpredictable and is developed at a perfect pace along with the excellent story and superb characters. The storytelling and voice acting and characters are fully developed WITH gameplay, so it's totally immersive. On top of that, it manages to restrict the player to avoid loss of immersion but gives some options throughout for exploration. These options get gradually bigger as you unlock more gadgets and use XP to get some upgrades such as armour and more gadget and combat functionality. The PC version is by far the best. The graphics are amazing and the use of PhysX makes an incredible difference at some points compared to the Xbox 360 version of the game. Also, I found that the graphics in Arkham Asylum are far better than they are on Arkham City! But let's not ignore the main point. Arkham Asylum's combat system is by far the best in the genre. Not only does it work perfectly with a controller due to the right number of gadgets, it's very good with keyboard and mouse too. Essentially a two button rhythm game but it flows NATURALLY. There are no special moves or complicated timing to learn it's all intuitive yet satisfying and rewards variety and style but doesn't punish you heavily for dropping combos. It truly is "Freeflow". The balance between puzzles, platforming, combat and stealth as well as the story development is absolute perfection in this game. Arkham Asylum is a game every gamer needs to play.… Expand
  45. Lex_Luger
    Jul 27, 2014
    10
    Pro:
    Great graphics,
    Great soundtrack
    Great story
    unique combat system
    lots of secrets to find

    Cons:
    Repetitive combat
    Weak boss fights
    a little on the short side
  46. remster_9
    Nov 2, 2011
    9
    Great controls, great graphics. The story is a little too linear, but the universe is so immersive and the characters so polished (hello, Joker!), I found it very engaging overall. Fights are very dynamic and controls are so responsive you want to engage everyone.
    Detective mode underdelivers - why bother when you can play the entire game with detective mode ON and detect all hot spots?    Great controls, great graphics. The story is a little too linear, but the universe is so immersive and the characters so polished (hello, Joker!), I found it very engaging overall. Fights are very dynamic and controls are so responsive you want to engage everyone.
    Detective mode underdelivers - why bother when you can play the entire game with detective mode ON and detect all hot spots? Give it a time limit, or limited use.
    One of the best action/adventure games I've ever played.    … Expand
  47. Happymonk
    Nov 9, 2011
    10
    I managed to get this game for £3.75 during a Steam sale. Was expecting good, but I got Awesomely amazing, the game-play is fantastically varied, the combat feels perfect, it runs incredibly smoothly, the graphics are great, the storyline is fantastic. Everything in this game feels so... Batman. Everything. Perfect pacing. There are two faults however, the final boss is a bitI managed to get this game for £3.75 during a Steam sale. Was expecting good, but I got Awesomely amazing, the game-play is fantastically varied, the combat feels perfect, it runs incredibly smoothly, the graphics are great, the storyline is fantastic. Everything in this game feels so... Batman. Everything. Perfect pacing. There are two faults however, the final boss is a bit of let down, and it's too short. I highly recommend this game to anyone, really, it is that good. Buy it, it won't let you down.… Expand
  48. keefbaker
    Oct 16, 2013
    10
    Walks like a bat-duck, talks like a bat-duck. This is a fantastic trip into the bat-universe and unlike a lot of licensed properties, if you took the license away you'd still have a top notch game. Hightly highly recommended.
  49. QuanticFive
    Dec 30, 2011
    10
    Ok, hate to jump on the Batman bandwagon....but what a game! So atmospheric, so playable, tough but not unfair and the challenges kept me playing, even after I had completed the main story. If you haven't bought this game, do it....now!
  50. BasilZero
    Jul 28, 2014
    9
    Game: Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY
    Genre: Action
    Developer: Rocksteady System: Steam (PC) Total Score: 90/100 Value Score: 9/10 • Story: 10/10 • Characters: 9/10 • GamePlay: 10/10 • Graphics: 9/10 • Sound: 10/10 • Music: 7/10 • Length: 7/10 • Replay Value: 8/10 • Player Value: 10/10 Pros +Has all of the DLCs that were released separately on Vanilla Batman Arkham    Game: Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY
    Genre: Action
    Developer: Rocksteady
    System: Steam (PC)
    Total Score: 90/100
    Value Score: 9/10

    • Story: 10/10
    • Characters: 9/10
    • GamePlay: 10/10
    • Graphics: 9/10
    • Sound: 10/10
    • Music: 7/10
    • Length: 7/10
    • Replay Value: 8/10
    • Player Value: 10/10

    Pros
    +Has all of the DLCs that were released separately on Vanilla Batman Arkham Asylum
    +Great innovative gameplay that mixes puzzle and stealth elements well
    +Memorable iconic characters from the Batman Universe
    +A great new original storyline added to the Batman Universe

    Cons
    -Music is great for atmosphere but not memorable
    -Game's main storyline can be beaten in a few hours
    -Some of the visuals - mainly environment designs look outdated to the rest of the game    … Expand
  51. Mivix
    Jan 29, 2012
    9
    When I first heard about a Batman game, I was not very interested. But, after I saw positive reviews I gave it a try. I was not disappointed. This game is really a good one. graphics, story, voices, atmosphere. Everything is superb. I bought "game of the year" edition, and I did not found a single bug. Only thing I did not like a lot was combat. It is easy to learn, but very hard toWhen I first heard about a Batman game, I was not very interested. But, after I saw positive reviews I gave it a try. I was not disappointed. This game is really a good one. graphics, story, voices, atmosphere. Everything is superb. I bought "game of the year" edition, and I did not found a single bug. Only thing I did not like a lot was combat. It is easy to learn, but very hard to master. Sometimes it was frustrating like hell. Especially when game does not respond instantly. That is why I gave it 9/10. In conclusion, I think this is best comic based game I have played, it really deserves your attention if you like Batman.… Expand
  52. gyrate
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    I enjoy this game it's the darker side of Batman. There are not a lot of super hero games out there worth playing so this is going to get a higher rating than perhaps it should. It's an older game and not very open world, but you can explore. You just can't go scaling rocks like you're in Skyrim or taking the wrong path around a tree. There will be none of that. You can't jump at all forI enjoy this game it's the darker side of Batman. There are not a lot of super hero games out there worth playing so this is going to get a higher rating than perhaps it should. It's an older game and not very open world, but you can explore. You just can't go scaling rocks like you're in Skyrim or taking the wrong path around a tree. There will be none of that. You can't jump at all for some odd reason. The camera has issues at times where it won't be where you desire. Still the environment and graphics are well done. You feel as though you are taking part in the comic book. The main characters are perfect and the people you are fighting are no pushovers. My biggest criticism is that I can't save where I'd like so I have to repeat things that were a chore which I felt should have been a save point. For the price you can get this game it's silly to say anything negative at all, but I'll offset that with a 10. Hopefully this pushes others to try to compete in comic book heroes and we get something amazing. Until then this game is king.… Expand
  53. Insanityof-Dave
    Nov 30, 2011
    9
    The game has outstanding voice acting and story. Stunning visuals. and the bonus to play cat woman is extreamly fun. I think cat women could be a game on her own tbh. The game falls short on controls and the fact that you cannot change them. The windows live is beyond anoying. and some riddler puzzles require certain tools to be able to do them. also you cant go back to some of them later.
  54. mez
    Dec 17, 2011
    8
    Very solid. Extremely high production values and lots of fun. The stealth bits in particular are fantastic. I didn't particularly like the hand to hand combat - it looks good, but all you have to do is click the mouse button repeatedly and you win. Not much skill required. I also would have loved to be able to stealth my way through the whole game. Being forced into distinct styles of playVery solid. Extremely high production values and lots of fun. The stealth bits in particular are fantastic. I didn't particularly like the hand to hand combat - it looks good, but all you have to do is click the mouse button repeatedly and you win. Not much skill required. I also would have loved to be able to stealth my way through the whole game. Being forced into distinct styles of play felt quite arbitrary at times - Now You Will Fight A Big Bunch Of Dudes That You Cannot Avoid. Now There Is An Annoying Boss. Now There Is A Short Stealth Section Where Fighting Is Not Allowed. But a great game, albeit one I've got no desire to revisit. And I hate Games For Windows Live as well. Just had to get that in there!… Expand
  55. Pwnznewbz
    Dec 6, 2011
    9
    This is, without a doubt, the best comic book story driven game I have ever played. I could go on and on about the great parts of this game, but you should just buy it and play it now rather than even finishing my recommendation. Oh, wait... you are still reading? Well, how about all the main voice stars from the Batman Animated Series also do the voices in this game? Mark Hamill as theThis is, without a doubt, the best comic book story driven game I have ever played. I could go on and on about the great parts of this game, but you should just buy it and play it now rather than even finishing my recommendation. Oh, wait... you are still reading? Well, how about all the main voice stars from the Batman Animated Series also do the voices in this game? Mark Hamill as the Joker? Yes, please! This is an adult oriented Batman game and I promise that you won't be disappointed.… Expand
  56. alexfitz
    Jan 1, 2012
    10
    This is not just the "best batman games" or best Super-hero games. it is one best videogames every. The atmosphere and the way it really makes you feel like batman: both the advantages and limitations of the character. And the Joker is the best Villain EVER! it worth it just to hear Mark Hamel's sinister--yet hilarious voice acting! Highly recommended
  57. jb3689
    Jan 10, 2012
    10
    Batman has always been my favorite superhero, and now Arkham Asylum has become my favorite game. Rocksteady did an amazing job with the engine of this game. Everything flows incredibly smoothly. From the combat to the stealth to grappling around all over the place to the detective gadgets, this game just feels amazing. The game is linear, but the world is open enough with plenty to do thatBatman has always been my favorite superhero, and now Arkham Asylum has become my favorite game. Rocksteady did an amazing job with the engine of this game. Everything flows incredibly smoothly. From the combat to the stealth to grappling around all over the place to the detective gadgets, this game just feels amazing. The game is linear, but the world is open enough with plenty to do that this is never a problem. Also, the game lets you decide how you want to play the game. Do you want to be more stealthy and pick off thugs one at a time, do you want to set-up traps and use your gadgets, or do you want to start a huge fist fight and combo the crap out of people? The additional content is all really great too. The Riddler puzzles and hidden trophies give you a challenge to work through and then reward you with nice bonus maps with their own challenges (such as take out 3 thugs with a single charge detonation). I really liked collecting the asylum patient interviews of all the villains as it gave an interesting background for those unfamiliar with some characters. There's just a lot to do, and it's all done very well. It does have some flaws. The story is... well, there as filler. The boss battles are generally poor. No auto-run gets annoying. The writing is less than great. All of these are minor issues though. This game quickly became my favorite game of all time, and I look forward to playing the rest of the trilogy!… Expand
  58. jcdoll
    Jan 15, 2012
    8
    I'm not usually a big Batman fan, and the combat seemed a little simple at first. But I ended up really liking this game. The graphics are fantastic. The combat ends up being great, complex and challenging. I usually hate stealth games but really liked this one.
  59. tamazetram
    Feb 17, 2012
    10
    awesome game!already owned it on 360 but liked it enough to add to my pc library,graphics are great,ran smooth all the way through,story is short but not too bad,hard to stop playing "just one more checkpoint",highly recommended and for the few quid i paid for the goty version in a steam sale you cannot go wrong
  60. Andreakossa
    Apr 21, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A long night inside the biggest and dangerous prison of the world, the Arkham Asylum !
    Fight against Joker, Ivy poison and all the rest of villains !
    Beat Dr. Nigma and his questions also !    … Expand
  61. kimaasen1984
    Apr 25, 2012
    10
    I just finished the game yesterday, and I have to say it's one of the best computer games I've played in my 28 years. The history was really great, and the game still looks really beautiful three years after it's release.

    I had no plans to play Batman: Arkham City, but after this, I can't wait to play the sequel.
  62. Certate0
    Apr 30, 2012
    10
    Brilliant game that had me hooked untill completion. Great graphics and gameplay, heaps of hidden content. The story and atmosphere are spot on and the gadgets are great. I played with keyboard and mouse, occasionally switching to 360 controller for different combat situations (which the game did on the fly - no menu). I'm not much for sneaking around, but this game made it fun and wasn'tBrilliant game that had me hooked untill completion. Great graphics and gameplay, heaps of hidden content. The story and atmosphere are spot on and the gadgets are great. I played with keyboard and mouse, occasionally switching to 360 controller for different combat situations (which the game did on the fly - no menu). I'm not much for sneaking around, but this game made it fun and wasn't overdone. Combat worked very well and Batman seamlessly took on large groups of enemies. Boss battles were challenging and fun. Top game… Expand
  63. Pajda
    May 14, 2012
    8
    Playing this game is a huge success, if you ever wanted to act like the Dark Knight and wondered how it's gonna feel. You can do almost everything - you will experience Batman's perfect martial skills, use his arsenal of gadgets, jump through obstacles, cliffs and rails, you will glide over the Arkham island, you have the 'detective mode' as seen in the "The Dark Knight' movie. ByPlaying this game is a huge success, if you ever wanted to act like the Dark Knight and wondered how it's gonna feel. You can do almost everything - you will experience Batman's perfect martial skills, use his arsenal of gadgets, jump through obstacles, cliffs and rails, you will glide over the Arkham island, you have the 'detective mode' as seen in the "The Dark Knight' movie. By progressing the game and picking up various items you also learn a lot about the Batman universe, about its characters, villains, Batman's background and tons of other data. I would think of this game as an encyclopedia of the whole Batman universe, with the addition you can deal with the bad guys yourselves, including Joker, Poison Ivy, Bane and many others. However, what I did not enjoy about the game was the combat system. To be more specific, I do not consider myself a hardcore player and the electric rod and knives guys really drove me insane, mostly during the final battle. I just needed more training I guess. But despite of this, Batman: AA is a huge success in converting the Dark Knight into a very enjoyable and interactive experience.… Expand
  64. yk1989
    May 14, 2012
    9
    Batman Arkham Assylum is a GOTY among GOTY.. More like GOTHYC

    The combat system is simple but not as much as you think... HAving a perfect combo needs perfect reflexes and skills. The history looks like a mix between the latest movies and the comic books (the music sounds a lot like the actual batman). The interaction Between Joker and batman is priceless. Is so accurate as reading a    Batman Arkham Assylum is a GOTY among GOTY.. More like GOTHYC

    The combat system is simple but not as much as you think... HAving a perfect combo needs perfect reflexes and skills.

    The history looks like a mix between the latest movies and the comic books (the music sounds a lot like the actual batman). The interaction Between Joker and batman is priceless. Is so accurate as reading a comic.

    Taking the role of batman is just perfect. This game makes you act and behave like batman. You are a hero, but dark, and you don't only are a warrior, you are a detective.

    The history, the ambience ,

    The combat system... All of them perfect.

    But here comes the Letdowns

    Lack of bosses... most of them are clones of the last with better attacks...

    The mobs are fine... But there could be more. The only thing this game needed was more enemies... Especially bosses. But other than that, this game deserves a 9    … Expand
  65. iamkyo90
    May 19, 2012
    10
    I consider, the best games I have in my hands. A masterpiece. The graphics, music, gameplay is excellent. Compatible with nvidia 3DVision, the game is long, has a history, you can improve the character, has challenges, ... the true gem.
  66. UncleRemus
    Oct 14, 2012
    8
    I'll be honest. The game is good, a bit overrated... sorry to drop the rating from 8.8 to 8.7.

    The story was good but the game was too long and repetitive, you kept fighting the same foes over and over again, with the exception of the boss fights who were very diversified and well thought, you were just fighting the same guy a million time, some had guns, but that's about it. The    I'll be honest. The game is good, a bit overrated... sorry to drop the rating from 8.8 to 8.7.

    The story was good but the game was too long and repetitive, you kept fighting the same foes over and over again, with the exception of the boss fights who were very diversified and well thought, you were just fighting the same guy a million time, some had guns, but that's about it. The gameplay was very locked and linear during fight. Sure, chaining combos was still fun, but they could've improved the fighting system, it's a bit bland just to press the mouse button over and over again, maybe add more skills!

    On the other hand, the boss fights were just fine, excellent I must say (except Killer Croc, who was far too easy to beat), I was expecting a boss fight with the riddler, my favorite villain.    … Expand
  67. Undersky
    Nov 11, 2013
    8
    My only complaint is that the game was too short!

    But what keeps me from giving this game a 10 is the static camera in some parts, I'm ok with Scarecrow levels having static camera (you can't turn with mouse) I think it should be that way, fits well the challenge, however, Ivy and Joker-on-steroids fight could have used the free camera, doesn't feel the same when you not playing with a    My only complaint is that the game was too short!

    But what keeps me from giving this game a 10 is the static camera in some parts, I'm ok with Scarecrow levels having static camera (you can't turn with mouse) I think it should be that way, fits well the challenge, however, Ivy and Joker-on-steroids fight could have used the free camera, doesn't feel the same when you not playing with a game pad control...

    All in all, great game, Joker does his show apart and the various challenges scattered around the island make the game interesting.

    It's constantly on sale with 75% off on Steam, don't think, just buy it's worth!    … Expand
  68. Atr0s
    Jul 14, 2012
    9
    Not only the first Batman game which worked, but also borderlined perfection. The plot can be a bit stupid sometimes (the Dark Knight does stuff which is not fitting to the World's Greatest Detective and the game is filled with cheesy lines), but the great graphics and voice acting will certainly make you forget it. The gameplay is awesome too, being rather easy to learn but hard toNot only the first Batman game which worked, but also borderlined perfection. The plot can be a bit stupid sometimes (the Dark Knight does stuff which is not fitting to the World's Greatest Detective and the game is filled with cheesy lines), but the great graphics and voice acting will certainly make you forget it. The gameplay is awesome too, being rather easy to learn but hard to master, as you may check it yourself on the Challenges the game offers. It has a lot of references to unseen characters from the comics and great setting (the dreaded Arkham Asylum) will make this the most interesting experience to those who never played a Batman game before. It's a must-have for fans.… Expand
  69. jerrypatel_07
    Oct 17, 2012
    10
    An excellent game. It was such a special thing for me to play as the caped crusader for the 1st time as i am a massive batman fan. The opening sequence was a special gaming moment, and the rest of the game was just an authentic batman experience. The only negative was the repetitive titan boss battles. The game that changed the superhero game genre and has a more coherent plot than arkham city.
  70. Rastaguy2
    Aug 12, 2012
    10
    It was pretty hard to play this game with the raging erection I had the whole time. Batman is a bad ass **** who doesn't give a **** about ANYTHING.
  71. Claytality
    May 1, 2019
    8
    Great stealth and combat action. Open world to explore and plenty of collectibles. There's also some RPG elements such as character upgrades and new gear to find. Great graphics, voice-acting, and music.

    My only complaint is that some of the combat challenges (extra content) are ridiculously difficult. Bought on sale for $5, played 28 hours (main story takes about 12-15 hours, but    Great stealth and combat action. Open world to explore and plenty of collectibles. There's also some RPG elements such as character upgrades and new gear to find. Great graphics, voice-acting, and music.

    My only complaint is that some of the combat challenges (extra content) are ridiculously difficult.

    Bought on sale for $5, played 28 hours (main story takes about 12-15 hours, but I found all collectibles and played all challenges), highly recommended.    … Expand
  72. idohaker
    Jan 2, 2013
    10
    this was the best game of 2009 but i didnt review it then so i will review it now. arkham asylum is so amazing that i played it something like 30 times and this was between the two games i played in 2009-2010 so lets talk now about the game arkham asylum is the first batman game that take itself seriously the story and the feeling is relly mature and its not an stupid game that batmanthis was the best game of 2009 but i didnt review it then so i will review it now. arkham asylum is so amazing that i played it something like 30 times and this was between the two games i played in 2009-2010 so lets talk now about the game arkham asylum is the first batman game that take itself seriously the story and the feeling is relly mature and its not an stupid game that batman punch guys in the face.there is a lot of familiar villians,and the combat is great there is a lot of moves so its never stays repiditive.so lets see:awsome,awsome,awsome. and if you loved arkham asylum check is sequel arkham city witch is batter then arkham asylum.(i gess that if you loved arkham asylum you probebly already buy arkham city).… Expand
  73. Parthros
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    I got this game around two years after it came out, the same time I got Arkham City. I chose to play Asylum first, then City on the suggestion of my brother who had played both of them. When you play Asylum before City, you think to yourself, "How could City POSSIBLY improve on this? It's perfect!" If you play City first, you'll feel a little restricted, but it's still an amazing game.I got this game around two years after it came out, the same time I got Arkham City. I chose to play Asylum first, then City on the suggestion of my brother who had played both of them. When you play Asylum before City, you think to yourself, "How could City POSSIBLY improve on this? It's perfect!" If you play City first, you'll feel a little restricted, but it's still an amazing game.

    I definitely recommend this game to all Batman fans.    … Expand
  74. Klewer
    Nov 16, 2012
    8
    A very good game of action and platforming adventure making the rare transition to PC. A great atmosphere and enjoyable combat make this a must have for any Batman fan.
  75. Mykwon
    Jun 4, 2015
    10
    The more I play this game, the more I love it. It's really well done, combat mechanism is a blast, graphics are awesome, game-play and controls are top notch and overall, it's extremely well polished. What else can you ask for? One of my favourite games of all time.
  76. Buhadog
    Nov 25, 2013
    8
    I will have to agree that this game is amazing, both from graphical and gameplay standards. Instead of praising it like most reviews do, I will instead focus on some problems I had with it:
    I've tried to play this game on the ps2 controller I've plugged into my pc and I've had so many troubles with it that I've started playing on the keyboard instead (basicly most actions wouldn't work    I will have to agree that this game is amazing, both from graphical and gameplay standards. Instead of praising it like most reviews do, I will instead focus on some problems I had with it:
    I've tried to play this game on the ps2 controller I've plugged into my pc and I've had so many troubles with it that I've started playing on the keyboard instead (basicly most actions wouldn't work despite being mapped to the propper button).
    The combat is not as fluid as it could have been, the counters sometimes wouldn't work).    … Expand
  77. Weaselboyst
    Oct 11, 2013
    9
    High quality entertainment. This was the Batman game everyone wished for. The fighting mechanics are the highlight for me in this game. The graphics are beautiful and the setting brings out the mood of Arkham Asylum. The appearance of villains are all well-timed and doesn't feel forced. The voice acting also evokes nostalgia for those who followed the animated series in the 90's. WithoutHigh quality entertainment. This was the Batman game everyone wished for. The fighting mechanics are the highlight for me in this game. The graphics are beautiful and the setting brings out the mood of Arkham Asylum. The appearance of villains are all well-timed and doesn't feel forced. The voice acting also evokes nostalgia for those who followed the animated series in the 90's. Without this game Arkham City would not be possible.… Expand
  78. FruitCakeHD
    Oct 24, 2013
    8
    Batman Arkham Asylum is one of the well-polished games back then in 2009/10. This game is definitely worth its price (right now). This game competes well with other games that were released even much later like Skyrim, Dishonored, BioShock Infinite for example.

    The A.I. is pretty decent in all areas, providing a challenge but not also not too hard at the same time. There is very few    Batman Arkham Asylum is one of the well-polished games back then in 2009/10. This game is definitely worth its price (right now). This game competes well with other games that were released even much later like Skyrim, Dishonored, BioShock Infinite for example.

    The A.I. is pretty decent in all areas, providing a challenge but not also not too hard at the same time. There is very few bugs and glitches here and there but it is still an awesome game.

    The graphics aren't the best, but looks really decent at high resolutions and settings, somewhat similar to some of the games running on UE3.

    Unfortunately, Arkham Asylum's DLCs aren't too good to be honest, no story add-ons but with just a few challenge map-packs.

    I'll recommend gamers playing it in chronological sequence Origins Asylum City, buy the super pack that is currently on sale at GMG (for 62 US) that includes Arkham Origins, Arkham Asylum & Arkham City GOTY bundled together.    … Expand
  79. TheWhiteRose000
    May 15, 2014
    10
    A really amazing game with loads of replay value in it.
    Amazing storyline, Id say great character development but its a Batman game.
    Batman is already well developed and they captured that perfectly.
  80. Basem101
    Jun 16, 2013
    8
    i really recommend this game it is really great this is the best superhero game you'll play although am not a big fan of batman but this is a great game with great characters and great voice acting
  81. ritardedartkid
    Nov 8, 2015
    9
    So, I’m not a batman fan. I’ve seen maybe 2 of the movies and never played any of the games before this. I must say that this was a fantastic introduction to the franchise. Every aspect of the game feels well thought out - the story is excellent, controls are easy to pick up, even the graphics have held up after 5 years. It doesn’t matter if you’re going stealth or full combat, glidingSo, I’m not a batman fan. I’ve seen maybe 2 of the movies and never played any of the games before this. I must say that this was a fantastic introduction to the franchise. Every aspect of the game feels well thought out - the story is excellent, controls are easy to pick up, even the graphics have held up after 5 years. It doesn’t matter if you’re going stealth or full combat, gliding around, throwing batarangs, wandering the grounds or playing the story - everything was just a lot of fun. Plus, if you want a distraction from the main game you can also hunt for collectibles, solve riddler puzzles, or compete in combat challenges. I wish all games could be this polished!… Expand
  82. Sean-M
    Jun 20, 2020
    8
    Great start for the series. A little limited when compared to the next instalment but great on its own.
  83. sft
    Oct 7, 2013
    8
    Boy, what a wonder!

    There’s much to admire in Rocksteady’s adaptation of the caped crusader’s fight against crime. BAA is atmospheric and engrossing, and the gameplay is varied and well designed, with a good mixture of problem solving and combat. The graphics are very good; the combat animation in particular is excellent. Even the controls of the PC version are well designed, which is    Boy, what a wonder!

    There’s much to admire in Rocksteady’s adaptation of the caped crusader’s fight against crime. BAA is atmospheric and engrossing, and the gameplay is varied and well designed, with a good mixture of problem solving and combat. The graphics are very good; the combat animation in particular is excellent. Even the controls of the PC version are well designed, which is not something you can often say about games that require a good deal of button mashing. There’s a pretty good storyline too with some sharp dialogue, and the voice acting is strong throughout, especially Mark Hamill as the Joker. My only real gripe is the way the viewpoint changes for the boss fights. It certainly makes them more challenging but it’s also a bit frustrating and, to my mind, unnecessary. But this is an excellent, well-made game and is highly recommended.    … Expand
  84. Afroman22
    Jul 26, 2013
    9
    This was truly an amazing piece! A Batman game that will go in the history books as one of the best Batman's of all time! There were a few things here and there that were poor but the other aspects of the game make up for it. The Dark Knight is one of my most favorite super heroes in the DC universe and I enjoyed this game A LOT!

    Story is that Joker has taken over Arkham Asylum and is    This was truly an amazing piece! A Batman game that will go in the history books as one of the best Batman's of all time! There were a few things here and there that were poor but the other aspects of the game make up for it. The Dark Knight is one of my most favorite super heroes in the DC universe and I enjoyed this game A LOT!

    Story is that Joker has taken over Arkham Asylum and is trying to kill the Batman and bring destruction to Gotham City. He and some other super criminals are teaming up to stop you! Pretty simple story but well told with how the characters are portrayed and designed which brings me to my next paragraph.

    The characters.... wow. They were right on the money with them. Perfect. Batman's silent, dark, firm, and serious attitude. The Jokers insane behavior and what he believes as funny. Harley Quinn's absolute loyalty to the Joker and her insanity with it. Everyone was portrayed and designed amazingly well except for how they fight. Their fighting was... well dull. I can understand Scarecrow though there's not much you can do for him except what they put in here. Another point to the Scarecrow though for actually scaring the living s*** out of me.

    Graphics and visuals were all top notch. The character designs were amazingly well done. Batman's suit was fantastic and as well as the carry on scratches and cuts he takes from his battles on Arkham. The prison was dark and gritty and suits the mood to the Batman series.

    Gameplay is fluid and easy but also frustrating. Not frustrating in a bad way mind you frustrating at yourself for messing up the amazing combo you were doing You got to have amazing timing amazing reflexes to press the right key/button at the right time and make sure you don't reset your combo meter. You think "Oh it's gonna be easy then." well it isn't. When you have a bunch of various bad guys that require a certain thing to be able to dodge them disarm them stun them so and and so forth it becomes a lil confusing and a test for you as you have 18 guys surrounding you trying to beat you. It's like Assassin's Creed's combat only done right. It was a good stress pushing me to become better and trying to learn the games controls. The stealth aspect was marvelous. Although I don't quite understand why there are so many gargoyles in the game (possibly a flaw but can be overlooked) the further you go the more of a challenge it becomes. The inmates will start getting Heart meters to know where you take em down. Goggles to see the dark corners where the gargoyles are places. They'll start destroying the gargoyles. I didn't find it all too challenging as I got further unlike the multiple baddy fighting. Guess I have a knack for stealth. If they added a timer though and the Joker released a gas into the room... that would make it a challenge.

    The difficulty of the game is excellent. It gives you a challenge as the further you go the more the AI adapts to your cunning and stealth. The controls are perfect it's so fluid and easy to do. It just requires excellent timing and quick reflexes much like how Batman would require only a lot more simpler and less life threatening. This is where the one flaw comes in to play on the game. Boss battles. WHAT THE F***?! I have never seen such poorly designed boss battles in all my life. Dodge the baddy and let him run into a wall? This is how all boss battles are?! Unless you count Scarecrow as a boss battle but a platform puzzle to dodge the spot light is hardly what I'd call a boss battle.

    Would I recommend this game? YES! GO BUY IT NOW!    … Expand
  85. lutteres
    Nov 9, 2013
    8
    BAA is an amazing game, with AAA voice acting, impressive visuals and addictive gameplay.
    I only have 3 complaints:
    What made this game so addictive to me was the stealth portions, where I was required to dispatch the bad guys silently. But unfortunately, I couldn’t use this approach every time. In most cases you are thrown in to a situation where there is no stealth approach to take. I    BAA is an amazing game, with AAA voice acting, impressive visuals and addictive gameplay.
    I only have 3 complaints:
    What made this game so addictive to me was the stealth portions, where I was required to dispatch the bad guys silently. But unfortunately, I couldn’t use this approach every time. In most cases you are thrown in to a situation where there is no stealth approach to take. I just think, a Batman game shouldn’t be just a simple beat em up, and at times it felt that way.
    Story mode is a tiny bit too short (completed the story mode in ~12 hours). But you can still squeeze 3 times that amount by gathering all the collectibles, resolving riddles and doing all the challenge modes, but I’m not the kind of person to spend hours searching for extra-stuff in a game. But if you have the time and patience for it...
    The BAA Story, despite being well written, isn’t the most creative for a video game.

    Sound 10
    Presentation 10
    Characters and Story 8
    Gameplay 8
    Value 8    … Expand
  86. csabber
    Nov 24, 2013
    9
    In 2009, Rocksteady Studios, a video game studio with virtually no history restored gamers' hopes all around world with Batman Arkham Asylum. The UK based studio revived a genre long forgotten and delivered a superhero action game which is worth every cent you spend on it.

    Yes, yes, there hasn't been a shortage of superhero games in the 21st century, but none of them really delivered on    In 2009, Rocksteady Studios, a video game studio with virtually no history restored gamers' hopes all around world with Batman Arkham Asylum. The UK based studio revived a genre long forgotten and delivered a superhero action game which is worth every cent you spend on it.

    Yes, yes, there hasn't been a shortage of superhero games in the 21st century, but none of them really delivered on its potential. And there is a bunch like the Iromnan or Superman games that aren't even worth talking about. Batman always had the better track record when it comes to games, but Arkham Asylum fires on all cylinders. Great graphics, incredible sound effects, a mad story and the little details will engage gamers and not only Batman and superhero fans.

    The game takes place on the famous Arkham Island where an Asylum has been build many-many years ago for the worst criminals Gotham can offer. It happens that The Joker has been captured by the Bats and taken in, but the Dark Knight suspects there is something going on in the background and takes his nemesis in himself. Shortly after a riot is started and The Joker gets loose. Now it's clear that the clown has something on his mind and Batman has to stop him. The story is intense and interesting as Bruce Wayne slowly puts together the pieces of Joker's grand plan. As you progress several of Batman's greatest foes will try to stop you, most notably Killer Croc, Poison Ivy or Bane, but others are introduced too. Some of them get bigger space others are bit players, but the point is that they are in the game and by their presence they make it richer.

    The graphics are decent, but there are flaws here and there. Batman and The Joker look superb, but detail of minor characters aren't on that level and some even look ugly. Other than that, the island is looks beautiful and from the distance you can see Gotham, the city of sins. The game is very well optimized on the PC so gamers with older rigs won't have problem running it.

    Even tough the island isn't overwhelmingly large, there is a lot to do. The main campaign will take around 8 hours to finish plus you can solve the puzzles and collect the question marks The Riddler left for you. By doing those you unlock character profiles, concept arts and more, so it's far from time wasting. Also by specific scanning stone tables on the island you can unlock recordings that tell you about the story of Arkham Asylum narrated by Amadeus Arkham himself. Probably the most interesting collectibles are the patient interview tapes that are scattered around the island. Some of the villains were interviewed in the facility and you can listen to these well composed dialogues. If you want to complete the main story with all the collectibles you will spend around 14+ hours on the island. When this is done you can try challenge missions where you have to beat scores by beating thugs. Sounds interesting and it adds to the game. This is the place where you can perfect you combat skills as the challenges get more and more difficult. The other half of them puts you in rooms where you have to complete 3, mostly skill-based tasks.

    With the near perfect free flow combat Arkham City is a near perfect game that finally delivers not only to fans of the genre but also to Batman and superhero fans. In fact, those who are not really in comic books should consider this game for first. It's a joy to play every second of this game. Arkham Asylum set the bar for every single superhero game that comes after 2009. It's a benchmark and an example to follow for every publisher and developer.

    Rating: 90/100; Replay Value: 3/5; To Beat: 8 hours (main campaign), 14 hours (campaign with collectibles); Played on: normal.    … Expand
  87. lavalampjoe
    Aug 31, 2013
    9
    Outstanding game in every way great production values, tight responsive controls, great story and a bunch of challenges to tackle along the way. I'm not a big Batman fan so I didn't recognise half the side characters who made an appearance in various ways, but dealing with the themed fights/puzzles/challenges was a lot of fun.
  88. Mahdiar
    Jul 6, 2016
    9
    Gameplay : 9
    Graphics : 9
    Story : 8
    Sound : 9
    **********************************************************************************
    Overall : 9
  89. wshqjc
    Oct 21, 2013
    9
    I played through the game in less than 10 hours, but after I passed the last mission which I defeated Joker and resent him back to the asylum, I still want to know more about the next story. The game gives players a film-like impression and the story movie has a high level standard. Combat system and weapon/tool system is designed so perfect that let you interact with environment fluently.I played through the game in less than 10 hours, but after I passed the last mission which I defeated Joker and resent him back to the asylum, I still want to know more about the next story. The game gives players a film-like impression and the story movie has a high level standard. Combat system and weapon/tool system is designed so perfect that let you interact with environment fluently. It is the combat and weapon/tool make batman be a real batman.… Expand
  90. debigman
    May 22, 2014
    10
    There really is no other score appropriate for this game. I don't hand out many 10's, but this game deserves it. Beautiful textures, smooth gameplay, tight controls, and a good storyline make this a must-buy.
  91. Daw11
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    Arkham Asylum is definitely one of the best game of this genre. I played it at hard difficulty and it took me more than 15 hours to complete all levels. The gameplay is simple but really funny and except for some boss fights the game is generally pretty easy.
  92. Krizuwe
    Jan 22, 2014
    8
    Uno de los mejores juegos de la generación, apartado gráfico, historia y jugabilidad impresionantes. Es un juegazo, los combates, la acción y el doblaje hacen de este juego uno de mis favoritos, una joya, lo recomiendo totalmente, imprescindible. Sin lugar a dudas junto al City y al Origins estamos ante para mi una de las mejores sagas de esta generación.
  93. markwhitton
    Nov 20, 2013
    10
    Batman Arkham Asylum was one of the freshest, most interesting and action packed surprises of my entire gaming life! The fight system used in this game shocked me as to how flawless the movements looked as the combination of attacks used was insanely smooth… Seriously, a truly fantastic combat system… That aside the story was fascinating, the graphics were flawless and the environmentsBatman Arkham Asylum was one of the freshest, most interesting and action packed surprises of my entire gaming life! The fight system used in this game shocked me as to how flawless the movements looked as the combination of attacks used was insanely smooth… Seriously, a truly fantastic combat system… That aside the story was fascinating, the graphics were flawless and the environments were large (but not too large), detailed and well presented! The game as a whole was amazing and was an experience I never expected from a video game under the Batman name! Well worth the play; even if you don’t really care for Batman as a character!… Expand
  94. sengork
    Nov 24, 2013
    9
    This is the best implementation of batman the character I've ever played. The nightmare scenes are a great and unexpected touch to this game. One star off for the game being incapable of loading levels so you can revisit some of the highlight areas (Scarecrow).
  95. AliveSirus
    Feb 24, 2014
    9
    The first game of the Arkham franchise. Batman Arkham Asylum concentrates on the Asylum and how everything really works there. It's the only place in Batman's universe that is only known as a place where all criminals go when apprehended by Batman. RockSteady Studios decided to have the game take place so all of us gamers and Batman lovers will know what Arkham Asylum is capable of and howThe first game of the Arkham franchise. Batman Arkham Asylum concentrates on the Asylum and how everything really works there. It's the only place in Batman's universe that is only known as a place where all criminals go when apprehended by Batman. RockSteady Studios decided to have the game take place so all of us gamers and Batman lovers will know what Arkham Asylum is capable of and how the house rules is unique compared to your usual prison. Going straight to the game play, it is an Action Adventure game. You, playing as the Dark Knight himself, will have all of the gadgets to strategically take down thugs and bosses. The game is easy for casual players, even on Hard mode, casual players who are looking for challenges can make it through, especially when you're familiar how the game play goes.

    Note: I will not state specifics here to avoid spoilers so discover it yourselves guys!

    Moving on... the story of the game itself is really detailed, perfectly narrated, and very dark and it points specifically in Arkham Asylum. The Lifespan of the game is somewhat great, you have achievements, riddles, trophies, unlockables and story tapes to find in the game which can make you busy throughout.

    Overall the game itself is great, mechanics wise its simple, audio and voice narration is well-done by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, and the story is well polished. A must have!    … Expand
  96. Felipe9429
    Jun 19, 2020
    9
    One of the best games i've ever played, the history is great and in my opinion has no flaws, the gameplay is very good, great figths and great levels, but why a 9?, well i feel it a ilttle short, thats all. I totally recomend this game, even if it was released 10+ ago.
  97. TheSwagMaster
    Apr 9, 2014
    10
    All I really have to say is, and all I REALLY need to say is... This game defiantly deserved its GOTY award. This is one of my favorite series, and this game in particular is my favorite so far.
  98. Tomle1202
    Mar 9, 2022
    9
    Batman: Arkham Asylum is an exciting adventure capable of capturing everything that could do the Dark Knight justice, except boss fights.
  99. phwaap
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    I made the mistake of playing this after Arkham City so my impression is probably slightly biased. In comparison I found this a noticeable step down. The environment especially was no where near as exciting and felt confining. Story was ok and the voice acting spotty but sometimes good. The mechanics of Batman weren't as polished either. Overall, worth playing but I can't possibly seeI made the mistake of playing this after Arkham City so my impression is probably slightly biased. In comparison I found this a noticeable step down. The environment especially was no where near as exciting and felt confining. Story was ok and the voice acting spotty but sometimes good. The mechanics of Batman weren't as polished either. Overall, worth playing but I can't possibly see how you would put this on the same level as Arkham City.… Expand
  100. EremitaJ
    Aug 17, 2014
    8
    It's a great game, the ambietation is good, the controls work fine and the challenges work well. The only problem is the really short camapign, but it's preatty fun. Ah, and have I mentioned the giant muscular Joker? Like... what the **** EIDOS? Joker is all about brains, not about sheer force and power.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2009
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. GameDaily
    90
    The result is so good that we're declaring it an easy 'Best of' contender for 2009.
    Read full review
  2. Cheat Code Central
    92
    I can say with confidence and cannot stress enough, Batman: Arkham Asylum is, without a doubt, the best Batman game ever created. It does more than give you the Batman game you want, it gives you a video game that you could play repeatedly, even if it didn't have the caped and cowled Dark Knight in it.
    Read full review
  3. Play Magazine
    90
    There isn’t a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn’t polished to the utmost degree.
See all critic reviews »