Batman: Arkham Asylum

 PlayStation 3
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1850 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,659 out of 1850
  2. Mixed: 150 out of 1850
  3. Negative: 41 out of 1850
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. SrPepe
    Oct 29, 2017
    9
    Se agradece mucho que hagan estas obras maestras para nuestros héroes favoritos de los cómics, de verdad. Lo único malo es la batalla final, a mi gusto innecesario.
  2. ViniciusBrito
    Jun 2, 2017
    9
    A super-hero game that was release in 2009 who did almost all the others games of this line looks way to bad. Rocksteady really understands the character and gave us in an awesome version, a serious and scary dude, who interrogate and do all he can to get what he needs. The villains in this game are awesome, in a way we never seen in any hero game before, unique ways to face almost eachA super-hero game that was release in 2009 who did almost all the others games of this line looks way to bad. Rocksteady really understands the character and gave us in an awesome version, a serious and scary dude, who interrogate and do all he can to get what he needs. The villains in this game are awesome, in a way we never seen in any hero game before, unique ways to face almost each boss, be hiding of scarecrow, throwing batarangs at poison ivy or dodge bane runs. The combat against random enemies still differentiated, be face to face or stealth, are not boring at all, even that you do it the whole game, the stealth fights are unique with a few different moves that you can do to eliminate your target without being seen. About the level designer, it's fanastic, the asylum adaptation for the game it's very well detailed, both inside and outside, The ariety of equipments
    is another differential that makes the game become more dynamic, simple puzzles and great story telling. Batman Arkham Asylum started the best hero series in video-games introducing villains and characters in an amazing way, the joker and harley quinn duo works in every single way, nothing bad to say about them. Only one thing in this game i didn't like, wich is the final boss fight, that was not necessary at all, could be solved and finished in a much better way without that, even if that happend, the fight could be any different, but does not take away the brightness of the work at all. Great game that even after 8 years it remains a must play for every gamer and hero fans around the world, just not 10 because the sequence is on another level!    … Expand
  3. PictoPirate
    May 17, 2017
    9
    Batman is back at his ass kicking best in this superb adventure. A tight fighting system, plethora of riddles and fantastic world all combine to make this a must play triple a. Bravo Rocksteady, bravo.
  4. Alvokun
    Feb 5, 2017
    9
    Definitely one of the greatest PS3 video games, which precedes Arkham City (even better). As an action/adventure game is a 9, and as a video game based on a comic is probably a 10.

    The atmosphere is very faithful to the original, and the villains (Scarecrow, Joker) are frankly well rendered. Highly recommendable.
  5. Cosmozerk
    Jun 19, 2016
    9
    Back in my Arkham Knight review i mentioned that if the rest of the Arkham games were just as good, if no better than that game, then i would be in for a treat...probably the most correct statement i made so far.

    STORY: After capturing the Joker with no effort, Batman goes to Arkham Asylum in where they will incarcerate Joker. However Batman gets a bad feeling about this and decides to    Back in my Arkham Knight review i mentioned that if the rest of the Arkham games were just as good, if no better than that game, then i would be in for a treat...probably the most correct statement i made so far.

    STORY: After capturing the Joker with no effort, Batman goes to Arkham Asylum in where they will incarcerate Joker. However Batman gets a bad feeling about this and decides to follow the Joker, and just like he thought, the Joker escapes rather easily and with the help of Harley Quinn and some other villains, he quickly transforms Arkham Asylum into his own playground and Batman sees himself in the middle of it. So it's up to the Dark Knight to explore the Asylum, beat the ever living **** out of everything and stop the Joker from provoking chaos.

    PRESENTATION: For a 2009 PS3 and Xbox 360 game Arkham Asylum still holds up extremely well even by today's standards. The framerate doesn't drop all that much, the environments have tons of details, the voice acting is performed by the actors you know and love, the models are well constructed, the animations are spot on (except for the dialog segments), it's just overall a nice game to look at. Of course there's some popping, dated textures and models and every once in a while the game loads in the middle of the adventure, but that's it.

    GAMEPLAY: Batman Arkham Asylum is a pretty unique game if i can say so myself.

    The game has different things going for it and i feel like the combat system is the biggest one. By mashing the attack button Batman will do attacks up the wazoo that will easily combo enemies. While the combat system is very fun and satisfying, is not until the last hours of the game where you really need some strategy, since most enemies can't do **** against you, plus you have counter-attack button that will also put enemies on the ground, but you have to react fast enough. When an enemy is on the ground you can finish them off, but leaves you vulnerable, so check that there's no one around you before doing it. The game however does throw enough enemy and attack variety to not make the combat repetitive, but it does become a little tiny bit shallow.

    When you finish fights you'll gain experience points that you can use to upgrade Batman in 20 times, whether it's giving him a new gadget, improving combat or toughness, the experience points help to make the game a little more addictive than it's already is.

    Along the way Batman will get new toys to play around with. You either get them by upgrading Batman (like i said before) or by just going through the game normally. This tools range from variations of the batarangs, to explosive gel, to a hacking device, ect. This gadgets are used for either combat or solving puzzles and situations that the game presents you and they're really fun to use. I specially love to use the explosive gel to set up traps, man does that feel good.

    But of course Batman is also the greatest detective and for that we get Detective Mode. It's as simple as it sounds, Batman will start seeing things in a blue fashion, it can detect enemies, DNA trails, breath, fingerprints, clues, etc. Detective Mode is great, but perhaps it's a little too great, since there's no punish for using it, you can approach every challenge very prepared, effectively making the game pretty easy. Because of that you'll be in Detective mode throughout 80% of the adventure at the cost of not seeing the game's graphics.

    In terms of what you can do in the Asylum, there's some collectables and riddles to solve. The former being character biographies, tapes and the riddler trophies, while the the latter is something that the Riddler has prepared for you. You can find all of these things scattered all around the Asylum, but if i were you i wouldn't bother with it.

    However were the game really drops the ball is in the Bosses. To know how they are you just have to take the Bane boss battle, a muscle dude that rushes towards you, you throw a batarang, he hits himself and then you hit him while fighting some mooks, then rinse and repeat and there you go, those are the bosses of the game. The only bosses that mix things up are Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and Killer Croc, but even those have problems. Killer Croc is more boring than anything else, if you can even call it a boss battle and Poison Ivy is just more mooks with a giant plant in the background. Really the only boss i thought it was design well was Scarecrow, here you have to avoid being spotted by him, while going through a 2D course that tests your platforming and fighting abilities, that was a pretty good boss.

    Overall Arkham Asylum is a fantastic game, i can definitely see why it was the GOTY of 2009. There's plenty of content i haven't talked about yet, but honestly even when considering just the single player and the game's flaws...it's still amazing. The bosses may be uninspired, but the game kicks *** in so many other areas that i don't even notice.

    I'll give it a 9/10.    … Expand
  6. Termin8ter
    Jun 17, 2016
    9
    Batman Arkham Asylum is a superb game that proves that good Batman games can exist. Firstly, the gameplay and free flow combat is excellently original and molded game mechanics for years to come. Second, the voice acting is on point. Mark Hamill killed it as Joker, and Kevin Conroy nailed it as the Dark Knight. The graphics are solid too. My only gripe is that the main story could've beenBatman Arkham Asylum is a superb game that proves that good Batman games can exist. Firstly, the gameplay and free flow combat is excellently original and molded game mechanics for years to come. Second, the voice acting is on point. Mark Hamill killed it as Joker, and Kevin Conroy nailed it as the Dark Knight. The graphics are solid too. My only gripe is that the main story could've been a bit more interesting, and the final boss is terrible. I have to talk a out the exclusive content too. If you decided to pick up Arkham Asylum on PS3, then you would've been able to play the Joker challenge maps. These are really fun, and it's an absolute blast to play as the Jester of Genocide. But I don't really think it was necessary to make it a PS3 exclusive. Anyway, pick this bad boy up if you get the chance. Or, wait for the remastered version coming out bundled with a remastered Arkham City.… Expand
  7. homer4president
    Apr 4, 2016
    9
    Arkham Asylum is a great game, it combines tons of different gameplay elements fairly well, has a great story, plenty of extras, good production values, and a surprisingly high replay value.
  8. AhmayVee
    Feb 22, 2016
    8
    This is a fun game. Easy to follow and transition through the whole game. Very well made- the graphics are even pretty good. For those who haven't kept up with the stories within the Batman comics and movies, this game is entertaining and gives you background stories on each of the characters. This game is a bit dark, but that is the typical for the Batman stories- I recommend this gameThis is a fun game. Easy to follow and transition through the whole game. Very well made- the graphics are even pretty good. For those who haven't kept up with the stories within the Batman comics and movies, this game is entertaining and gives you background stories on each of the characters. This game is a bit dark, but that is the typical for the Batman stories- I recommend this game for everyone.… Expand
  9. nicomarin12
    Feb 16, 2016
    10
    I, as many others, fell in love with The Dark Knight Trilogy from Christopher Nolan. That turned me into a Batman fan, and a couple of years later I discovered the Arkham games. I started with Asylum so I could follow the story, I beat the game in 2 days and I usually take about a week or two. I simply loved this game and as soon as I beat it in normal mode I went again into hard mode.I, as many others, fell in love with The Dark Knight Trilogy from Christopher Nolan. That turned me into a Batman fan, and a couple of years later I discovered the Arkham games. I started with Asylum so I could follow the story, I beat the game in 2 days and I usually take about a week or two. I simply loved this game and as soon as I beat it in normal mode I went again into hard mode.

    Arkham Asylum is the greatest game that Batman fans could've asked for. It offers a simple, yet intriguing plot filled with the best villains from the comics such as The Joker, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and more. The atmosphere of the game feels dark, scary, perfect for a Batman game. It's like The Dark Knight with a bit of comic stripes thrown around there.

    The combat is addicting, so much that you'll want to beat all the challenge missions after you beat the main storyline. Sometimes it isn't fluid or smooth but the overall exerience is satisfying. The predator missions are what take the cake for me, these section make us feel like we're Batman at its finest. Hiding in the dark gargoyles, vents, and taking the enemies silently just like Batman would do.

    We also have some boss fights with our favorite villains that are challenging and varied. The voice acting is marvelous; we have the greatest Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker, and it couldn't have been better.

    I adore this game, it's one of the best singleplayer experiences in gaming and definitely the best super hero game (until Arkham City) that you can find. PS3 users will also have a bonus The Joker challenge missions wich have a cool touch to it, I mean, you play as The Joker, what else do you want?

    This game is definitely worth buying at full price, execpt that now it's no longer at full price so... Lucky you?    … Expand
  10. gdiego135
    Dec 3, 2015
    9
    If you've wanted to start playing the Arkham Games definitely start with the first, this one.
    Batman Arkham Asylum is an amazing game with interesting characters, fantastic voice acting, great combat and stealth action and a pretty good story, also with awesome boss fights except the last one.
    You want to be the Batman then pick this game up immediately because it's worth your time.
  11. marcelgermann
    Nov 9, 2015
    9
    Batman Arkham Asylum
    besitzt tolle Charaktere, der Joker ist der Wahnsinn in Person, Madison Ivy, Bane, Scarecrow, der Pinguin. Es gibt spannende Rätsel, die man mit den Batman-Gadgets lösen kann. Das Kampfsystem von Remedy ist revolutionär, es ist schnell, flüssig und wird mittlerweile von vielen Spielen übernommen. Oft befindet man sich in einem Raum mit Jokers Anhängern und kann sie    Batman Arkham Asylum
    besitzt tolle Charaktere, der Joker ist der Wahnsinn in Person, Madison Ivy, Bane, Scarecrow, der Pinguin. Es gibt spannende Rätsel, die man mit den Batman-Gadgets lösen kann. Das Kampfsystem von Remedy ist revolutionär, es ist schnell, flüssig und wird mittlerweile von vielen Spielen übernommen. Oft befindet man sich in einem Raum mit Jokers Anhängern und kann sie leise ausschalten, indem man auf Stützen sitzt,sich runterhängen kann oder durch Luftschächte klettern kann. Mit dem Batcape kann man direkt auf Feinde zufliegen oder sie mit der Batclaw ablenken. Je mehr Feinde bewusstlos sind desto nervöser werden die Gegner und schießen manchmal einfach in die Luft, die Ki ist sehr gut. Das Leveldesign ist klasse, abhängig vom Gegner verändert sich der Kampf total, die Level sind unterschiedlich und innovativ gestalt, wie die Scarecrow-Passage, wo er Batman vergiftet, der sich in einer Traumsequenz vor den Blicken eines Riesenscarecrows verstecken muss. Es ist im Gameplay und im Design sehr viel Abwechslung gegeben, genau wie die Bösewichte und deren fiesen Plänen    … Expand
  12. Darth24
    Nov 5, 2015
    8
    This game is a true Batman simulator, that really makes you feel like Batman, and allows you to face off against all of the classic Batman villains, like killer croc, poison ivy, scarecrow etc. However Batman's greatest villain is represented perfectly in this game, The Joker is voice acted to perfection by Mark Hamill, and really encapsulates the Joker on every single level. These aspectsThis game is a true Batman simulator, that really makes you feel like Batman, and allows you to face off against all of the classic Batman villains, like killer croc, poison ivy, scarecrow etc. However Batman's greatest villain is represented perfectly in this game, The Joker is voice acted to perfection by Mark Hamill, and really encapsulates the Joker on every single level. These aspects allow for a great dynamic with Batman and The Joker, that makes this game THE Batman game. The only problem that is found in this game is the disappointing final boss battle, but that still doesn't stop this game from being great!… Expand
  13. AMMANN7
    Sep 27, 2015
    9
    9/10

    Batman Arkham Asylum is an amazing innovative game but some of its flaws are too considerable to forget

    + Great story
    + Fighting Mechanics
    + Riddler Trophies
    + Boss Fights
    + Progression tree

    - Limited to Arkham Asylum
    - Some boring parts of an amazing story
  14. MennoRx
    Aug 29, 2015
    9
    This is a very fine game. The combat is very good so is the music and voice acting. The graphics are excellent. There are cerntaintly some glitches, also, the narrative a bit cliché. One final con, the final boss battle is very disappionting, but overal, one of my favorite games.
  15. rodericrinehart
    Jun 8, 2015
    9
    SCORE: 8.7/10

    I can see why it's "overwhelmingly positive" as its just a fun game. It shows its age a bit and has some annoying parts like the lack of a manual save and auto saves that are just too far apart. I think that all games should have a manual save except for in combat and except for the highest difficulty levels. A lot of what went into this games exceptionally high review    SCORE: 8.7/10

    I can see why it's "overwhelmingly positive" as its just a fun game. It shows its age a bit and has some annoying parts like the lack of a manual save and auto saves that are just too far apart. I think that all games should have a manual save except for in combat and except for the highest difficulty levels.

    A lot of what went into this games exceptionally high review scores had to be fun, originality, and excellent work with an existing comic IP. It used to be that games based on comics and movies were generally not good, but the tides have turned and now they are mostly good or far better. See: Batman, Shadow of Mordor, all the Lego games, Telltale games, and more.

    For five bucks, it's a must buy!    … Expand
  16. EHansen14
    Jun 1, 2015
    9
    Batman fans rejoice! Finally what we've always wanted from a super hero game. In this review for Batman: Arkham Asylum, I will give my opinions and ratings on the following: Gameplay, Story, Sound, Graphics, and Last Impressions. This will be followed by my overall score.

    Gameplay: 9.5/10 - The introduction to the now popular (and possibly over used) freeflow combat system. The first    Batman fans rejoice! Finally what we've always wanted from a super hero game. In this review for Batman: Arkham Asylum, I will give my opinions and ratings on the following: Gameplay, Story, Sound, Graphics, and Last Impressions. This will be followed by my overall score.

    Gameplay: 9.5/10
    - The introduction to the now popular (and possibly over used) freeflow combat system. The first time I got my hands on Batman Arkham Asylum and found myself surrounded by foes, I couldn't help but drop my jaw at how choreographed and fluid the combat in this game looks. There's a crunch to every punch, kick, and counter and it all just feels so good. The predator/stealth sequences deliver as well. There are many different options on how to take out your enemies, but after the first few predator encounters you may feel like the options are limited at times.

    Story: 9/10
    - Arkham Asylum delivers a new story for the Bat. Lead by Batman, Oracle (Barbara Gordon), and of course the Joker, the story had me wanting more until the very end. The delivery is excellent and cutscenes will be engaging for any Batman fan. The only thing keeping 'Story' from receiving a 10/10 in my review is the fact that it is quite short (about 10-15 hours). There is some more to do afterwards though (collectables and challenge maps).

    Sound: 9/10
    - Voice acting is done wonderfully by all expected voice actors and as I mentioned before, the combat has great sound effects.

    Graphics: 8.5/10
    - The whole Asylum has an awesome look to it. Scenery is excellent and well designed, characters all look how you'd expect them to look. Common NPC's you talk to throughout your journey on the other hand... don't look so good. Whenever the Bat is in an in game conversation is the only time this game doesn't look so good. Cutscenes and gameplay during combat and exploring both look excellent and run smoothly.

    Last Impressions
    - Arkham Asylum is an excellent game for any Batman fan. It is one of the very best super hero games I have ever played and because of the excellent story, feels timeless to me. I finished the game 3 different times and could see myself playing it again sometime down the road. It is a must play for any Batman fans.

    Final Score: 9/10    … Expand
  17. tsakiym
    May 21, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  18. DailySalesman
    Mar 22, 2015
    9
    After just coming from Arkham Asylum's successor Arkham Origins, I suspected it to be a bit of a step back for the series. Thankfully, I was proven wrong. The Arkham series continues strongly and it has now become one of my favorite game series of all time! The style of the game definitely reminded me of The Legend of Zelda (which is a good thing). The characters, stealth, and combat areAfter just coming from Arkham Asylum's successor Arkham Origins, I suspected it to be a bit of a step back for the series. Thankfully, I was proven wrong. The Arkham series continues strongly and it has now become one of my favorite game series of all time! The style of the game definitely reminded me of The Legend of Zelda (which is a good thing). The characters, stealth, and combat are all excellent just like they were in Origins. It's another excellent title.… Expand
  19. SirKirbyThe4th
    Mar 5, 2015
    9
    Great game! The sneaking is great, the battle mechanics are also great, but...... the bosses suck. You will encounter the same boss fight at least 5 times, & each with more enemies, to the point where it's crowded. I got the the point where I met joker, & he sent out 2 big dues, & I never played again.
  20. raijumc
    Feb 25, 2015
    9
    This was definitely an interesting game. When I first played it, I was totally blown away at how much attention and detail Rocksteady managed to incorporate into the game. Definitely one of the best games I played on my PS3

    Graphics: Nice cartoony vibe with great character models, and a great atmosphere. The environments were gorgeous, and the arkham asylum mansion itself being a    This was definitely an interesting game. When I first played it, I was totally blown away at how much attention and detail Rocksteady managed to incorporate into the game. Definitely one of the best games I played on my PS3

    Graphics:
    Nice cartoony vibe with great character models, and a great atmosphere. The environments were gorgeous, and the arkham asylum mansion itself being a sight to behold. One gripe I do have with the game is that most of the thugs you fight have similar models. A little more variety in the models would have helped.

    Sound:
    No complaints here. Joker being my favourite. Damn that sinister cackle.

    Gameplay:
    Interesting action brawler, beat em up style gameplay, with a lot of riddle finding which was fun as many puzzles were interesting to solve. Some boss battles were kind of weak, especially recycled ones such as Bane, steroid joker, and big grunts. Also the croc fight was just plain disappointing.

    Solid 9/10 from me    … Expand
  21. emlugo123
    Feb 23, 2015
    8
    Arkham Asylum was the first Batman game I ever played and I must say, its probably one of the best I have every played. Combat is pretty addicting and there are a lot of unlockables to collect making the longetivity of this game fairly long.
  22. DesignByAdrian
    Feb 21, 2015
    9
    I didn't know I loved Batman so much until I played this game (and then watched the new movies). Awesome stealth-mechanics, awesome fight-mechanics, awesome environments and atmosphere, awesome voice acting, and varied enemies and bosses! The sequel, Arkham City has you swooping between roof tops of a part of Arkham City, but I prefer the closeness of the Asylum!
  23. WheelzFourReelz
    Dec 30, 2014
    9
    Batman Arkham Asylum is a fantastic game where you actually feel like you're controlling the Dark Knight himself. Combat is satisfying and the setting is very dark, which suits the game well. Its only flaw is the poorly designed fight against Joker. That is the only problem with an otherwise flawless game.
  24. RossMK
    Dec 30, 2014
    9
    This game is not as good as the sequel but better then origins the game is very nostalgic and it is almost up there with the animated series plus the voice acting of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill is simply classic!
  25. andrew0w
    Dec 2, 2014
    9
    There is so much going right for this game. The story is great, the visuals are amazing, the interactions between Batman and the various villains is great. There was plenty to do in this game, in terms of collecting and discovering backgrounds on characters in the game, it's a must play.
  26. DeusXCom
    Oct 17, 2014
    5
    Extremely overrated. Thanks to all the hype and generally very high scores I was expecting something really amazing, but what i got was just an ok action game, where nothing really stands out and it all felt quite average to me. Visuals looks kinda bland, locations feel very samey, story is kinda there, but it's basically just hunting Joker down around the island which gets extremelyExtremely overrated. Thanks to all the hype and generally very high scores I was expecting something really amazing, but what i got was just an ok action game, where nothing really stands out and it all felt quite average to me. Visuals looks kinda bland, locations feel very samey, story is kinda there, but it's basically just hunting Joker down around the island which gets extremely annoying with his constant taunts and it's not just Joker's problem, overall most super-villain antagonists are just annoying and normal enemies are all the same hordes of thugs and grunts, from the start of the game to the end just endless groups of the same muscular thugs, that was very disappointing. The combat system is basically just a primitive button mashing, nothing to write home about. The batman himself in this game feel very empty as a character, without any sign of charisma, definitely no match for the movie counterpart. The entire game just screams bland and average to be honest and I don't really see where all the praise is coming from. What I liked however was when that tedious story mode with annoying Joker and Harleyquin finally ended, I wasn't forced to fight mindless groups of thugs and I was just there left alone to explore, to glide around, to use very cool gadgets, to search for the collectibles which contained actually more interesting story than the main story mode. That is were the game nailed it, the fact that all those gadgets actually work and are not only usable in the all around environment, but actually fun to use. It makes you feel like a batman, jumping around gargoyles, gliding in the night, searching for secrets, it's funny that I had really more fun post-end game than I did actually playing the main story, but at least I was able to enjoy some of what the game has to offer. 6/10… Expand
  27. MoozipanCheese
    Sep 27, 2014
    10
    Batman: Arkham Asylum is, to its strength, not an origin story, but it embraces all players regardless of their knowledge of Batman's long history; developer Rocksteady have crafted their own story and everyone is welcome. Respectful of its source material, Batman's adventure is a complete joy to experience. Players will explore every inch of Arkham Asylum if they're interested inBatman: Arkham Asylum is, to its strength, not an origin story, but it embraces all players regardless of their knowledge of Batman's long history; developer Rocksteady have crafted their own story and everyone is welcome. Respectful of its source material, Batman's adventure is a complete joy to experience. Players will explore every inch of Arkham Asylum if they're interested in completing the game fully, meeting a handful of colourful (and well-voiced) characters along the way as you attempt to stop the Joker and the rest of the inmates from taking over the asylum. Thankfully, due to unlockable bios and interview tapes, you'll never be wondering over the importance or backstory of each character.

    The gameplay has a "Metroidvania" feel to it, in that as you progress through the story you'll unlock gadgets that will allow you to return and advance through previously inaccessible areas. Exploring the island comprises the bulk of the game, and when you're not investigating the asylum, you'll be engrossed in the game's combat or stealth.

    Fighting relies on knowing how to deal with each type of enemy using the face buttons. Once you understand the rhythmic-based combat, you'll be building up whopping combos to take down your enemies (if you're any good), and it's oh-so-satisfying. At times, the camera can work against you when fighting in enclosed spaces, and the bosses are repetitive (but there aren't many), but the combat in this game is spectacular once you get into it. Moreover, playing on Hard difficulty removes the counter prompts above enemies' heads, which has a much larger effect on the game than you'd think. Stealth is what you'll often resort to in select rooms - usually when the enemy are carrying firearms. It's a little slow-paced if you're not familiar with the way the AI works, the room layouts, and/or the gadgets, but the change in pace is appreciated and provides a different way to play the game (sneaking around as Batman is always fun). Due to its superb pacing, it's important to note that the game never overwhelms you with all it has to offer, and be sure that the game does have a lot to offer during the campaign.

    Unfortunately, while you can continue to explore the asylum after completing the game, challenge maps are the only extras the game has to offer outside of the campaign. They're fine to play through once, but you'll tire of the Joker's constant taunts and you'll likely need to look at YouTube or a walkthrough for some of the more trickier challenges. Outside of online leaderboards and trophies, there's little point to them. Combined with the fact that the game's campaign is very short, you might be left wishing for more even after 100%ing the game.

    Ultimately, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a genuinely incredible game which I probably haven't done justice to in this quick little review. Aside from its comic book origins, its sharp writing and game design, its high-quality voice acting, its memorable set pieces like the three Scarecrow encounters, and more all make for a fantastic game in its own right - and the fact that it already includes a pre-established figure like Batman makes it easier to get into (again, even if you are generally unfamiliar with the character). Simply put, overcoming the Joker and the other dangerous inhabitants of Arkham Asylum is an adventure you should definitely consider experiencing.    … Expand
  28. onewarmslime
    Sep 20, 2014
    9
    Wow , when I bought this off the bargain bin at a local store I never expected it to be one of the best games I've ever played. This is a great product and you're gonna have a lot of fun playing it no matter what.

    So, as far as the gameplay is concerned it's flawless , except perhaps the enemy NPCs who are a bit too stupid/blind (you can stand right next to them and they won't see you    Wow , when I bought this off the bargain bin at a local store I never expected it to be one of the best games I've ever played. This is a great product and you're gonna have a lot of fun playing it no matter what.

    So, as far as the gameplay is concerned it's flawless , except perhaps the enemy NPCs who are a bit too stupid/blind (you can stand right next to them and they won't see you if you're crouching. Then again I guess they're not any worse than the guards in the Assassin creed games). Now Arkham Asylum is pretty short (12-13 hours on normal), but this isn't really a disadvantage - that's the way the plot is (which by the way is amazing), so the length seems appropriate.

    Then there's the challenge mode (it's like a battle arena, where you beat the hell out of various opponents), which is great fun and you'll definitely want to play them all after finishing the story mode (you can even play as the Joker). Problem is, to unlock them all you'd have to complete all side-objectives (namely to collect all "trophies" scattered around the island, or solve riddles), which honestly feels like a chore. You'd have to spend inordinate amounts of time to do it yourself without checking walkthroughs on the internet (something the game cheerfully aknowledges). It's a chore, but a pretty fun one, cause navigating around the Arkham Island is a very interesting experience.

    There's one tiny technical problem with the game; the music and sound effects are too loud compared to the dialogues, so you'd better turn subtitles on (or turn the volume up during cutscenes, then back down, cause the voice acting is top-notch). Overall this one's a blast and you gotta play it.    … Expand
  29. ZenoHunter
    Sep 20, 2014
    8
    The superhero game we deserved AND the one we needed.

    Graphics: In two words: Top-Notch. Batman himself looks fantastic,his suit radiating in detail and polish with his cape being on an entirely different level. The way it flows is ridiculously accurate to how a cape should move. You will get it occasionally to clip into the floor however and facial models can look a bit dated at times    The superhero game we deserved AND the one we needed.

    Graphics: In two words: Top-Notch. Batman himself looks fantastic,his suit radiating in detail and polish with his cape being on an entirely different level. The way it flows is ridiculously accurate to how a cape should move. You will get it occasionally to clip into the floor however and facial models can look a bit dated at times but nothing major. The art style is classic Batman,with it's creepy,classic noir with a mix of modern detail to it. Every character aside from Bane perhaps and Harley's new nurse outfit is a hit or miss looks exactly how they should and the knew Killer Croc and Scarecrow designs are fantastic. P.C is clearly the best as it has added effects and better quality overall. PS3 and 360 versions hold up but like most multiplats the PS3 may have the occasional FPS dip. Still looks great though. 9/10 easily.

    Gameplay: The gameplay is separated into two styles. Melee brawls and stealth sections. Melee Brawls put you against waves of thugs and utilizing "free flow combat" You take them out with a variety of punches,counters,kicks,throws etc with your combat arsenal growing bigger as unlock upgrades via XP you gain,ranging from more armor to more combat moves. Early on the game can be tempting in just mashing the attack button to win fights while tilting the stick in the direction the enemies are facing. Though the fights are nicely animated it can get tedious. Luckily the enemies eventually upgrade to shock batons and knife wielding goons which let you change your tactics and taking down a group of enemies makes you feel like your the Batman himself.

    Stealth is a bit more complex. Basically Batman finds himself in a room full of Goons armed with fire arms and since Batman is still a normal human you have to take them down silently,using stealth knock outs and various gadgets such as Batarangs and explosive gel. The thing that gives you the biggest edge however are gargoyles that act as perch points and Detective vision mode. The mode allows you to view the environment in a completely knew way,highlighting key points of interests,enemies through walls and such. It's useful,but almost too useful. The Thugs A.I isn't particularly fabulous as if detected you can simply grapple up to the Gargoyle perches and chances are they'll lose you. The game itself is pretty forgiving in that regard with Detective vision becoming simply overpowered at times.
    When you're not beating people up you'll be collecting trophies and solving Riddles around Arkham Island left by...well you know. How he did it is a bit ridiculous but suspending your disbelief is something you just have to do with superheroes. Solving riddles unlocks concept art and character profiles of certain characters to the Batman mythos/ Rocksteady clearly did their homework in this regard even for the most minor characters you've never heard off. Although it's a bit easy and repetitive if you don't use your imagination it's still solid. 8/10

    Story: This is your typical B level comic book story. After Batman returns Joker to Arkham Asylum,he stages a break out with the help of Harley Quinn and other villains,taking the entire place over while Batman desperately tries to stop him. The plots pretty basic and the writing won't win any awards but it's focused and works well. It'll also last you about 12 hours on normal difficulty. 7/10

    Characters: Like most of the game every character acts like they should. Batman is an intelligent no nonsense vigilante,Harley Quinn is a ditsy psychopath and Joker is the hilarious kind of psychopath. Other minor characters like Commissioner Gordon are good as well. Bane is a bit of a lumbering idiot which he shouldn't be but I can over look it. 8/10

    Sound: This game has some acting chops. Kevin Conroy as Batman,Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn and Mark Hamill as the Joker all deliver top notch performances with Hamill stealing every scene he is in. The Thugs and police sound a bit generic and bland but they're not the focus of the game so it's easy to look past. The music in the game has a creepy,faithful ambient sound to it that fits the Batman universe perfectly. 9/10

    Overall: 82. Great Game.    … Expand
  30. fijiboy
    Sep 8, 2014
    9
    this game really makes you feel like batman. it looks great even by today's standards, has a good story, a wide variety of interesting villains, very fluent controls that are easy to use, and great voice performances. Its dark and disturbing, just like a batman game should be. unfortunately the game feels too short and the ending isn't very satisfying. there are few other issues but theythis game really makes you feel like batman. it looks great even by today's standards, has a good story, a wide variety of interesting villains, very fluent controls that are easy to use, and great voice performances. Its dark and disturbing, just like a batman game should be. unfortunately the game feels too short and the ending isn't very satisfying. there are few other issues but they aren't worth mentioning because they dont really take anything away from the game. all in all this is a must play game, especially if your a batman fan.… Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PS3 Game of 2009
7
#7 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2009
5
#5 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 70 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 70
  3. Negative: 0 out of 70
  1. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    90
    The whole game is a class act. The fighting is sophisticated but arcade-addictive, the visuals are stylish, and the Lara-like exploration is smartly done. Plus the DC heritage feels all-encompassing like a big blanket. Arkham Asylum is comfortably the best comic book game that PlayStation's ever had, and is up there with the system's best actioners, full stop. [Sept 2009, p.95]
  2. Game Informer
    95
    Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's "BioShock," not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other. [Sept 2009, p.82]
    Read full review
  3. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    100
    Yes, this is the Batman you've been waiting for...It's a wonderful experience, beginning to end, never taking the easy or familiar route, and infusing each shift of the story with original ideas that cut no corners. [Oct 2009, p.70]
See all critic reviews »