Reviewers and gamers are going c-r-a-z-y over Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game, which went on sale today, is terrific: It masterfully weaves together a compelling storyline by veteran Bat-scribe Paul Dini, bone-crunching fisticuffs, vintage Bat-gadgets, oft-neglected detective work, and a satisfying turnout by the Dark Knight’s colorful rogue’s gallery (headlined by a Mark Hamill-voiced Joker). But I’m still surprised by how much attention it’s getting.
The shocker, of course, is that the game has risen above the skepticism people usually have with movie- and comic book–licensed games. Just in the last few months, games based on Wolverine, Transformers, Terminator, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, G.I. Joe, and Ghostbusters have underperformed, underwhelmed, or have flat-out flopped. Some of the backlash against these games was overly harsh — I actually enjoyed a lot of them, and I think the majority of the gaming audience didn’t give these games much of a chance because these types of titles have been so bad for so long. So for a game like Arkham to rise above the stigma of its middling forebears and create such positive buzz is an amazing achievement.
Now for the snap judgment: I’m not ready to toss Arkham into the mix for Game of the Year quite yet. That could change once I finish the game (I’m almost there), but I just see other games being even better before the year is over. Even with anticipated games like Bioshock 2 getting pushed back to 2010, ’09 is very competitive with the likes of Killzone 2 already out and games like Beatles: Rock Band, Halo ODST, Uncharted 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 waiting in the wings. If even a few blockbusters live up to their hype, Arkham Asylum will have a problem cracking my top 3.
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It’s Amazing. I got it, and I can’t put it down. seriously, go out and buy it. It’s a fun, original experience with an amazing story.
Looks cool. What system is this on?
PS3 and Xbox 360, though if you have the choice, pick the former console. The PS3 version supposedly has additional content that the 360 doesn’t have. It’s not significant enough to make the 360’s Arkham worse, but it’s a nice bonus if you own both systems.
Thanks! I only have a 360, but I’ve been looking for a new game to pick up. The last game I finished was Mass Effect!
I have both too, but I mainly use my 360 for gaming (I’m an achievement whore…those things are like crack), and my PS3 for blu-ray (plus whatever exclusive games).
Undoubtedly, the extra content will be released as DLC for the 360 in a couple of months. And I’ll buy it, sucker that I am (seriously, it’s those damn achievements).
And still your publication drops the ball on video games. There’s a long history of comic book adaptations, some good some bad, that is very separate from movie adaptations, which are almost exclusively one-playthrough merchandising efforts. This is the former. Still shocked?
Um…not even mentioning Dissidia?
Hey Gary, do you notice a trend between Arkham Asylum and the other licensed property games you listed in the second paragraph? If it’s not obvious, each of the videogame versions were released around the time the movie came out in theaters. That often makes a huge difference in quality. Remember N64’s Goldeneye? It came out two years after the Bond film was released. The better Star Wars games, like Rogue Squadron and Knights of the Old Republic? Decades after the original films. While there are anomalies, like The Chronicles of Riddick game, the recent Hulk one, and (arguably) Enter the Matrix, the majority of licensed property games that succeed take more time to become a fully developed game than a commercial tie-in.
As for Arkham, I imagine this game was developed even before the Dark Knight’s theatrical showings, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the tie-in was more coincidence than planned. No amount of TDK novelty can save a broken game.
Good thing too, because the last videogame in the Batman franchise (if you erase the awful cameo in Mortal Kombat vs. DC), Batman: Dark Tomorrow, sucked.
While the days of terrible licensed property games aren’t passed us, thanks to well designed games like Goldeneye, gamers are far more open minded about trying them.
Besides, Arkham sounds more enthralling a purchase than another round of Rock Band or an overpriced Halo 3 expansion pack.
You must not be a Beatles fan to call the new game “another round of Rock Band”. To a true beatles and rock band fan, that game is long coming.
Shout out to Mass Effect, otherwise known as “choose-your-own-adventure in space”. Oh yeah, Batman AA is good too.
Sorry to burst your bubble but amazingly the Wolverine game was terrific fun and garnered tons of positive reviews!
Not really “bubble bursting”. The Wolvie game was definitely quite fun, if overly repetitive. While you’re right in that its reviews were largely to positive (actually, average to positive), they’re not reaching the near-gushing that critics are handing over to “Batman: AA”. For the record, Metacritic has tallied a 73 for “Wolverine” with 60 critical reviews, while “Batman”’s at an astonishing 92 with 20 reviews.
This is going on my Birthday wishlist.
I’ve been wanting to get this game ever since I read a preview of it a few months ago. I’ve got a Wii but have seriously been considering buying a PS3 – this game just might seal the deal for me.
I had heard that, in the game, Batman is guided through AA with information received from Oracle. Does Oracle make a (vocal) appearance in the game??
I was certainly interested in this one, but I just had to buy a PS3 Slim to replace my dead 1.0 model, so that kind of put a crimp in my gaming budget. I think I’m holding out for Beatles: Rock Band, Uncharted 2, and Modern Warfare 2.
Yes she talks to batman through a headset.
There is also another comic book game coming out before years end that has quite a lot of hype going for it as well – Marvel’s Ultimate Alliance 2. With a rich, “civil war” inspired storyline and big, awesome, “fusion attacks” propelling its action, let’s not assume Dark Knight is a one-of-a-kind comic book sensation.
“Beatles Rock Band?” Come on… I’m so sick of rhythm games. I bought the original “Rock Band” in 2007 and decided I never needed to buy/play another rhythm game again.
Where’s the love for “Assassin’s Creed II?”
BAtman is game of the year. I jsut got it yesterday and have to pry myself away to go to work and I love my. job. I also really enjoy the ghostbusters game but bot game is as instanly addictive as Batman and that makes it my game of the year.
Thanks for such an insightful posting Gary. I sincerely hope that this was not meant as a review of the game.
I’d have to say this one is in the running for Game Of The Year. True, I still have get my grubby mitts on “Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2″ and “Alpha Protocol,” and I’m seriously torn on “Assassin’s Creed 2″ and “Halo: ODST.” And there’s the upcoming awesomeness of “Dragon Age: Origins.” Nevertheless, this is probably the best game I’ve played so far this year. Bringing back the voice cast from “Batman: The Animated Series” was an excellent call. Christian Bale may be burning up the silver screen with his take on the Dark Knight, but Kevin Conroy’s about as definitive as you can get in terms of voice work. Same goes for Mark Hamill voicing the Joker. Heath Ledger was awesome but Hamill’s moved into the realm of iconic. Right now, “Arkham Asylum” has staked a claim for GOTY, and the bar’s been set high.
Not only does Batman have the best superhero movie under his belt (TDK), now it’s the best superhero video game ever!