Available for: Xbox 360, PS3, PC

“Batman: Arkham Asylum” does what no other Batman title could accomplish; it puts the player directly in the caped crusader’s famous cowl. This is no exaggeration. Players really will feel like they are Batman; and along with an exciting tale and amazing mixture of combat, stealth, platforming and clue-finding, Rocksteady Studios has managed to create 2009’s “Game of the Year.”

In order to replicate the full Batman experience, the developers knew that they would have to go above and beyond and they did exactly that with their new battle system called “Freeflow Combat.” Freeflow does exactly what its name implies; it allows each attack animation to smoothly transition as the player sees fit. Using only two buttons for basic combat, one for attacks and one for countering, the player can attack or counter different enemies depending on the direction they point the left thumbstick in as they press the buttons. This allows Batman to go from foe to foe, which is essential as most fights have Batman completely surrounded. Along with the freeflow combat system, Batman also utilizes an expanding array of bat-gadgets to disable foes and reach new areas.

Aside from combat, there are also stealth segments that force the player to think critically about how to approach and disable the armed inmates in the asylum. This forces Batman to stick to the shadows, vents and high places and quietly take out enemies. A helpful tool in these situations is the Detective Mode. When activated, Batman recieves x-ray vision and can find out how many criminals are in an area, what their state-of-mind is and whether or not they’re armed.
Along with the aggressive attributes, Arkham Asylum also pushes Batman’s often-overlooked detective skills. With Riddler loose among the other inmates, he decides to test Batman’s wits by scattering perplexing riddles and collectibles throughout the asylum. The riddles force players to look very closely at the environment to find solutions. Fortunately, meticulous searching is handsomely rewarded in the forms of extra challenge missions, which greatly extend the game’s replay value after completion of story mode, recorded interviews with Arkham inmates and character models.

The story in the game revolves around the Joker breaking into the asylum and setting the inmates free. With an emphasis on the Batman vs. Joker dynamic, it seems only fitting that Kevin Conroy and Mark “Luke Skywalker” Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and Joker from “Batman: The Animated Series,” along with Arleen Sorkin, the original voice of Harley Quinn.
Arkham Asylum is a game so well done that anything negative, like a couple lackluster boss fights at the end is easily overlooked. It would be crazy to not pick this game up today.

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