The game has a fairly closed gameplay atmosphere. In a description by Game Informer, the gameplay is reminiscent of BioShock.[8] Gameplay places just as much focus on Batman's role as a detective as on his combat prowess. Most of the game is played from Batman's perspective through an over-the-shoulder, third person perspective, similar to that of Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space.[9]
Arkham was chosen as a location because of its limitations including the fact that it's located on an island. Arkham will be a persistent location that the player is able to freely roam, including an area that serves as Batman's secret on-site Batcave. Arkham will make use of Batman's many gadgets to accomplish tasks and take down foes, such as using the grapple gun to get a better perspective on a particular area.[10]
Combat
Some boss battles are focused on combat while others will focus on gadgets. Combat description features Batman perched on a high ledge in a wide open room as some of the Joker's thugs rifle through drawers. Batman switches to detective mode using a blue tinted visor that among other things lets Batman see his enemies through walls and identifies things like guns and knives. One thug is carrying a machine gun, so Batman jumps off the ledge, spreads his cape, and stuns him. He then swipes his cape to stun his other enemies and engages them in combat. FreeFlow Combat[10] is accomplished using only three buttons: Attack, Stun and Takedown.[8]
File:Batman stalk.pngBatman descends on Victor Zsasz.
During battle, a combo multiplier at the top of the screen will increase with every strike. Once the combo expires, a colony of bats will swirl around Batman and then contribute to an experience bar on the left side of the screen. In an RPG-like skill tree system players will be able to distribute points where they prefer. Gadgets are revealed by collecting items in secret rooms, and they can be upgraded using accumulated experience points to access new areas. The player will need gadgets to survive against certain enemies. There are sections that involve stealth, although the developers state that they prefer to call them "Predatory" gameplay sections, as stealth tends to imply weakness. Batman can create distractions with bodies and victims' yells, and then stalk the guards as they go to inspect. The combat experience is heightened using realistic physics.[8]
Detective
Investigative mode is the centerpiece in Batman's arsenal. While in detective mode, the visors in the cowl will be engaged.[11] The visor can highlight points of interest and scan items into Batman's database, similar to the Scan Visor found in Nintendo's Metroid Prime trilogy. Other gadgets include a pheromone tracker, a fingerprint scanner, and an x-ray vision mode.[10] Additionally, the detective gadgets will be able to identify riddles scattered throughout each level of Arkham, which unlock challenge maps and other upgrades after a certain set of them are solved.[9]
Plot
The game begins with Batman capturing the Joker after his latest plot and escorting him to Arkham Asylum for imprisonment. Due to the Joker's recent attack on Gotham City's Blackgate Prison, a large number of sane convicts have been transferred. Shortly after arriving, however, the Joker, with the help of Harley Quinn, frees all the inmates and locks down the Asylum with Batman, Commissioner Gordon, and much of the staff still inside.
After fighting some enemies on the first level, Batman makes his way to locate the Joker. Soon Batman learns that there is trouble in the pacification room after encountering staff member Eddie Burlow. Batman learns from Zach Franklin that Zsasz has escaped and has captured one of the guards. Batman manages sneak up on Zsasz and take him down with a glide kick. Batman then gets a transmission from Harley Quinn that she has captured the wardenfor the Joker. Batman learns from Oracle that Joker has placed bombs all over Gotham threatening to detonate them if anyone enters Arkham. Batman contacts Oracle telling her that Joker has taken control of the cell block transfer corridor. Batman takes out the inmates there.
Batman then takes ends up filtering the air that's filled with Joker venom in Decontamination. Batman confronts Joker who ends up unleashing an experimental human on Batman. After Batman defeats it, Joker escapes further into Arkham Asylum.
Batman learns from a transmission by Joker that Commissioner Gordon ends up knocked out by Officer Frank Boles and taken to Harley Quinn. Discovering the alcahol used to knock out the Commissioner, Batman follows the alcahol vapors. At the intensive treatment lobby, Batman discovers that Frank Boles had been subjected to Joker venom. After clearing the lobby, Batman learns from William North that Frank Boles and Harley Quinn had massacred some of the guards with assistance from prisoners transfered from Blackgate Prison.
Batman makes his way to the Arkham Island's exterior. He learns that Joker has sent some prisoners to go destroy the Batmobile. Batman manages to fend them off.
Upon entering the Medical Facility, ends up defeating the thugs there.
While looking for Commissioner Gordon in the morgue, Batman encounters Scarecrow and defeats him. Upon re-entering the morgue, Batman gets the drop on Harley Quinn and saves Commissioner Gordon. Upon entering a room, they find Bane hooked up to a machine pleading for help until Joker turns on the venom enough for Bane to break free and attack Batman. Batman ends up breaking the tubes on Bane to defeat him.
Upon going through the caves, Batman infiltrates Arkham Mansion where Scarecrow attacks again with an army of skeletons.
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Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual core)
Memory
1 GB (Windows XP) ; 2 GB (Windows Vista)
2 GB (Windows XP) ; 3 GB (Windows Vista)
Graphics hardware
Shader Model 3 NVidia 6600 or ATI 1300 or higher
NVidia 7900 GT or higher
The story was co-written by Paul Dini (Batman: The Animated Series, Detective Comics)[11] while Wildstorm crafted the appearances of the characters.[11]Game Informer teases that Arkham Asylum will be the ultimate Batman experience and the voice cast will reflect that, featuring Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker and Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn in the game, reprising their voice roles from the long-running DC Animated Universe.[11]Tom Kane joins the cast as Commissioner Gordon, Amadeus Arkham and Warden Sharp. The game will be based on the 70-year Batman franchise as a whole rather than being tied to any particular adaptation. Arkham will run on Epic GamesUnreal Engine 3.[27][28][29] The Windows version will make use of Microsoft's Windows Live service, allowing players to earn gamerscore.[6] In April 2009 ads began appearing in the PlayStation Network service advertising the ability to play as the Joker.[30] IGN later confirmed that the Joker will be available at the launch of the game as a free download from PlayStation Store,[31] but will only be playable in the Challenge Maps.[31] Joker is exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version. [32] In the PlayStation 3's online community-based service PlayStation Home, users can unlock the Batcave Outpost personal apartment as well as Batman's suit, gadgets, and the Batmobile from the game.[33]
A Collector's Edition has been released by GameStop.[34] The package features a 14 inch Batarang in the style of the game, a 50 page character journal, a bonus DVD or Blu-Ray disc (depending on whether or not it is for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3) including interviews with voice actors, an exclusive Crime Alley Challenge Map, and a Batarang Box Set.[35] Additionally, an exclusive preorder challenge map from Gamestop was announced called 'Dem Bones.' It features the Scarecrow and places Batman under the influence of Scarecrow's 'fear toxin' causing him to hallucinate and all the enemies to be seen as skeletons. [36]
Arkham has been well received so far, and holds a 91% at GameRankings based on 12 reviews.[47]Metacritic currently holds the game at 91% (based on 13 reviews). The first review of the game was published by GamesMaster. The magazine awarded Arkham Asylum a 96%[49]. Blogger RamRaider criticized the review and accused Eidos Interactive of review fixing.[50] However, these claims remain unsubstantiated.[51] Eidos released the following statement in response to the controversy.[52]
"With regards to an article posted on RamRaider alleging that Eidos has fixed review scores for Batman: Arkham Asylum, we want to state that no discussions have been held about review scores with any magazines. In short there is simply not one shred of truth in this article, except for the title of the game."
— Jon Brooke, Eidos UK marketing manager
Game Informer praised the game, stating "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." It was rated 9.5/10[41]OPM gave Arkham a 9/10, citing "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." OPM summarized the game as "a class act".[44]Xbox World 360 scored Arkham 95%, stating "a massively impressive licensed game."[53]IGN's Greg Miller gave the game a 9.3 out of 10, praising the voice acting, the story and overall gameplay and called it "the greatest Comic Book game of all time."[21]Eurogamer also praised the game, stating "this isn't just the best grown-up Batman game, it's the best superhero game, bar none", and scoring Arkham with a 9/10.[39]1UP.com's Thierry Nguyen gave the game an A-, stating that developer Rocksteady "manages to combine combat, stealth, storytelling, and cartoon voices into the best digital Batman simulator we've seen to date."[38]Gametrailers praised the game's "little details that truly bring Arkham Asylum to life", and that consumers should "know that this is a game worth playing", giving Arkham a 9.0/10.[43]
^Miller, Greg (2009-01-30). "Batman: Arkham Asylum First Look". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-30. Yes, Arleen Sorkin is back to reprise her vocal role from Batman the Animated Series
^Daniel Phillips and Phil Pirrello (2008-08-21). "Batman: Arkham Asylum - Players Wanted". IGN. Retrieved 2008-08-21. Challenging Bats as he tries to stop the bad guys from conquering Gotham are Joker, Riddler, Bane and Killer Croc
^Kohler, Chris (2009-01-30). "A First-Hand Tour of Batman: Arkham Asylum's Madhouse". Wired News. Retrieved 2009-01-30. Characters pulled from deeper in the Batman canon, like Killer Croc and Blue Beetle, also appear. (Don't worry, I don't know who they are either.)
^"Games Master" (September 2009). Batman: Arkham Asylum - Is this the game of the year? We go inside the madhouse to bring you the world's first review
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