Back in Spring 2007, Rocksteady Studios was approached to present their take to the coveted comic series that is Batman. Despite only having one game under their belt at their time, their passion and attention to detail came through, and on August 25th, 2009, they released what is perhaps one of the greatest superhero video games of a generation. The game follows Batman as notorious rival Joker is taken into custody at Arkham Asylum. Suspicious to Joker's actions that led to his capture, Batman personally escorts Joker into the Asylum, to which sure enough, Joker unleashes an elaborate plot, trapping Batman in the asylum while freeing many of Gotham's most infamous villains. Joker goes on to reveal that bombs have been placed all over Gotham city which will blow if anyone tries to enter the asylum. As such, Batman is forced into a solo and daring mission to restore order to this asylum and put a stop to Joker's schemes.
To put a stop to these Gotham goons and baddies, this game really tunes in to the Batman philosophy to create an immersive, Batman-esque experience. His combat skills are a satisfying mix of rhythm-based action, allowing for players to more easily piece together impressive combos and feel like a true combat master that Batman is. On the flip side, players can use the environment to their advantage, hiding in the shadows and silently picking off enemies one by one, demonstrating Batman's master of stealth. Equipped with his bat-like sonar-reading detective vision, Batman can easily identify foes, their levels of threat, and identify items of importance for tracking down clues. And there are many more gadgets where that came from, each offering unique means of combat and exploration. And Batman does all this while holding on to his personal code of ethics to not kill any enemies. This impeccable attention to detail made this more than just a game, but a fully realized simulation of being the Batman.
After receiving well-deserved critical acclaim, the developers went on to create more successful Batman games in what is now known as the Arkham series. These sequels featured much more sprawling, open-world environments as Batman took to the streets of Gotham City. Part of what makes Arkham Asylum so special though is the amazing world-building it was able to create from such a small and focused location. Being able to explore the asylum and its many wings on the island, discovering the hidden bat cave and how everything is interconnected, it was an incredible display to behold and joy to explore. The many nooks and crannies of this richly captured Gothic interiors were superbly infused with the gameplay too, allowing for many a stealthy scenario to plot out and decipher. And to add to this fantastic world-building, the game features a talented and esteemed cast of voice actors straight from previous works of the Batman series.
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| Even the upgrade system evokes the classic, graphic styling that is the Batman comics. |
Games that deliver this level of love and respect to a medium are few and far between, making them treasured treats to be sure. Signs look optimistic that Insomniac's new upcoming Spider-Man game may deliver this same degree of respect and passion. Let's hope they take some notes from this great gem here and learn that an attention to detail can make all the difference in it just being a game, and instead being a super-thrilled, simulating experience.
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