Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition

I found the combat to be quite lacking. There are only three basic attacks (attack, parry, stun), and two advanced moves that can be used after chaining a combo. You can also use the batarang and grappling hook to stun enemies, but using them in-combat often gives enemies time to hit you. There are also "predator" style stealth missions, where you have to eliminate a group of enemies in a room without being seen (they have guns and kill you pretty quickly if you're seen). My strategy was to hide on the gargoyles near the ceiling and take enemies out one-by-one sneakily. The game gives you floor-gratings to hide in, and walls to explode, but I found these hard to access without being seen. The first scarecrow mission was cool, but subsequent missions become boring (just a repetitive stealth mini-game). The bosses were quite lacking. On the occasion that I died, it was simply because I didn't know what to do. The death screen then explains how to defeat the enemy, and the fight is over in a few minutes. There are also challenges available from the main menu, but I didn't bother playing these. The story is decent, and features a variety of Batman's most popular villains. The ending and final fight are disappointing. The graphics and atmosphere seemed like they were cool, but I spent most of my time in detective mode looking for Riddler trophies, so I didn't really experience this much. Voice acting and music are good. Riddler trophies aren't such a big pain compared to collectibles in other games. They often lead you to references to other villains from the batman-universe which is cool. I would recommend you leave the collectibles until the very end. You need to have all of the bat-tools to find them all, so if you go search between missions you'll end up wasting your time.

You're Batman and have just delivered another villain to the infamous Arkham Asylum but oh no! The Joker takes over so now you have to fight, sneak and think your way out of it. Arkham Asylum was a surprise hit when it hit the scene and still holds up very well. It's not just an action game with a Batman theme, it is very much a Batman game. It honors its source material (mainly comic books) and delivers a very immersive experience. The gameplay supports this premise well, even though the combat needs a bit getting used to. It is rather short but definitely sweet and now finally available without Games for Windows Live or any other Nonsense attached to it.

I missed dc being so dark. The game is designed very well (with very little jank here and there) and feels comfortable with the controller. I love doing the riddle challanges the most, it has given me an addiction XD

You get to hang bad guys upside down.

Batman: Arkham Asylum sees Batman trapped with a number of his most famous and deadliest foes, racing against time to thwart the Joker and foil his latest evil scheme. This game features a beautifully spooky and melancholic atmosphere that's supported by gorgeous gothic architecture. The story is tight and well-paced, taking approximately eight hours to see the end credits. Batman frequently acquires new gadgets and upgrades that give you fresh options in combat and stealth encounters, as well as new ways to explore the asylum and its grounds. This game is positively bursting with Easter eggs and references to other Batman characters and stories, which I'm sure will please diehard fans and newbies alike. I sure found it all interesting! While Asylum is fairly simplistic compared to its sequels, it's still a great game all of these years later. I would highly recommend it to anyone.