Doing justice to the license, Arkham Asylum is quite possibly the greatest Batman video game ever made.
The Caped Crusader is a shrewd detective, and he wouldn't be where he is today without his vast array of gadgets and acute sense of observation. You'll get to use most of his wonderful toys to full effect when you're negotiating the perils of the environment, scanning for evidence and pinpointing precise locations of enemies during stealth; like the Batarang, the Grappling Gun and Explosive Gel. But perhaps the most notable gadget in Batman's arsenal is his mask, which not only does a pretty good job hiding his identity as Bruce Wayne, but also comes programmed with enhanced Detective vision that allows him to see through walls and provides necessary bits of info on objects living and inanimate. Detective Vision is an indispensable tool for assessing potential threats and deciding upon an appropriate course of action. But, there will come situations where you'll be forced to enter close-quarters combat. This is where the game demonstrates the natural fighting skills of the Caped Crusader by means of free-flow combat. Using the analog stick, the player can control the direction of their attack blows to effectively deal with surrounding enemies and land a string of chain combos. When reaching a specific threshold, you can deploy stronger attacks like throws and ground finishers to stop an enemy from getting up. It all seems complex in hindsight, but the learning curve is generous through button indicators, and it shouldn't take long for even a beginner to quickly get a feel for the system.
The Joker won't be the only villain you'll contend with in Arkham Asylum. During the course of the game, Batman will have to deal with the likes of Killer Croc, Bane, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler---all sharing the common purpose of making your life miserable by any and all means. The Riddler himself is never shown, but that doesn't mean his presence can't still be felt. He's devised a little scavenger hunt to challenge the Batman's deductive and reasoning skills; composed of his infamous Riddles that are cleverly interspersed in every corner and devecote of the Asylum. Interview tapes, Joker teeth and the Chronicles of Arkham are also items that play heavily into the Riddler's game. So, needless to say, you're given a good reason to explore your surroundings rather than getting from point A to point B---which is hardly the point. The Riddles themselves are as challenging as you expect out of this classic Batman antagonist, and solving them is only part of the fun. For your trouble, biographies, model views, and exclusive WildStorm artwork can be unlocked for your viewing pleasure; all of it delving into the rich, interwoven Batman lore and providing surprising tidbits of information behind some of your favorite characters.
The environments of Arkham Asylum are appropriately morose given the dark nature of the Batman comics, immersing you in the macabre, creepy surroundings of one of the most dangerous places in the Batman universe---although some of the platforming can be a little tricky due to the third-person view. All of this comes complete with dank corridors, scores of dead bodies strewn all around (the victims of Joker's insatiable lust for killing and violence), and bone-chilling auditory ambience (i.e. dripping water, blood-curdling screams and the incessant chattering of Joker teeth.) In other words, you wouldn't want to be caught dead in a place like this, and the game goes out of its way to drive that point home. The voice acting is incredibly well done with both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their respective roles as the Batman and the Joker from the animated series, and the chilling, pulse-pounding musical score does you no favors in lightening the eerie mood of the game.
From a personal standpoint of a guy who grew up reading the Batman comics and playing the games associated with the license, Arkham Asylum does justice to the source material, delivering the true Batman experience for everyone involved. You'll do well to answer this Bat Signal, but prepare yourself---the Asylum is a mean place and only the staunchest of Caped Crusaders make it out in one piece. If you think you're got what it takes, give this game a shot.