Arkham Asylum, and it's hype

Honestly, I don't get what people see in this game. I played it, bet it, and enjoyed it. Honestly, the game felt like an 8/10 to me. The combat was very weird looking and unnatural (just because it was smooth does not make it natural), the character designs were pretty weak in a lot of aspects, and the animations of Batman outside of combat looked very robotic (although the stealth sequences were awesome, imo).

To add insult to injury, I didn't find much reason to go back and play it again. The challange modes were basically pulled straight from the campaign, and all in all the game was just decent at everything it did...well, I guess it did incredible for a Batman game, since none before it were really all that good.

What about this game appealed to everyone? I've ever heard people say it was the best game they played all gen... :|

because batman beats chuck norris thats why

Honestly, I don't get what people see in this game. I played it, bet it, and enjoyed it. Honestly, the game felt like an 8/10 to me. The combat was very weird looking and unnatural (just because it was smooth does not make it natural), the character designs were pretty weak in a lot of aspects, and the animations of Batman outside of combat looked very robotic (although the stealth sequences were awesome, imo).

To add insult to injury, I didn't find much reason to go back and play it again. The challange modes were basically pulled straight from the campaign, and all in all the game was just decent at everything it did...well, I guess it did incredible for a Batman game, since none before it were really all that good.

What about this game appealed to everyone? I've ever heard people say it was the best game they played all gen... :|

xYamatox

I thought it had a very good and dark storyline, and had plenty of variety. Plus, I had fun collecting character tapes and cards and delving deeper into the Batman Universe.

The combat was sometimes very weak, especially in the boss fights, but the weak character design isn't the game's fault.

I think it's mostly because it took a lot of people by surprise. Yes it's not the best game ever, but there's not really much that you can say against it (besides some of those boss battles.)

Haven't played many action-adventures have you? The level of polish and depth of world design and characterisation is astonishing for a video game.foxhound_fox

Oh i have, I just don't see why this game got as much praise as it did. I mean, the boss fights were pretty bad, and there are literally 2 or 3 boss fights which are the same exact thing (Bane), just with more enemies thrown in...I don't really call that good by any means...

It might have something to do with the fact that most videogames based on comic books suck tremendously, so when one that's not only good, but great, comes out, it stands out even more in comparison.

Maybe it is a little overrated, but it's still a suberb game, IMO.

I wouldn't give it a AAA score either , but it was a great first effort.

Honestly, I don't get what people see in this game. I played it, bet it, and enjoyed it. Honestly, the game felt like an 8/10 to me. The combat was very weird looking and unnatural (just because it was smooth does not make it natural), the character designs were pretty weak in a lot of aspects, and the animations of Batman outside of combat looked very robotic (although the stealth sequences were awesome, imo).

To add insult to injury, I didn't find much reason to go back and play it again. The challange modes were basically pulled straight from the campaign, and all in all the game was just decent at everything it did...well, I guess it did incredible for a Batman game, since none before it were really all that good.

What about this game appealed to everyone? I've ever heard people say it was the best game they played all gen... :|

xYamatox

Honestly, I don't get what people see in this game. I played it, bet it, and enjoyed it. Honestly, the game felt like an 8/10 to me. The combat was very weird looking and unnatural (just because it was smooth does not make it natural), the character designs were pretty weak in a lot of aspects, and the animations of Batman outside of combat looked very robotic (although the stealth sequences were awesome, imo).

To add insult to injury, I didn't find much reason to go back and play it again. The challange modes were basically pulled straight from the campaign, and all in all the game was just decent at everything it did...well, I guess it did incredible for a Batman game, since none before it were really all that good.

What about this game appealed to everyone? I've ever heard people say it was the best game they played all gen... :|

xYamatox

Arkham Asylum was fantastic. The free-flowing combat was different. The customization was great, and the detail of the models on a lot of the villains was very well done. In fact, I feel the exact opposite of you, OP. It's a great game. As far as comic book adaptations go, it's the best, ever.

It was so highly regarded because it was one of the first games to actually do a comic book hero right. Plus who doens't want to be batman. But it is one of my favorite games of all time

thats odd. its intials are AA but that doesnt make any sense?? cuz its full blown AAA batman goodness!!!TH1Sx1SxSPARTA

Yep.

Fantastic game. Had a couple issues but definitely was worth a 9.

It was so highly regarded because it was one of the first games to actually do a comic book hero right. Plus who doens't want to be batman. But it is one of my favorite games of all time

James161324

-Great story (for what it is)

-Great Combat

-Great Voice acting

-Amazing Atmosphere

-Great Stealth

-Great Animation

Really, the only issue with the game is the boss fights. The amount of polish in the game is astounding.

Arkham Asylum was F*ing amazing. Period.

I had more satisfaction completing 30 combo streak on Batman than i ever did shooting people online on MW2 :p

-Great story (for what it is)

-Great Combat

-Great Voice acting

-Amazing Atmosphere

-Great Stealth

-Great Animation

Really, the only issue with the game is the boss fights. The amount of polish in the game is astounding.

UnrealLegend

Also an excellent portrayal of the goddamn Batman and the universe.

The only GOTY contender next to UC2. It was that good.

(Though that may have contributed from the Batman fan in me :P )Mr_Caboose007

i think most of its warm reception lies in the fact that it surprised everyone with the polish and detail/gameplay put into an officially licensed game. the acclaim just built from thjere. it definitely deserved it, it was a great game.

Yeah, yeah, yeah everything's overrated. Can somebody point me to a game that is neither overrated or underrated? I bet there is not one in existence.exiledsnake

Yeah I didn't like it very much.

Honestly, I don't get what people see in this game.

xYamatox

I think it's mostly because it took a lot of people by surprise. Yes it's not the best game ever, but there's not really much that you can say against it (besides some of those boss battles.)

cain006

I think this has alot to do with it... Nobody expected it to be so good. I personally loved it, and will probably play it again before Arkham City comes out.

It took me a while to get into Arkham Asylum. It was not until I had played the challenge maps for a while that I realized just how brilliant the gameplay is. To me that's the strongest part of the game. The combat systems is imo the best gameplay innovation this gen. It just feels so amazing when u build a large combo 8). Nine moves is not a lot, but every one of them have a strategic use. Still I'm happy they've doubled it for Arkham City along with adding depth (some moves are now executed in sequence) and more counters (double tap, tripple tap and holding). Only big problem with the freeflow system is that it's not designed for boss battles, but for taking out a group of regular thugs. That's why the boss battles were sub par in AA. RS hs admitted this and focused on improving them for AC. Let's see if they can pull it off!

Stealth is also excellent. It's a very aggressive form of stealth. In almost all other stealth games you have to spend a lot of time waiting for enemies to move into certain postions. In Arkham Asylum you can (and must to get a good result) use a much more aggressive approach. This works because Batman can move with ease throughout the entire map using his gadgets. Planning and executing a swift plan for taking out all guards in one sequence is incredibly satisfying!

On top of the gameplay the game has a creepy atmosphere, excellent VA, good story telling and a lot for hardcore Bat-fans to discover. And the best easter-egg ever! There are a ton of flaws if u look for them, but as a package the game is simply top notch!

I could say the same about Killzone 2...

-Great story (for what it is)

-Great Combat

-Great Voice acting

-Amazing Atmosphere

-Great Stealth

-Great Animation

Really, the only issue with the game is the boss fights. The amount of polish in the game is astounding.

UnrealLegend

TC, I know this probably won't change your view on the game, but perhaps it will enlighten you on why so much praise has been heaped upon it.

Arkham Asylum is easily one of the best games of this gen. It's got great visuals, amazing sound design and voice acting, great level design, fun combat (easy to learn, hard to master), intense stealth and hunter sections, cool gadgets, interesting and hilarious characters, unlockables, and re-playability. I must've finished it over two dozen times by now and still want more. It's a blast and pleasure to play in mostly every respect.

Not only is it fun to play, it's a gift for fans. I wasn't one before this game but now am. Aside from it being a great game, the other main reason for this is the Riddler challenges. They encourage exploration and creative thinking to solve, and reward the effort to find them with gadget upgrades, bios of every character in the Batman Universe, and they open up a 3D model showcase that can be viewed later on. This is not mentioning the Arkham tapes, which help give a general history of the institution.

Its technical merits are not to be under appreciated. It really is a marvel, and I don't think I've seen such a polished game in a long, long time. There's barely any clipping or texture break-up, the frame-rate remains smooth and steady throughout (dropping slightly in large outdoor areas when gliding I've noticed, but that's it). Loading is basically non-existent, and when it does happen it's kept to a minimum (4-5 seconds through doors) and does not interrupt the flow of the game. I play on the 360, so I can't speak forthe other versions, but would imagine the PC game doesn't suffer these issues.

On top of this, there's little design decisions that are sensical and intuitive. For example, it's possible to use multiple gadgets while only one is selected. Equip the explosive gel, use it by holding down the left trigger. Quickly tap the left trigger for a batarang. Double tap the right for the batclaw. If you're pointed in the general direction of what you wish to use these for, the game knows and selects accordingly. It lends a large degree of ease of use and flexibility. Speaking of ease of use and flexibility, the game has a huge feeling of freedom due to the ability to glide, the grappling hook, and line launcher. Zipping and gliding around levels is very simple and a hell of a lot of fun.

But the thing Arkham Asylum does best far and above everything else is it really makes you FEEL like The Dark Knight. From the way enemies get progressively terrified as you take more down, to Batman's purposeful stride, to his cape flaring before landing and flowing behind him when going through a door, from him adjusting his armor and crinking his neck after finishing a large fight, to his Batsuit getting more and more torn up throughout (until his cape is basically in taters for the last boss fight). These details add immensely to the atmosphere and feeling of walking in his shoes. The game also addresses critical elements of the character: his parent's murder, his closeness to Gordon. It also has the freakin' BATCAVE. I remember the first time I glided down into the spotlight,the cape gently flowing to his feet on landing. One of my best gaming moments in years.

If I were going to lay any faults at AA's feet, it would be one already stated: the boss fights. I don't think they're necessarily weak, but they're definitely not the strong point and are missed opportunities considering the arsenal of gadgets Batman has at his disposal. They're also repetitious (we don't need to fight Scarecrow three times, they could've including two other characters in their place). The story also takes a turn for the worse when the plants arrive, but not too bad.

So that's my essay. You have to be blind not to see what a great game AA is. I think a 9 is too low honestly, I really believe it deserves a 9.5. It is a perfect example of why I love gaming. As you can tell, I'm enamored of it. It's a serious labor of love from people who obviously love the source material, and I'm having a very difficult time waiting for AC.

TC, I know this probably won't change your view on the game, but perhaps it will enlighten you on why so much praise has been heaped upon it.

Arkham Asylum is easily one of the best games of this gen. It's got great visuals, amazing sound design and voice acting, great level design, fun combat (easy to learn, hard to master), intense stealth and hunter sections, cool gadgets, interesting and hilarious characters, unlockables, and re-playability. I must've finished it over two dozen times by now and still want more. It's a blast and pleasure to play in mostly every respect.

Not only is it fun to play, it's a gift for fans. I wasn't one before this game but now am. Aside from it being a great game, the other main reason for this is the Riddler challenges. They encourage exploration and creative thinking to solve, and reward the effort to find them with gadget upgrades, bios of every character in the Batman Universe, and they open up a 3D model showcase that can be viewed later on. This is not mentioning the Arkham tapes, which help give a general history of the institution.

Its technical merits are not to be under appreciated. It really is a marvel, and I don't think I've seen such a polished game in a long, long time. There's barely any clipping or texture break-up, the frame-rate remains smooth and steady throughout (dropping slightly in large outdoor areas when gliding I've noticed, but that's it). Loading is basically non-existent, and when it does happen it's kept to a minimum (4-5 seconds through doors) and does not interrupt the flow of the game. I play on the 360, so I can't speak forthe other versions, but would imagine the PC game doesn't suffer these issues.

On top of this, there's little design decisions that are sensical and intuitive. For example, it's possible to use multiple gadgets while only one is selected. Equip the explosive gel, use it by holding down the left trigger. Quickly tap the left trigger for a batarang. Double tap the right for the batclaw. If you're pointed in the general direction of what you wish to use these for, the game knows and selects accordingly. It lends a large degree of ease of use and flexibility. Speaking of ease of use and flexibility, the game has a huge feeling of freedom due to the ability to glide, the grappling hook, and line launcher. Zipping and gliding around levels is very simple and a hell of a lot of fun.

But the thing Arkham Asylum does best far and above everything else is it really makes you FEEL like The Dark Knight. From the way enemies get progressively terrified as you take more down, to Batman's purposeful stride, to his cape flaring before landing and flowing behind him when going through a door, from him adjusting his armor and crinking his neck after finishing a large fight, to his Batsuit getting more and more torn up throughout (until his cape is basically in taters for the last boss fight). These details add immensely to the atmosphere and feeling of walking in his shoes. The game also addresses critical elements of the character: his parent's murder, his closeness to Gordon. It also has the freakin' BATCAVE. I remember the first time I glided down into the spotlight,the cape gently flowing to his feet on landing. One of my best gaming moments in years.

If I were going to lay any faults at AA's feet, it would be one already stated: the boss fights. I don't think they're necessarily weak, but they're definitely not the strong point and are missed opportunities considering the arsenal of gadgets Batman has at his disposal. They're also repetitious (we don't need to fight Scarecrow three times, they could've including two other characters in their place). The story also takes a turn for the worse when the plants arrive, but not too bad.

So that's my essay. You have to be blind not to see what a great game AA is. I think a 9 is too low honestly, I really believe it deserves a 9.5. It is a perfect example of why I love gaming. As you can tell, I'm enamored of it. It's a serious labor of love from people who obviously love the source material, and I'm having a very difficult time waiting for AC.

MirkoS77

Well said. You've basically summed up my thoughts. :)