I don't usually like Challenge Modes. Usually, I just play the main story or gameplay mode, and I leave things like Time Attack and Endless Mode to their own devices. If there are unlockables or trophies involved, I might give these modes a try, but for the most part they hold little interest with me. I left the Portal challenge maps largely untouched. I hardly broke into the Shadow of the Colossus time attacks. I struggled through the Street Fighter IV challenges (except for the hard trials) and they weren't very enjoyable. It wasn't until the God of War Collection that I bothered with the Challenges of the Gods and Titans.

But now Batman: Arkham Asylum once more shows its true brilliance with a Challenge Mode that I actually find worth playing. First of all, the Batman challenges are not constrained by time limits (except for one), which I am immediately grateful for. I am not a speedy gamer. I like to take my time with things whenever I am able to. The Batman challenges take two of the best things about the game, the combat and the stealth sequences, and place you right in the thick of them to play whenever you want. The combat challenges reward you for long, varied combos, which are fun and satisfying to pull off (and they look awesome). The stealth challenges reward you for satisfying certain criteria in each challenge, usually specific types of takedowns (which also look awesome). Both challenge types help you improve skills of use in the main gameplay mode. Again, well thought out and well-implemented. Batman: Arkham Asylum is just pure up and down awesome.

I also got a couple of new games. For little more than $5, I got Beaterator for PSP. I like music and I like games, and I like it when these two come together. I also got Flower. I've heard a lot about the game, and have seen all of the awards the game has been winning, so I figured it was time for a change of pace. I'm going to see if I can resist buying any more games until all of the 2010 releases on my wishlist start dropping in price.