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Batman: Arkham Asylum

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8.8 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 29 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 145 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Eidos Interactive / Warner Bros. Interactive

Developer: Rocksteady Studios

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: September 15, 2009

Summary

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics' detective to life with stunning graphics. Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham's worst villains with Batman's physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game. [Eidos Interactive]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

ImpulseGamer

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the ultimate Batman experience, hands down.

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100

Cynamite

Batman's trip to the asylum has hardly any flaws. The controls fit perfectly and the missions will entertain you every second you play this game. Buy it, play it, love it.

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100

GameSpy

If you're a Batman fan, this is the best treatment the World's Greatest Detective has ever received in videogame form -- and if you're not a Batman fan, Arkham Asylum will change that. This is how to make a licensed game.

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100

Gaming Nexus

For Batman fans, this game is a long time coming. Taking the Unreal engine, Rocksteady has gone and made a truly fun superhero game and it looks incredible on the PC.

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Game Over Online

This is very nearly the perfect game. This game is as close to 100% as I’ve ever seen.

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YouGamers

A flawless PC conversion with PhysX visual extras over the console versions. In every way polished and fun, managing to at all times to capture the essence of Batman. Game of the Year material.

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Strategy Informer

It’s unreservedly brilliant.

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IGN

Rocksteady nailed what Batman is supposed to feel like. Fans, rejoice.

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PC Gamer

An amazingly polished, finely crafted piece of action gaming excellence that's worthy of the name Batman. [Dec 2009, p.70]

Computer Games Online RO

Long story short, if you’re still not convinced that Batman: Arkham Asylum deserves your precious time, grab the demo, play it, then run to the store and buy it.

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Cheat Code Central

I can say with confidence and cannot stress enough, Batman: Arkham Asylum is, without a doubt, the best Batman game ever created. It does more than give you the Batman game you want, it gives you a video game that you could play repeatedly, even if it didn't have the caped and cowled Dark Knight in it.

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GameZone

This is the first game that truly grants players an opportunity to be Batman, whether he’s using his intellect or his fists. Anyone with even a modicum of interest in playing an awesome Batman game should pick up Arkham Asylum, without any hesitation.

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2404.org

A remarkable achievement. I need to stress just how thoughtful and smart its progression is. The way you make your way around Arkham is executed so well, and everything about the game is polished to an almost offensive sheen.

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3DJuegos

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a massive triumph: Action, stealth and investigation as its best. The best videogame based on Bob Kane’s composition, and the best superhero game this far too. A brilliant work that drives Rocksteady to the highest rank of developers.

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Gamers.at

The gameplay is diversified, the graphics are great and the combat-system is one of the best we have ever encountered. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a definite "Must-Have" on any platform and more then worthy to wear the famous name of The Dark Knight and Worlds greatest detective.

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GameDaily

The result is so good that we're declaring it an easy 'Best of' contender for 2009.

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Play Magazine

There isn’t a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn’t polished to the utmost degree.

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GameSpot

Everything about this game--the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat--feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that's both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material. Miss out on this one and the joke's on you.

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SpazioGames

Batman Arkham Asylum is a product of absolute value that can count on a cast of colorful characters to build a great game, really fun. The greatest strengths of the production lie in the gameplay built around what are the real capabilities of Batman, mixing action and stealth section, but always related with the universe from which have been extrapolated. Rocksteady's game is certainly the new standard for understanding how produce games under license, adapting for videogaming the very spirit of this historic character.

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VideoGamer

Whether you fancy skulking in the shadows, smashing slow motion fists in into a goon's skull, or simply using some cool gadgets, you can do no wrong with what is Eidos' best game in years.

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PC PowerPlay

A new benchmark for superhero games, and a serious GOTY contender. [Dec 2009, p.56]

Boomtown

Buy this game. It's as simple as that. It's a masterpiece of design from concept to execution and is my game of the year so far.

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PC Gamer UK

The most satisfying brawler ever coupled with an uncommonly creative stealth game. Only the bosses drag it down. [Nov 2009, p.94]

PC Format

It's far from perfect, but still a damn good rollick through DC's well carved territory. [Nov 2009, p.88]

PC Zone UK

If the combat has been a bit more sophisticated in the latter stages of the game, it'd have been a nailed-on Classic. [Dec 2009, p.62]

FiringSquad

It’s certainly the best Batman game by far, probably the best action/adventure game this year. Accordingly, I hope that Rocksteady has a sequel in the works.

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Absolute Games

Rocksteady and Paul Dini created a game which is open for both fans and those who never heard of Batman. Arkham Asylum is the middle between animated series and Chris Nolan’s movies. But don’t let the “Teen” rating push you away: the gloomy hospital/prison where criminals are literally monsters and doctors are crazier than their patients, is more atmospheric than some “horror” flicks.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

New Batman game deserves the title for being the most adult Batman game ever. Great design, rough melee fights and a perfect cast of all the protagonists makes it the best choice among other comic rivals. [Oct 2009]

Total PC Gaming

This is simply the best superhero game out there and a real treat that shouldn't be missed. [Issue#24, p.45]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 145 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Marc B gave it a9:
Incredible game. Was fun and satisfying to finish, great visuals, good controls, story is nice and interesting. If you like action games that get you head going on puzzles, this one is for you !

Jake F gave it a9:
From what I've played of this it's certainly one to add to your collection. Stunning combat featuring unique camera angles giving it that all important super hero theme. It portrays an epic storyline and features the greatest Batman villain of all time, the Joker. Not usually my style of game, yet it seems to have that truly great feel to it.

Scott P gave it a10:
This game is fantastic, with engaging graphics and cinematic combat. While the combat system appears simple at first, and is very accesible, it has a hidden depth. As you learn and gain experience in using it, you will find Batman's combat abilities increase substantially. If you love comic books, martial arts, or first person sneaker games generally, don't miss this one!

Colby A. gave it a7:
I have a hard time rating this game, because I find it utterly boring - like most console games. But, in all honestly, it's good for what it is. Graphics are good, it's true to Batman as a character (i.e. he doesn't kill anyone, just KO's them), and it has a bunch of fun gadgets to use. My complaints with the game, however, are that it focuses to much on boring, repetative collection side-quests (that are often ridiculously difficult to solve), some of the boss fights are unfair and unbalanced (and often tricks aren't explained until you miraculously figure them out after dying 20 times), and regular combat is reptative and you are forced into VERY unbalanced fights with no weapons other than your fists against 5 or more enemies. There are a number of choke points I ran into where I simply couldn't get past 5 to 8 enemies that all attacked me at once because mastering the fighting system is a challenge for all but the most veteran of players with all but the fastest reflexes. Difficulty curve was, simply, a little to challenging. I also really, really, really hate completing a section and being forced to revisit it for an old gadget that was impossible to access the first time through, or simply to try and track down a boss for a third time. Revisiting old sections is really boring, and you have to do it ALOT with this game.

J C gave it a9:
Waaaaay too many 10s on this list for my liking. A 10 is a perfect game that hits all the buttons and while Batman: Arkham Asylum is a really great game it does have its drawbacks. The combat is fluid and smooth, as well as the movement, grapple and gliding. The Graphics are great, the combos are excellently scripted and executed and the boss battles are unique. The game has tons of minigamers to enjoy, including riddler challenges and extra fight content as well as other stuff. Now for my small criticisms and why the game doesnt deserve a 10. One, the use of the detective skill is somewhat demeaning. They arent mysteries, more like follow this here, take picture, move on, Batman thinks through the rest. My 2nd qualm is the xray type vision you get. This is the single most exploitative and useful piece of equipment in the game. I love it and I hate it. It makes those beautiful takedowns too easy and I am always aware of everyone else's presence in a room. This really diminishes from the feectiveness of the challenge. Most people would say "Wlel just dont use it", but its there. I dont agree with the assessment on the voice acting as the cold comments made by Batman and the great liners made by Joker and Harley were amusing. As well, I must defend this game from the idea of no-multiplayer. What doyou want, Joker fighting Batman in 1v1? Team plays? A multiplayer for this game would have been no more then a cheesy gimmick. My only other qualm was that the storyline was somewhat short. However, this isnt the fallback of the game, its more the experience of the gamer. People new to games or whom like to take this time could easily rack up 6-12 hours of gameplay while the traditional and experienced gamer could probably navigate the game in one sitting of 4-5 hours. However, thats only a minor drawback but it would have been fun to see more content. I hope that the sequel will be of as good quality.

azbobs gave it a9:
Good graphics and game play is ok. The fight scenes are cool

Freddy K gave it a10:
The best of the Movie-based (also comics based) games. Wonderful story and ease game play...

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Batman: Arkham Asylum

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

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