Holy Great Game Batman!
I was as sceptical as the next person when i played the demo, found my self wondering how they could possibly keep the pace and quality up at such a high standard for a full game. Well im happy to report that the game does just that and a whole lot more.
The graphics for starters are amazing, with the exception of Bat's cape (tends to get in your way when trying to take down enemies) everything looks first rate. Batman is well animated as he strolls around Arkham and when you take part in battle the animation is fast and fluid never missing a beat. The enemies are also well detailed and any boss you come accross looks exactly as they should.
The games soundtrack has also been handled very well, the main theme plays quietly in the background as you wander around solving riddles but when you encounter enemies the music ramps up to fit the mood. The voice cast from Batman the animated series is on show too so expect to hear Mark Hamil cackling away as the joker whilst Kevin Conroy attempts to track him down as Batman. The only low point of the acting is that you tend to hear the same phrases repeated by the generic goons.
The story itself is like a feature length episode of the animated series, the plot never feels too far fetched (in the context of the universe) and everyone behaves exactly as youd expect. Every so often you find interview tapes with the patients and these help fill in the blanks avoiding any out of place narritve that features in so many other games.
Challange mode is a great addition and will really make you work for the last of the points, it can get a little on the frustrating side but you never at any point feel that the taks are impossible or beyond your reach.
All in all Batman Arkham Asylum is a game that you should play if you like Batman/like Castlevania style adventures or just want to try something with a slower pace. The narritive is both gripping and handled in such a way that even novices to the Batman universe will easily be able to understand it. The stealth elements are well implimented and instead of feeling weak like in other games of that type you always feel like you are the predator and the goons are your prey. It isnt the hardest game but solving all of the riddles will easily double the 10 hours or so of gameplay time.
