Batman: Arkham Asylum returns with a Game of the Year Edition. Batman: Arkham Asylum launched to critical acclaim in summer 2009 and has often been referred to as the 'best license game ever' and a 'must buy' on gaming websites and magazines. It's been praised for delivering a compelling mix of action, stealth and puzzle-solving game-play tied with a dark original storyline penned by five-time Emmy award winner Paul Dini and supported by a famous cast of voice actors, including Mark Hamill as The Joker and Kevin Conroy as Batman.
Features include:
•Face off against Gotham's greatest villains including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc •Become the Invisible Predator with Batman's fear takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen and hunt enemies •Experience a whole new game to play with Game of the Year Edition •Utilize the unique FreeFlow combat system to chain together unlimited combos seamlessly and battle with huge groups of The Joker's henchmen in brutal melee brawls •Investigate as Batman, the world's greatest detective, by solving intricate puzzles with the help of cutting edge forensic tools including x-ray scanning, fingerprint scans, 'Amido Black' spray and a pheromone tracker
Features:
•
Face off against Gotham's greatest villains including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc
•
Become the Invisible Predator with Batman's fear takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen and hunt enemies
•
Experience a whole new game to play with Game of the Year Edition
•
Utilize the unique FreeFlow combat system to chain together unlimited combos seamlessly and battle with huge groups of The Joker's henchmen in brutal melee brawls
•
Investigate as Batman, the world's greatest detective, by solving intricate puzzles with the help of cutting edge forensic tools including x-ray scanning, fingerprint scans, 'Amido Black' spray and a pheromone tracker
Average Customer Review:
( 96 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 80 found the following review helpful:
Great Grame - not worth it if you already have the original editionMay 21, 2010
By Rogue Rafen I played this to completion when it first came out, but didn't own the game. I picked up a copy of the GotY edition today because I wanted to play through on a harder difficulty, and also the challenge modes are the kind of thing it's fun to come back to every once in a while for 15 minutes of fun (which can easily turn into 2 hours).
This is an awesome game and I can't recommend it enough for people who haven't played it.
A couple gripes about the GotY edition: * My saves and progress from the original version are not compatible. I'm guessing this means that the leaderboards for the challenge modes will also be separate. This is a big disappointment, as I won't be able to compete against my friends who have the original version. * The 3D is a cool gimmick, but not quite cool enough for me to want to play the whole game that way. I turned it off after about 30 minutes.
Again, I highly recommend this game if you don't own the original, but can't say it's worth picking up if you already have Arkham Asylum.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
One of the best games ever, hands down.Dec 12, 2010
By Stephan P. O'rando
"Steve O'Rando"
I've been a gamer for a long time now, although not a die-hard core gamer that has to have everything. I just recently bought an XBox 360 after lots of research. And the reason I bought it was because of this game. I was at the store looking for some PS2 games and saw this advertised with trailers. I was blown away by the look of it. So now I have the GOTY edition, and it is incredible. I've only played it through once, on the easy level, but it was tremendously fun and brought Batman to a new light for me.
I've been a comic book and superhero fan for as long as I've been a gamer, but I've never been a big Batfan. This changes that however. You can fight it out, throw batarangs, use grapples, talk to Oracle, climb up on roofs, into ceilings and ventilation systems, and stalk the bad guys. You can even do the ultra cool crash through the ceiling onto the unsuspecting bad guys! Adding Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill to the voice casting was just the icing on the cake for me.
Hands down, the best video game I've ever played, on any system. You become Batman, and do all of the cool stuff he is known for. Oh, and no Robin!
35 of 44 found the following review helpful:
Fun, but, Oh, Amazon...Jul 22, 2010
By cdaugette So, I debated between buying this version and the collector's edition. This is the edition I chose because I read a line that said Joker is a playable character...it said this even for this 360 version of the game. I probably should have done more research, but no Joker is not. Joker is only for PS3, sadly. I was very disappointed to find I had kind of been duped by Amazon's general explanation of the game.
That being said, I did enjoy the game. It was, to be frank, fantastic. Wonderful graphics, smooth gameplay, and multiple levels, made this game very addicting. I look forward to the sequel and hope that Joker (or something of equal value) will be given to 360 owners.
Also, *DO NOT* just buy this game for the 3D. It uses green-red lenses and actually made me sick. The game looks okay, but not exactly the best with 3D. This game was still VERY fun. I highly recommend it. :)
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
You Are the Dark KnightOct 26, 2011
By tvtv3
"tvtv3"
In general, superhero video games are bad adaptations of the comics on which they are based. Usually, at best they are just an average game (the only exception to this being when a superhero game has a great co-player mode, such as JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES from a few years ago). That changed with the release of BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM. I didn't have an opportunity to play the game until earlier this year. However, after having played, it is in my opinion the best superhero game ever made so far.
Taking a cue from the graphic novel of the same name, players get to play the game as Batman. The gameplay is great. Just like Batman, you have to use certain weapons to complete certain tasks and defeat different villains. There's a good mix between platform games, puzzle games, and action games. A key to making it through to the next level is using stealth; you can't just jump out of nowhere and beat up everyone in sight. To be successful, you have to stay in the shadows and sometimes wait for the right moment to strike. There's a lot of free range in the game and there are all sorts of collectibles that a person can get as you explore the asylum.
As far as the story goes, Batman is at Arkham dropping off a prisoner when the Joker sets forth his greatest plan to date: Batman is trapped in Arkham during a lockdown where all the inmates are set free. Batman battles one foe after another, including Bane, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy. Along the way you save workers who are trapped, solve riddles, and unravel the Joker's master plan. The climactic battle finds Batman facing off against the Joker that is much a battle of brawns as it is brains.
BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM is a must-play game for gamers and anyone who is a Batman fan. It's also highly recommended for anyone who likes superhero games or just enjoys a great single player game.
5 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Amazing. Words fail me.Mar 18, 2011
By Cap I don't even know where to begin with this game. I'm a big superhero geek so I dig a good story involving a superhero. I don't like every piece of garbage that might pass as a "superhero" tale, but once in a while you get a really legitimate piece of gold that contains everything you want in a superhero/comic book game.
This game essentially can be broken into four parts: fighting, scarecrow sequences, riddler challenges, and exploration/plotline. The plotline really delivers on a few really awesome notes. One thing that everybody loves about a good comic book hero/superhero is the he always has a history. A superhero doesn't just pop into existence and start beating the crap out of people. They become this hero. Batman especially has this extremely rich backstory that has been built upon and delved into numerous times. Enough that it's almost common knowledge. This game truly is a love story for anyone that loves the Batman universe and mythology. The shoutouts to old villains and characters that have somewhat fallen by the wayside are amazing little tidbits that captivated me almost more than the main story or gameplay. Which leads me neatly into the next part.
The Riddler challenges are a glorious little gem that may be somewhat overlooked in most reviews. If you don't really like thinking too much and exploring the environments to find little nuances in the scenery than don't bother too much. However, if you want to take a break from the fighting and bataranging, just open up these riddles and get searching it's awesome to see these homages to old characters in the Batman mythology. Definitely a great addition. The Scarecrow sequences don't really make up a very integral part of the story, but it does help to flesh out Batman's backstory as you delve into why Bruce Wayne became Batman and what really haunts the Dark Knight.
Last of all is the fighting. I love the way that this brawler is done. The animations are fluid and there are rarely times when the character models glitch and a henchman receives a phantom blow. 99% of the animations are flawless and look as though the bad guys are getting hit. The overall mechanic to the fighting is simple to use, but really hard to master. The mixture of strike, counter, stun, and the occasional gadget make it a three ish button system. As you strike, you bring henchmen to the ground. The occasional baddy does come up and try to throw a punch, but a quick counter fixes that. Nothing feels better than stringing torgether a 30+ combo in a huge fistfight. With the addition of 3 new challenge maps and 3D the game really is awe inspiring. (The 3D of course is not even noticeable unless you have an HD TV, btw)
Overall, Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best games I have ever laid my hands on. It deserves Game of the Year completely and delivers at every turn. A complete story, collectibles, challenges, fighting, exploration, and thinking make this game worth every cent you would pay. Definitely worth whatever you pay.
based on 96 reviews
( 96 customer reviews )
