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DC’s dark hero Batman has been a mainstay in video games since the late 1980s, offering up some pretty decent titles over the years. But the arrival of the Batman: Arkham series marked not only a new era for Batman games, but for superhero games as a whole. Even releases outside the genre happily borrowed from its groundbreaking mechanics and mastery of the open world game. And while the series grew far beyond the scope of its first entry, we thought we’d take some time to highlight 2009’s Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Developed by Rocksteady Studios and released by Warner Bros. Interactive, the game was made using Unreal Engine 3, and rather than being based on an existing piece of media, the team was able to create their own original Batman story. Work began on the project in 2007, spending an extensive amount of time hammering out small details and crafting smooth animations. Titles including BioShock, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda were cited as influences on the game’s design and gameplay. After a 21 month development cycle, Batman: Arkham Asylum released in late August of 2009 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 with a Windows version the following month.
The story begins with Batman overseeing Joker’s transfer into the titular asylum after being caught by authorities. The facility–which is being used to house Joker’s gang–is quickly taken over with the assistance of Harley Quinn. With a full plan in place, Joker threatens Gotham with explosives if anyone dare enter the facility other than Batman. Well known villains make appearances such as Poison Ivy, Bane, and Scarecrow, the latter of which gives way to some interesting nightmare segments. The game features top notch voice actors including the late Kevin Conroy and legendary Mark Hamill, both reprising their roles as Batman and Joker from Batman: The Animated Series.
While it’s a solid story line with an ultra sleek presentation, gameplay is where Arkham Asylum really shines. Laying the foundation for later entries in the series, the combat is extremely smooth and well-animated. It encourages stringing together moves, and pulling off a combo is supremely satisfying, especially if multiple enemies are involved. And of course Batman needs his gadgets, so this first installment gives him access to fun toys such as the Batarang, the Batclaw, and explosive gel.
Certain aspects would be refined with later entries, such as level environments, which admittedly trigger some claustrophobic feelings due to the constantly tight quarters. Still, Arkham Asylum is still quite an experience to behold, and shouldn’t be slept on by Batman fans or those who simply love a good video game. It was the solid foundation that went on to support Arkham City and Arkham Knight (and even the underrated Arkham Origins).
+re-releases (Switch collection?)
