Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition

This isn't a Batman game. It's a Batman simulator. The combat makes you feel like a genius, the stealth makes you feel like a predator, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you haven't slept in 3 days. The Joker is perfect, Arkham is creepy as hell, and somehow a game from 2009 still feels better than most superhero games today. I came for Batman. I stayed because I am Batman. 10/10. Would get locked in Arkham again.

Usually cartoon shows and live action tv series or movies never translate well into video games. I bought Arkham Asylum a few years ago because of my rose tinted nostalgia goggles for the Batman franchise, I grew up watching Batman's animated series the live action part not so much though however this shows where I'm coming from. But what do you know.. Not only is this not bad its AMAZING. I've forgotten how good innovative gameplay can be if done right, you're not overwhelmed with gimmicks, every tool at your disposal serves a unique purpose and you'll constantly be swapping between batman's gadgets to beat the game. Then comes the the story. I am a little upset to know that this isn't canon to the DC story / universe at all this is treated as its own separate universe known as "Arkhamverse" such a shame as this took me back to Saturday mornings when I used to actually watch the animated series playing this felt just like those good old days. There's a lot of positive things to add about this title but I can't cover all of it so let me just say 1. Works well out of the box on modern computers 2. Controller support - I used my Xbox Series X/S controller and it works flawlessly 3. Support for modern resolutions 4. We're allowed to rebind keys 5. Memorable music 6. No bugs / glitches throughout my playthrough Just one issue though the input isn't processed smoothly sometimes but its probably more of a skill issue on my part however that might be something you come across too its basically in the heat of combat I execute many combos in one go so sometimes my input doesn't register at all. That's pretty much all I could condense into this review. Yes go ahead and buy it, especially if Batman is your childhood favorite this is definitely for you. If you're just someone who enjoys good TPS games then you'll enjoy this too. 10/10

—★★★★★— Played this for the first time literally over a decade after it came out, and honestly? It still holds up ridiculously well. The "Freeflow Combat" system feels really cool - you truly feel like Batman, sweeping aside a crowd of thugs with a single fluid flow of strikes, counterattacks, and gadgets. Yeah, the graphics show their age a bit, but the game design is so tight that I stopped noticing after the first hour. Arkham Asylum itself reveals plenty of secrets, collectibles, and lore about Gotham's villains as you go. It feels like playing a high-quality interactive comic book movie.