I have a list. List of games that I definitely completed. And a great desire to systematize the impressions received in a diary/blog format. Why – I don’t know myself. If you accidentally wandered here, then I will be glad to chat on the indicated topics (and not only).
I think I’m done with the chaotic preface and we can move on. As the first game for such a text experiment, I chose Batman: Arkham Asylum. In general, Batman is my favorite comic book character. I even consider myself a fan of the Dark Knight. However, just look at my collection of comics about the famous detective, and it immediately becomes clear that fan is too strong a word for me.
However, release in 2009. https://cyberbingocasino.co.uk/login/ the aforementioned game from Rocksteady Studios simply could not leave me indifferent, and soon the treasured box was already decorating my shelf. It’s worth noting that I bought it back then on XBOX 360 and, after playing it for a couple of evenings, quickly abandoned it. This version of Batman lay idle for a couple more years, and then was sold to the newly opened trade-in of the GamePark store.
A few more years pass, and a crazy thought flies into my head that I definitely have to go through the Arkham series. Such an idea did not encounter any particular internal struggle, and a new version of the bat took its place on the shelf. This time I purchased the version for PS 3, GOTY edition.
Well, now we can talk directly about the game. Let’s start with the plot. First of all, he is. And he’s not even bad. Of course, there are no revelations, but they are not necessary. The main thing that the story of this game does is that it doesn’t get boring, doesn’t confuse, and doesn’t make you angry. It’s very simple. There is a Joker. He arranges his capture, Batman predictably takes him to the hospital, where everything is ready to escape and seize power on Arkham Island. Of course, our hero suspected something was wrong in such an unexpected fiasco of the Joker, so Bats undertakes to accompany him to the cell itself. This does not bother the Joker at all, and he, as planned, escapes, seizing power in the entire hospital complex. Moreover, the antagonist releases all the criminals who were in captivity. Well, the player is faced with the following task: to return the villains to their place and find out why the Joker needed to pull off such a trick with his ears.
As we progress through the game, we will have to face many of Batman’s eternal enemies: Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Croc, Scarecrow, Bane, Victor Zsasz. The gameplay itself can be roughly divided into the following components: world exploration, beat ’em up, stages with bosses. The combat system is quite simple. Even those who have never played games will easily understand it. However, this only applies to opponents unarmed with firearms. You’ll have to act covertly against guys with machine guns, knocking them out one or two at a time. Our hero is not made of steel. A couple of queues – and we start from the checkpoint. Despite this, the game cannot be called difficult. I didn’t receive the challenge on normal difficulty. And that’s great.
In addition to ordinary enemies, we have to fight with bosses – the above-mentioned especially dangerous criminals being treated at Arkham Asylum. Only the Scarecrow stages made a special impression on me. In fact, just for the sake of completing these, I can recommend this game. It is also worth noting the battle with Poison Ivy. The only thing that pissed me off more was the confrontation with two big guys before the final episode. And it’s not a matter of complexity at all. And in the crookedness of either my hands or the hands of those who were responsible for throwing the batarang.
Fights and fights, but in addition, the player is allowed to explore Arkham Island in search of messages from the Ghost of Arkham and trophies of the Riddler. The activity is enjoyable only as you progress through the main storyline. After the final credits, we are allowed to wander as much as we like around the island and solve the problems we missed, but we don’t want to do this at all.
To summarize: Batman: Arkham Asylum is a great game not only about Batman, but in general. It has a wonderful atmosphere (the Joker’s messages and the Riddler’s taunts are already worth a lot), a good plot and a pleasant combat system. And the stages with the Scarecrow are actually a masterpiece, IMHO. In addition to everything, character cards with a brief biography will be opened during the game. And this also plays great into the hands of immersion into the world of the game.
Final score: 9 out of 10.
P.S.
I completed Batman: Arkham Asylum in the fall of 2015., 6 years after its release. This means that, at least to a certain extent, this game has stood the test of time.