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Batman: Arkham Asylum

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8.8 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 28 critic reviews
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Based on 102 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Eidos Interactive / Warner Bros. Interactive

Developer: Rocksteady Studios

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: September 15, 2009

Summary

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics' detective to life with stunning graphics. Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham's worst villains with Batman's physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game. [Eidos Interactive]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

ImpulseGamer

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the ultimate Batman experience, hands down.

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100

Cynamite

Batman's trip to the asylum has hardly any flaws. The controls fit perfectly and the missions will entertain you every second you play this game. Buy it, play it, love it.

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100

GameSpy

If you're a Batman fan, this is the best treatment the World's Greatest Detective has ever received in videogame form -- and if you're not a Batman fan, Arkham Asylum will change that. This is how to make a licensed game.

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100

Gaming Nexus

For Batman fans, this game is a long time coming. Taking the Unreal engine, Rocksteady has gone and made a truly fun superhero game and it looks incredible on the PC.

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Game Over Online

This is very nearly the perfect game. This game is as close to 100% as I’ve ever seen.

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YouGamers

A flawless PC conversion with PhysX visual extras over the console versions. In every way polished and fun, managing to at all times to capture the essence of Batman. Game of the Year material.

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Strategy Informer

It’s unreservedly brilliant.

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IGN

Rocksteady nailed what Batman is supposed to feel like. Fans, rejoice.

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PC Gamer

An amazingly polished, finely crafted piece of action gaming excellence that's worthy of the name Batman. [Dec 2009, p.70]

Cheat Code Central

I can say with confidence and cannot stress enough, Batman: Arkham Asylum is, without a doubt, the best Batman game ever created. It does more than give you the Batman game you want, it gives you a video game that you could play repeatedly, even if it didn't have the caped and cowled Dark Knight in it.

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GameZone

This is the first game that truly grants players an opportunity to be Batman, whether he’s using his intellect or his fists. Anyone with even a modicum of interest in playing an awesome Batman game should pick up Arkham Asylum, without any hesitation.

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2404.org

A remarkable achievement. I need to stress just how thoughtful and smart its progression is. The way you make your way around Arkham is executed so well, and everything about the game is polished to an almost offensive sheen.

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3DJuegos

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a massive triumph: Action, stealth and investigation as its best. The best videogame based on Bob Kane’s composition, and the best superhero game this far too. A brilliant work that drives Rocksteady to the highest rank of developers.

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Gamers.at

The gameplay is diversified, the graphics are great and the combat-system is one of the best we have ever encountered. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a definite "Must-Have" on any platform and more then worthy to wear the famous name of The Dark Knight and Worlds greatest detective.

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GameDaily

The result is so good that we're declaring it an easy 'Best of' contender for 2009.

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Play Magazine

There isn’t a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn’t polished to the utmost degree.

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GameSpot

Everything about this game--the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat--feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that's both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material. Miss out on this one and the joke's on you.

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SpazioGames

Batman Arkham Asylum is a product of absolute value that can count on a cast of colorful characters to build a great game, really fun. The greatest strengths of the production lie in the gameplay built around what are the real capabilities of Batman, mixing action and stealth section, but always related with the universe from which have been extrapolated. Rocksteady's game is certainly the new standard for understanding how produce games under license, adapting for videogaming the very spirit of this historic character.

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VideoGamer

Whether you fancy skulking in the shadows, smashing slow motion fists in into a goon's skull, or simply using some cool gadgets, you can do no wrong with what is Eidos' best game in years.

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PC PowerPlay

A new benchmark for superhero games, and a serious GOTY contender. [Dec 2009, p.56]

Boomtown

Buy this game. It's as simple as that. It's a masterpiece of design from concept to execution and is my game of the year so far.

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PC Gamer UK

The most satisfying brawler ever coupled with an uncommonly creative stealth game. Only the bosses drag it down. [Nov 2009, p.94]

PC Format

It's far from perfect, but still a damn good rollick through DC's well carved territory. [Nov 2009, p.88]

PC Zone UK

If the combat has been a bit more sophisticated in the latter stages of the game, it'd have been a nailed-on Classic. [Dec 2009, p.62]

FiringSquad

It’s certainly the best Batman game by far, probably the best action/adventure game this year. Accordingly, I hope that Rocksteady has a sequel in the works.

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Absolute Games

Rocksteady and Paul Dini created a game which is open for both fans and those who never heard of Batman. Arkham Asylum is the middle between animated series and Chris Nolan’s movies. But don’t let the “Teen” rating push you away: the gloomy hospital/prison where criminals are literally monsters and doctors are crazier than their patients, is more atmospheric than some “horror” flicks.

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LEVEL (Czech Republic)

New Batman game deserves the title for being the most adult Batman game ever. Great design, rough melee fights and a perfect cast of all the protagonists makes it the best choice among other comic rivals. [Oct 2009]

Total PC Gaming

This is simply the best superhero game out there and a real treat that shouldn't be missed. [Issue#24, p.45]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 102 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Nathen S. gave it a9:
This game doesn't come close to being "over rated" by any means at all. The high scores are well deserved and you can't go wrong with as far as i'm concerned the original batman's animated voice actors. And not to be a critic of a critic but I found the controls to be very simple from the start and the scarecrow area of the game may have been found tedious by some but I thought it gave it a classic feel in overcoming an old foe of batman. Also remarks about the AI in terms of the enemy not being able to see batman when hes right in front of them at times, but really? It's the Dark Knight and when combined with I don't know darkness he shouldnt be to easy to spot. Another possibility to such a minor complaint could possibly be to an easy gameplay setting, the AI will tend to look like an idiot in such cases.

J. S. gave it a10:
Best game I've played this year. Great storyline, wonderful voice acting, very intriguing, great gameplay. Its a little short on the second playthrough, but even though the game doesn't have multiple endings, its one of those rare single-player games that you wouldn't mind playing through a few times.

Kurt C gave it an8:
Now I know how Batman does it... Great game. But when you beat it, it gets all boring... I recommend it for Batman fans. Voice acting was good as always. Kevin Conroy + Mark Hamill = Win.

Nate S gave it a9:
Probably one of the best games this year. Rocksteady studios has created an almost perfect super hero game and the spotlight is now shining on them. Everything from Freeflow combat to Silent takedowns makes you feel like you are in the dark knights boots. The replay value in this game is probably one of the best reasons to have this game. Silent Predator, and Freeflow combat challenges makes this game very replayable especially with leaderboards. Also the most recent free download content made it even better with an infinite freeflow combat challenge and an extra silent predator map. The only reason i didn't give this a perfect score is, 1. the A.I. isn't too bright. You could take someone out while you're in their peripheral vision and their partner would completely ignore you. 2. No manual save point. I would like to go back and fight bosses just for fun, but with the auto save feature once you're done a boss you won't see them until you run through the game again. If you are a fan of action, or even espionage games Batman: Arkham Asylum is definitely a must buy!

brad s gave it a5:
I am not a Batman fan; I am playing this game just as is with no baggage attached. Detectective mode requires no detective work. Some weird design decisions drag this game down for me.The story is not egaging enough to hide just how linear the game play is. Graphics are ok with out being anything special. The fight animations are fantastic. I am uninstalling it at 43% as I am finding it tedious.

Darkplace gave it a7:
Only played the demo thru Steam, so have limited exposure...however this game is almost brilliant. The one thing and IMHO means I will not be buying this game is the camera controls are terrible. Many times I ended up looking the wrong way and fighting the wall! This is really frustrating I even tried messing around with the settings - something I never normally need to do - to no avail. I guess if you can handle the camera this would be a 9 however I can't. 7.

Ryan S gave it a9:
Batman Arkham Asylum is legendary. The combat system is awesome and the use of gadgets which is needed to defeat the asylums toughest crims makes the game even more legendary. But if there is one thing I love about this game is how stealthy Batman can be. You can silently take down people or hang them from a gargoyle allowing them to scream for help. Yes the game is only single player but its a quality game and a lot of shops are already marking down the price of the game. SO end story if you are interested in Batman its worth buying for sure. P.S. The graphics are awesome but for ATI people out there you cant use the PhyX Engine by Nvidia. I have a Radeon 4870x2 and it KILLED my system!

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Batman: Arkham Asylum

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