Superb special 3-D edition of 2009’s best action game
I used to watch Batman quite religiously as a nipper – it was the Adam West era – and even to a six-year-old it seemed ridiculous, what with the high-camp costumes and “biff-bam-pow” fight scenes. However, few reinventions can possibly have been as successful as the one undertaken by the caped crusader, and “Arkham Asylum” offers plenty of evidence why the modern, darker, more dramatic and human Batman kicks arse.
Rightly lauded, the original version of this game came out last year and is widely considered one of 2009’s best and most important Xbox titles. Drawn against the characters portrayed in the recent Dark Knight films, you control our hero as he stalks the corridors of the Asylum – aka the repository for many of his nemeses, as and when he captures them – on the tail of the Joker, who has taken over the place in order to spread his brand of criminally-amusing mayhem.
With every aspect reeking of attention to detail and high production values right across the board, this is a superbly-programmed game – the range of moves Batman can pull off is staggering, all the rope work is particularly brilliant and the tenet of the game as encouraging stealth attacks helps ramp up the tension and engage you still further. The graphics, design, storyline and soundtrack are all top notch, and the 3D aspect (this pack includes 2 pairs of glasses) is an intriguing addition. How highly do I recommend this? Well, how high can a bat soar?
Batman: Arkham Asylum's website
Eddie Thomas
Batman: Arkham Asylum 3D Edition
XBox 360
Square Enix / Eidos
