Excellent game and a very good investment in time and money.

I welcome the opportunity to review this game. It's obvious to me why this won so many awards and the very coveted game of the year award. It is a really good game!

I won't divulge any spoilers, you can find out for yourself if you like it or not, but I will tell you that if you have many hours to spare, or just a little time, from time to time, this is an excellent investment. I have a horrible genetic health issue that means I have time to play but not all at once like many people do. I can't just sit and play for hours on end, but must carefully pick and choose the times that I can fire up the PlayStation 3. I am not a gamer, but an occasional player that takes a great deal of time selecting a game, as that might be the only game I play for the next year or even two.

I don't have a frame of reference as to compare this game to others, as I have never purchased a game like this before. I tend more towards sports or strategy games. I buy games like this as gifts, but not for myself. I have been missing out if most games like this are this good. I purchased this game on a whim, as for the first time ever, I didn't bother with any reviews. I NEVER do that.

I have not played the 3-D yet, I have a 3-D Sony that can simulate the effect without breaking open the cheap glasses. I do think the simulated effect is very cool. I intend to leave the paper glasses from the 1960's technology in the package they came in. Someday, I will probably sell some of these games, and resale is better if you have all the stuff that came with it. Anyway, if you have a 3-D TV, this is a feature you probably won't ever use.

In conclusion, it is a very "playable" game that I have found provides many hours of fun. It has from easy to hard puzzles to solve which I really like. Nothing better than a brain challenge. If your not into puzzles, as Batman is a detective, then there are lots of places on the web you can go to help you along. I even noticed that when I did a search that Youtube has plenty of "how to's" you can follow along. Not being a gamer, I didn't have a lot of trouble solving them, but some were thought provoking.

My advise to you is, if your like me and your not interested in spending a kings ransom on games, but want to biggest bang for your hard earned buck, consider Batman: Arkham Asylum. You won't regret it.

Thank you for your time and consideration at reading my review. I hope you found it informative.

One of the greatest games of the decade! (Spoiler free)

I LOVE Batman, however I am always totally unbiased - if not more harsh - toward any Batman medium and I can honestly say this is one of the best games I've ever played. Period.
The game seamlessly blends into absolutely brutal combat, slight detective work, and stealthy (yet still brutal) "Silent Predator" gameplay. The controls are so tight it makes this game simple to pick up and dealing out punishment left and right. The animations are probably the best I've ever seen. There are no weird moments where it looks like Batman instantly turns around (hopefully you know what I mean, it's hard to explain.) Everything you do bleeds wonderfully into the next punch/kick/whatever you're doing; it's just fun to watch Batman doing what he does best: Being Batman. One of the most rewarding aspects of the gameplay comes in the form of various types of riddles you can solve for upgrades. While not "riddles" in the truest sense, there are a few challenging ones and it's a nice break from the regular gameplay and a good reason to keep playing after the final boss. Many people have claimed that you can enjoy this game even if you know NOTHING about Batman, and that statement is 100% true (although hardcore Batfans will get a little extra entertainment.) This game is just one word: Fun.
Actually, there's another word. Beautiful. The graphics are superb, blending a perfect amount of artistic exaggerations along with a gritty, realistic feel. It's easy to find yourself up next to a wall so you can get the camera close to Batman's cowl to better admire the detail in his face.
There are a few draw backs though. While it is great having Paul Dini on board, the ending to this game is so cheesy and predictable it kind of hurts to watch it. Not to mention the final boss fight is as easy on Hard as it is on Easy. Which brings up a more broad problem: ALL the boss fights are essentially the same (save for one or two) and quite boring. Also, the enemies in this game are not only stupid, but also blind and deaf. You can literately walk right up beside an enemy and take him out with a stealth take-down. And if you do manage to get caught, all you have to do is swing around the ceiling and they some how lose track of you. With that said, the stealth aspect doesn't really make you feel stealthy (even though it's still fun); it would have been nice to see some sort of shadow system to hide in. Also, the game is SHORT. Only about 9-10 hours, maybe 12. Yeah.

I hear a lot of people complaining that the "Detective vision" makes things too easy but the truth is it's in the comics! I commend the developers at Rocksteady for putting it in the game and making it such a useful tool for planning your moves carefully. It allows the player to quickly make an attack plan; this keeps the stealth scenes quick and as brutal as the combat scenes.

This review can't do this game justice, It feels awkward trying to explain this game because, truth is, there's just something about it that you can't really describe. Maybe it's the unique atmosphere or the superb voice-acting (a few originals from the 90's animated series) but Batman: Arkham Asylum surpasses the hype. With the announcement of a sequel in the works, pick this up now so you can have time to fully enjoy it.

Awesome Game! Feels like in your in a Movie!

I am new to modern gaming. The last time I was into gaming was the Atari and Colecovision days! I tried xbox few years ago and was turned off as the "arcade&a​mp;amp;quot; aspect was gone. I simply couldnt keep up and wasnt intoall the shooting and blood! Fast Forward 2012 and my kids requested a PS3...ok dad agreed and bought some games that they requested and a few from my childhood thus Batman. This game has turned me into a believer that gamer creators are producing works of art, this game is a work of art! Whether your a seasoned gamer or someone off the bench coming out of retirement like me this game is absolutely enjoyable and just down right fun to play! Graphics are superb, story is like being in a movie and best of all you don't have to be a whiz kid to figure it out! Bravo and five stars for this game!

Tom

The 40 year old gaming rookie!

great gawould have paid more

the game is great.. my son loves it great graphics good plot. will buy arkham city if you like batman you will love this game

Game Of The Year... That pretty much sums it up.

I bought this game thinking it was just going to be another terrible comic book character cash grab. 5 minutes in and I realized I was in for a gaming experience like no other. This is by far one of the most impressive and immersive games I've ever had the opportunity to play. From the brutally awesome hand to hand combat, the great stealth action, and the impressive array of gadgets at your disposal Batman Arkham Asylum will leave you wishing the game never ends.