Batman-Arkham-Asylum
Latest
Batman: Arkham Asylum glides to top spot in UK
You come to Joystiq for the lulz about video games, but we've got something a little extra today: Proof of a higher power. Not just that, but a higher power that loves you and rewards awesome games. According to Chart-Track, Batman: Arkham Asylum has taken the top spot in the UK sales charts for the week, beating out Wii Sports Resort, which seems nothing short of miraculous from where we're sitting. The console split was pretty close to even, with 55 percent on Xbox and 45 on PS3, so it would seem that the Joker exclusivity thing panned out. We're so pleased that Arkham's performing well that we can't find anything to be snarky about. Imagine that!
Batman: Arkham Asylum receives uninspiring Guinness World Record
Okay, we like Batman: Arkham Asylum and all, but our goodwill has limits -- and they stop right at the acceptance of a Guinness World Record for "Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever," which was announced today. It's a nice achievement for the game (and especially notable for a Batman game, given their history), but that's not a Guinness World Record. That's a marketing blurb. In fact, we're awarding it the Joystiq.com Award for Most Transparent Marketing Effort of the Day Presented by Windex™. Now, when Batman: Arkham Asylum lifts more than 160 pounds of weight with its ear, that's a Guinness World Record.Who decides what a superhero game is anyway? Plenty of people don't consider Batman a superhero, given that he has no superhuman abilities beyond super-wealth. %Gallery-31781%
GameTrailers shows what it's like to be Batman's roommate in Home
In short, being Batman's roommate is kind of a sucky gig.That's the feeling we came away with after watching GameTrailers' video preview (posted after the jump) of the Batcave Home space that's bundled with the PS3 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Seriously, he keeps all of his sweet toys in inaccessible display cases, he hangs all his vehicles precariously over the kitchen, and makes it so all the TVs in the place run footage of him beating up insane people.We don't know how Robin put up with it for as long as he did.
European PSN releases for August 27
Today sees the release of two new PSN titles with a simplicity of purpose that we find and heartwarming -- Smash Cars and Battle Tanks. No need for high-minded prose or character development here, folks. Give us vehicles running into each other really fast, and we will be satisfied.Also new this week is the totally free Batman: Arkham Asylum "Play as Joker" DLC, a batch of Crash Commando DLC (accompanied by a price cut for the full version of the game), demos for NHL 10 and F.E.A.R. 2: Reborn, and more content for Disgaea 3 than our minds can currently comprehend. Seriously, we're going to be contemplating the uses of an "Action Prinny" for the rest of the day. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Biomass Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Visually, there could not be a more stark contrast between the Joystiq staff and the Joystiq Biomass. While we're all impressively fit, tanned skin stretched across the sinew of our typing fingers, the Biomass is an amorphous, million-faced blob whose opinions are forged from the unmitigated madness of our community. But occasionally, when its wailing gurgles become too overpowering, we must unlock its hermetically-sealed cage and let it have its say. Today, when the Biomass reviews Batman: Arkham Asylum, is such a day.
Stumbling Towards Greatness: A Batman Retrospective
The intro to Batman: The Animated Series ... reimagined with game footage digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Stumbling_Towards_Greatness_A_Batman_Retrospective'; Batman has had a long and (mostly) horrendous career as a video game crime fighter. While his big screen adventures have evolved into masterpieces, most of Batman's video game outings have made players want to poke out their eyes with a Batarang. To celebrate the arrival of Batman's latest and (we assure you) greatest adventure – Batman: Arkham Asylum – Joystiq looks back at the rest of the Caped Crusader's games. Don the cape and cowl and bring a flashlight. We're going to have to crawl through a lot of darkness to get to the light at the end of this licensing tunnel. Continue to the Batman Retrospective #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; }
Eidos investigating 'bad' Batman collector's edition DLC codes
PS3 owners who scooped up the formidable Batman: Arkham Asylum collector's edition are going a bit batty on the game's official forum due to seemingly botched DLC codes. The codes, included only with the CE, enable two challenge map downloads -- but, so far, have only unlocked ire. Not to fear, as Eidos community reps are asking for the spurned downloaders' codes so that they can be "passed on and investigated." The publisher is definitely on the case, although there's no clear ETA for a fix. We suggest bookmarking the thread if you're having problems, as it seems to be a source of frequent updates. We also suggest that you don't think of doing anything crazy with that replica Batarang. They're just DLC codes, folks. It'll be OK.
Calling all commenters: Submit your Batman blurb
You've undoubtedly read our review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, but now that the game's actually in stores we want to know what you, the people, make of it. So, if you can pull yourself away from the Bat for a minute or two, it'd be great if you could head down to the comments and give us your thoughts. We'll be collecting the best into one big, collected shambling Frankenstein of a review, so try to keep them reasonably brief and as specific as possible. One note: We'd prefer it if you're working from the actual game, rather than the demo, if only because we're sure everyone's already played that joint to death. Now: Fire away!
Happy Batman Day! 'New free downloadable content coming soon!'
It's August 25th! And you know what that means: it's Batman Day here in North America. No doubt, most of you on the East Coast in the U S of A are probably reading this having just returned from Toys 'R' Us, where you nabbed Batman: Arkham Asylum and a $30 gift card. For our Canadian counterparts, you've no doubt already snagged one of those abnormally discounted $40 copies. But, the reviews are in and Arkham Asylum is far from discount shovelware. Even though they're about to give some DLC away for free ... Yeah, that caught us off guard as well. In some bizarre inversion of the normal game publisher / consumer relationship, Eidos and WBIE are keen on not only selling as many units of Batman: Arkham Asylum as possible but – having given away the razor – they want to give the blade away as well. The loading screen's "infocast" bar declares: "New free downloadable content coming soon!" No word on what this DLC is (more challenge rooms or new story sections?) but if you were on the asylum fence, this might be just the push you need to topple over into Arkham.
Unboxing the Batman: Arkham Asylum Collector's Edition
Where does he get those wonderful toys? Well, from GameStop in our case, but we're pretty sure the Batman: Arkham Asylum Collector's Edition is available in lots of different places. Before you go plunk down a Benjamin for the thing, you may want to watch our unboxing video above to decide if it's worth the cash. Let's just say the Batarang leaves something to be desired and leave it at that, shall we? %Gallery-49789%
Metareview: Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360, PC)
We had hoped that, at this point, this kind of glowing criticism would be enough to make your buying decisions for you. But, sadly, it seems you still want to hear what others have to say about Batman: Arkham Asylum. Very well. Though it pains us, we oblige: Game Informer (95/100): "Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's BioShock, not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other. Strategy Informer (95/100): "A full repertoire of moves makes playing as Batman an experience that's not only uniquely satisfying, but also incredibly empowering - exactly as it should be. The Dark Knight is a superhero, and in Arkham Asylum, he actually feels like one, stalking enemies with a predatory prowess befitting of the iconic character." Play.tm (94/100): "So, is Arkham Asylum finally the game that Batman deserves then? Yes. Yes it is. And a whole lot more besides. ... It is to games what Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are to movies - Batman: Arkham Asylum is without doubt the most definitive videogame realisation of the character yet. It's also unreservedly brilliant to boot." Eurogamer (90/100): "Most of the gameplay concerns are minor when taken in the context of how much Arkham Asylum gets so gloriously right. Rarely does a game do a character justice in such a satisfying way. Arkham Asylum finds room for every major aspect of Batman's enduring appeal, and it does so in a game compelling enough to work even without its masked star." %Gallery-64370%
No more Batman: Arkham Asylum videos (promise)
From its very announcement, Warner Bros. has flooded the Joystiq offices (and the Internets in general) with Batman: Arkham Asylum media. More specifically, we've posted many, many videos of the game. We realize it's actually impossible that any of our readers would be tired of said videos taking up valuable blog real estate, but nevertheless we feel it's our duty to announce this will be the last one (probably). It's the Batman: Arkham Asylum launch trailer, you see, so we're assuming it marks the end of the marketing cycle. We'd say we were sad about it, but the truth is that it means we can spend our time actually playing it now. That's a good thing because, well, it's pretty awesome.
TRU will give you $30 to buy Batman
We feel like we've already given you plenty of reasons to buy Batman: Arkham Asylum (chief among them: it's rad) but Toys 'R' Us is offering 30 more. Those who buy the game at the toy retailer between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tomorrow will receive a gift card good for half of the game's purchase price (that's $30 for the mathematically deficient). One caveat: You have to be a member of the company's Rewards 'R' Us program to participate. If you're averse to friendly giraffes, you can also dip into your local Best Buy, where an Arkham Asylum purchase will net you Batman: The Animated Series films Mr. Freeze and Mask of the Phantasm, as well as a $10 gift card. Plus, unlike the TRU offer, this one's available online. Take that, Canada!
Canadians get Batman: Arkham Asylum for $40 at multiple retailers
Last week Xbox Live users in Canada noticed a Walmart advertisement on the Xbox 360 dashboard pricing Batman: Arkham Asylum at $38.83 for its first three days of release, this week the deal has extended to nearly every other retailer. Best Buy and Futureshop are now price matching Walmart's original promotion, selling the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Batman's latest crusade for $38.83. EB Games -- a company not known for sale price matching -- is also getting in on the action, offering the game for $39.99 $38.89 during its first day of release.If our review is any indication, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a must buy, and at $40, Canadians officially have no excuse. Not even all that August snow should get in your way.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Buy Nvidia graphics card, get Arkham Asylum free
If you're planning on beefing up your compy's visual capabilities any time soon, you might want to turn your attention to this fairly amazing offer: If you buy a graphics card containing Nvidia's GeForce GTX 260, GeForce GTX 275 or GeForce GTX 285, then you'll get a coupon for a free download of the PC version of Batman: Arkham Asylum.This partnership between Nvidia and Eidos isn't that surprising -- the PC version of Rocksteady's surprisingly wonderful stealth-action title was delayed to September 15 to allow for the implementation of Nvidia's PhysX technology. However, interestingly enough, Bruce Wayne is actually a 30 percent stockholder in AMD. Scan-da-lous.[Via Big Download]
Joystiq Podcast 106 - Crackpot or crockpot edition
The most shocking thing about the episode is not the introduction of the Joystiq emergency hotline or our on-site report from BlizzCon. No, the most shocking thing is that we somehow avoid talking about how much we love Batman: Arkham Asylum for the full two hours. Spoiler alert: Very much. Also, shaving is discussed in detail. Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes [Zune] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace [RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator [MP3] Download the MP3 directly Hosts: Christopher Grant, Justin McElroy and Ludwig Kietzmann Music: "Gravity (Don't Let Me Go)" by Jon Black, "Red Eye" by Ben Kweller For fans: Joystiq Podcast Facebook group The Do It Line!: 1-(877)-JOYSTIQ See all of this week's links (and what games we played) after the jump.
Review: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Hyperbole can be venomous to a review's credibility. Any insightful merit which a video game critique may possess seemingly goes out the window as soon as the reviewer starts dropping bombs like "best game ever" or "literally mindblowing" or "it will birth you anew in its magnificence." Perhaps it is because we've all heard these phrases -- save for that last one -- so many times that they've lost their currency with us. Rest assured, I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that Batman: Arkham Asylum is unquestionably the best licensed game I've ever played. At the end of the day, however, that's a fairly low hurdle to clear -- it better reflects the game's quality to say it's one of the best stealth-action games ever made, and easily the best video game 2009 has had to offer thus far. %Gallery-31781%
Bat-Knowledge! Bone up on your Arkham Asylum history
With Batman: Arkham Asylum's release just around the corner, and a slew of videos introducing the game's cast of characters already available, we didn't think there was much more to say about Batman's upcoming video game adventure (until our review later today!). We were wrong. In the latest and perhaps last trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum, Eidos drops knowledge on something we're (admittedly) not familiar with: the history of Gotham's Arkham Asylum. Listen carefully to a haunting journal from the asylum's founder Amadeus Arkham, as the 1920s-era mogul slides deeper into madness attempting to rehabilitate Gotham's worst citizens. If only Amadeus would have lived long enough to see a giant bat punching the "criminally insane" in the face, maybe things would have worked out better for the good doctor. It really is amazing how much medicine has progressed over the years. %Gallery-31781%
Rocksteady 'not involved' in the development of Hitman 5
Despite the recently discovered resume indicating that Batman: Arkham Asylum developer Rocksteady Studios may be working on a game titled Hitman5 (yes, without a space), Eidos "Life President" Ian Livingstone flat out denies the possibility. Talking to Prey's World Gaming Magazine, Livingstone said, "Hitman always has been and always will be IO Interactive's baby, which it still continues to be so." Worried about miswording in that? He followed up with, "Rocksteady are not involved with the development of Hitman 5." All that said, we do know that some version of Hitman is on the way, as Livingstone has confirmed as such in the past and Rocksteady is currently hiring a few positions to produce a "AAA titile on the next generation platforms." It appears as though the two are unrelated though, at least for now. Meanwhile, IO Interactive is currently wrapping up development of Mini Ninjas for a September release -- and then the studio can get to work on the next Hitman game in earnest, eh? (Please?)[Via Blue's News]
Video: Batman's arsenal exposed
One might be tempted to ask where Batman acquires all his fantastic gadgetry. Yes, one might. For the sake of your enjoyment of Batman: Arkham Asylum, we suggest you try not to worry about it. Sure, Bruce Wayne is probably blowing millions on R&D alone (not to mention production!). That's money that could be spent funding local police forces around the country – effectively stopping crime from coast to coast – rather than spent trying to stop a handful of crazies in a single city.Seriously, don't think about it too much. You'll just get depressed.
