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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.
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]
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%
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.
Swagwatch: Batman: Arkham Asylum review packaging
click for swagallery We'll admit that we were smitten with the oversized Arkham Asylum Safety Restraint System (with adhesive strips on the back for decorative wall placement), Joker-themed playing cards and personalized straitjacket that Warner Bros. and Eidos sent along with Batman: Arkham Asylum. But it was the freshly-minted game within that was truly the hazelnut at the center of this particular Ferrero Rocher.We'll give the whole production away soon enough, to be sure, but for now you'll have to be content with ogling the gallery below.%Gallery-70072%
Free PlayStation Home Batcave comes on Batman: Arkham Asylum disc
After pounding macho men to a pulp in the recent Batman: Arkham Asylum demo, we're definitely excited for additional bat-goodies. That's why we're happy to pass along some info from the PlayStation Blog, which says Home users will get the sweet Batcave space you see above. It's called the "Batman Arkham Asylum Batcave Outpost Apartment" and comes chock full of stuff, including a "Batsuit, Batmobile, and Batwing, along with various Bat-gadgets." The space will be unlocked for gamers when they pop in the disc and allow them to walk about Bruce Wayne's (spoiler!) underground lair. Sounds all well and good, but where's the virtual Alfred to boss around?
Actor's resume lists Rocksteady-developed 'Hitman5'
According to the resume of actor Mark Sloan, Rocksteady Studios – the London-based developer behind Batman: Arkham Asylum – is bringing its British sensibilities to the next Hitman game, titled, well, Hitman5. Sloan's resume indicates that he performed motion capture work for the game. Both of Rocksteady's other games, Urban Chaos: Riot Response and Batman: Arkham Asylum, have been for publisher (and partial owner) Eidos, so it isn't much of a stretch to believe that the developer would get a crack at a major Eidos property like Hitman. Presumably, series developer IO Interactive has its hands full with the Kane & Lynch sequel and Mini Ninjas. What's harder to believe is that the same Mark Sloan is responsible for the "Soft Mark," "Pushy Mark," "Chatty Mark," and "Menacing Mark" audio performances in the resume. Such range! [Thanks, Garret!]
Batman: Arkham Asylum dev diary has English sensibilities
Has your recent playthrough of the Batman: Arkham Asylum demo left you wondering exactly how the sausage got made? Lucky you -- Warner Bros. and Rocksteady recently released a behind-the-scenes look at the stealth-action superhero sim, which keen-eyed readers have probably already noticed is posted above.The game's creators do a great job of explaining what makes the game so successful -- elements such as the intensive mocap work done to bring the animations to life, story contributions from DC's Paul Dini, and of course, Rocksteady's own "English sensibilities." We're pretty fond of our American sensibilities thankyouverymuch -- but if that's the secret ingredient that makes Arkham Asylum so rad, we guess we can't complain.
BAM! Batman: Arkham Asylum demo punching faces online
Hello, loyal readers. We should have mentioned this a few hours ago but a demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum is now available for Xbox Live Gold users. Why are we late on the tip? Well, we've been busy playing the demo ... and time flew by. Translation: The demo is good. Yeah, that's right. Soak it in for a moment, a superhero game that doesn't immediately make you want to punch yourself in the face. Feels nice, doesn't it? Of course, the demo's vertical slice could be a mischievous ruse, and only when we play the full version will we realize that half the game is played by a boyish Robin ... or worse, The Arbiter (we're kidding, you're always The Bats). Will the final game live up? According to our other experiences in Arkham, Rocksteady has actually done Batman some justice. It's about time. Do the Bat-Dance, Queue up the Batman: Arkham Asylum demo
Batman: Arkham Asylum movie-splosion!
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Batman_Arkham_Asylum_movie_splosion'; The Batman: Arkham Asylum hype train is really picking up steam now. Today, we've got three different videos dropping at three different outlets. GameDaily has a behind-the-scenes look, including comments from Batman scribe Paul Dini, and some mo-cap footage; MTV has the first 10 minutes of the title (split into two videos); while IGN has some plain ol' gameplay footage, wrapped in their trademark, industry-worst video player. The fun starts just after the break!
No joke: Batman Arkham Asylum for $48 on consoles, $40 on PC
It's true, you can snag Batman: Arkham Asylum from Amazon for only $47.99. There's no need to pull out your handy Bat-Price-Reducer either. You need only place a pre-order for the Xbox 360 or PS3 version. Then, at checkout, simply enter the code 5OFFARKM for five smackers off Amazon's asking price of $52.99. Using free shipping, that's a brand new copy for $48. Even better, using the same coupon, the PC version can be had for only $40.That's a deal only the Joker could refuse. After all, saving money is no laughing matter.[Via Slickdeals.net]
Batman: Arkham Asylum demo emerges from shadows Aug. 7
Eidos has announced that a demo for Batman: Arkham Asylum will release this week on Friday, August 7. The demo will be available on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. It's set to feature the introduction of the game, in which Batman and Commissioner Gordon attempt to return the Joker to Arkham Asylum, only to have the villain turn Batman into an unwilling new inmate. The demo will also allow players to unlock character bios and "get a sneak peak at some of the infamous foes that Batman will encounter within the cavernous and macabre confines of Arkham Asylum."Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to hit North America and Europe on August 25 and August 28, respectively.
Batman: Arkham Asylum dev diary showcases beating up lots of dudes
Alright, Warner Bros. -- enough is enough! Can we please just get to the inevitable sneaking and not-quite-murdering of so many goons inside Arkham Asylum's grisly walls? Tease after tease of Batman: Arkham Asylum has left us supersaturated with media that entices us so! Worse? This one's full of some of the best stuff we saw when we got our grubby mitts on the game during E3 -- engaging multiple enemies in interesting ways, sneaking around the rafters, and of course, stealth-killing unsuspecting goons. Enough with the teasing though -- August 25th is still so far away!%Gallery-31781%
Totally batty new trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum's villains
(click to Killer Croc-size) Get it? "Batty?" 'Cause it's a trailer for Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Rocksteady-developed, Warner Bros./Eidos-published Bat-brawler? Why aren't you laughing? Hey -- where ya going?! Come back! We just want to tell you about the latest video for the game, showcasing the game's many gruesome villains! Is that too much to ask? Alright, fine, if you must go, at least hit the break and check out the trailer for yourself -- totally pun-free, we promise you. It is not, however, free of Bat-brutalizing villain introductions. No, we can't believe we just typed that either. But seriously, the game looks to be mixing the right amounts of grit and lore together, enticing us all the more for the game's release later this summer. Hopefully we'll be able to contain all our chiroptera excitement until then! (You can go now, we understand.)%Gallery-31781%
Hands-on: Batman: Arkham Asylum
After we got to get an eyes-on with Batman: Arkham Asylum's single-player campaign last week, we were hankering for our first hands-on with the game. Luckily, Eidos brought the title to E3 this year, offering more than just the challenge rooms (available for play on kiosks at your local big box store) but also a slice of gameplay from the single-player campaign. Twenty minutes later, we had silently "not murdered" a slew of baddies employing the game's Detective Mode, and found ourselves smiling ear to ear. A cinematic guided us through the intro to the game -- essentially dropping off Joker at Arkham Asylum and witnessing the subsequent takeover of the facility. And that's when we started sluggin' dudes. Lots of dudes -- with big veins popping out of their arms. Each punch felt surprisingly satisfying and various on-screen commands helped to fluidly guide Batman's blows from one enemies' face to another. %Gallery-31781%
Impressions: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Unlike the character it's based on, Batman: Arkham Asylum has been prancing about in broad daylight quite a bit as of late. We've seen walkthrough videos, tons of screenshots, and we've gotten our hands on it. In fact, if you really find yourself itching for some quality time with the Caped Crusader, you can head down to your local Target and try out a combat demo on the PS3 for yourself. Even PlayStation Home broke news via an in-game ad that players will be able to control the Joker, only in the PS3 version (video just after the break). Seriously, the game has been everywhere.So how did Eidos and WB decide to whet our appetite even more? By showing us another gameplay demo, of course. This time, it was all about showing off Batman's CSI skills, which should come as no surprise (he is the World's Greatest Detective, after all). Get the details after the break, and dust the brand-new screenshots below for fingerprints.%Gallery-64370%
Poison Ivy, Batman's green-thumbed nemesis, revealed
It ain't Uma Thurman (thank goodness), but Batman's plant-loving adversary, Poison Ivy, has been revealed as a baddie in the upcoming action title, Batman: Arkham Asylum. A new trailer (posted after the break) for Rocksteady and Eidos' impressive Arkham features the green thumb merging with a giant piranha plant with the intention of killing The Batman. Kill Batman, huh? Why hasn't anyone ever thought of that before?
