Just like the Batman movies, the video games have been hit or miss over the last few years. With Rocksteady Studios taking the helm on this project, all eyes were on the game like hawks. EIDOS made sure that the developer wasn’t taking any chances in development and wasn’t messing around when they signed on voice talent like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The publisher is certainly bringing back memories to many from the days of Batman: The Animated Series. Leaving nostalgia at the door for the moment, is Batman: Arkham Asylum the game to spark interest in the dark knight again in video games just like the movies?

Kicking off the grand adventure, you’re taking an intense stroll through the halls of Arkham bringing the infamous Joker with you. Getting the most obvious thought out of the way, the Joker let himself get caught and Batman is already thinking ten steps ahead. But, what you don’t know is why and thus not long after that, the Joker breaks free and takes full control of the Asylum bringing mayhem and havoc everywhere on the grounds. You have the Joker leading the way with his partner Harley Quinn as well as other special guest appearances by some of Arkham Asylum’s most famous villains. He’s working on a plan that he hopes will detonate throughout Arkham and Gotham City itself.

The plot may have been run to the ground in the comics, but it makes itself the perfect element for Batman’s return to gaming. This third-person adventure cuts in with cut scenes when it deems necessary for the story. Other then that, the game mostly plays itself out through PA system, radio chatter and even interview tapes. The interview tapes give you a new insight into the infamous villains of the Asylum. You won’t fight the entire cast but you will get a few good cameos along with one disembodied supporting role. The game gives you the opportunity to be the world’s greatest detective and you should take that statement quite literally.

Arkham Asylum takes place on an isolated island in the heart of Gotham City. The Asylum itself is filled with atmospheric substance. Along the way you’ll pick up plenty of gadgets to help you out in tight spots which can be upgraded as well as you progress through the story. The Asylum itself is huge and you’ll be covering every nook and cranny of it. With several medical facilities, a botanical gardens and an interwoven network of sewers you could find yourself getting lost at times. As a bonus there is even a secondary batcave that Batman managed to hide all these years. Although you’ll be visiting all areas of the game more then once, the scenery changes every time. You won’t have to worry about the game getting stale when it indirectly re-arranges the sets. The game will manage to surprise you at times with its nicely managed pacing between boss fights and set pieces. The result is an excellent atmosphere that resonates throughout the entire game.

Detective mode allows you to take in what we like to call as “information overload”. This simplifies Batman’s keen eye and how you are able to seek out secret paths and more. Keeping it on will allow you to seek out bad guys through walls and highlights pretty much everything you can possibly do to plan your moves. It’s an incredibly useful mechanic and something that was very carefully woven into the gameplay. It works great when you’re in a Predator room that requires stealth. However, keeping it will keep you away from some of the highlights that the game wants you to see. Arkham Asylum is meant to be explored and with the Riddler around you’re in for a treat. He’s hidden trophies, secret maps and other collectibles across the island to keep you busy. If you’re a completist and collect them all you’ll unlock character bios, and challenge room missions.

The game doesn’t end there; afterwards you can head into the Challenge Mode. Here you’ll get a series of a combat challenges facing off against waves and waves of thugs earning bonus points as you survive. It’s kind of like Batman’s horde mode if you will. You can either do that or clear a room of armed guards via Predator style. The combat is simple but strong. Therefore you don’t want to be asleep during any of it. Boss fights and thug fights will keep you alert on every level. Make sure you watch your counter attack opportunities and use any means necessary to clear the room. The larger enemies as well as armed ones require a bit more strategy on your part. Although Batman is tough you’ll want to stay away from armed guards as much as possible, after a few hits under fire you’ll quickly find yourself restarting the level. This is where you truly become the dark knight using stealth takedowns and gadgets to get the job done. While it’s a little farfetched that the guards can’t see you on top of those gargoyles, what else is there?

Thankfully the game never fully reaches the point of frustration. The boss fights do get a little more challenging at times depending on your preferred difficulty setting of course. Beyond that, the excellent pacing of the game makes up for the rather soft difficulty.

At first glance, you can already tell the high level of polish the game received before it even shipped to stores. Rocksteady Studios managed to create an atmosphere like no other Batman game before it. Batman himself looks incredible and as a bonus you’ll even notice a little wear and tear on him as the game progresses. Thus making it look like Batman is traveling through hell. The game exemplifies itself on all cylinders with a production that just complements its atmosphere. During combat, Batman stays on point keeping pace making his moves as effortless as possible. There isn’t much of a crack in the action and the camera surprisingly is able to keep up. Arkham Asylum itself is expertly detailed and despite it being dark and dreary just comes to life the moment you step foot in it.

The soundtrack brings back memories of the Danny Elfman days during the run of Batman: The Animated series. Its underlying themes and tones hide under the relaying of Jokers taunts and messages on the PA system. It’s still there and manages to completely pull you into the experience. There is an all-star voice cast including the return of Kevin Conroy (Batman) and Mark Hamill (Joker) as their respective characters. Hearing them both play off each other just brings back complete childhood memories. Other notable returning voices are even Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn and more.

With Detective mode there to really bring you into the cape and cowl of being the badass Batman it’s an experience like no other Yes, it does take away some of the realism of taking out the bad guys but you’ll need any help you can get especially once you reach the end of the game. The challenge mode is an excellent addition giving you even more reason to head back to the game after the end credits roll. Predator mode is addictive and gives you the opportunity to take down your enemies however you want. The other side of challenge mode is a nice way to increase your combat skills and earn move combo moves to even get the perfect combo achievement.

It will take you anywhere from 10-12 hours to beat Batman: Arkham Asylum but with the top level of production it feels like the game ended in heartbeat. Arkham Asylum is a game you don’t want to miss whether or not you’re a fan of the bat. This third-person action adventure has the level of polish that re-energizes the interest in Batman that was missing from the gaming community in a long time.