Hands-on: Batman: Arkham Asylum

by Ben Gilbert { Jun 3rd 2009 at 1:20PM }

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: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Soon after, we got to put the game's silent takedowns and grappling hook mechanisms to the test, to which we can attest both work quite well. Entering Detective Mode, we easily snuck around Arkham's heights, Bat-hookshotting from gargoyle to gargoyle, occasionally swooping down to kick some fool in the chest. Which worked really well. For example, we were able to silently glide over a handful of heavily armed thugs, drop behind them, sneak up on each one and silently put them down.

The whole scene gloried in violence, with the game even slowing down to show you the gritty detail as you finish off this or that enemy. To be honest, the entirety of our time with the game felt well-polished and got us all the more excited for the game's upcoming August 25th release date. Here's hoping the rest of the single-player campaign lives up to our demo.

Tags: batman, batman-arkham-asylum, e3-2009, eidos, hands-on, rocksteady-studios, warner-bros, warner-bros-interactive

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Russ W. @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:28PM

Well, awesome. It seems like they hit Batman pretty well spot on.

Stix Remix @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:32PM

"The whole scene gloried in violence, with the game even slowing down to show you the gritty detail as you finish off this or that enemy."

I hope there's not too much slow down. This could easily get very annoying if the game does this too often.

kentuckyfried @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:55PM

Hopefully not, otherwise it'll be like a bad action movie.

It's going to be a great belated bday present that month.

lockheede @ Jun 3rd 2009 2:21PM

@Kentuckyfried

This is one of my main gripes with Fallout 3...I want to turn it off, but haven't found any such setting.

Heh @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:32PM

In before The Dark Wayne comes to this article!

Heh @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:34PM

Maybe I should have phrased that better...

Temidien @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:49PM

No. You did it just fine. XD

The Dark Wayne @ Jun 3rd 2009 3:19PM

you win this time villain!

waynski1457 @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:33PM

Like pretty much everyone else, I'm so excited for this game. I probably shouldn't be, but I just can't help it. It finally feels like they nailed right on the head what Batman should be.

todd @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:42PM

Me want now.

Captain Planet @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:42PM

Sexy

Storm Eagle @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:42PM

I'm really happy with what I read here. After everything Batman has been through as far as video games are concerned, it's great to finally see a company taking the time to do Batman right. Come on August 25th!

james @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:43PM

best. batman game. ever.

Bailers @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:45PM

The more I see this game, the more I think I might add it to my list of games. And I'll be getting the PS3 version, so I can give the Joker a spin. Anyone else think the Joker mission(s) are legit or just a gimmick?

Dund3r @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:49PM

The Joker stuff is just challenge rooms, not a fully campaign or anything. A little gimmicky, but cool nonetheless.

Dund3r @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:50PM

Glad to hear the game plays well - i was wondering what people would think about the combat system.
August 25th seems a long ways away...

Shagittarius @ Jun 3rd 2009 1:57PM

I heard that the demo version thats currently playable in Ebgames stores (maybe on marketplace?) is a really old build and the combat has been reworked MANY times since then. THe developers are worried it will give a bad impression of the game.

Zampano @ Jun 3rd 2009 4:46PM

I don't know if it's the same build I tried recently at a Target, but what I tried sold me on the game. The combat was supremely cool-looking, and the way you shifted very organically from one opponent to the next was awesome. You didn't fight one guy until he was down then move on to the next guy, you would kick the guy in front of you, grab and twist the arm of the guy behind you who was trying to sucker-punch, cape sweep the guys to the right, punch the first guy again, etc. Very free-flowing and soooo cool.