In a previous article I stated that I was surprised the ESRB chose to give Batman a T – given that there are several only-slightly-more offensive titles stuck with the dreaded M-Rating.  What I decided is that I could live with it and that parents, especially if they let their kids watch Batman Scary Guy & Irish al Ghul and its sequel The Dark Knight: Heath Ledger is Disturbing then Arkham Asylum is only going to give them a handful of delightful hours of shocks, thrills, chills and terrific acting both in terms of voice (most of the Batman: The Cartoon is Better than the Movies!) and writing (from the Animated Show’s creator) I’ve finished the game on Normal, planning on replaying it on hard, and was wondering – hoping – praying to meet a few more of my favorite Gotham people in future installments.

I’ve also been asked why, as a 38 year old, would I get this excited by a superhero game? In this game, it’s ALL about the writing and story.  I’m a jaded 11 year videogame review veteran – lets get that out of the way – I actively pine for game genres long gone and the Wii, if not my favorite, is probably my second favorite game console ever.  I only play games I really want to play and I avoid anything that looks bland.

I’ve seen some impressive games since Half-Life came out at the beginning of my career but there’ve only been a few eye-openers since – who’d have thought that a licensed game, a superhero game, would be the one to jump to the top of my list – number one with a batarang. This is the game apprentice game designers will speak of in the future. They speak of it reverently.

Suffice it to say, despite a camera problem or two, and the combat being a bit too easy while the puzzles are a bit too obvious – the story is the thing and this one has got story.

SPOiLERS

The Game Features some of the biggest from the Batman Rogues Gallery Playbook

The Joker, Harly Quinn, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Zsasz, The Scarecrow, Bane, Scarface (sort of), and the Riddler is on hand to mock and unlock bonus info.

Here’s who is missing and who I expect, no demand, to see in the sequel they’d better be working on RIGHT NOW!

Two-Face, Cat Woman, the Penguin, the Mad Hatter, Clayface, Scarface and the Ventriloquist, Hugo Strange

Maybe set the sequel free roaming through Gotham, or perhaps this time the madmen invade BlackGate Prision?

EIther way, GamerDad says this is the game to get a teenager who is interested in something more violent than typcial Teen fare. You’ll watch him play, same bat time, same bat channel, and you might to play it yourself. Remember, the 360 version (from GameStop) comes with an extra Scarecrow level called Dem Bones – PS3 owners get a level where they can be the Joker.

That’ll be an Xbox-Live download too, I hope.

Tags: Game Reviews