Batman: Arkham Asylum is the first game in the Arkham series of Batman video games. It is widely praised as being a revolutionary game for both superhero games and action/adventure games. It has also been widely regarded as proof that licensed video games can be done well. In light of this positive reception, it has won numerous awards for several different aspects of the game. But does it deserve all of this hype? Or is it just a game that sold well because it has the word "Batman" on the cover? Let's take a closer look and see for ourselves.

Graphics: 10
First, let's take a look at the graphics. I have no problem with this, because the graphics are definitely something to look at. Everything has been done flawlessly. You can see all of the grime on Batman's face as he trudges through Arkham Asylum. You can see the detailed flesh of the goons, you can see every muscle bulging on the stronger characters, and you can even see the little cuts and scrapes picked up by the characters. Speaking of cuts and scrapes, this game has introduced another detail to Batman's design that further ascends his appearance. As the game moves on, Batman's costume takes more wear and tear. By the end of the game, there are numerous tears all across it. If this isn't amazing, then I don't know what is.

Another aspect of the graphics that is worth consideration is the animation of the characters. This game has found just the right combination of fluidity and structure that allow realistic looking characters to inhabit the asylum. Everything from Batman's acrobatics to the Joker's waltzing looks totally natural and realistic.

Sound: 9
The visuals of this game check out, but what about the audio? When it comes down to it, the audio of this game is pretty good. All of the sound is very natural, but still very dynamic. Everything sounds just as it should, and there aren't any problems with the sound effects worth noting. Aside from the effects, it only gets better. The soundtrack was done very well and adds just the right level of suspense without becoming distracting.

But what about the voice acting? The voice acting is perfect. The lines are exceptional, the acting is wonderful, and the pacing is just where it should be. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill returned from Batman: The Animated Series to continue their roles as Batman and Joker, respectively. This was an excellent choice. There is only one problem worth noting in the sound department. The lines and other sounds, though great, are repeated very often. These sounds can grow old later into the game.

Addictiveness: 8
When you first begin to play Batman: Arkham Asylum, it may be difficult to stop. You're constantly being exposed to new aspects of the game, and frankly, it just makes you want to keep going. The game play, the story line, and the thrill of being none other than Batman himself all combine to create a game that you really want to play. Like many games, however, this initial excitement may wear off over time. Though I'm not saying the game stops being fun (far from it), gameplay does not change much one you reach about the half-way point. You may get a new gadget here or there, which is very rewarding. But beside that, the game can feel rather static.

That is, of course, until you start hunting all of the riddles and riddle trophies. Collectors beware: finding these trophies may become an obsession if you are not careful. Though not quite as exciting as the initial gameplay, hunting down Riddler trophies is very fun and addicting. And I haven't even started on the mini-games yet. The mini-games are entirely leaderboard based. They are short and simple, so playing them over and over is almost an expectation. In summary, this game is very addicting, though it does have some weak points throughout.

Story: 9
Without giving anything away, Batman: Arkham Asylum is about Joker's attempt to escape from and take control of Arkham Asylum. By doing this, he has a playground by which he can cause chaos, play with Batman, and work on another little project that you'll learn about should you choose to play this game. Throughout the game, a few other sub-plots will arise, many of which will ultimately play a role in the main story. The story is very intricate and has obviously been thought out. If Arkham Asylum were to be made into a movie, it would function just as well as it would as a video game. Though some parts (primarily Poison Ivy) seem to just be there to extend the game, everything else flows perfectly.

Depth: 9
Batman: Arkham Asylum has plenty to keep you busy. The main storyline in itself is enough to consider it a fulfilling and worth-while game. But it has so much more than that. As discussed earlier, one can spend a lot of time going after Riddler trophies. These are simply little question-mark shaped trophies hidden throughout the island by Riddler for Batman to find. There are a few hundred of them, and many require some thought in order to access them. That's right. This video game requires you to use that brain you killed by playing to many video games. As if that's not enough, there are genuine riddles placed throughout the island. Riddler will give you all of the riddles for a specific area, and you must find the one thing that goes along with each riddle. Most of them are fairly obvious, as the riddles are generally items that reference the Batman mythos one way or another. Some of them can be a little tricky though.

Another aspect of the game are the mini-games. There are two types of mini-games: fighting and predator. In the fighting games, Batman is faced by a gang of unruly inmates. You have to time your combos just right and implement all of your techniques and gadgets in an attempt to get the best score you can. In the predator games, all of the enemies are armed and you must take them out one by one without get shot up too badly. The goal is to take the enemies out in specific ways as fast as possible.

Difficulty: 6
Despite the three difficulties, this game does not present too much of a challenge in gameplay. The game is set in an "easy to learn, hard to master" style, allowing even novice players to get to the end with some quick thinking and moderate reflexes. There is nothing in particular that would prevent easy play as long as the player is familiar with the controls and understands the goal of the game. Enemies are generally not that difficult to defeat, though some situations require some strategizing for the best results. 100% completion does require some dedication, however. Many of the Riddler trophies and riddles can take time to track down and collect.

Overall: 9.5
Batman: Arkham Asylum truly does deserve the hype that it has generated during its run. It set the precedent for what has come to be the greatest superhero video game series ever made. It does have minor issues such as its drawn out gameplay, the good points make up for the bad several times over. This game really is a new level for what a licensed game, or any game, can become. Whether you're a Batman fan, an action adventure fan, a stealth fan, or even just a video game fan, this game is definitely worth a try.

Honestly, I don't see it even possible for this game to have been praised so much just because of the "Batman" title. Aside from the NES game, Batman games have had very poor responses, overall. What made this game so great is that it was the first one to really stick to the scary, dark, and twisted world that the Batman stories originally were. Batman, over the years, has been portrayed in such family friendly ways with the various cartoons versions and movies (aside from the Christopher Nolan trilogy). But Batman and the villains were nowhere near child appropriate. This game perfectly captured the original essence of the Dark Knight.

The awesome gameplay was just what sealed the deal here.