Reviews

Around a year ago, when The Dark Knight hit cinemas, there was many a musing regarding the lack of a video game tie-in for the blockbuster. Some were disappointed at not being able to recreate the action of the movie in their own home, while others were relieved at the lack of yet another by-the-numbers movie license. Instead, we all "made do" with Lego Batman.

A year has since passed, and now the Caped Crusader is finally ready to be unleashed in his very own true adventure on HD consoles. No limitations created by a movie plot, no plastic bricks, and no Robin. This is Batman's game.

The Dark Knight is back, and this time he's not made of plastic

Actually, if you look at it closely enough, this is just as much The Joker's game as it is Batman's. The story revolves around our hero returning the demented one to the island-based asylum, following his latest escape. A sense of unease is in the air, The Joker seems to have given himself up without too much of a fight, and seems more defiant than ever in his attitude towards being caught.

It soon emerges that this is all part of Joker's plan, and along with a host of cronies and familiar villains from the Batman universe, he takes control of the whole asylum - where's a well-known cliché when you need one? No matter where you are, be it in treatment rooms, mansions or medical facilities, indoors or outdoors, the cackling clown is ready to both taunt and haunt via monitors or speakers. Having played the character for several years in multiple animated versions of Batman, Mark Hamill's voice work as The Joker is suitably creepy.

Arkham Asylum's Joker is suitably mad, and forever trying to steal the show

Also returning from the animated series is Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman, who gives a stoic performance in the title role, without having to resort to voice boxes to sound tough *cough*Christian Bale*cough*. Having both actors on board gives an added air of legitimacy to proceedings, something which can also be seen simply in the way Batman acts during the game. In many licensed, third-person action titles, developers seem to think players will simply be content to play as the title character, without giving much thought to making it an authentic experience.