![]() ![]() As impressive as it is on its own merits, it also showcases the many genius ideas that have made recent games great.Īssassin’s Creed: Fluidity and simplicity of movement, exploring the full verticality of the worldĬonsidering how deftly competent Arkham is it’s surprising it came from the relatively young Rocksteady Studios, whose prior work consisted only of Urban Chaos: Riot Response. The thing is, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the comics-savvy call-outs in "Batman: Arkham Asylum." Keep it locked to Splash Page for my full, comics-focused review of "Batman: Arkham Asylum"-and be sure to check out the gaming-side breakdown of "Batman: Arkham Asylum" over on Multiplayer.Batman: Arkham Asylum is the quintessential contemporary videogame. Ambitious gamers can find out what was happening with characters like Poison Ivy and (my personal favorite) Riddler prior to Batman's arrival, and how the Joker's machinations moved each of the characters around like chess pieces well before he'd set foot in the facility. Along with the primary narrative, there's also a number of side narratives unlocked throughout the game that offer a different perspective on the run-up to Joker's takeover of the asylum and, in some cases, the events occurring during the prison break. THE ART OF THE CROSSOVER: Comics fans know all about the crossover, and it feels like "Arkham Asylum" writer Paul Dini (the fan-favorite Batman writer on both "The Animated Series" and in comics) kept this in mind for the game. This is one of the few games I've ever spent a significant amount of time perusing all of the character designs and concept art every time I unlocked a new image. Harley Quinn receives one of the most drastic makeovers, and in a great bit of self-awareness, asks Batman early in the game if he likes her new look. Hardcore comics fans will see nods to both modern and classic takes on Killer Croc in the character's design for the game, while Scarecrow's new look is a fresh take on the character that pays homage to his origins but retains the "comic book"-style costume. NEW SPINS ON OLD FAVORITES: Artists who get their hands on Batman and his supporting cast tend to always put their own spin on the hero and his rogues, and while that certainly was the case with "Arkham Asylum," it's clear that their was some serious, comics-conscious thought put into the look and feel of the major players. Heck, even the Arkham Asylum staff are all characters pulled from actual "Batman" comics. ![]() You have to hand it to the crew at Rocksteady: they left no stone unturned and no F-list character untouched. LESS-FAMILIAR CHARACTERS IN EVEN MORE INTERESTING PLACES: Okay, so I like to consider myself the comics "expert" around MTV HQ, but I'll admit being a little surprised by the depths of obscurity the game's developers dredged for some of the characters popping up in "Arkham Asylum." Humpty Dumpty? Great White Shark? Maxie Zeus? (Check out the photo of Zeus' room in the asylum that I've posted below.) From posters advertising The Penguin's nightclub (seen here) to a familiar name on one of the toe tags in the morgue, there's something for the Batman fan of every level. By the end of the game, you're fighting the urge to kill The Joker just as much as Batman.įAMILIAR CHARACTERS IN INTERESTING PLACES: You don't need to be a hardcore comics fan to appreciate many of the call-outs to Batman's world peppered throughout "Arkham Asylum." While the in-game hunt for solutions to The Riddler's riddles includes a fair share of references to obscure characters (more on that in a second), there's no shortage of nods to more famous characters-the sort who have appeared in one of the "Batman" movies, for example. THE BEST AT WHAT THEY SAY: Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill provided the voices of Batman and The Joker, respectively, in what is one of the duo's most celebrated incarnations outside of comics with "Batman: The Animated Series," so it's a great nod to fans' love for that series that they were brought in to reprise those roles in "Arkham Asylum." No one pulls off The Dark Knight's growl like Conroy (not even Christian Bale), and just a few hours with "Arkham Asylum" will remind you why Hamill has become the go-to voice for the Clown Prince of Crime. Until then, here are some of my favorite nods and winks to the comics world to keep an eye out for-and an open ear-during "Batman: Arkham Asylum." Having finished the main storyline and found 80 percent of the game's secrets, I'll have a review of "Arkham Asylum" posted shortly with an eye toward providing a comics-side take on the game. But if you're a comic book fan, it's even better. As Multiplayer editor Russ Frushtick points out in his review of "Batman: Arkham Asylum," there's a lot for gamers to like about The Dark Knight's latest adventure.
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