Batman: Arkham Asylum

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

Yes, this is the Batman you've been waiting for...It's a wonderful experience, beginning to end, never taking the easy or familiar route, and infusing each shift of the story with original ideas that cut no corners. [Oct 2009, p.70]

GameSpy

This action-adventure is so smart, so well-written, and delivered with such an obvious love for its source material, I daresay it is both the best licensed game ever made, and arguably the best game of its kind in our current console generation.

ZTGameDomain

One of those games that comes along every few years that will have gamers talking about it long into the future. It is this year's BioShock, and I for one could not put it down from start to finish. If you enjoy great narrative, interesting boss encounters, fresh gameplay and of course everyone's favorite detective then Arkham Asylum will not disappoint.

Gaming Age

It's excellent in nearly every aspect, and certainly one of the best games you'll play this year, let alone the best licensed game I've ever played (sorry Riddick). If you've been on the fence about this one, I highly suggest you pick it up, there's nothing here that'll disappoint, and like I mentioned, the gameplay is so great that you don't need to be a Batman fan to appreciate how great the gameplay is.

ImpulseGamer

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the ultimate Batman experience, hands down.

Cynamite

Batman's trip to the asylum has hardly any flaws. The controls fit perfectly and the missions will entertain you every second you play this game. Buy it, play it, love it.

AceGamez

Not only a success as a licenced game, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a modern classic and an essential purchase for anyone looking for a solid, enthralling adventure.

DarkZero

Rocksteady have proven that they’re a company that really care. They actually ‘get’ Batman, they’ve looked at the character from every conceivable angle and strived to make this everything anybody could possibly want from a Batman game.

Armchair Empire

I can’t recommend Arkam Asylum enough.

GameFocus

Batman: Arkham Asylum can be easily compared to classic games like Eternal Darkness and Bioshock, a game that no one expected to be good and turned out to be one the most impressive, immersive and breathtaking games ever released. The grim set-up mixed an incredible voice-over work and great storytelling makes of Batman: Arkham Asylum, not only the best Batman game ever published but also the best comic-book/superhero videogame so far and a very serious “Game of the Year” contender.

MEGamers

Batman: Arkham Asylum is not just the best comic game ever, the game actually managed to rank high in our best games of all time list. Whichever system you own and regardless of your gaming budget, the Dark Knight’s latest adventure is not one to be missed.

Extreme Gamer

With the beauty of this game, the amazing sound, script and voice-acting, this is definitely one game you would be –ahem- batty to not buy.

Kombo

Fans of the Dark Knight must not miss Batman: Arkham Asylum. This game is everything one would want a Batman game to be and I cannot recommend it enough.

GamingExcellence

Don’t waste another second hanging on the fence about it. Buy this game.

TotalPlayStation

A top contender for Game of the Year and beyond.

WonderwallWeb

Arkham Asylum is not only the best superhero game you will ever play but in my opinion it is also a huge contender for game of the year. The story will pull you in and the mixture of stealth, combat and intrigue will keep you there.

Strategy Informer

Rewarding and engrossing in equal measure, the entire production reeks of quality from the stellar voice work to the jaw-dropping visuals and intuitive control system. Truly this is the Batman game that everybody’s been waiting for.

Game Informer

Batman: Arkham Asylum is this year's "BioShock," not just from the connection established with the world, but from its ability to innovate where new ideas are needed, and moreover, deliver an adventure unlike any other. [Sept 2009, p.82]

PGNx Media

Batman: Arkham Asylum would be a terrific third-person action game on its own thanks to the excellent combat engine and well-designed levels. But coupled with the Batman license the game becomes a must-play.

Worth Playing

There have been many different Batman games over the years, but none quite so polished as this one. Batman: Arkham Asylum combines the best elements of the classic Batman mythos with the modern-day interpretation of the hero. The end result is a game that outshines its flaws and is quite simply a blast to play.

IGN

The greatest comic book videogame of all time. This is an adult Dark Knight story that is well-told, packs some truly fun gameplay elements, has topnotch voice talent, and feel like it's part of Batman cannon.

Gamer 2.0

Without a doubt, Arkham Asylum is one of the best games of the year, and from the solid single player experience, amazing voice acting, rewarding challenge maps and a slew of nearly dozens of unlockable bios and collectibles, any fan will be hard-pressed to not give this game a try.

IGN UK

It’s hugely atmospheric and engrossing, its blend of combat and stealth balanced superbly to deliver an experience that’s easily as engaging as the Metal Gear series.

Vandal Online

It is not only the best Batman game ever, but also one of the best action titles of the year.

PSM3 Magazine UK

An incredible adventure in an amazing setting. Only weak detective bits and boss battles let it down.

Cheat Code Central

I can say with confidence and cannot stress enough, Batman: Arkham Asylum is, without a doubt, the best Batman game ever created. It does more than give you the Batman game you want, it gives you a video game that you could play repeatedly, even if it didn't have the caped and cowled Dark Knight in it.

Digital Chumps

It's tough to put down when you start, and even when it's over you'll be back. The Challenge Missions, all the collectibles, and guaranteed DLC means this one will be spinning up in your console for months to come.

Pelit (Finland)

Here’s something that came out of the blue – a superhero license that's brilliant! Arkham Asylum is a great mixture of exploration, brawls and sneaking. With a good story, great cast and style it's also thoroughly polished. [Aug 2009]

PSFocus

A game that is better than everyone thought. Great gameplay, perfect audio and high quality graphics and also a lot of unlockables. One of the best licensed games ever.

Gamers.at

The gameplay is diversified, the graphics are great and the combat-system is one of the best we have ever encountered. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a definite "Must-Have" on any platform and more then worthy to wear the famous name of The Dark Knight and Worlds greatest detective.

1UP

That's Batman's general theme: so many of the mechanics turn Batman: Arkham Asylum into a bona fide "Batman Simulator," that the feeling of being Batman compensates for its flaws.

Game Revolution

With fantastic voice acting, gorgeous graphics, and a well-written plot, what else could you want from a game? Great for hardcore Batmaniacs as well as gamers looking for a solid action/adventure game, I'm happy to declare Batman: Arkham Asylum as the best Batman game ever.

Level7.nu

Inside the walls of the Arkham asylum awaits not only Batman's roster of arch enemies but also a dark action adventure filled to the brim with great action sequences and a well told story wrapped in a phenomenal presentation. This is a licensed game done right and as such Batman: Arkham Asylum will appeal not only to fans of the franchise but gamers overall.

Play Magazine

There isn’t a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn’t polished to the utmost degree.

VideoGamer

Whether you fancy skulking in the shadows, smashing slow motion fists in into a goon's skull, or simply using some cool gadgets, you can do no wrong with what is Eidos' best game in years.

GamerNode

This is the must-have Batman game of all-time and a great third-person action game. Whether you're a fan or just looking for a solid game, you should pick this up. You will not be dissappointed.

PS3bloggen.se

The pessimist in me never thought that it was possible to make a really good game from a popular license, but Rocksteady have managed to do just that with Batman: Arkham Asylum. The game is second to none in the genre, and beats all contenders with a mighy bat-punch!

TheSixthAxis

A fantastic video game, worthy of all the praise it receives. Although there are a couple of minor flaws in its execution (lack of sound-awareness in the poor AI and a relatively cheap final boss stand out) there really isn’t a lot that you could fault with this game. It is certainly one of the best releases this year.

PSX Extreme

The pinnacle of superhero games. It is without question the best superhero game ever made, and we can clearly see that the numerous delays the game saw have paid off extremely well. This is not just a polished game, but also a very well thought out title with a great story, fantastic visuals, superb gameplay, and voice acting that makes almost everything else out there pale in comparison. Yes, it's that good.

Playstation Official Magazine UK

The whole game is a class act. The fighting is sophisticated but arcade-addictive, the visuals are stylish, and the Lara-like exploration is smartly done. Plus the DC heritage feels all-encompassing like a big blanket. Arkham Asylum is comfortably the best comic book game that PlayStation's ever had, and is up there with the system's best actioners, full stop. [Sept 2009, p.95]

GameTrailers

Though it'll take you in the neighborhood of 12 hours to play through, Arkham Asylum feels like it's over in a heartbeat. This is a testament to its magnificent pacing, and the care that went into making every moment feel important.

GameSpot

Regardless of whether you're getting sucked into the Story mode or competing for high scores in the Challenge mode, Batman: Arkham Asylum does an outstanding job of letting you be Batman. Everything about this game--the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat--feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that's both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material.

Meristation

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the best game of the Dark Knight never created. Exceptional treatment of characters, magnificent script, excellent graphics... Every one of the elements overflows quality. Special mention for the asylum, a frightful and dark scene that will surprise us throughout the adventure.

GameDaily

The result is so good that we're declaring it an easy 'Best of' contender for 2009.

Games Radar (in-house)

Not only a brilliantly authentic presentation of its subject matter but a tremendous game in its own right, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a big, clever and finely crafted experience which propels Rocksteady immediately into the realm of triple-A developers. This year's BioShock. That's what it is.

Console Monster

The scarecrow moments were quite iconic and had me thinking we have another Bioshock on our hands. I can’t imagine a Batman game being any other way.

Gamers' Temple

Gameplay, presentation, everything about it is about as good as it gets, and I can't really imagine any gamer coming away from this one disappointed.

Eurogamer Portugal

Simply mandatory for all fans of the genre in possession of a new-generation platform.

SpazioGames

Batman Arkham Asylum is a product of absolute value that can count on a cast of colorful characters to build a great game, really fun. The greatest strengths of the production lie in the gameplay built around what are the real capabilities of Batman, mixing action and stealth section, but always related with the universe from which have been extrapolated. Rocksteady's game is certainly the new standard for understanding how produce games under license, adapting for videogaming the very spirit of this historic character.

Da Gameboyz

In my opinion Batman: Arkham Asylum is a landmark game based on a comic book superhero and is equivalent to what the The Dark Knight did for comic book films.

Thunderbolt

The best superhero game to date. It captures everything that makes Batman who he is with some fluent yet brutal combat and clever stealth action.

XGN

Normally you just want to avoid an asylum. But Batman's Arkham Asylum is one you just want to explore. Never before was it so much fun to fight with a bat!

Boomtown

With a dark and sombre atmosphere, multi-layered, fluid and ferocious combat and deeply engaging stealth, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the game Batman fans have been waiting for, and more. It's simply a fantastically told, superbly acted and brilliantly realised action adventure.

Gamer.nl

Batman: Arkham Asylum isn't just for the fans: it delivers a great experience to all lovers of action games. The game effortlessly combines puzzle-, stealth- and fighting-elements. Arkham Asykum sets the new standard for future licensed games.

RealGamer

This is not only one of the best superhero games ever, but one the best action games I’ve played in a long time. A definite contender for game of the year with the Dark Knight detective at his best.

Game Over Online

While it’s slightly hurt by a few minor problems, Batman: Arkham Asylum rises above them to provide an unforgettable experience. Part of it is due to the well-crafted storyline, but it’s also due to the well-made gameplay that makes most things easy to do and certainly more than any Batman game released in the last 15 years.

3DJuegos

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a massive triumph: Action, stealth and investigation as its best. The best videogame based on Bob Kane’s composition, and the best superhero game this far too. A brilliant work that drives Rocksteady to the highest rank of developers.

InsideGamer.nl

Batman proves himself in this fantastic game. It is more then a good license game, it is a must have!

GamesNation

Batman Arkham Asylum is a high quality product, and most importantly the best Batman game ever! In spite of the somewhat excessive fights one has to endure in the game, it has a well-crafted structure, greatly supported by sounds and graphics effects.

GamingXP

Bruce Wayne alias Batman as cool as he has never been before, in an excellent story! Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the best action games I’ve ever played on PS3.

IGN AU

A rare breed of game. Not only is it a licensed title that really makes the most of the license, with gameplay mechanics that cater to Batman’s character, a compelling setting and story, and a host of well-known characters, it’s also a very polished product.

GameCritics

Simply put, this game effectively captures the gameplay experience of being its main character better than any other comic-based title I have ever played, but surprisingly the character development side feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

Play UK

Rocksteady really should be praised for nailing the essence of the character as well as it has. [Issue#183, p.75]

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

It probably could have been a bit longer. [Oct 2009, p.64]

games(TM)

Rocksteady Studios has produced a game as ravishing as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and as compelling as Dead Space, one that very nearly lives up to its own hype. [Oct 2009, p.122]

Edge Magazine

"Holy Metacritic, Batman! They've finally bothered to dedicate considerable time and resources to putting you in a decent videogame!" [Oct 2009, p.86]

Destructoid

I will admit to being angry and disappointed at the finale of Arkham Asylum and the Batman fanboy in me wants to tell you that Eidos ruined everything. Fact is, they have made a great, great game here. Even the boss battle at the end, the only thing I can honestly say I hate about this title, would probably be enjoyable provided one was willing and able to see past its relationship to the rest of the game. It is absolutely worth your time and money.

Teletext GameCentral

Far more than just the best Batman game, this is a top notch mix of action, stealth and storytelling.

GamePro

It's a triumph of mood and psychological tension, and devoted fans will find a great deal to excite them. But they're also bound to be disappointed by its reliance on repetitive combat and a shortage of villains worth the big man's attention.

Total Video Games

It triumphs where most other superhero games and other types of licensed action games fail: it makes you feel like the lead character. It makes you feel like The Batman.