The new game Batman: Arkham Asylum is easily one of the best video games ever made but it is definitely not for the younger crowd. With an ESRB rating of T for Teen for its alcohol and tobacco references, blood, mild language, suggestive themes and violence, this game is perfect for the teens and young adults (okay, adults too) in your family but should not be played by the younger kids. Unfortunately, they’ll probably be begging you because the game is that good.
Before the game was even released it was already “breaking” records; Guinness awarded it the World Record for “Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever.” Clearly some sort of deal was made and this record was created for advertising purposes, but the game did receive nothing but stellar reviews from critics and gamers so it is a proven winner. And though it’s not nearly as bad as the Grand Theft Auto series, there’s still way too much violence for anyone who can’t see a PG-13 movie without a parent buying their ticket.
When The Joker takes over control of Arkham Asylum, it is up to Batman (that’s you) to rescue the staff while fighting off all of the inmates, including some of his most notorious foes. Use all of the gadgets in Batman’s arsenal and utilize the extent of Batman’s fighting skills to navigate through the dangerous and mysterious island. With appearances by Killer Croc, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Commissioner Gordon, Oracle and many more, this is a must have game for anyone who is even remotely a fan of Batman. Don’t worry, if those names weren’t recognizable, the game gives you full character bios.
Rocksteady and Edios have developed a masterpiece of a video game to go along with the legendary license. With cutting edge graphics, game play and control, this game will leave you speechless. For example, most games have story advancing cut-scenes that look completely different than the game. With this game, though, those cut scenes feature the same graphics so the game flows much better. The in-depth and intriguing storyline will keep you on the edge of your seat too and playing for hours. Written by Paul Dini, who has either been a producer or a writer for all of the recent Batman cartoons, it smartly weaves together all the characters and a developing mystery that will not fail to keep you interested.
The best part for any long time Batman fan is that the game will features the voice talents of Mark Hamil and Kevin Conroy; the original Joker and Batman voices from “Batman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League” and “Justice League: Unlimited.” Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker for those who don’t know) plays a fantastic Joker, comical yet dangerously insane, just the way he was intended. Kevin Conroy actually is credited more times than anyone else as being Batman. His voice is perfect fit for Batman/Bruce Wayne and he has done it for more than 15 years now.
This is a game that will be talked about for years and will most assuredly spawn some sequels (just imagine being able to walk through the streets of Gotham). Its brilliant story, sharp graphics and smooth game play will keep it popular with many people but it deserves its T for Teen rating. There is just too much violence and suggestive themes that small children should not be dealing with.
Check out a trailer for the game below.
