Batman: Arkham Asylum (Demo Impressions)

We live in an age of superheroes. Comic books have always been the way to live the lives of fantastic men and women. However in the wake of the first X-Men film a renewed interest of comic book heroes and villains was apparent. It seems that film studios are buying up the rights to every superhero and every comic book there is. I think that, in ways, lead to the development of the latest Batman video game "Batman: Arkham Asylum".

If you're played any Batman video games you know one thing: There are some bad ones and there are some good ones. The NES one was good, the Batman: The Animated Series game for the SNES was also good. Batman Forever for the SNES broke me as a child... I spent hours trying to figure it out. It didn't make any sense. Not a very good experience to say the least. I remember playing a PS2 Batman game a long time ago. It wasn't bad, but it surely wasn't very memorable. "Batman Begins" for the PS2 was one that sticks out in my memory. It had a some neat ideas--intimidation of enemies for one--but it was woefully forgettable. Needless to say, Arkham Asylum blows all of these games out of the water.

Well, I just played the demo and already it's better than any other game carrying the name of Batman to date. Here's why:

1.) Combat. Batman kicks ass left and right. The combat system (dubbed "free-flow combat") lets Batman tear through baddies like a warm batrang through butter (don't you love Bat-puns? forgive me). I can't really explain it too well with words. Batman is able to seemlessly strike, counter, and throw. He can also switch targets mid-combo. The sound effects are great, really letting you hear the heft of the strikes.

2.) Stealth. For me, this is the most exciting aspect. Batman has a variety of ways to subdue foes. If unseen, he can silently incapitate his enemies. I also saw some shots in the trailer of him using batarangs, his grappling hook, and other gadgets. He can sneak on the ground, crouch behind a corner (in MGS fashion), lurk in the shadows high above by swinging and hanging from the decorate gargoyles, and glide gracefully down. If you knock out an enemy and someone finds them they'll begin to search for the Batman. They may also begin to behave nervously if they keep finding their comrades lying on the floor. Just imagine if Solid Snake had a grappling gun and you get the picture.

3.) Service to the fans. There are plenty of extras: character bios, trophies, even patient tapes that let you hear psychiatric sessions with the Joker (I'm sure they have them for other characters... but I'm just playing the demo). This is the best Batman experience to date.

"Batman: Arkham Asylum" is one of those rare demos that get you so incredibly stocked for the full product that you may drool all over your t-shirt. Welcome to the madhouse.