I have recently picked up Batman Arkham Collection on PS4(it was 12 dollars and I got a recommendation I got from a friend). Holy shit, why isn't this game heralded as a classic from the era, in the likes of Last of Us, Infamous, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Red Dead Redemption. In fact, I would argue that Arkham Asylum is a huge cut above all of those games.
The best retro games, make use of the best of the hardware, the design decisions of the time, and contextualizes it to make something of it's own. And boy, the things that this game contextualizes is absolutely outstanding. It takes every archaic, nonsensical technical limitations, and design choices and it truly elevates these to an inane degree.
The muddle browns, and muted color pallets really were awful back on those systems. But for a Batman game? It's absolutely perfect for the old time gothic artstyle. The only thing that has aged through the time, is the faces and facial animations of the characters. But the graphical presentation, of this old, musty 2009 game, is actually perfect, since it really presents an old, musty, derelict prison/hospital.
I really have to admit that the developers had real balls to tell a unique batman story. Especially among the lines of the biggest movie of the time, The Dark Knight, released just a few months prior. The fact that they have these amazingly faithful characterizations, it really pulls the story together. There are so many little nips and tucks, like unique death animations when you die, depending on which of the villain's you die. Now, it does go a little bit overboard with the interview tapes, but like I said, context is important. It really makes sense to hear doctors work on these villain's, and it really makes sense in the context of the story, unlike so many other games. Interviews, and therapy sessions are a part of hospitals. So yeah! It would totally make sense that there are interview tapes lying around, and the characters are so well developed I really don't mind.
It also uses the best parts of the world building. The progression, and pacing is far better than even modern games, such as Rise of the Tomb Raider. You are constantly meeting new villain's, and they constantly find new ways to shake up the gameplay. Stealth sections in the game really make sense, the exploration and atmosphere is incredible(it almost gives me the same vibe as the original Luigi's Mansion. The atmosphere is so thick with gothic elements it is captivating). They give you new tools for combat and progression constantly as well, and have unique setpieces too. I want to give extra brownie points for turning a 3D game, into a 2D game when you meet Scarecrow. It's absolutely brilliant, to take away control of the player by limiting your dimension, and it really subconsciously ups the fear factor. Why haven't more games done this?
Now, I can go on and on really praising the game. But that would take even more time from my point. Arkham Asylum should be considered a classic, and one of the best games of that generation. Nowadays, Arkham is only brought up in comparison to Spiderman, and even then, it is compared to Arkham City. I look forward to getting to Arkham City and Knight as well. But man, Asylum has really been underappreciated. Almost everything great about Spiderman PS4 exists here in Arkham City, nearly a decade before Spiderman PS4 existed. I really wish people would herald this game more, because maybe I would have played it earlier.
Also, I just want to get this out of the way. Yes. Arkham Asylum is a retro games you boomers. It released 2 generations ago, 12 years ago. It contains different design elements from what we have today, on vastly inferior hardware. Also, a lot of adult gamers nowadays weren't even old enough to play a game like this most likely. 18 year olds today, were like 5-6 years old when this game released. Yes, we get it, you are old, I am getting up there too. Get over it. Once we get out of the stigma of PS3-360 games still being modern, the more young folks can actually enjoy these experiences in that lens. Because these games really aren't modern at all. They are rife with baffling technical and design decisions that all retro games have.
With that said, I love this game. It should deserve a lot more appreciation through a modern take. It has aged so much better than many of it's other colleagues.
The best retro games, make use of the best of the hardware, the design decisions of the time, and contextualizes it to make something of it's own. And boy, the things that this game contextualizes is absolutely outstanding. It takes every archaic, nonsensical technical limitations, and design choices and it truly elevates these to an inane degree.
The muddle browns, and muted color pallets really were awful back on those systems. But for a Batman game? It's absolutely perfect for the old time gothic artstyle. The only thing that has aged through the time, is the faces and facial animations of the characters. But the graphical presentation, of this old, musty 2009 game, is actually perfect, since it really presents an old, musty, derelict prison/hospital.
I really have to admit that the developers had real balls to tell a unique batman story. Especially among the lines of the biggest movie of the time, The Dark Knight, released just a few months prior. The fact that they have these amazingly faithful characterizations, it really pulls the story together. There are so many little nips and tucks, like unique death animations when you die, depending on which of the villain's you die. Now, it does go a little bit overboard with the interview tapes, but like I said, context is important. It really makes sense to hear doctors work on these villain's, and it really makes sense in the context of the story, unlike so many other games. Interviews, and therapy sessions are a part of hospitals. So yeah! It would totally make sense that there are interview tapes lying around, and the characters are so well developed I really don't mind.
It also uses the best parts of the world building. The progression, and pacing is far better than even modern games, such as Rise of the Tomb Raider. You are constantly meeting new villain's, and they constantly find new ways to shake up the gameplay. Stealth sections in the game really make sense, the exploration and atmosphere is incredible(it almost gives me the same vibe as the original Luigi's Mansion. The atmosphere is so thick with gothic elements it is captivating). They give you new tools for combat and progression constantly as well, and have unique setpieces too. I want to give extra brownie points for turning a 3D game, into a 2D game when you meet Scarecrow. It's absolutely brilliant, to take away control of the player by limiting your dimension, and it really subconsciously ups the fear factor. Why haven't more games done this?
Now, I can go on and on really praising the game. But that would take even more time from my point. Arkham Asylum should be considered a classic, and one of the best games of that generation. Nowadays, Arkham is only brought up in comparison to Spiderman, and even then, it is compared to Arkham City. I look forward to getting to Arkham City and Knight as well. But man, Asylum has really been underappreciated. Almost everything great about Spiderman PS4 exists here in Arkham City, nearly a decade before Spiderman PS4 existed. I really wish people would herald this game more, because maybe I would have played it earlier.
Also, I just want to get this out of the way. Yes. Arkham Asylum is a retro games you boomers. It released 2 generations ago, 12 years ago. It contains different design elements from what we have today, on vastly inferior hardware. Also, a lot of adult gamers nowadays weren't even old enough to play a game like this most likely. 18 year olds today, were like 5-6 years old when this game released. Yes, we get it, you are old, I am getting up there too. Get over it. Once we get out of the stigma of PS3-360 games still being modern, the more young folks can actually enjoy these experiences in that lens. Because these games really aren't modern at all. They are rife with baffling technical and design decisions that all retro games have.
With that said, I love this game. It should deserve a lot more appreciation through a modern take. It has aged so much better than many of it's other colleagues.
