Every single aspect of the game is worse in Asylum.
Combat? Better in City. Easier to use items, better flow, better...everything.
Traversal? Better in City. Flying was actually expanded.
Level design? Better in City - it's *massively* wasted in Asylum. Like, genuinely, nothing happens with the so called "Metroidvania" aspect.
Predator? Better in City. Hugely expanded, with far more patterns, interesting setups, workable gadgets, and guard evolutions.
Bosses? Better in City. Night and day, honestly. Asylum has absolute trash bosses, whereas City has some of the best in the series.
Sidequests? Better in City. So much better. Trophies and riddles were better, and the side villains endlessly creative.
Asylum is far and away the worst in the series - seriously, just try to play them all again and claim otherwise. Just try. And yes, I played Asylum first. It's fine, but easily, easily outclassed.