Superhero Rewind: Batman Arkham Asylum Review

[ScoTTishN1NJA]

captain Logan,who is your favorite batman villain and what is your favorite version of them (comic book,cartoon,movie,video game,etc)

[alexander3062]

@Geekvolution i saw it i feel stupid now,lol. thanks cap

[OTimeMasterXO]

i have to say, I loved that Arkham City doesnt just copy the story here. I love the shift of themes from insanity and guilt in AA to the definite themes of life and death in AC.

[Geekvolution]

@OTimeMasterXO Great points.

-CL

[alexander3062]

nvrmind

[alexander3062]

@Geekvolution will you do a Batman Forever review, please?

[Geekvolution]

@alexander3062 I have!

-CL

[25625118]

review metal ger solid for the ps1 and ist also on psn

[david2000magic]

most games are just to entertain you and have a slight story so it wouldn't be boring. but arkham asylum is like a movie with a big story and uses video game elements to tell that story

[key099able]

you should really watch game thoery batman arkham asylum episode

[mojoman10k]

thinking of reviewing any other superhero games like The Darkness, Shattered Dimensions. Ultimate Alliance, Infamous, Prototype, Viewtiful Joe and Comic Jumper

[MalzraAirwynn]

I have a funny image in my mind now of Batman stopping by the batcave and sitting down to eat a sandwitch, just chiling.

[thesouz18]

What's funny is that when you were talking about the fear gas tricking the player that there was something wrong with the game at 12:10 I think was a sort of reference to a survival horror game called Eternal Darkness that came out almost ten years before this game on Gamecube.

[BamesJonifer]

I think a lot of people knew Mark Hamlil already, I mean he was Luke Skywalker haha

[stormtrooperwilliam]

Logan, the only problem with this review was how you pronounced Ra's al Ghul. You pronunced it Raz where it really goes Raysh.

[SuperZman85]

So captain logan are going to review Batman Arkham city

[Geekvolution]

@SuperZman85 Oh yeah, story's too good not to. It'll be well down the line, though.

-CL

[SuperZman85]

@Geekvolution Thanks

[RobertFrost243636]

@Geekvolution Wow your reviews got me to look at movies and games in a more psychological approach I would have never thought like this you are a genius all hail the king !!!!

[SXavierC]

Considered the best Batman game 'till Arkham City came out, the review of which I'm looking forward to in a couple years!

[drvader5000]

You should do Arkham City someday

[SupremeCommander85]

This is the best video game review I have ever seen. Great job Capt. Logan!

[Geekvolution]

@SupremeCommander85 Considering I'm really not a gamer, that's really high praise! Thanks a lot!

-CL

[SupremeCommander85]

@Geekvolution Most game reviewers only seem to care about gameplay mechanics and graphics but never even try to explain the story.

[chrisx665]

@Geekvolution can you do spiderman 2 the game review

[Bwkjam]

I just beat this game like 4 days ago I got it in a double arkam Asylem arkam City pack so far arkam city is overwelming me with how much content it has and I like some of arkam Ashland controls better.

[superhuman295]

Scarecrow was my favorite part of the game

[pakunala]

This review was amazing and enlightening.

[Venom829]

Umm in video games, thugs always respawn no matter what. So to say that Batman's sanity is being questioned by having to fight what appears to be the same people is kind of not too true.

[MrEffectfilms]

If you value story in games more than anything, allow me to recommend the Metal Gear Solid series to you. Try them out and you'll see what makes them an incredible story.

[superhuman295]

@MrEffectfilms i gotta say. Metal Gear Solid 2 had the most insane and scariest story ive ever played and still remember to this day. ur right about the MGS games

[MrEffectfilms]

@superhuman295 I assume by scary your talking about the "Colonels" crazy and bizzare behavior towards the end. Yeah the shit scared the hell out of me when I first played it. "I need scissors 61!"

[superhuman295]

@MrEffectfilms yeah and the twist of the ending of everyone being these aliens and like controlling everything. it was weird as hell

[DogoHalibar]

Is it possible for you to consider reviewing the story for Spider-Man: Web of Shadows?

[Geekvolution]

@DogoHalibar Haven't played it in a long time and only got about a quarter of the way through, so I'd have to go back and look, but it could happen. I'm warming up more to video games after I did this one.

-CL

[DogoHalibar]

@Geekvolution Cool!

[bbaggins1298]

Thank you for doing this review. You really emphasized on the psychology of Batman, and you did it very well.

[Se7enBeatleofDoom]

I strongly suggest you should do a Video game rewind Series! :D

[Darksteel1335]

@Geekvolution - You should play Mass Effect :D

[Redgohan147]

captain logan but the fact that batman walks around dress like a bat is proof enough that hes crazy lol

[afdurrell]

Did you know that the people who did this game was Inspired by the Graphic Novel Batman Arkham Asylum a serious house on serious earth ?

[Capstain259]

@afdurrell

it certainly has similarities, so it doesn't surprise me. the story is far different for the sake of action, but the themes, mainly those of a slow decent into hell and the wonderland symbolism, definitly evokes that masterpeice.

[morebeerful]

will you do the dark knight and watchmen and sin city and alien vs preditor and blade trinity and the incredable hulk

[darthvenom305671]

@morebeerful umm alien vs predator is'nt a super hero movie it's a sci-fi movie crossing over 2 sci-fi horror franchises and it sucked !

[5benfive5]

@morebeerful alien vs preditor is not a superhero movie

and the next one he is doing is watchmen

[mishy450]

I love your reviews , are you going to do a re-review of Batman 1989?

[Geekvolution]

@mishy450 I may. I've been thinking about it for a long time!

-CL

[MrSquiggle1000]

@Geekvolution Why a re-review? What was wrong with the original?

[batmankixass]

@MrSquiggle1000 he said he pulled a lot of punches on that review

[SLPIFan]

@Geekvolution

I didn't find anything wrong with your last review of it to be honest.

[superhuman295]

@Geekvolution u shuld review science fiction films. i think u wuld nail points of the film

[dunnowy123]

LOL this game is amazing. I love pretty much everything about it. When the screen froze, I'll be honest, for a second...I was like "whoa...wtf?!" Because, yes, I have an old 360.

And the "use the middle stick" got me too. I was like "middle stick? What middle stick?"

[dunnowy123]

This game does make you feel like Batman. That's why it, but more importantly, ARKHAM CITY, are so amazing.

[morebeerful]

why are you doing buffy its not a superhero why not sin city.

[nitendubsinc]

also, to be honest. batman himself is insaine, he has split personality. but its reverse. batman is the actual bruce. bruce is the split personality

[nitendubsinc]

wow cap. this is really in depth. id like any soccermom to watch the beginning interlude.

[nangle12349]

Cap did you know that Paul dini has said that these games take place in DCAU contuinity?

[TheDarkwasp]

Hey Cap have you ever played Okami? If you haven't I highly recommend it

[spideyfan2002]

Can you review the Green Lantern Extended Cut?

[DEADPOOLJOKER]

such an amazing review! keep it up, Cap.

[1701EarlGrey]

this game is medicore beat 'em up. Reason why it is so popular is that it is only Batman game that doesn't sucks

[dunnowy123]

@1701EarlGrey

you're crazy. And you didn't play it. Because there is SO MUCH MORE to Arkham Asylum than the combat, which is amazing anyway.

[1701EarlGrey]

@dunnowy123 No I didn't play it because my computer is rather old and game just wouldn't work. However I saw every single let's play on youtube, and I see that it is pretty monotonous and repetitive - you beat up some generic thugs and move on, use stealth to take down thugs with guns and move on. Also almost every single boss battle look this same. Best thing in the game is hallucinations caused by scarecrow gas - moody and atmospheric. But story? Pretty lame if you ask me. :(

[dunnowy123]

@1701EarlGrey

Sigh...if you didn't play it, you can't say anything. You can't watch an hour of gameplay or w/e and say you know what the game is like. In fact, even if you watched the game from beginning to end, it makes no sense, because you have to play it to really understand it.

So...yeah, your criticism is invalid.

[1701EarlGrey]

@dunnowy123 You make me laugh - thank you. :) What it is to understand? It's freaking game about Batman punching Joker, not works of William Shakespeare. Also I know games with far deeper story than this Gameplay? Only if something satisfies you that doesn't mean that it must satisfies everyone else. I know games like this,and is simply not my cup of tea to monotonous repetitive and linear. Arkham City looks way better, open world environment, better story, more villains, plaing as Catwoman etc

[dunnowy123]

@1701EarlGrey

....if you played it, you would know it's not monotonous and repetitive. But since you didn't play you can't know that, you can only speculate. What is so hard about understanding that? it's like saying a movie is good or bad by watching the trailer, basically, but even worse, because with a game, playing it is so different from watching it. I know you can say I don't think I like the game, but just say that, don't state it as if you know the game is "mediocre" without playing.

[1701EarlGrey]

@dunnowy123 No,I know that it is monotonous and repetitive because I seen it.I don't know how mushing the controller make it any better.Like I said -in this game you are doing this same things over, and over again, and story is rather generic.Maybe you have good time by doing this same thing over and over again, but I don't.It is mediocre, there is nothing outstanding about it. Now tell me why when I watch let's play Arkham City I never get bored?Because this game isn't monotonous and repetitive

[dunnowy123]

@1701EarlGrey

Because you would know how much fun the combat system is? You would know how the controls are and more importantly, you would know what's in the game. I mean, you can't possibly have seen the game from beginning to end and even get a good sense of the story from "Let's Play Arkham Asylum." And I'm telling you that you don't "wash, rinse and repeat" in this game, and I would know that because I've PLAYED IT from start to finish. LOL.

[1701EarlGrey]

@dunnowy123 You see this is absolutely subjective argument: only because you like to punch and kick this same generic bad guys over and over again doesn't mean that everyone does. I admit that when I saw couple of first fights I was like: Get them Batman! But after after a while I was like: who cares? It also seems that thugs never learn their lesson. First 20 guys get pawned, so what make them think next 20 will be successful? You don't wash, rinse and repeat? So what you do? Humour me :)

[dunnowy123]

@1701EarlGrey

Wow. If you played, you would know that the enemy types change, meaning you're not fighting the same random thugs over and over again, they have different enemy compositions which means you need to use different strategies. And there are the stealth parts, the detective parts, the Scarecrow parts, the boss battles and puzzle solving. I can't believe you watch a video of gameplay and think that video reflects a 10-12 hour game.

[1701EarlGrey]

@dunnowy123 Actually different types of enemies were present in Arkham City: thugs with knifes, with shields, with body armour, ninjas with swords, military personnel... What kinds of enemies you experienced in Asylum? This same can be said about boss battles: so OK, you fight wit Poison Ivy once, occasionally you experience Scarecrow induced hallucinations - by the way best part of the game- , but rest of boss battles is with Titan bosses, if you fought one of them you fought all of them.

[jedi794]

Best video game EVER!

[DarkHeroesForever]

I never finish the Riddler challenges, I felt it was too minor for the game.

[stitch99]

I too thought of No Man's Land while watching my friend play Arkham City.

[daftbottv]

you basically gave it a 7 out of 10... that's crazy talk man. This game is easily a 9.5 or higher.

[batmankixass]

@daftbottv actually it's more like an 88%, but I think it deserves a 4, but this review is still great in my opinion.

[Geekvolution]

@daftbottv I was grading the story, on the same scale I grade movies. It's different than if I were reviewing gameplay. My scale only goes in incriments of .5 and the story wasn't *quite* perfect in my opinion. .

-CL

[reviewreviewer1]

@Geekvolution Great review!!!!!!!!!!!

[validusalexander]

@Geekvolution Hey since youve done a game review I was wondering if you and vince could discuss why videogame movies are almost always bad, is it because there impossible to do or hollywood just hasn't taken them seriously enough to do them right, mostly cuz comic book movies were more or less in the same boat decades ago. I would really apreciate if you guys would give us your 2 cents on the matter.

[Geekvolution]

@validusalexander Good topic-- we'll consider it!

-CL

[AmbientMess]

@Geekvolution Hey Cap would you ever consider reviewing Black Mask (1996) with Jet Li? I know he doesn't have any superpowers but his pain receptors have been cut and he appears to have some form of heightened strength and agility. Its sort of like a superhero film lol :)

[dunnowy123]

@daftbottv

3.5/4 is not 70%. It's like 88%. So, he basically gave it an A.

[iamsuperbatman1993]

I'm guessing this is only a one off thing for superhero games on Rewinf.

Are you do another "SUPERVILLAIN REWIND" on Dreamworks Megamind?

Would you consider Dragonball Evolution as a superhero film in a similar fashion as Hellboy or the Mask?

[koleda321]

Well, if you're going to review games too, in my opinion, you should totaly review the Spider-Man PC game. A classic! :D

[bluerangerx11]

i hove the finlal fantasy series because it had good story telling

[TheTiminator180]

Really liked this episode! Arkham Asylum was a great game! I wish you guys would review more games that are heavy on story such as Mass Effect, Dragon age, etc... I know this will probably never happen since you said yourself your not a hard core gamer and don't play a lot of RPG's. Not only that, but they would have to be superhero games... Too bad...

[iamsuperbatman1993]

Something this is only a one off for a video games for Superhero Rewind. This maybe be a dumb question. but would you consider Draganball Evolution as a superhero movie?

[CannaToker1994]

Sonic The Hedgehog is fuckin awesome man!

[TheHeartless09]

Interesting and deep video review here good stuff.

[dstebbin]

Well... so much for Superhero REWIND!

I mean, I thought the whole idea behind calling it "Rewind" is that you review old movies to see how they stand up!

[Geekvolution]

@dstebbin I wait at least two years after something's come out. This qualified! But I know what you mean-- I actually prefer movies being out a long time before I analyze them, so they've really been in the public consciousness. I get so many requests for things, and I've done so many now, that it's become nearly unavoidable to do stuff this new. But oddly, the first Rewind I ever did was Superman Doomsday, and that movie had only been out a couple years at the time!

-CL

[TheTc1993]

@dstebbin The point of this show, as said by Cap often, Is to review every single superhero movie made, he never does anything less than two years old so Rewind still applies

[123rockfan]

Are you guys planning on switching to HD in the future?

[Geekvolution]

@123rockfan Yeah, we really should... just a matter of slow rendering times with the amount of content we're producing.

-CL

[Zazubaar]

After watching this excellent review, btw this is my favorite game ever, I drew even more similarities between the game and a serious house on serious earth by Grant Morrison. Its all about seeing if Batman will give in to the madness of the asylum, but he won't. Great review cap.:)

[SPAKman619]

Wow, this was an incredible review Cap. Now I can't wait more to play Arkham City

[Bwkjam]

Cool and by this I meant rewinding super hero tv shows in general. Their are plenty of great ones that im sure you have slot to say about.

[gjjijji]

so if batman belongs at arkham asylum it would make sense to have a bat cave like killer crock has his swam underground hideout. its like batman being at home in the asylum

[BoooRatt]

Great review! I might be oe of the only people in the world that could watch another person play threw the game like a movie. I've been wwathing the Video Game Awesome crews playthrew of this game this past week and have been enjoying it.

Cewl the origional Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I loved that movie back in the 90s!

[Bwkjam]

Wasn't Buffy the vampire slayer a TV show and not a movie.if you rewind a tv show that'd be awsome theirs 2 batman series and a spiderman series I'd love to see you rewind. Have you ever considered this CL.

[Geekvolution]

@Bwkjam I will do some of the show eventually-- there was a movie first, in 1992.

-CL

[Bwkjam]

Dang I really wanna watch this video but I havnt bought this game yet.

[ThisDudeMark]

Lol when it glitched i restarted my xbox twice

[abelinkinpark]

@ThisDudeMark I was about to return the game till I found out about it...Thank god!

[comicbookprodigy995]

My collector's edition won't come till the 19th, but i've watched the whole story mode of Arkham City, plot twist R us man!

[CoolioVids101]

AND...LIKE AND FAV...great stuff cap you just made my day :)

[TheQusarPhantom]

i love this game, i got 48 out of the 50 achievements.

[fwwaller]

Whoa, cap, now your doing video game reviews? thats pretty cool

[AndyDandyMandy]

@afdurrell That was her first appearance in the comics.

[Mrcool210]

why is there a far fetch in the harley quinn interview tape page?

[partymonster411]

19:09 pokemon?

[TWOMERCY]

One weird thing I noticed about the batclaw gadget is that when you first get it, you retrieve it from this container thingy. When you come back to the batcave he upgrades it and gets the needed parts in the very same container. What's the point? lol

[solidsnakemgs408]

Why dont these reviews get more recognition?

[solidsnakemgs408]

BAT DANZZZ

[Mrcool210]

WOAH WHAT A TWIST, A GAME REVIEW? AWESOME

[mojoman10k]

so ever think of reviewing any other superhero games like Infamous or Prototype or since one of your fav games is virtua fighter; ever think about tryin Marvel vs. Capcom or Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, but most likely not because there isnt much story to review in a fighting game even though MKvsDC's was okay, but it isn't that much when compared to Batman: Ahrkam Asylum

[pryor]

Bat danz

[AsokIntern]

Bat's actually DOES have a cave under Arkham in the comics.

[Geekvolution]

@AsokIntern Oh jeez... really? I'd love to know where!

-CL

[TWOMERCY]

@Geekvolution It's just labelled as a cave but it's really a a secret and forgotten sub basement under Arkham. It's not really like the AA version.

[AsokIntern]

@Geekvolution It's called the "Northwest Batcave." It's in Arkham's sub-basements. I think that it might have been destroyed during No Man's Land, but I'm not completely sure.

[dmrain94]

GALAGA FTW

[afdurrell]

Why did it say on Harley Quinns bio thay her first apperance was in 1999?

[dukealoops1993]

Watching this, can't help but think of Sfdebris's review of Mass Effect 2. Since he reviewed as a work of fiction.

[Geekvolution]

@dukealoops1993 Yeah, I saw that he did that. I haven't watched it yet, and I really didn't borrow the idea from him. He posted that just as I was starting to work on this!

-CL

[afdurrell]

The episode is called Mad Love.

[afdurrell]

Some of Harley Quinn tapes are from the animated series.

[Geekvolution]

@afdurrell Wow, are they really? I didn't know!

-CL

[666deadman1988]

I already couldn't wait for Arkham City, now you've made my desire for it even more insatiable. Thanks for that, Cap. Thanks a lot lol.

[AntiYourFacePhD]

"You must admit, it's hard to imagine this place being conducive to anyone's mental health."

[afdurrell]

In Batman Hush it look like Batman would kill the Joker if Commissioner Gordon didn't interfere, I wish that some would make a movie out of this.

[MrAthanz]

So glad I found you, this is why I subbed.

[Zazubaar]

Buffy's a superhero?

[scsawwfattitude]

@Zazubaar Well, she has her own successful ongoing comic series if you wanna look at it that way.

[jculpa]

I agree completely. Can't wait for Arkham City to expand to this awesome universe!

[wwefan0086]

I thought my disk was screwed up when this happened

[afdurrell]

 Sorry I asks.

[afdurrell]

Wait I thought you review superhero movies not games, are you going to do Batman begins the game next? Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess is can of similar to this.

[Geekvolution]

@afdurrell I don't plan on doing any other games in the near future. Maybe Arkham City way down the road. I did this because there were a lot of requests for it and I felt I had enough to say about the story to do it.

-CL

[ReverseNegativeTV]

Cap, you gonna get Arkham City?

[Geekvolution]

@ReverseNegativeTV Oh yeah-- going tonight for the midnight launch!

-CL

[ReverseNegativeTV]

@Geekvolution Nice! I pre-ordered last Saturday from Best Buy. Getting Robin with it!

[Geekvolution]

@ReverseNegativeTV I have no idea what my in-game bonus is! Sarah bought me the collector's edition!

-CL

[ReverseNegativeTV]

@Geekvolution Damn, I really wanted the collectors edition, but there's so many good games coming out soon.

[aslan1121]

@Geekvolution I get the Batman Beyond suite because I preordered from Gamestop. Call me a geek but I'm SO excited!!

[jstephenj]

@Geekvolution I have a question. Although Arkham Asylum had an aesthetic all of its own, I noticed that the giant Joker portrait right before you enter into the guest room at the penetentiary area had a strikingly familiar style. I know I've seen this before, but I can't put my finger on it. It almost reminded me of how the Joker was drawn in the mid 1980's. Nowadays, it seems alot of artists aim for a more avante garde take on his appearance -- more demonic than clownish. What's your take?

[Geekvolution]

@jstephenj I'd have to go back and look at it. I don't remember the portrait you're talking about-- if you can find a pic, send it to me. And thanks for suggesting I review this game; turned out to be a great idea!

-CL

[ReverseNegativeTV]

Was waiting for this one!

[RedRobin696]

Great Review Cap, always throught this game had good enough writing it could have been a movie,Cant wait for arkham city tomarrow are you getting it

[xJoeEDangerouslyx]

First