The graphical presentation in Batman: AA is gritty; and part of the reason for its grim look could be contributed to the prowess of the Unreal Engine 3. The character models for all the villains are fantastic and, while Batman does look too much the part of a bodybuilder, the rest of the cast Batman characters looked ripped right out of the comics. The audio production is out of this world to the point of perfection. Due to the attentiveness of Rocksteady Studios’ work to put forth excellent voice-acting, Batman: AA can be included among the best adaptations of the superhero genre. The only issue with technical presentation was that the camera does play a few tricks on the gamer from time to time. It’ll get stuck behind a wall, get a little flimsy when performing a high amount of maneuvers and likes to readjust itself from time to time, which will screw up the gamer’s focus.
The longevity of Batman: AA is tremendously astounding as a single-player only title. Throughout the campaign, players have a collectibles to find such as Riddler’s Trophies, scanning the environment for Riddler’s hidden question marks, interview tapes with super-criminals, and a few others. There are already two downloadable challenges – though they are only available through pre-orders and a Gamestop purchase – to play through. In addition, unlockable challenges are there for players to experience as a diversion from the single-player affair.
All in all, Batman: AA has the total package that every gamer wants in a big-budget, superhero - action/adventure title. Xbox 360 owners would be missing out if they decided to skip out on Batman: Arkham Asylum (in stores now). When the yearly awards start showing their faces on the internet, Batman: AA is a shoe-in for at least a couple Game of the Year nominations. It's with ease that we tell you Arkham Asylum is one of our favorite games of 2009, and will be tough to beat as the year progresses. So with all of those glowing positives said, gamers would be best-served to purchase the title to see what all the hype is about – they’ll soon be joining the fan club and eagerly awaiting the sequel to Rocksteady Studio’s wonderful incarnation of the Batman lore.
