 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Dark yet thrilling action game based on the Caped Crusader.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this action/adventure game depicts a dark tale based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Players engage in combat with a variety of supervillains and common inmates. Batman uses his hands and feet for most attacks, but will occcassionly use an enemy's own weapon against him. The game also features mild language and female villains wearing very little clothing.
What's it about?
In BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM, the Caped Crusader transports his nemesis, The Joker, to Arkham Asylum, a psychiatric hospital in Gotham City. However, Joker's detainment was part of a grand scheme to unite Gotham's worst criminals, including Bane, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow, to take over Arkham. Batman must delve into the depths of the hospital to restore order and stop the Joker.
Is it any good?
Arkham Asylum is perhaps the best game representation of the comic book character. While most games prefer to focus on Batman as a fighter, this game examines the complete persona of the character. Players will see his sharp detective skills, his love of gadgets, and how he remains haunted by the deaths of his parents in an armed robbery.
During any point, players can enter Detective Mode to search for clues, spot hidden enemies, or find weak spots in the environment with which to take advantage. Batman's typical arsenal of gadgets sits at his disposal, including Batarangs, explosive gel, and the Batclaw. Combat feels very simple, yet can become complex when attacks are chained together properly. However, stealth play is where Batman shines. Players can use strategy and the shadows to assess a situation and plan the best method of attack. Developers extend the adventure through Challenge Rooms, a series of combat and stealth tests. Scores and times are later posted on online leaderboards. Arkham Asylum is a must-have for Batman fans, and a game most action fans will enjoy.
Online interaction: Online is limited to leaderboards that players can visit to view their scores and times in the Challenge Rooms.
What families can talk about
How does this game compare to other games based on comic book superheroes?
What makes Batman so fascinating to control in a video game?
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Kid, 12 years old
March 19, 2011
AGE
Dark themes and some violence, mild language, 12+
I like this game and anyone who likes Batman will. However it is more dark and grim than other Batman games. Mild language like b**ch, b***ard, d*mn, h*ll and a*s. Bloodless violence but Batman never kills anyone. Harley Quinn talks in a slightly suggestive way to Batman but nothing sexually innapropriate. Batman is a good role model. The Joker is crazy and references some violent stuff. Good for 12+ nothing over the top.
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AGE
really cool game
So I thought this game was really really good. I loved the gameplay and how you can counter the thugs attacks. If you like batman stuff then you should definately get this. There are some frightening encounters with scarecrow and killer croc may scare little kids. There is some violence where batman beats up people. Dead people are seen around the island. Blood is seen sometimes on environments. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy dress innapropriately. The language is pretty is moderate while characters use b---h about 3 times, d-mn, h-ll, and a-- multiple times throughout the game. I agree with the ESRB rating except i would change the "mild language" to "language". Also, if you have seen The Dark Knight then you can definately play this game. Great game for tweens up
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AGE
Love this game.
Batman is my favorite superhero, and I love this game.
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AGE
best if teens and adults play it
i loved it! my favorite thing to do is play as the joker
i like how the game has a twist in it
and the gadgets are really useful when it comes to henchmen with machine guns
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AGE
Good, But scary scenes for young kids.
Don't be fooled by that its batman, OH MY 8 YEAR OLD WILL LOVE THIS, He won't sleep for weeks. You have scary villians and you go round beating the holy crap out of people. The sexual bits are only suggestive really and wearing skimpy costumes doesn't make it bad. Scary? Yes Violent? No Sexual? Ish
Language is not much of a problem really, I hear worse at school every day.
Enjoy this game. Almost GOTY 2009.
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AGE
Dark, but brilliant
I recently purchased this game, and have found it quite fun. It is, however, quite dark and at sometimes pretty violent. There are scenes in the game where players can see people being mercilessly killed, or tortured, but as Batman you can usually apprehend your enemies with little conflict. (i.e. silent takedowns) As Batman, you kill no one but "knock out" your enemies; slap 'em silly. The action is very realistic, but with realism comes some foul language. There are some colorful phrases that include the "b" words, the "d" word, and the "s" word, but there are no f-bombs dropped. The language is not commonly used, but will be heard by your enemies throughout the game.
Other than that, the Batman is the Caped Crusader, a bringer of justice, and (being a superhero) is a good role model in every situation placed before him in the game. The game also uses the "free flow" combat system, making combat easy and fluid. The game also includes puzzles, mysteries to solve, and indepth story.
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AGE
Awsome game but way more of a Marvel fan
Arham Asylum is a sometimes dark and gridy action game. He has a whole belt of gear that can be disposed at anytime, and can be upgraded. Its the best superhero game of 2009-2000 but still has its problems. Now once the parents acully see it thats when they turn off the power to the machine and trade it in for batman brave and the bold game. It does some scary parts that when I played through it creeped me out and almost made me throw my controller up and just save it. Plus parents dont like all dead guys laying on the floor after Joker and his goons killed the. There is not a massive amout of blood in the envierement.One last thing parents might not like the part where theres a guy being strapped to a while being electrocuted in a chair but you save him.
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AGE
Very scary for a "T"
This game is wonderful. They have finally mastered the cross between superhero, detective, and morally conflicted person that Batman is. This game features many gadgets that can be used at anytime, thrilling action sequences, and very scary moments. Several times, I have been shocked that this game was rated "T." If it were my say, I would have rated it "M." Batman never kills his enemies, but Joker is not so merciful. Regardless of how quickly you filter out gas in a room or beat up the henchmen, the people you want to save always end up dead. This may be unsettling to some small children. There are 3 unforgettable run-ins with the Scarecrow, which even scared me. There is some gore when the Joker mutates his henchmen with Titan, and Batman can be shot if he breaks cover in a room with armed thugs. If you fail some hostage missions, characters are shot off-screen. Dead bodies are littered throughout the game, often posed in macabre but humorous positions. Harley Quinn also shows some cleavage, and Poison Ivy wears a thong made of plants.
In short, if you think that this is a game for your 7-year-old Batman fan, think again, unless you want to be kept up for weeks by his screaming after waking from nightmares.
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| Topics: | superheroes |
| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | Eidos Interactive |
| Release date: | August 25, 2009 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence |
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