Let's face it: it's not a notion that any one game is going to fix.  Decades of experience have proven to gamers everywhere that licensed super-hero games suck, and it's proven year after year that they are not worth the price of the disc (or cartridge) they are written on.  So when a little-known developer called Rocksteady comes out and releases a video game amidst a heap of Christopher Nolan fueled Batman hype, one can't help but be skeptical.  Instead of another rushed, half-assed, or otherwise ill-conceived super-hero game, however, Batman: Arkham Asylum sets a standard for not only video games featuring heroes in a cape -- it also breaks barriers across a multitude of other genres.

At it's roots, Arkham Asylum is a fantastic experience because Rocksteady, plain and simple,  has Batman figured out.  For those not in the know, the Dark Knight has no powers to speak of outside of an uncanny detective sense and some serious skills in martial arts (being worth all of Gotham doesn't hurt, either).  Arkham Asylum puts all of these skills to work in what turns out to be part brawler, part stealth, and part 3-D Metroidvania.  Considering each genre is arguably dead or dying, the fact that all three are meticulously reinvented in Arkham Asylum is an achievement in its own right.  Tie it all neatly into a package which looks, feels, and sounds gorgeous, and this is one of the best titles to come out in a long time.

Unsurprisingly, the star of Arkham Asylum is the island on which the asylum resides.   Atmosphere drips from the walls, rains from the sky and flows in the water on Rocksteady's haunting version of Arkham, and it is here where all of Gotham's finest bad guys are shoveled away from society.  The story begins as Batman escorts the Joker back into the confines of the Asylum walls, but in typical Joker fashion, things are not quite as they seem.  Soon, Joker takes control of the island and all of the usual suspects begin to run amok, including some cameos from your favorite Batman villians (and the ones they couldn't pack in are featured in small collectibles).  

Admittedly, the story itself is nothing special -- you can probably crank out the plot yourself in a mere matter of minutes.  Fortunately, this does little from preventing a cinematic experience on par with any AAA title.  The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the sound is expertly crafted. Each character is voice acted brilliantly by the cast of the Batman animated series, he most notable of which is Mark Hammil showcasing one of the best performances in recent memory as the Joker.  An immersive atmosphere that brings to mind that of Rapture from Bioshock makes the whole experience all the more believable.

Of course, excellent gameplay doesn't hurt either.  Combat in Arkham Asylum, thoughtful in its simplicity, amounts to what is essentially a two-button system.  One button allows your surly version of Batman to punch or kick baddies, and another button will counter incoming attacks which conveniently only come one at a time.  Eventually, different enemies are tossed into the mix and Batman will have to jump over enemies, stun them with his cape, or even resort to his trusty utility belt for some aid.

Each action only requires one button, so the skill resides in your timing of each blow. In the end, fist fights feel like one big rhythm game as you attempt to build your combo as high as possible.  The whole process feels incredibly fluid - the animations between combo attacks are flawless and (usually) believable.  At times, the camera can be frustrating when attempting to hold your combo, and you can't find any more enemies to fight.  Generally, though, it's not a problem and the brawling engine feels like a refreshing breath of air.

Other portions of the game have the Dark Knight facing against thugs who are packing heat. Unfortunately, even Batman's high-tech suit is no match for bullets, and hence the stealth segments of Arkham Asylum are born.  The methods of disposal available to Batman are amazing - it's a shame that often you don't even need to use them.  Most enemies can be eliminated by hopping from stone gargoyles perched around the room, single handedly eliminating baddies until only a handful are left and can be eliminated by conventional means.

For those more inclined, however, enemies can be taken out an astonishing number of ways, and doing so is incredibly satisfying.  In fact, many times you won't even consider certain methods of stealth attack until the game suggests it to you via a loading screen or a challenge.  I'm still not convinced I've used every possible method to silently strike an enemy, but the ones I have managed to do feel immensely satisfying.  Grappling enemies off ledges, ringing them up from a gargoyle, and blowing out the floor on which they stand are only a few ways to make your way through the stealth sections of the game.

Really, variety is the central theme in Arkham Asylum, and it's to enormous credit that Rocksteady was able to make a fifteen to twenty hour game feel so fresh in a genre (or handful of genres) that went stale years ago.  Never before has action (brawling, no less!) and stealth been so seamlessly integrated into one game.  The story might be a bit too cliche, but the execution is so cinematic and beautiful you aren't likely to care.  Brilliant in its ingenuity and breath-taking in its presentation, Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of those surprising, fantastic titles that only come out once in a blue moon.  Don't miss it.