This is going to be the last full review in my Arkham Series retrospective. I will make two more videos, one talking about my personal experience with the series and my time making the videos, and another ranking all the games. Apologies if that disappoints some of you, but I, at this point, said all that I have to say on the franchise. Thank you guys for supporting me the entire way. I'm forever grateful for it. Any corrections will be posted here. The triple batarangs are useful for taking out the pollen spores that Ivy's plants shoot out. You can actually skip the talk with Cash at the mansion and head straight to the Intensive Treatment. This basically nullifies my criticism. You can play as the Joker on the remastered version on Xbox One, but not the 360 The use of the word masterpiece is meant literally. I don't think the game is perfect, and I should have clarified that the word masterpiece implies perfection. The game has flaws, but the overall product, in my eyes, is masterfully executed, hence the use of the word. You may notice the colour correction is off here. That is because when I recorded the video, I did so at night when the windows blue light filter was on. Meaning I had to try and colour correct it in the post. Apologies if it looks wonky.
@Mid Quacker Hi, I'm honoured that my little videos are capable of making such an impact, truly! I think I want to focus more on getting through the Assassin's Creed series for now but I am heavily tempted to talk about the Uncharted games. That won't be for a bit, but it's on the radar for sure.
@@JoshJoshJoshJoshJoshJoshua Arkham Knight is genuinely one of the best looking games ever and it always surprises me how little it's graphics get singled out for praise. The dark lighting definitely works in it's favour, but add ray tracing and it would look like a 2021 title no questions asked.
@@JoshJoshJoshJoshJoshJoshua hell yeah. It is still one of the best looking games ever. Shame we won't see the Original Arkham Games with the same graphics
That’s funny cause there’s a video by Donkey Video Game that says that “you feel like Batman” but he doesn’t like the game because he has some reasons - Video Donkey is not very funny but some people think he is. His use of slurs for comedy is also lazy at best
@@Persholm1 yeah, there's a meme about IGN or some other magazine saying "it really makes you FEEL like Batman" and people occasionally day certain things really make you feel like so and so
I was on my cousin’s ps3 playing it like 9 years ago in 2011 or 2012 and I was only 4 and when it was my turn I was in some sewers and he kept popping up and one of the times he popped up I fucking cried😂
I believe that the reason why the skeleton enemies are so easy is because the fear toxin causes batman to not hold back as much in combat and so we see more of what batman is really capable of. This is sort of reused in Arkham Knight when batman almost kills some mercenaries, in the blimp, after being exposed to the toxin.
To further support this, after that final Scarecrow encounter you find a bunch of unconscious thugs and two knocked-out Titans in the room Batman's standing in. It really goes to show the attention to detail Rocksteady put in these games, even with the very first one. It also kinda ruins Aqua's (very interesting) idea about pulling out the Titan's spinal cord, since... y'know. I definitely think it would be an interesting gameplay mechanic if there was a way to make it fit, though.
I always thought the Joker fight at the end of the game made sense in tone. The Joker's plan was basically to get Batman titaned up and have boxing match with titan Joker on the rooftops of Arkham Asylum. In Joker's twisted mind this would demonstrate to the world that Batman and him are just two freaks and the same.
Yeah Joker and Scarecrow wanted to drive Batman crazy and turn him into a monster with a combo of both fear gas and Titan so they could have a final battle probably because Joker had finally gotten bored of their years long conflict. Wanting to destroy Gotham with Titan monsters was just a bonus thing Joker would have done had he managed to kill Batman.
@@Scarecrowbooger ahh that's where you are wrong, he is crazy, cynical,mental, non predictable, but he is the guy with a plan. See injustice comic or even the Nolan version of joker. He is too smart always has plans
fr dude, so much from the arkham combat system is borrowed in many superhero games now. only one i noticed was spider man ps4 (2018) it was very much like the arkham combat system. very very nice.
@@poopgangster2.073 I haven't played the Spiderman 2018 game but I did play "The Amazing Spiderman 2" game and they borrowed a lot from Arkham Asylum. The Kingpin boss fight was basically the same as the fight against Bane in Asylum.
My favorite part of Arkham asylum is that it just felt like another Batman story. As if it were an arc in the comics but in video game form. I feel like subsequent entries strayed further and further from this
Tbf, I think that's because they started establishing the Arkhamverse as its own thing. I think it kinda works, the idea that this game's story, that feels like just another comic arc, creates massive ripples down the line that helps distinguish the Arkhamverse from mainline continuity. Stuff like Joker shooting himself with the Titan and Scarecrow getting attacked by Croc being presented so casually knowing what they'll lead to in future games is kinda chilling.
Arkham asylum should and always have that dark gothic atmosphere and environment to it its what makes the asylum so memorable and horrifying to the viewer and remains as a sacred staple of gotham city.
Arkham Asylum's horror was the best aspect to me. The blend of the Batman mythos with the creepiness of the entire game fit perfectly! Killer Croc, the Scarecrow sequences, and the penitentiary segment were terrifying. I wish we get more horror integrated Batman stuff.
@@Johnsmith99663 Yeah, and people will copy his voice with A.I , and at least we'll have the memory of his voice through A.I, newer generations won't even be aware of the legacy he set in the past, they'll probably just think that '' batman sounds cool. ''.
This game is partially based on the Grant Morrison comic Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, often just called Batman: Arkham Asylum for short. It’s considered by many to be one of the greatest Batman stories ever, as it masterfully blends psychological horror elements in with classic superhero comic themes. The comic follows Batman as he responds to a riot at Arkham Asylum, where he encounters many of his Rogue’s Gallery and learns through diary entries about the life of Amadeus Arkham.
I always considered Arkham Asylum as a horror game. The Scarecrow and killer croc missions, in addition to the Chronicles of Arkham and the eerie map, created a feeling that will always stick in my mind
I’m glad you touched on the supernatural feeling atmosphere. It was always felt haunting and uneasy when you’re just roaming the island post-game. Then you have the random lunatics who still pop out of nowhere that add to the spookiness. It’s as if Arkham Island is cursed to make its inhabitants to go insane and violent thus adding to the never ending cycle of Batman’s crusade against crime; the place he believes will help them actually tortures them: Psychologically, emotionally, and possibly physically.
Akhram Island??? More like Gotham as a whole. I even read somewhere that a demon supposedly haunts Gotham City, which is the reason that place is so fucked up. Makes sense tbh.
The Sinatra style song that plays before the party & Joker showdown was just perfection. The game had the best atmosphere and was closest feel to the animated series. No doubt due to Dini’s writing
@Gay Killer | I just finished Arkham again, and that was by far the scariest time for me, because I didn’t realize the first time that I could use batarangs. I forgot that somehow.
Comment is a year old but yeah, I couldn't have said it better myself. The atmosphere is incredible in game, and in terms of atmosphere outside of the game, it makes me feel so nostalgic when I play it now
One of the most underrated things about this game is the fact that throughout the asylum, you can hear the warden giving info + joker keeping you company in the backround. Loved it
@@thatboyakira4202 If you subscribe to this gorgeous voiced man's patreon, one of the perks is being able to watch videos early. I highly recommend it. Money well spent
I never realized this but you take a LOT more damage in Arkham Asylum than you do in later games. It really adds to the atmosphere of the game. I'd love to see this game if it had an M rating.
I just realised that Arkham Asylum is a trap from the Joker to show that it was lunatic inmates who was trapped in a asylum with Batman and not the other way around. What a game.
I adored City and perhaps expected too much of Knight. The bat mobile ruined everything what I’d anticipated of the Batman gaming experience. While this wasn’t the only element, but I didn’t gel with the game at all. I’ve had some time away from Batman but after this video I believe Asylum should reinvigorate my enjoyment of the Batman gaming experience.
Everything about this game, the setting, the atmosphere, the environment, the story, and the gameplay, really make this game such a masterpiece of its own!
I am replaying the Arkham series again after a few years and this game is fantastic. The atmosphere is so dark, dirty, and unsettling. The combat is satisfying and the story is simple and straightforward, works great. I honestly think this one aged the best in the series, but I'll have to finish the whole thing again to see.
OMG, I love the sound replacing Detective Mode idea!! I’ve had this thought too, and imagine it working like Joel’s hearing in The Last of Us. Imagine setting up high tech microphones in a stealth section to that highlight enemies when they walk or make sound near them. This ‘Sonar Vision’ could be used to amplify actual sound too and cancel out background noise, making it a super immersive experience with headsets.
@@dlaniganohara In some cases, sure, but make the mode more limited, as though it needs to be used in situations where you would actually need to amplify sound. Not just click a button and see everyone at once.
We hope you’re doing good Aqua. I’m glad you could talk about Arkham Asylum again. After playing through all of the Arkham games throughout the last few years, I thought that Arkham Knight was my favorite and for a time it was (flaws and all). But revisiting Asylum during the pandemic, something changed. I appreciated the smaller things about Asylum, mostly the claustrophobic atmosphere. It felt great for the setting in the Asylum and I think it makes it stand out from any other Batman game.
Rocksteady knew about the over reliance on detective mode. In Arkham City, it was greatly nerfed so that, while you could see enemies from a distance, the environment looked much more foggy - especially from a distance. I may be wrong but I think the Remastered version of Arkham City was “fixed” so that the environment was sharper in detective mode
I just started playing this again yesterday and I forgot how much fun it is. I love how story driven it is, rather than having a whole dense city full of side quests, you're just going through an asylum trying to catch up to joker before he unleashes his plan. That's all the game needs, it's done very well
I always loved how Batman dabbled in the occult, it’s never straight up magic but rather like esoteric readings, cult stuff, and usually mental illness, but still very vague supernatural undertones.
Well, I suppose the League reaches straight-up magical elements, as does Killer Moth’s devil-dealing, Sharp’s (potential) possession, and vampire Batman, but one of those is another Earth item. But if I included other Earths beyond the Arkhamverse or Earth-1 outside Gotham, things would get very supernatural.
I’ve recently found this video and it took me sometime to finish but I agree with it in the end. The little piano tune that plays in Asylum haunts you throughout your play through and doesn’t let up. I never thought of the game as horrifying (given I was 9 playing this game), but great points were brought up. I thoroughly enjoyed this video!
Gliding around the cliffs and dealing with the titan in the river pumps was probably the most relaxing part to me, it is one of the reasons I play it again, sometimes.
After going through your analysis of this game, I actually feel horrified now. Like, seeing how Arkham is like a torture house. And basically Gotham is funding this shit. Also that glitch part of the scarecrow, I thought my game was fucked.
the mini heart attack... followed up by a complete mind fuckkkk lol ill never forget that moment. idc what anyone says, asylum was THE best and NONE of the other arkham games made me feel like this
For anyone who accidentally returns to this video, and stumbles upon my comment, the killer croc part can be done with a bit of relation if you remember walking holding the battarang out aiming with it, counts as being stealthy. You can be prepared with a solid guess, and always be at your most quietest.
This game, imo, was the best one of the series. The environment, the aesthetics.. the feel of this game was amazing. The graphics and artwork, music, ui. Everything was on point. Played this game the year it came out and it was very creepy for me. Scarecrow segment, killer croc. I just wish they carried out that feel throughout the whole game and made it horror-ish type of hero game
16:39 as it turns out, that happens when you try to attack WHILE a thug is atacking you (when you can counter them) if that happens, your attack animation will be slow 100% of the time, wich is on purpose so that the thug has a chance to hit you
27:04 i love how the 3 tools joker has at his disposal during the steal segments, the chattering bombs, the gun, and the real x-ray glasses, are actually present in arkham knight, in the jokors own evidence locker, along with the titan dart shooter
Just my 2 cents, but collecting the riddler trophies and puzzles, was my favorite part. Half the serotonin is collecting the collectables the other half is feeling like a clever clogs for solving the riddles…… “riddle me this… Batman”…
the remote batarang should be able to mark enemies you fly past so you could see them as if you were in detective mode without having to go in it. combined with the sonar idea that you had i feel that it would wake it a great and useful gadget.
the segments leading up to the scarecrow missions were by far the scariest, especially the fake crash, it genuinely made me unsettled like i was being watched or something
This game is the best because it’s like a nightmare for batman as he’s stuck on the island with monsters and cant leave, the first game that exposed me to batman
Yeah that makes me wonder how batman sleep at night after going through what he went through from his experience by being him walking in his shoes as I was playing the campaign storyline.
No Arkham game has the same aesthetic as Arkham Asylum, the feeling, designs and even HUD in the game are just beautiful, definitely has a comic feeling
Back in the day when I played Arkham City and Arkham Knight I remember my combat signature was ending the fight with a batarang....watching it go slow motion and hitting the last thug always made me feel like a badass
Will never forget when I first downloaded the demo for this back in the day. I loved it so much. Next time I was at the store I saw it and picked it up.
Man, I remember first playing this game when I was only 8 years old! This game truly was scary for me back then! And still gives me a creepy vibe to this day!
This was a great video, man! Loved how you touch on the cruel design of The Asylum. It’s such a great touch to add atmosphere and depth. You just made me buy this game again to play! This game was such a beautiful love letter to Batman from the devs that it all really shows.
The Arkham series has the perfect representation of Batman and the spiritual successor to the Animated Series. When I go back to any of these games I feel like I’m playing as THE Batman. Not psycho killer Batman like Batfleck...
Actually there are Batman the new Animated Series games prior to Arkham Series , Batman Vegeance for example that were indeed Batman Animated Series sucessor ,Anyway i get what you meant
Fucking A+ editing man! You've been stepping it up in the past few videos and it shows! Loved this one, another fantastic vid! Can't wait to see what else you put out
I’ve always wanted the Joker to be able to use his Titan-powered gun in the challenge modes, as it would turn the security guards as one of your people you can use to turn against the other guards. But then only limit to this, would be only one shot, so you would still have to use it sparingly and wisely at times. Just like the normal gun you are still given in the game.
As a kid this felt more like a horror game then a batman game this game was so good the segment with killer croc made me quit the game multiple times because i was to scared
I always thought of this game as Dead Space Light. These games even came out inbetween the releases of those games each year. Asylum scared the shot out of me in 2009. Took me about a year to actually play the Killer Croc segment by myself.
One of the things about this game I though was interesting. Is there's a finite number of people on the island. There's the Asylum staff, the Blackgate guards, the Blackgate prisoners, the Asylum patients, Gordon and Batman. While you only run into them at points in the story. Once you've defeated all of the prisoners, freed the hostages and dealt with the Bosses. That's it. You can wander around the island looking for Riddler trophies, chattering teeth and Easter eggs. But there's no one to fight. It makes the game boring as hell after you defeat Ivy. But I always liked the developers thought about it.
I played this game over 10 years ago, and i remember the day very well. This game impacted my childhood in a very good way, and to this day, it is still one of my favorite games of all time
14:18 ha ha ha that happened so many times to me in Arkham asylum and I think a bit of city that made me for a while stop using ground takedowns (I wasn’t very great at holding a combo streak)
You know how some asylums in real life are said to be haunted. In the future lore of Dc universe, I can see Arkham, abandoned and worn down, being the single most haunted location in the entire universe…that’s how chilling it is…
When the in-game glitch happened, I remember screaming and running in and out the room as a kid. I figured that my game was broken or my PS3 was and, either way, I didn't fancy my chances of survival when I tried to explain it to my father.
This was masterfully done and I wouldn’t even say that about all your previous videos, though they are all certified bangers. You are honing your craft, my friend. PS: Your “sonar” idea was pretty well adopted in Splinter Cell Blacklist, though the “sonar” bit is taken out with the perfectionist difficulty nerfs. A gem of a stealth title in my admittedly controversial opinion.
I recently finished this and honestly detective mode hurt my eyes and made combat more difficult to focus on, and I felt like the riddles are there to make you go back and see the details in almost every room
The Arkham game series is like none other. It was an unforgettable experience. It was sad to see it all come to an end and it brings back a lot of great memories of playing it during the Fall/Winter seasons by the most part.
I was thanking my mom for this game just today for this exact thing, buying it for me as a kid. It introduced me to a world I've fully enjoyed the older I've gotten. It'd so wonderful.
My favorite part of asylum combat specifically is you’re basically invited to do scummy shit that in other games would be frowned upon. Like learning to basically “camp” a gun in a scenario where there’s only one or two to get yourself through the combat is so much goddamn fun
This will forever be my favorite Batman game. The first time I played it I was blown away. This game is perfect in my eyes and I have played it over and over again.
36:18 what would explain why Batman is not allowed to go further into the asylum, is the reason that they promoted experiments, torture and bad treatment of the inmates, so the warden stablished this rule so nobody unauthorized would ever know what really happens inside the asylum. When you go through all the Amadeus Arkham's story he gives you some nasty insights of how he think of the inmates and how they deserved to be treated.
The batarang knockdown is fantastic for when you have two enemies walking together. Batarang one, then grapnel to another perch on the other side before he hits the ground. Then glide down, stealth KO the one searching for where the batarang came from, then ground KO the one you stunned. The remote batarang is a scouting tool to see what is around corners, for players without hundreds of hours memorizing the game's maps. And the atmosphere is the fruit of a strictly linear which carefully what you get to see and hear when, thus allowing them to go for maximum effect rather than maximum flexibility of replay potential.
Arkham Asylum was one of my favorite comics, and basing a game off of it was really cool, especially with how abstract it is. They basically just had it’s mood and atmosphere and basic plot, and made a really fleshed out story. Of all the arkham games, the first one feels the most like a love letter to batman comics. By arkham knight, they felt like they were phoning it in, imo. Standard ubisoft checklists and everything.
This is going to be the last full review in my Arkham Series retrospective. I will make two more videos, one talking about my personal experience with the series and my time making the videos, and another ranking all the games. Apologies if that disappoints some of you, but I, at this point, said all that I have to say on the franchise. Thank you guys for supporting me the entire way. I'm forever grateful for it.
Any corrections will be posted here.
The triple batarangs are useful for taking out the pollen spores that Ivy's plants shoot out.
You can actually skip the talk with Cash at the mansion and head straight to the Intensive Treatment. This basically nullifies my criticism.
You can play as the Joker on the remastered version on Xbox One, but not the 360
The use of the word masterpiece is meant literally. I don't think the game is perfect, and I should have clarified that the word masterpiece implies perfection. The game has flaws, but the overall product, in my eyes, is masterfully executed, hence the use of the word.
You may notice the colour correction is off here. That is because when I recorded the video, I did so at night when the windows blue light filter was on. Meaning I had to try and colour correct it in the post. Apologies if it looks wonky.
👌
@Mid Quacker Hi, I'm honoured that my little videos are capable of making such an impact, truly! I think I want to focus more on getting through the Assassin's Creed series for now but I am heavily tempted to talk about the Uncharted games. That won't be for a bit, but it's on the radar for sure.
Just an FYI the main use for the triple batarangs is the three shots that come out of ivys plants. Super useful for that and almost nothing else lol
@@ThatBoyAqua you deserve 1mill subs you take so long to make video to make them good you definitely deserve it
@@ThatBoyAqua Your voice kinda changed and it sounds good
Arkham asylums graphics are amazing for a game that came out in 2009. Is over a decade old and has hardly aged visually.
Rocksteady are magicians. Arkham Knight could be released here in 2021 and people would still shit their pants
@@JoshJoshJoshJoshJoshJoshua Arkham Knight is genuinely one of the best looking games ever and it always surprises me how little it's graphics get singled out for praise. The dark lighting definitely works in it's favour, but add ray tracing and it would look like a 2021 title no questions asked.
@@JoshJoshJoshJoshJoshJoshua hell yeah. It is still one of the best looking games ever. Shame we won't see the Original Arkham Games with the same graphics
@UCMWliu26g4_PzhQV1jaaxQA rAy tRaCiNg
Oh fuck off already will you 🙃🙃🙃
@@БогданКрименюк no. It actually does make it look a little better v
Seriously that scarecrow part where the screen just glitched gave me a small heart attack
Same I thought it was broken
I remember that part. I played this game when I was little and I was so confused 😂
At that part many a small child returned a game to gamestop thinking it was broken
@@BP-ex8qp oh no it didn't happen to me my brother on the other hand
i thought my system broke
So what I get from this is that...
Arkham Asylum makes you feel like you’re Batman.
*Ahem* The GODAMN Batman
Knack 1 was good but knack 2 really makes you FEEL like Batman
yes but i think arkham knight makes you feel like batman the most out of the four games
YOU SON OF A- the worst part is that you ain’t wrong
That’s funny cause there’s a video by Donkey Video Game that says that “you feel like Batman” but he doesn’t like the game because he has some reasons - Video Donkey is not very funny but some people think he is. His use of slurs for comedy is also lazy at best
It also gave us this gem:
“Arkham asylum makes you feel like you’re Batman”
4real
I'd argue that all Arkham does this, but Asylum did it first. And it did it so fucking well.
@@Persholm1 he's referring to the meme.
@@gruesomewolfgaming4735 Wasn't aware there was a meme about it.
@@Persholm1 yeah, there's a meme about IGN or some other magazine saying "it really makes you FEEL like Batman" and people occasionally day certain things really make you feel like so and so
Playing the croc fight in the sewer for the first time was one of the most genuine horrifying experiences ive had in gaming
Fr
I'm used to resident evil games, but yes. Whe he started chasing me for the first time. I just started running and my heart started racing lmaooo
I will never beat Arkham Asylum because of my crippling fear of Killer Croc
@@brewmaster2912 I will never beat far cry primal because of my crippling fear of snakes
I was on my cousin’s ps3 playing it like 9 years ago in 2011 or 2012 and I was only 4 and when it was my turn I was in some sewers and he kept popping up and one of the times he popped up I fucking cried😂
I believe that the reason why the skeleton enemies are so easy is because the fear toxin causes batman to not hold back as much in combat and so we see more of what batman is really capable of. This is sort of reused in Arkham Knight when batman almost kills some mercenaries, in the blimp, after being exposed to the toxin.
This is genius, I never thought about it that way and when framed that way is sounds so awesome!
Magnificent theory my friend
To further support this, after that final Scarecrow encounter you find a bunch of unconscious thugs and two knocked-out Titans in the room Batman's standing in. It really goes to show the attention to detail Rocksteady put in these games, even with the very first one.
It also kinda ruins Aqua's (very interesting) idea about pulling out the Titan's spinal cord, since... y'know. I definitely think it would be an interesting gameplay mechanic if there was a way to make it fit, though.
@@ThatBoyAqua you forgot that as Batman you can do this victory bat dance on the floor .
go Batman go Batman it's your birthday yeah very excellent .
or maybe it's because they are skeletons
I always thought the Joker fight at the end of the game made sense in tone.
The Joker's plan was basically to get Batman titaned up and have boxing match with titan Joker on the rooftops of Arkham Asylum.
In Joker's twisted mind this would demonstrate to the world that Batman and him are just two freaks and the same.
Yeah Joker and Scarecrow wanted to drive Batman crazy and turn him into a monster with a combo of both fear gas and Titan so they could have a final battle probably because Joker had finally gotten bored of their years long conflict. Wanting to destroy Gotham with Titan monsters was just a bonus thing Joker would have done had he managed to kill Batman.
ikr. paul dini is a genius
but it was unlike of him to not have a contigency plan if things go south. thats the only thing that bothered me.
@@milindsharma7510 Does the Joker really look like a guy with a plan? He's just a dog chasing cars...
:)
@@Scarecrowbooger ahh that's where you are wrong, he is crazy, cynical,mental, non predictable, but he is the guy with a plan. See injustice comic or even the Nolan version of joker. He is too smart always has plans
Without this game, superhero games today would never be the same.
fr dude, so much from the arkham combat system is borrowed in many superhero games now. only one i noticed was spider man ps4 (2018) it was very much like the arkham combat system. very very nice.
Not just Superhero games.
True dat
@@poopgangster2.073 Spider-Man's combat is inspired more by Devil May Cry.
@@poopgangster2.073 I haven't played the Spiderman 2018 game but I did play "The Amazing Spiderman 2" game and they borrowed a lot from Arkham Asylum. The Kingpin boss fight was basically the same as the fight against Bane in Asylum.
Whenever aqua see Harley Quinn my boi can't hold in the inner monke
And we do the same but in our heads
Ape mode
I saw an ape beating his junk one time
You might be joking but I would hit that Harley, polygons and all 😏
@@ThatOneStrayPixxel wouldnt we all
My favorite part of Arkham asylum is that it just felt like another Batman story. As if it were an arc in the comics but in video game form. I feel like subsequent entries strayed further and further from this
Tbf, I think that's because they started establishing the Arkhamverse as its own thing. I think it kinda works, the idea that this game's story, that feels like just another comic arc, creates massive ripples down the line that helps distinguish the Arkhamverse from mainline continuity.
Stuff like Joker shooting himself with the Titan and Scarecrow getting attacked by Croc being presented so casually knowing what they'll lead to in future games is kinda chilling.
Arkham asylum should and always have that dark gothic atmosphere and environment to it its what makes the asylum so memorable and horrifying to the viewer and remains as a sacred staple of gotham city.
Loved all the technology mixed in with 1800's architecture
@@engihere5434 yeah its what makes it truly a madhouse its a landmark stuck between time lol
Arkham Asylum's horror was the best aspect to me. The blend of the Batman mythos with the creepiness of the entire game fit perfectly! Killer Croc, the Scarecrow sequences, and the penitentiary segment were terrifying. I wish we get more horror integrated Batman stuff.
lots of horror in the comics check them out
RIP Kevin Conroy. You'll forever be the voice of Batman.
Amen
No he won’t. He’s dead now.
@@Johnsmith99663 Yeah, and people will copy his voice with A.I , and at least we'll have the memory of his voice through A.I, newer generations won't even be aware of the legacy he set in the past, they'll probably just think that '' batman sounds cool. ''.
"What if Detective Mode was like Sonar?"
Me: Like a submarine, Mr. Wayne, a submarine.
P.S. I thought the game was perfect until you mentioned the sonar idea. How awesome would that have been? Would have made the game 100X scarier too.
@@JdeMolay uh t 100 bane boss battle tho
I literally replayed and completed Arkham Asylum like two hours ago and then you drop this video, that's scary man :D
I just beat it two....and then this video popped up in my recommended😳. At least I’m not the only one that found that weird😁
would you say... horrifying?
Did you collect al riddler trophies?
@@timoberbanscheidt6284 yes, I finished it on platinum
@@tomasbajer3355 Arkham city is the best Batman game ever
This game is partially based on the Grant Morrison comic Batman Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, often just called Batman: Arkham Asylum for short. It’s considered by many to be one of the greatest Batman stories ever, as it masterfully blends psychological horror elements in with classic superhero comic themes. The comic follows Batman as he responds to a riot at Arkham Asylum, where he encounters many of his Rogue’s Gallery and learns through diary entries about the life of Amadeus Arkham.
I always considered Arkham Asylum as a horror game. The Scarecrow and killer croc missions, in addition to the Chronicles of Arkham and the eerie map, created a feeling that will always stick in my mind
I’m glad you touched on the supernatural feeling atmosphere. It was always felt haunting and uneasy when you’re just roaming the island post-game. Then you have the random lunatics who still pop out of nowhere that add to the spookiness. It’s as if Arkham Island is cursed to make its inhabitants to go insane and violent thus adding to the never ending cycle of Batman’s crusade against crime; the place he believes will help them actually tortures them: Psychologically, emotionally, and possibly physically.
Akhram Island??? More like Gotham as a whole.
I even read somewhere that a demon supposedly haunts Gotham City, which is the reason that place is so fucked up. Makes sense tbh.
The Sinatra style song that plays before the party & Joker showdown was just perfection. The game had the best atmosphere and was closest feel to the animated series. No doubt due to Dini’s writing
Dini is a genius
You can actually go to Killer Croc’s lair without going back to talk to Cash.
*Asylum* will always be my favorite in the Arkham series.
The atmosphere when you walk through those Arkham gates is unmatched.
Facts man
@Gay Killer | I just finished Arkham again, and that was by far the scariest time for me, because I didn’t realize the first time that I could use batarangs. I forgot that somehow.
Comment is a year old but yeah, I couldn't have said it better myself. The atmosphere is incredible in game, and in terms of atmosphere outside of the game, it makes me feel so nostalgic when I play it now
Less was more this series could've last forever on a asylum level and by the time of knight it was all padding
One of the most underrated things about this game is the fact that throughout the asylum, you can hear the warden giving info + joker keeping you company in the backround. Loved it
This video slaps bro. Not much of a surprise tho, all of them do
Love the scarlet fire backtrack too.
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
1 Day ago?
@@thatboyakira4202 If you subscribe to this gorgeous voiced man's patreon, one of the perks is being able to watch videos early. I highly recommend it. Money well spent
@@huskycruxes7232 I mean, the money will support our good Aqua, but money is expensive and I dont see any benefit in using it to SEE RUclips.
@@huskycruxes7232 and what the hell? 5 likes?
Man you need to teach me some things.
I never realized this but you take a LOT more damage in Arkham Asylum than you do in later games. It really adds to the atmosphere of the game. I'd love to see this game if it had an M rating.
when this game first came out i was too pussy to walk down the hallways. that’s how horrifying the atmosphere is
I always took comfort that i was THE Batman.
@@david9243 yes
Batman Games make you the Monster
I just realised that Arkham Asylum is a trap from the Joker to show that it was lunatic inmates who was trapped in a asylum with Batman and not the other way around. What a game.
Same lol
Arkham Asylum and Arkham City will forever be one of my favorite games of all time! It's a classic masterpiece
What about Knight
@@crypt5129 Yeah, Knight is one of my favorite games too, but City and Asylum are better
I adored City and perhaps expected too much of Knight. The bat mobile ruined everything what I’d anticipated of the Batman gaming experience. While this wasn’t the only element, but I didn’t gel with the game at all.
I’ve had some time away from Batman but after this video I believe Asylum should reinvigorate my enjoyment of the Batman gaming experience.
Everything about this game, the setting, the atmosphere, the environment, the story, and the gameplay, really make this game such a masterpiece of its own!
I am replaying the Arkham series again after a few years and this game is fantastic. The atmosphere is so dark, dirty, and unsettling. The combat is satisfying and the story is simple and straightforward, works great. I honestly think this one aged the best in the series, but I'll have to finish the whole thing again to see.
OMG, I love the sound replacing Detective Mode idea!! I’ve had this thought too, and imagine it working like Joel’s hearing in The Last of Us. Imagine setting up high tech microphones in a stealth section to that highlight enemies when they walk or make sound near them. This ‘Sonar Vision’ could be used to amplify actual sound too and cancel out background noise, making it a super immersive experience with headsets.
This deserves more likes
@@judomaster0079 Well, thank you lol
Pretty sure detective mode in Knight does that sound thing
@@dlaniganohara In some cases, sure, but make the mode more limited, as though it needs to be used in situations where you would actually need to amplify sound. Not just click a button and see everyone at once.
@@Aerondise yeah they definitely improve it in the games after though. It actually is bothersome to always have on vs asylum where its always on
We hope you’re doing good Aqua. I’m glad you could talk about Arkham Asylum again. After playing through all of the Arkham games throughout the last few years, I thought that Arkham Knight was my favorite and for a time it was (flaws and all). But revisiting Asylum during the pandemic, something changed. I appreciated the smaller things about Asylum, mostly the claustrophobic atmosphere. It felt great for the setting in the Asylum and I think it makes it stand out from any other Batman game.
Rocksteady knew about the over reliance on detective mode. In Arkham City, it was greatly nerfed so that, while you could see enemies from a distance, the environment looked much more foggy - especially from a distance. I may be wrong but I think the Remastered version of Arkham City was “fixed” so that the environment was sharper in detective mode
I just started playing this again yesterday and I forgot how much fun it is. I love how story driven it is, rather than having a whole dense city full of side quests, you're just going through an asylum trying to catch up to joker before he unleashes his plan. That's all the game needs, it's done very well
I always loved how Batman dabbled in the occult, it’s never straight up magic but rather like esoteric readings, cult stuff, and usually mental illness, but still very vague supernatural undertones.
Well, I suppose the League reaches straight-up magical elements, as does Killer Moth’s devil-dealing, Sharp’s (potential) possession, and vampire Batman, but one of those is another Earth item.
But if I included other Earths beyond the Arkhamverse or Earth-1 outside Gotham, things would get very supernatural.
Came here for Sexy Harley, stayed for That Boy Aqua
I’ve recently found this video and it took me sometime to finish but I agree with it in the end. The little piano tune that plays in Asylum haunts you throughout your play through and doesn’t let up. I never thought of the game as horrifying (given I was 9 playing this game), but great points were brought up. I thoroughly enjoyed this video!
5:25 you may be joking but I'm sure as hell not
Gliding around the cliffs and dealing with the titan in the river pumps was probably the most relaxing part to me, it is one of the reasons I play it again, sometimes.
Gotta put Harley on the thumbnail to draw attention. I respect that, cos it's one of her best looks ;)
Do what you gotta do, my man ;)
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@@MrLlewelc The thumbnail initially had Harley Quinn on it, but I eventually changed it.
@@ThatBoyAqua the new thumbnail goes hard though 🔥🔥🔥
'cause*
After going through your analysis of this game, I actually feel horrified now. Like, seeing how Arkham is like a torture house. And basically Gotham is funding this shit. Also that glitch part of the scarecrow, I thought my game was fucked.
the mini heart attack... followed up by a complete mind fuckkkk lol ill never forget that moment. idc what anyone says, asylum was THE best and NONE of the other arkham games made me feel like this
For anyone who accidentally returns to this video, and stumbles upon my comment, the killer croc part can be done with a bit of relation if you remember walking holding the battarang out aiming with it, counts as being stealthy.
You can be prepared with a solid guess, and always be at your most quietest.
This game, imo, was the best one of the series. The environment, the aesthetics.. the feel of this game was amazing. The graphics and artwork, music, ui. Everything was on point. Played this game the year it came out and it was very creepy for me. Scarecrow segment, killer croc. I just wish they carried out that feel throughout the whole game and made it horror-ish type of hero game
No
There's plenty of real horror games out there, go play one of those
How you don’t have way more subscribers baffles me, love your videos!
Thank you!
16:39 as it turns out, that happens when you try to attack WHILE a thug is atacking you (when you can counter them) if that happens, your attack animation will be slow 100% of the time, wich is on purpose so that the thug has a chance to hit you
27:04 i love how the 3 tools joker has at his disposal during the steal segments, the chattering bombs, the gun, and the real x-ray glasses, are actually present in arkham knight, in the jokors own evidence locker, along with the titan dart shooter
Just my 2 cents, but collecting the riddler trophies and puzzles, was my favorite part. Half the serotonin is collecting the collectables the other half is feeling like a clever clogs for solving the riddles…… “riddle me this… Batman”…
A few minutes ago I was like damn when last did Aqua post and then boom. Time to grab a coffee and watch!
Hope the wait was worth it!
the remote batarang should be able to mark enemies you fly past so you could see them as if you were in detective mode without having to go in it. combined with the sonar idea that you had i feel that it would wake it a great and useful gadget.
the segments leading up to the scarecrow missions were by far the scariest, especially the fake crash, it genuinely made me unsettled like i was being watched or something
This video made me go back and replay Asylum, and I appreciate it so much more not only in the franchise but as a game in general. Thanks Aqua!!
Its a classic game!
This game is the best because it’s like a nightmare for batman as he’s stuck on the island with monsters and cant leave, the first game that exposed me to batman
Yeah that makes me wonder how batman sleep at night after going through what he went through from his experience by being him walking in his shoes as I was playing the campaign storyline.
@@stompbaddess1772 I guess he's used to it.
@@ice2557 yea once he witnessed his own parents being gunned down..nothing gives him fear anymore
When it comes a game's graphics the art direction/ style and lighting is what keeps the game looking fire even after several decades later
Absolute masterpiece, no superhero game tops this one, even now.
No Arkham game has the same aesthetic as Arkham Asylum, the feeling, designs and even HUD in the game are just beautiful, definitely has a comic feeling
Yeah ikr the font is so cool
Back in the day when I played Arkham City and Arkham Knight I remember my combat signature was ending the fight with a batarang....watching it go slow motion and hitting the last thug always made me feel like a badass
I've just recently been doing that. it's so fucking satisfying, knowing that they can just about never knock anybody out.
This is easily in the top 3 gaming experiences I've ever had. It was absolutely stellar.
It really makes you feel like you're batman
Will never forget when I first downloaded the demo for this back in the day. I loved it so much. Next time I was at the store I saw it and picked it up.
What a freaking masterpiece! I’ll always remember this game as one of the best and funnest video games ever made!
3:13 *feel like batman* "So that's where it all began"
Man, I remember first playing this game when I was only 8 years old! This game truly was scary for me back then! And still gives me a creepy vibe to this day!
This was a great video, man! Loved how you touch on the cruel design of The Asylum. It’s such a great touch to add atmosphere and depth. You just made me buy this game again to play! This game was such a beautiful love letter to Batman from the devs that it all really shows.
I really like the transitions you used for this one. Keep it up!
Your sonar idea is absolutely brilliant.
The Arkham series has the perfect representation of Batman and the spiritual successor to the Animated Series. When I go back to any of these games I feel like I’m playing as THE Batman. Not psycho killer Batman like Batfleck...
@@PlayboiWayne You act as if he murdered innocent people they were mercinaries ever heard of KG Beast?
@@PlayboiWayne He does every live action Batman kills once
@@PlayboiWayne On accident? He literally fucking tackled Harvey and shot a MISSILE at Talia.
Actually there are Batman the new Animated Series games prior to Arkham Series , Batman Vegeance for example that were indeed Batman Animated Series sucessor ,Anyway i get what you meant
@Trarr: the old man Why yes because they aren't Joker you seem to forget that Batman and Joker have a messed up relationship
I always notice no attempt to defend Arkham City. That's because it is just perfect.
Eh it's great but not perfect
Fucking A+ editing man! You've been stepping it up in the past few videos and it shows! Loved this one, another fantastic vid! Can't wait to see what else you put out
I’ve always wanted the Joker to be able to use his Titan-powered gun in the challenge modes, as it would turn the security guards as one of your people you can use to turn against the other guards. But then only limit to this, would be only one shot, so you would still have to use it sparingly and wisely at times. Just like the normal gun you are still given in the game.
These videos are incredible, you deserve way more subs.
As a kid this felt more like a horror game then a batman game this game was so good the segment with killer croc made me quit the game multiple times because i was to scared
I always thought of this game as Dead Space Light. These games even came out inbetween the releases of those games each year. Asylum scared the shot out of me in 2009. Took me about a year to actually play the Killer Croc segment by myself.
8:03 Perfect transition. Love your videos!
Love ya Aqua, only commenting for the algorythm. For some reason Al Gore's jazz funk band wants me to comment.
One of the things about this game I though was interesting. Is there's a finite number of people on the island. There's the Asylum staff, the Blackgate guards, the Blackgate prisoners, the Asylum patients, Gordon and Batman. While you only run into them at points in the story. Once you've defeated all of the prisoners, freed the hostages and dealt with the Bosses. That's it. You can wander around the island looking for Riddler trophies, chattering teeth and Easter eggs. But there's no one to fight.
It makes the game boring as hell after you defeat Ivy. But I always liked the developers thought about it.
I like how numerous times the game flips the game of cat and mouse on its head
I played this game over 10 years ago, and i remember the day very well. This game impacted my childhood in a very good way, and to this day, it is still one of my favorite games of all time
Watching this post Suicide Squad is sad. Rocksteady literally had gold and threw it away
14:18 ha ha ha that happened so many times to me in Arkham asylum and I think a bit of city that made me for a while stop using ground takedowns (I wasn’t very great at holding a combo streak)
You know how some asylums in real life are said to be haunted. In the future lore of Dc universe, I can see Arkham, abandoned and worn down, being the single most haunted location in the entire universe…that’s how chilling it is…
When the in-game glitch happened, I remember screaming and running in and out the room as a kid. I figured that my game was broken or my PS3 was and, either way, I didn't fancy my chances of survival when I tried to explain it to my father.
This was masterfully done and I wouldn’t even say that about all your previous videos, though they are all certified bangers.
You are honing your craft, my friend.
PS: Your “sonar” idea was pretty well adopted in Splinter Cell Blacklist, though the “sonar” bit is taken out with the perfectionist difficulty nerfs. A gem of a stealth title in my admittedly controversial opinion.
The first scarecrow boss fight creeped the hell out of me. I had no idea it was coming.
Wow typing in Arkham Asylum allowed me to find this gem! Planning on 100% every Arkham game before the next year of education.
Have fun with knight
Good luck with City
@@scoopsahoychonce knight isnt that hard tbh and riddler trophies were actually quite fun
@@azeplays3563 not sure. Whatever requires to get the 100% achievement
I recently finished this and honestly detective mode hurt my eyes and made combat more difficult to focus on, and I felt like the riddles are there to make you go back and see the details in almost every room
Honestly I love the prerendered cuts cutscenes they give the game a feel I don't get from any more refined cutscenes from future games
The Arkham game series is like none other. It was an unforgettable experience. It was sad to see it all come to an end and it brings back a lot of great memories of playing it during the Fall/Winter seasons by the most part.
Ngl.... This is the best Aqua video yet
Fun fact Batmans/Bruce Wayne's mom is Related to the Arkam's
(though never talked about in the games)
this was a awesome take on the game thank-you.
I was thanking my mom for this game just today for this exact thing, buying it for me as a kid. It introduced me to a world I've fully enjoyed the older I've gotten. It'd so wonderful.
Nice mom👌
My favorite part of asylum combat specifically is you’re basically invited to do scummy shit that in other games would be frowned upon. Like learning to basically “camp” a gun in a scenario where there’s only one or two to get yourself through the combat is so much goddamn fun
God I remembered playing this game on my PS3 in middle school. I was very proud that I got all the riddler trophies without looking them up
This will forever be my favorite Batman game. The first time I played it I was blown away. This game is perfect in my eyes and I have played it over and over again.
even though the game looks kinda scary it's still a masterpiece
I just finished beating this game, it holds up well for a 2009 game, the graphics and gameplay. The Croc sewer mission was heart pounding
Arkham Asylum also turned me into a Batman fan
36:18 what would explain why Batman is not allowed to go further into the asylum, is the reason that they promoted experiments, torture and bad treatment of the inmates, so the warden stablished this rule so nobody unauthorized would ever know what really happens inside the asylum. When you go through all the Amadeus Arkham's story he gives you some nasty insights of how he think of the inmates and how they deserved to be treated.
I think Asylum has a bigger death count than Knight. As the game goes on, more dead security guards and thugs keep popping up.
The batarang knockdown is fantastic for when you have two enemies walking together. Batarang one, then grapnel to another perch on the other side before he hits the ground. Then glide down, stealth KO the one searching for where the batarang came from, then ground KO the one you stunned.
The remote batarang is a scouting tool to see what is around corners, for players without hundreds of hours memorizing the game's maps.
And the atmosphere is the fruit of a strictly linear which carefully what you get to see and hear when, thus allowing them to go for maximum effect rather than maximum flexibility of replay potential.
So the main villain of the Arkham series is the Spirit of Arkham… deep
Arkham Asylum was one of my favorite comics, and basing a game off of it was really cool, especially with how abstract it is. They basically just had it’s mood and atmosphere and basic plot, and made a really fleshed out story.
Of all the arkham games, the first one feels the most like a love letter to batman comics. By arkham knight, they felt like they were phoning it in, imo. Standard ubisoft checklists and everything.