Top Five Batman Games of All Time

The announcement of not one but two new Batman games (Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate) has sent the gaming world abuzz. We, too, at SuperPhillip Central are excited as well, and we thought we'd take this opportunity to list our favorite games starring the Dark Knight. Get your utility belt, cape, and cowl, and get ready to sit down and peruse our picks for the best Batman games of all time.

5) Batman: Vengeance (PS2, GCN, XBX)

Batman: Vengeance is based off the second Batman cartoon that premiered on Kids WB. This time Ubisoft published the title alongside a joint deal with Warner Bros. A majority of voice actors from the cartoon were prominent in the game, and that only added to the look and feel of the game. The actual gameplay itself had Batman running through open environments making up the various levels of Vengeance. All of Batman's tools were at his disposal: grappling hooks, batarangs, flash bombs, and more, to help him get the drop on the villains ruling Gotham City's streets. With accessible combat, nearly an hour of engaging cinematics, and an original story that will have players hooked till the very end, Batman: Vengeance ranks number five on our list.

4) LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Multi)

The recently released LEGO City Undercover got us thinking a lot about this fourth game on our list. It's LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. Instead of just dealing with Batman and his trusty sidekick Robin, players were able to control the likes of Superman, Aquaman, the Martian Manhunter, and even play as some villains too. Each character archetype had their own abilities, which allowed them access to areas other characters could not. As for Gotham, the city was an open world setting this time around, with plenty of nooks and crannies to find new characters, vehicles, and challenges to complete. While the LEGO series of games are not for everyone admittedly, SuperPhillip and the gang here really loved and found LEGO Batman 2 immensely charming and fun.

3) The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES)

Based off the award-winning and critically acclaimed 1990's cartoon that aired on Fox Kids, The Adventures of Batman & Robin released on the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, and Game Gear. We'll be focusing on the Super Nintendo version, which we consider the definitive version. The game was an action platformer where Batman could equip different gadgets like x-ray vision, for instance, to advance in the game's multiple levels, each ending with a battle with a famous Batman villain. What sets The Adventures of Batman & Robin apart is the supreme amount of variation seen in the levels, whether in gameplay or level locale. Also, it just gives us awesome memories of the excellent 90's animated series.

2) Batman: Arkham Asylum (Multi)

Many were skeptical about Batman: Arkham Asylum. In fact, at the time, developer Rocksteady didn't have much to their name except a generic-sounding first-person shooter known as Urban Chaos: Riot Response. It was until the reviews came in from various media outlets that people began believing, and when they actually played the game? Step back, boy. To call Arkham Asylum one of the best superhero video games of all time would not be something we'd call hyperbole. It really is that great. Set up as a quasi-Metroid styled game, with Batman gaining new gadgets to access previously unreachable areas, Arkham Asylum was a marvel of game, combat, and level design, a one-two-three punch of greatness.

1) Batman: Arkham City (Multi)

Our pick for the greatest Batman game of all time put the Dark Knight in an open world setting where crime, criminals, and psychopaths roamed the streets. Arkham City was simply everything about Arkham Asylum that fans of the game liked, but bigger and better. While some don't appreciate the larger setting of the game, we found it liberating and less claustrophobic. Figuring out cases, participating in optional tasks, and showing Riddler who's boss by solving his riddles and collecting his trophies scattered around Arkham City all made for an excellent and replay value-filled time. The game was a who's who of Batman characters, featuring the likes of Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Catwoman, and many more that we won't spoil for those who still haven't tried the game yet. (Seriously, play it. Now.) The same combat that tested players' reflexes and skills with combos returned, and it flowed just as splendidly as Arkham Asylum. If you're looking for the ultimate Batman experience, get under the Dark Knight's cowl with Arkham City.

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That is our list of the best Batman games. What are your favorites? Let everyone on the interwebs know by posting your thoughts in the comments section.

Surprising Sales: Games that Outperformed Expectations

As long-time readers know all too well, too many times on SuperPhillip Central we've talked about games that were overlooked, sold poorly, and didn't do well. Let's change that and focus on the games that did the opposite. These titles are ones that no one saw coming, sold relatively well, and put some money in the pockets of their publishers and developers. These are the types of feel-good success stories that make following the video game industry all the more enjoyable.

Demon's Souls (PS3)


Sony passed on publishing this game, so a combination of From Software and Atlus did the job instead. What to me is an effort in frustration with balls-to-the-wall challenging gameplay and an unrelenting and hardcore difficulty, Demon's Souls found a niche among PlayStation 3 owners yearning for a tight and cohesive experience. I consider these fine folk gluttons for punishment, but whatever floats their metaphorical boat, right? The game went on to sell under a million worldwide, but for niche companies like From Software and Atlus, this game was purely money in the bank. A tremendous surprise indeed.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360)


Past Batman games have been anything but major events. We've seen many developers try and try again. They all failed to varying degrees. That was until Rocksteady Games got hold of the license and created an incredible Metroidvania that not only wowed critics (including yours truly), but it also sold very, very well. This million-seller shows off what makes Batman so delicious as a character. The awesome villains, the rivalry with the Joker, the detective skills at work, and the mythos behind the cape and cowl. There's no question that come this October that Arkham City will no doubt light the world on fire in sales.

Catherine (PS3, 360)


The titular character of this game is such a tease. As Vincent, you're thrust into a love-triangle of devious proportions in this action-adventure game with clever puzzle elements. This decidedly Japanese-styled game seemed to be niche in the making, and perhaps it could be considered that. What I do know, however, is that Catherine is Atlus's best-selling game so far. This is a conclusion I could have never seen coming. From the anime art style to the questionable sexual situations, this game had "niche" steaming from its very core. Just goes to show you that you can't judge a book by its cover.

Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)


Nintendo of America opted out of releasing Xenoblade Chronicles in North America much to the chagrin of loyal fans and JRPG lovers alike. In Europe and Japan, however, the game was released to moderate success. The party and family system as some like to refer to it as suddenly had one of the better RPGs of this generation, and it was literally out-of-stock in Europe. Tracking down a copy is currently an impossibility. Those who do possess a copy of the game are too busy partaking in the game's profusion of side quests, venturing through wide open worlds, and battling monstrous enemies to even care. Now if only NoA would get off their collective rear ends and localize the game for North American gamers...

Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)


In Japan there was no doubt that Monster Hunter would sell, regardless of the console. Even on the Wii which is known for not being overly kind to most third-party games a Monster Hunter game could do well. And it did. Now the West, like the menacing monsters of the game, was a different beast entirely. The formerly PlayStation-only franchise jumped ship to Nintendo, and Nintendo aggressively marketed the game in North America and Europe. What followed were approximately 800,000 units sold on both continents alone. A Wii third-party game success story? Now that's more like it, guys.

Kinect Sports (360)


Most of us didn't really know how Kinect would impact the market as much as it has. It seems to be cutting into the Wii's market. Who knows, who cares? The point is that without a capable killer-app to sell the peripheral to the masses, the Kinect was DOA. Fortunately, Rare put together an impressive sports package with Kinect Sports featuring events like volleyball, table tennis, and bowling, for starters. Who knew that Microsoft of all companies could pump out a friendly title for the casual market? Certainly not this blogger. Whether you're playing solo or have friends over for a party, Kinect Sports is one of the few software success stories on the Kinect. Plus it's a great way to get a wonderful workout!

Just Dance and Just Dance 2 (Wii)


In the past, dancing games and simulations were relegated to titles like Dance Dance Revolution which required a mat to play properly. Now with the advent of motion controls and more specifically the Wii remote, now we can dance without watching where we step. Ubisoft's breakout Just Dance franchise is stepping up to hit all three major platforms this go around, and it wouldn't have been possible without the unforseen success of series. Could you have imagined that waving your Wii remote around all willy-nilly would catch on so well? Well, to be fair, stranger things in this industry have happened...

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This could be the start of a new series of articles here at SuperPhillip Central. There's many more games that had little hype and ultimately had great success. Do you have some that I intentionally left out? (We gotta have something for future articles, right?) Let me and everyone else know in our comments section.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3, 360) Review

Returning from the 64 bit days, let's head back into the present. What we have here is a game that could definitely be a contender for Game of the Year. Bah! It's too soon to be talking about that. Instead, take a look at this review for Batman: Arkham Asylum.

Be the Bat.

Comic book video games have always been hit or miss. For every great one like The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, you get one Iron Man, one Aquaman, and dozens of other poor monstrosities. And when it comes to Batman games, there's more often that not been more stinkers than actual quality games. Developer Rocksteady is hoping to break that trend with their Unreal-powered Batman: Arkham Asylum for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. It's got the look, and it's got the feel, but is Arkham Asylum one madhouse you'll want to be admitted to?

This isn't your Adam West-lover's Batman!

Once again, Batman's nemesis, the kooky, all-evil Joker has been reprehended by Batman. The dark knight personally delivers the insane to the membrane villain to Arkham Asylum, home of the criminally insane. However, this time, Joker's capture was easy. Too easy in Batman's eyes. While being brought into the cells of Arkham, Joker breaks free, pummels some guards, and puts his plan into action. The Joker, with partner Harley Quinn, effectively take over, and now the inmates have taken over the asylum. All hell breaks loose as multiple criminals and henchmen roam free in Arkham. It's up to Batman to use his brains and his brawn to bring order back to Arkham and figure out what Joker's master plan is before it's too late. This game's story is quite dark and features some disturbing imagery here and there. Regardless, the story's engaging the whole way through and is your typical comic book fare. Meanwhile, Kevin Conroy known from his work on Batman: The Animated Series and Mark Hamill from Star Wars fame return as Batman and the Joker respectively, and they sound terrific. This could be their best work as their characters.

"Welcome one and all to the Joker Show!"

Batman: Arkham Asylum is one part action game, one part exploration, and one part stealth. Batman can unleash his fists of fury on foes with incredible fluidity. As Batman decks baddies, his combo rises. When his combo reaches higher levels his attacks deal much more. Of course, enemies just won't sit there and let themselves be pummeled to oblivion. Instead, a visual cue over an enemy's head with indicate when they're about to attack. You can press the Y or triangle button to perform a counter attack. Not only does Batman dodge a painful blow, but he keeps his combo intact. As Batman defeats enemies, he'll earn experience which will regain his health if it's on the low side as well as gain the ability to use experience towards new moves and abilities such as more powerful combos, greater defense, and boosts to his various gadgets.

Batman isn't alone in his quest to put Joker back in a straitjacket. He has numerous gadgets as his disposal. At the start of the game, he only has access to sharp, bat-shaped boomerangs to attacks foes from afar, but as the game progresses he'll earn a whole slew of new gadgetry allowing him access to previously unreachable areas of Arkham. There's the explosive gel which Batman can spread on weakened walls and blow them apart, oftentimes showing hidden goodies. There's the bat claw which can be used to pull vent covers off from walls that would otherwise be inaccessible for Batman to reach. Then there's the line gun which shoots a rappel line for Batman to cross chasms.

You can use the action camera to get a close look
at your gadget's action.

While combat is an integral part of Batman: Arkham Asylum, there's times where stealth is the aim of the game because Batman is no match for henchmen sporting automatic rifles. If spotted, enemies will fill Batman full of lead faster than you can say "holy crap, Batman!" In these sections, stealth is necessary. Batman has multiple tricks to use when taking out baddies quickly and quietly. He can crouch and enter vents to get the jump and foes, sneak up behind them, and take them out. He can approach from the air, using his cape to glide behind a foe and knock them into next week. Using detective mode, Batman can scan the area with enemies popping up as red skeletons. This is integral in practicing great stealth because it can see through walls, so the dark knight can plan accordingly. If spotted, Batman will need to take it to the air and grapple from gargoyle to gargoyle until the enemies can no longer spot him. Then it's back to playing cat and mouse.

The other part of Batman: Arkham Asylum is exploration. Progression in Arkham Asylum is dictated by the various objectives Batman will need to accomplish. The asylum itself spans multiple areas with various types of buildings: the penitentiary, the medical offices, Arkham Mansion, the botanical gardens, the caves, and intensive care. Each area has its own ambiance and theme, and backtracking is seldom a problem since you can access almost anywhere rather easily. You'll also never have to worry about wondering where to go because the helpful map will pinpoint Batman's desired location. Sure, you have to figure out how to get there (i.e. finding vents to climb through, properly using Batman's grappling hook), but Batman didn't become Batman by being stupid. There's even some platforming thrown into the mix in areas where the walls are too weak for the grapple gun to support Batman's weight.

Riddle me that.

The single-player campaign will last anywhere from ten to fifteen hours, and there's only one part throughout the whole shebang that felt like a chore. You'll know it when you get to it because you can only walk for the majority of that section. Regardless, the game keeps players chugging through with enough variety that the game seldom feels boring. If you're not solving a simple puzzle, saving a guard from impending doom, or taking out a room full of Joker's henchmen, you'll be exploring the grounds of Arkham, effortlessly floating and grappling across Arkham Island, and meeting up with and taking down escaped supervillains from the likes of the Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and the Joker himself.

"How's it hangin', Bats?"

After the main story is done, there's still plenty to do on Arkham Island. For one, the Riddler has strewn about the island various riddles and tasks for Batman to complete. These range from destroying sets of toy Joker teeth, tracking down well-hidden trophies and interview tapes, and solving one of many of the Riddler's various riddles. This is done by scanning certain objects in rooms that serve as the solution to the Riddler's riddles. One riddle will ask for something that can cut. The solution is to scan the portrait of Arkham's warden, one Mr. Sharp. As riddles are solved, new content is unlocked from character biographies to 3-D character trophies that can be ogled to your heart's content. Aside from the story, there's a challenge mode that puts you in various scenarios either for combat or to take out foes silently with the shroud of stealth. Your best times are posted on a worldwide leaderboard for all to see.

The difference between visuals on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 is really slim. Both versions look fantastic and run really well. The only difference is that the PS3's a little more jaggy in certain sections of the game. Other than that, picking one version over the other only has to do with which system or system's controller you prefer. It's fascinating seeing how Batman's costume becomes more dilapidated with cuts and tears as the game rolls on, and hearing the Joker constantly taunt Batman and order his henchmen over the PA is a very neat treat.

Batman: Arkham Asylum successfully brings what makes Batman great and translates it well to a video game setting. The level of polish and dedication devoted this game is apparent. With no hyperbole intended, this may be one of the best comic book video games period. Sure, some sections of the game may feel like a chore, but most of the game has you playing as the caped crusader you know and love-- the one that makes you feel like the hero you are and handling with ease. Batman: Arkham Asylum gets a high recommendation. Fans of the bat will love this game, and fans of great gameplay will, too.

[SuperPhillip Says: 9.25/10]