First screens of Batman: Arkham Asylum are dark, dirty, and making us hot

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living the dream since March 16, 2006

8:59 AM on 08.15.2008, Nick Chester

55 comments

Comics

Just days after Game Informer revealed their cover story exclusive for Eidos' Batman: Arkham Asylum, here we have our first screens, and the words "totally badass" come to mind.

The images confirm the game's "dark" and "gritty" feel, with an angry looking and ripped Batman pounding filthy thugs' faces in with his dirty bat-gloves. The game is said to feature a number of Batman's most notorious villains, and we can see at least two of them in these screens -- The Joker and an interesting choice, the less-popular -- but completely terrifying -- Killer Croc. The dude was born with a rare condition that made him look like a crocodile for Pete's sake.

The Rocksteady Studios developed Batman: Arkham Asylum is a wholly original game set in the DC universe that sees a routine prison transfer going south, forcing Batman to come in and clean up the mess. The title will mix action with puzzle-solving/detective work, and is being developed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

The official press release announcement can be found after the jump.

[Via Rocksteady Studios Web site]

EIDOS INTERACTIVE AND WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM

A Haunting, Action Detective Game For the Xbox 360® Video Game and Entertainment System from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 Computer Entertainment System and Games for Windows

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on behalf of DC Comics announce Batman: Arkham Asylum a dark, action packed videogame adventure for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows in 2009.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, developed by Rocksteady Studios, the player assumes the role of Batman as he delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum. There, the imprisoned super-villains have set a trap and an immersive combat gaming experience unfolds. With an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini, the game brings the universe of DC Comics’ detective to life with stunning graphics.

“In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. “Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks.”

“Batman: Arkham Asylum offers players the chance to battle Gotham’s worst villains with Batman’s physical and psychological strength in a graphically distinct and story-driven game,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We look forward to working with Eidos on expanding DC Comics’ world-renowned character Batman in the game space with a noticeably different feature set in an incredibly dark interactive environment.”

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will co-publish Batman: Arkham Asylum in North America, Eidos Interactive will publish the game in all other territories.

LAUNCH GALLERY (18 IMAGES)

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monosylabik at 08/15/2008 08:58

proceed to pick up jaw...from floor.........now.

Gameboi at 08/15/2008 09:00

Interesting. However, I need to recheck some comics, as I don't remember Killer Croc ever being 3 stories tall ;-)

miketava at 08/15/2008 09:00

HOLY CRAP - my knees have buckled from the awesomeness. Who's cell has the french blood writing on the wall?

Haxan at 08/15/2008 09:09

Yea! They got the costume right. Now if they can keep David Goyer and the Nolan brothers far, far away from the story then I will be the happiest of campers.

Mr B Natural at 08/15/2008 09:11

Angry Batman is angry

HarassmentPanda at 08/15/2008 09:12

On looks alone, I'm going to play this game. If the gameplay matches up, it's a day 1 purchase. Batman, I wish I could quit you.

@Gameboi

Killer Croc is pretty huge! However, his appearance has changed so much over time that it's laughable. He's gone from "dude with scales" to "why does that crocodile walk on its hind legs?". Especially after the Hush storyline, which further mutated him. I think his look is pretty open to interpretation and I would much rather fight a huge monster than a "dude with scales."

whormongr at 08/15/2008 09:13

wow- that looks incredible

TurboSpaz at 08/15/2008 09:13

I see terrible electricity puzzles in the background. If they have them, the rest of the game might follow on with such bad design choices too.

Screenshots do not game make.

Gameboi at 08/15/2008 09:17

@ HarassmentPanda

For gamesplay's sake, I guess you got a pretty good point. Still, he's freakin' huge, and looks like he came out of Gears of war.

I feel sorry for Batman. He better call some backup.

stomm at 08/15/2008 09:20

The french on the wall says "I've loved. I've suffered. Now I hate"

It does look like the proper comics Batman though, looking at that picture of Killer Croc it looks in one sense like he's on a higher platform maybe not necessarily really tall.

I wonder if the game is based on this book : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkham_Asylum:_A_Serious_House_on_Serious_Earth

RICHARD BLOCKER at 08/15/2008 09:20

Holy Jesus fuck!
*Adding to list*

GuitarAtomik at 08/15/2008 09:22

Holy shit that looks pretty. PLEASE be good, please be good, please be good, please be......

Batthink at 08/15/2008 09:26

The Joker looks very like the Jack Nicholson incarnation... I hope this is good... *rubs hands in antiscipation*

HarassmentPanda at 08/15/2008 09:27

"I've loved. I've suffered. Now I hate."

Two-Face?

@stomm

I doubt it's based on that book because the game is being penned by the writer for the animated series -- not Grant Morrison. Still, I can't imagine that influence won't be pulled from Morrison's book; it's one of my top 15 Batman stories.

stomm at 08/15/2008 09:35

@HarassmentPanda

I googled the french text, found it on another page:

http://k53.pbase.com/o6/63/728763/1/81754400.SkQzwPnq.20070702TR391copietn.jpg

- looks like it's a well known french saying, ironic that picture is from a prison cell too though and at a similar angle.

Given the amount of question marks on the walls I would've said Riddler though.

I noticed it said that Dini was writing it, god I hope this game is good!!

mix at 08/15/2008 09:40

Wow for a movie to game I am impressed by these screens!!!

Now we should all hope and pray that the gameplay is just as awesome!

randombullseye at 08/15/2008 09:53

Looks goo to me!

Clance at 08/15/2008 09:54

Screen shot 2 suggests some Dark sector style throwing manouvres?

Also, I wonder if Joker is any good as a DJ.. We shall find out, judging by this screen...

Clance at 08/15/2008 09:55

Ps. WOWOWOw Want

HarassmentPanda at 08/15/2008 09:59

@mix

This isn't a movie to game conversion. It seems to be an entirely new story based on the comic characters.

Chicken008 at 08/15/2008 10:09

Wow, that looks really great.

ScanCase at 08/15/2008 10:24

The screenshots look great and I'll be keeping my eye on it. But as said before pics don't make gameplay, keeping my fingers crossed though

RICHARD BLOCKER at 08/15/2008 10:27

Clance,

LOL. I think the joker would not be that popular because he probably mixes carnival music with gay trip-house.

YONKE at 08/15/2008 10:31

with this screens i just remember The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay.......................

or the way manhunt 2 should have been........

B-Radicate at 08/15/2008 10:31

Wow. This looks awesome. Four things I noticed:

A) Killer Croc looks way too much like a Locust from Gears and is way too large.
B) I'm excited to see some gameplay that appears to mimic Manhunt for the detective/stealth bits.
C) The shot of the cell with the question marks gives me the feeling the Riddler will make an appearance, which would be awesome.
D) The Joker looks dementedly frightening. Nicely done, Rocksteady.

This is officially near the top of my DO WANT list.

AKK at 08/15/2008 10:32

I miss the Glasgow Smile of Heath Ledger's Joker, but the red makeup goes a bit farther than it has previously (like Ledger's Joker).

With that exception, he looks identical to Nicholson's joker.

FuriousGeorge at 08/15/2008 10:53

gyusbevgbyusevtb @ killer croc being HUGE...

and I can see why this couldnt be on the wii

without the awesome graphics this would be just another shitty batman title

stevesan at 08/15/2008 10:54

batman: animated series was frikkin awesome! man i hope they have a mad-hatter level where you're in some twisted version of the world.

Technophile at 08/15/2008 10:56

It looks to me like the jim lee version of Croc.

WutDaHeckMan at 08/15/2008 11:02

ZOMG! Wii Exclusive with online 4 player co-op, achievements, and DLC.

The wii gets the best of everything!!

Third party support r0x0rZ

but seriously folks - an 8.4/10 at absolute max.

Slique at 08/15/2008 11:08

Those question marks look pretty much identicle to the Riddler's ones (yeah, I get that all question marks basically look the same, but yknow!).

ReclusiveSpirit at 08/15/2008 11:19

Do want! Do Want!! Do Want!!!

Please get Bane into this game somehow...

...please.

NihonTiger90 at 08/15/2008 11:20

Wait, Paul Dini is writing this? Eidos might actually have a game coming out I'm interested in that doesn't suck!

Arttemis at 08/15/2008 11:49

These screenshots have interesting character design aesthetically, but for a game, I'm completely turned off.

How does the up-close brawling straight out of MKvDC look appealing to any of you?

SLiFE at 08/15/2008 12:18

The Joker looks like The Killing Joke starring Jack Nicholson.

I peed a little when I saw these shots.

Terror Player at 08/15/2008 12:25

Yes, the graphics are awesome. The detail in the suit is more than top-notch, and the ambiance of the Asylum nails the foreboding sense of insecurity. And yes, Dini is a master storyteller when it comes to the Batman mythos.

My only ONLY worry, is that if this game will be anywhere near as bad as Dark Tomorrow. I hope Rocksteady does a hell of a job with this one, since Batman has completely mastered the theatres, and his actual comic book run is more than determinant to his life; this one videogame could be THE Batman videogame. Having the Dark Knight extend his crusade to the realm of videogames without falling in "oh its good" or "I'd rather have my dog rape me than play this game", but rather stant tall as a formidable game on its own could be my wettest dream EVARRRR!!

ace of knaves at 08/15/2008 12:36

Game of Next Year!

P3T3Y at 08/15/2008 12:48

The only thing that could make this game more win is if Mark Hamill is doing The Joker's voice.

Sharpless at 08/15/2008 12:49

I'm officially enthused about this. It looks pretty good, now all it needs is good gameplay and mission structure. Hopefully Dini's talent will really show through and we'll get something that's more BioShock and less Too Human.

king3vbo at 08/15/2008 13:32

Is Batman gonna have to choke a bitch?

Spooky Electric at 08/15/2008 15:20

Wow, the Joker looks incredible! I'm actually not digging the art direction TOO much, because aside from Joker and Killer Croc, they look like generic American sci-fi game characters.

I'd like for it to be good, but I'm not getting my hopes up. A good writer/story doesn't make a terrible game anything more than mediocre, and the last Batman game I played that I enjoyed was The Adventures of Batman & Robin on Super Nintendo. But if it gets good reviews, I'll definitely check it out. God damn, the Joker looks great.

Also, HAHA!! @ Clance

MechaMonkey at 08/15/2008 15:29

Croike, he's a big bloke, isn't he?

Corak at 08/15/2008 16:15

OOoo looks nice.

VixenFox at 08/15/2008 17:26

Hot stuff. I love the rugged lookin' Dark Knight.

VixenFox at 08/15/2008 17:26

Hot stuff. I love the rugged lookin' Dark Knight.

Edco at 08/15/2008 22:27

I hope Sony and Midway are paying attention.

Agent Orange at 08/16/2008 00:41

I"m digging the Joker's look. Seriously though, this game has to have Bane in it. The highly intelligent, scheming Bane from Nightfall that broke Bruce's back, not the idiot muscle head they turned him into.

TheGuero at 08/17/2008 23:49

This actually does look pretty good, huh?

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