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Batman: Arkham Asylum Joker Hands-On

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By , GameSpot UK, Posted Jun 4, 2009 3:20 am GMT

Eidos' E3 booth offered a chance to play as the Joker in the PlayStation 3-specific challenge rooms.

PlayStation 3 owners recently got one up on the Xbox 360 crew when Eidos announced that the Joker challenge rooms would be exclusive to the Sony consoles. We got to check the character out for the first time at E3 as he was appearing at the Eidos booth for attendees to play.

You control The Joker in a broadly similar fashion to Batman, but his moves are much more theatrical in nature. Whereas Batman goes for a brutally efficient combat style, the Joker adds more flourishes to his kicks and punches. He also has a suite of his own moves, including the ability to shoot laughing gas from his sleeves in order to stun enemies.

The best Joker moves come when you build up combos, which allow you to unleash special attacks on your enemies. These moves change depending on your position to the enemies, but all of them are really entertaining to perform. If you build up a combo of five or more hits, you can press the triangle and circle buttons together to pull off a finishing move. The Joker will either shake hands with his enemy using his electric buzzer, or he'll jump on his enemy like a monkey and repeatedly smack him around the head.

If you manage to build up a higher combo, then you can throw your enemies, and the challenge room features plenty of electric walls at which to aim. The final challenge room featured Commissioner Gordon, who we particularly liked throwing into the wall. The Arkham Challenge Rooms offer some great old-school beat-'em-up action, and we can't wait to play more of them. GameSpot's Tom Mc Shea has also been playing the single-player mode, so watch out for his preview hitting the site soon!

44 Comments

  • BobBurnquist

    Posted Sep 6, 2009 12:55 pm GMT

    You should buy it for PS3

  • Sgt_Wuss

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 12:30 am GMT

    should I get this for the PS3? I want the PS3 version for The Joker but the con for me is the trophies. I can't show off my trophies to my friends on Xbox Live. but if I get the 360 version I can show off my trophies but I won't get The Joker!

  • Booldeywolf

    Posted Aug 26, 2009 9:42 pm GMT

    It sucks, it's exclusive to PS3, I really don't like buying games for the Ps3 if I have the choise of getting the 360 instead, the controlls on the ps3 are just plain jinky compaired to the 360 controller

  • Uesugi-dono

    Posted Aug 17, 2009 3:04 am GMT

    Flipyap... buy a PS3.

  • Flipyap28

    Posted Aug 9, 2009 1:41 pm GMT

    Its these kind of things which put me off games, the game might be good but I wont be playing the full version on my 360 now, will I? Now I know how fallout PS3 fans feel...

    Oh well, maybe I will skip this as yes, I can get fussy about these little things... (the joker is my favourite character so...)

  • mg9312

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 10:37 am GMT

    I think not adding the joker to the 360 version is unfair...because I was really looking forward to playing as the joker....=\ Although I was reading something and they mentioned ?downloading? the joker onto the 360 is that possible? (sigh)

  • raza3

    Posted Jun 16, 2009 11:01 am GMT

    when i bought batman begins it is was cool but this one more than cool

  • SkinnZero

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 11:27 am GMT

    I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT! oh man this ROCKS!

  • ReaperV7

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 4:49 pm GMT

    I played the demo at target today!!! this game is AWESOME!!! finally an batman game that could get an AAA.

  • josh2123

    Posted Jun 14, 2009 5:18 am GMT

    Played the demo @walmart, this game is incredible and thats just the challenge mode Cant wait for the full game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • hexhunter222

    Posted Jun 13, 2009 5:14 pm GMT

    @ Joshuayeah:
    Yes he is, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Arkham_Asylum#Characters

    I love how the games looking, great combat and stealth, but it may need some extra variety, hopefully the delay will help.

    Hopefully this will be the start of a succesful new series for Eidos, british studio too...

  • dont_know_2

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 12:22 pm GMT

    i played the demo is kool

  • backatcha

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 8:42 am GMT

    This game is gonna ROCK, a definite must buy for me.

  • Joshuayeah

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 8:29 am GMT

    @ Gelugon_baat
    i think this is just a bonus feature not actually in the story. like the challenge rooms in bioshock
    also, the joker desnt take over arkham asylum quickly, harley quinn does haha! she takes the warden hostage [as seen in the inset pic] and then takes over the security system and lets out the prisoners, which outnumber the guards due to the increased number of prisoners [transferred from black rock] and the strong villains like killer croc and so on...
    i hope thats cleared anything up

    also does any one have any news about two-face? i havnt seen any news about him being in it, i think it'd be great - esp since he is against joker!

  • SQUALL20XX

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 2:42 pm GMT

    liked it

  • poupouxios

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 9:34 am GMT

    will it be in the ps3 cd or will it be download able from the ps3 store??

  • purple_pride99

    Posted Jun 8, 2009 5:37 pm GMT

    Nice, I think I'll be getting this one.

  • AyuSora

    Posted Jun 6, 2009 8:37 pm GMT

    I want to play this game. And maybe this little exclusive will be enough to get the PS3 version, if I have a PS3 by the time this game comes out. I hope I do.

  • chronos_ss2

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 8:03 pm GMT

    I've never been a fan of Batman games, but this one I've got to play!

  • Junior_AIN

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 2:33 pm GMT

    Even though I'm always skeptical when games like this appear. I was greatly impressed with the game's visuals at E3, who knows huh.

Review Scores

PlatformGameSpotMetacritic / User Score
Xbox 360
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9.0
PC
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9.0
PS3
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9.0
MAC
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Game Info

  • Xbox 360 PS3 Release Info

    • Release Date: Aug 25, 2009
    • ESRB: T
      Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.

  • PC Release Info

    • Release Date: Sep 15, 2009
    • ESRB: T
      Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.

  • MAC Release Info

    • Release Date: Nov 3, 2011
    • ESRB: T
      Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older.

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