Batman fans, videogame fans, rejoice. One of the best games of 2009 so far.
You play as Batman, naturally. And you try to take down the Joker who has started chaos in Arkham Asylum. It's a thirdperson action game, immediately one starts to think "oh, it's a beat-em up". No, there is a lot of fighting. But there are a lot more elements thrown in that keeps the game fresh throughout, like stealth, exploring and puzzle solving. In fact, I almost always tire from the games I play long before they end. Not so this time around. The game is full of surprises.
The fighting works really well, and is very simple and easy to get into. It also looks great. But the stealth stuff is definitely the most satisfying in the whole game. Hanging upside down a gargoyle, catching and enemy underneath, pull him up and release him to the ground, is awesome. Of course, since you're Batman, you have a lot of different gadgets available. These can be upgraded and be even more effective as you progress. Boss fights are great as well, but there are only 3 of them.
The whole tone of the game is really dark, and pushes the "T" rating with saucy language and brutal violence. The style and atmosphere is another strong point. But one of the things I like the most are the small details and references to various characters. Like the Clayface cameo, brilliant. He's actually my favorite villain. And I'm glad that he "sort of" made it into the game. The characters re-designs look fantastic. With Scarecrow and Harley being my favorites, as they have never looked cooler in my opinion. Voiceacting is spot on. Many of the voiceactors are known from Batman: The Animated Series. Most noticeably Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. And they do not disappoint.
The game is actually very lengthy. And there's lots to unlock after you've finished it. Maybe you missed a couple of Riddler's riddles, character interview tapes and such. And there's also the challenge mode. This game is fantastic, it IS as great as people say it is, and you should get it if you haven't already.