I always find the versions of Batman that nail the balance between the darkness of the universe and it's inherent comic book campiness to be the best. A lot of versions try to cheat by making "gritty and realistic reimaginings". I always find it more interesting when writers like Paul Dini can make the villains dark while still staying true to their comic book personas and designs. It's the fundamental anachronism that makes Batman and his rogues so interesting.
That BTAS episode I reference - “Christmas with the Joker” has one of my favourite Bats moments when he goes on a patrol on Christmas Eve and is a little bit disappointed when he learns he’s not needed that night! No big crimes etc. I love beats like that in his stories
@@MontyZander I really hope you're planning on including the Black Sheep of the series, Arkham Origins, because of this exact contrast. For as many issues as i have with that game, one of my favorite moments when Batman is on the bridge and he and Alfred just quietly and almost sadly wish each other a merry Christmas. But it's Alfred would initiates the conversation, as if he's trying to get an emotion that isn't anger for once and it just dies when Batman just says " you too."
Which is why I am looking forward to Robert Pattinson's Batman universe. It is the most grounded live action take of the character by far. Even more than Christopher Nolan's. But UNLIKE Christopher Nolan's and even the other Batman films, it embraces the style of the character. With its creepy, dark, gothic yet heartfelt/sweet and almost romantic at times style.
Something I would have enjoyed for an ending fix is to give him a walk through the asylum to go through. No more puzzles or combat, just a talk with everyone you beat up. Give some seeds to Ivy for her to raise, talk with Bane on helping get the remaining Titan purged, visit Scarecrow in the medical ward, etc. something to show he does care about them as people.
That truly would have elevated the game in my opinion. That care and compassion for people who just recently tried killing him is what makes Batman as a character so special in my eyes.
I think that would’ve been the ideal ending for a Batman game, but not this one. The way this Batman works that doesn’t really fit. He didn’t go through a character arc or show any special sort of kindness, matter of fact he’s emotionless for most of the game. If they had small things like him pausing and looking defeated when croc takes crane, or a small burst of anger at seeing bane instead of shock it would’ve been perfect.
@@ddl3718 That's something that always bothered me about the Arkham Batman. He's not very charismatic or empathetic. He's just always unpleasant. Sure, he fulfills the "Goddamn Batman" power fantasy that makes the game fun, but the actual character just is just so coarse to anyone and everyone that it's jarring. I'm reminded of a moment from Arkham City where Bruce is willing to let thousands of people die so he can save Talia, a trained ninja assassin, from the Joker despite outright admitting earlier in the game that Arkham City was filled with political prisoners who had done nothing wrong and other people who had already paid their debt to society. The idea that Bruce would even for a second be okay with the deaths of so many innocents, let alone the actually guilty, is just the anti-thesis of Batman as a person.
I think Arkham Asylum has one of the greatest intros ever. It really makes you feel like you are there, as Batman. I don't think any other game franchise has replicated this feeling of putting you in the titular character's shoes so well.
Problem is that this trick only works once. Once you get the jist and the novelty wears off, it's a forced slow walk segment with no gameplay beyond moving forward. None of what makes the moment-to-moment experience fun is here in the opening and that can seriously drag on repeat playthroughs. Thankfully, City, Origins, and Knight all open on skippable cutscenes, with City having a much shorter walking segment and the others not having one at all.
@ginge641 i played the game maybe 5 times and always loved the walking segment. See it's not about the walking to me because the dialog they gave to joker for example is on point and something i always want to hear time and again. Now obviously i get what you're saying as it won't work in any game, but in this game it's flawless.
@@shalindelta7 How far apart do you play this game? Five times since 2009 suggests pretty far apart unless you got it more recently. Yeah, stuff like that, it's fine. But if you've played the game recently or you know the entire thing by heart already, there's nothing in it for the player except hearing something they know already. It gives the game no replay value for me beyond years later when I've forgotten enough to make it novel again. Now, the games with NG+, they got it right in making the intros quick and with skippable cutscenes. Asylum doesn't have NG+, so the intro isn't **crippling**, but it is an annoyance for me at this point.
@ginge641 more recently maybe 2013 but definitely played it twice within the last 4 years. Arkham series is one of my all time favs and will play it again maybe next year if not later this year for sure. I like revisiting short story games when I'm waiting for new releases that interest me. Right now I'm revisiting ps3 and playing stuff like infamous and the old god of war games.
If you wanna talk about the "implications" of Raaz's body being in the Arkham morgue... Let's talk about the implications of his body disappearing if you return after you solved his riddle
@@thecreatorlair In Asylum, you can find a pair of legs sticking out of a freezer in the morgue with a toe tag reading "Ra's al-Ghul". After beating Asylum, Ra's body disappears from the morgue, leaving being only the tag.
I think the whole section on Quincy Sharpe and on the building itself were the best parts of the video. Good lord, I completely missed a lot of this stuff when I played this game all those years ago. (Realizing this game is gonna be 14 years old this summer makes me feel old)
My favorite Batman interpretation is the JLU Batman, who, even with all he’s lost, has a fundamental compassion for others. (The Ace scene still makes me cry)
Somebody said it ages ago that this is the ultimate test if the character is The Batman or just a weirdo who stole the ears and the cape. If he will comfort a dying child or not. The bar is on the floor and the amount of versions that can't clear even that is shocking.
I loved the inclusion of a serious house on serious earth in this. I've never actually read or heard the full story of it, and it works amazingly intertwined between key points of the game. It has a lot of comparisons to the game's version of the asylum as well, and shows where the ending flops a little. Great video, like all of them end up being.
Did you know that if you don't immediately solve the Warden Sharp picture puzzle, Riddler gradually gets increasingly more angry at Batman for not figuring out the answer? A similar event occurs in Arkham City if you keep tampering with Riddler's devices when he wants you to go to the church.
@@MontyZander Glad I could tell you something new! I also learned while messing around in Arkham City once that if you shoot the TYGER Helicopters with the REC, they will immediately open fire on Batman as if Protocol 10 is in progress. And I'm sure you know that you can beat up the goons that invite you to Joker's party in Arkham Asylum, both outside and inside the Visitor's Center.
I love this game - one of my all time favorites. The environment especially. Sometimes I just stop to stare at the old buildings and architecture, the modern and sophisticated awkwardly melded with the old and archaic . The atmosphere and sense of history is incredible.
Monty's Joker laugh is something I didn't know I needed until now. I loved this game when I first played it all those years ago, and I like to revisit it now and again simply because it's one of (if not the only) game I feel really captures the feeling of that comic book style hero... something we see fail time and time again with games like the new Avengers and Gotham Knights. Looking forward to what else you have for us this year, Monty!
It really is the definitive Batman game (at least IMO), and perhaps the best kind of follow-up to BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES considering Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are present here. This is the kind of story that's probably *too* massive and detailed to truly tell in a comic book, or for that matter a film, considering just how dense the game's environment is. Well done, sir.
I feel like the Arkham series is exactly what B:TAS would've been without 90s censors to work around. But what's most impressive about that is how despite those censors, they still made a series(B:TAS) that I would 100% call adult & mature. Almost nothing is sacrificed, it's just never specifically pointed out, because they knew the audience would get it. And then you have the handful of episodes where they said "screw it, let's see how far we can push". Heart of Ice, Mad Love, Baby-Doll, The Forgotten, The Underdwellers. All those episodes deal with things that even modern television treads lightly on.
@@RaptorJesus Perhaps, but I I've come to feel that Batman shouldn't always be aimed solely at adults. When I was a kid, I thought edgy, transgressive animation was the shit. But now, it's not really transgressing against anyone but younger audiences. There are no more pearl-clutching squares screaming about how animation and video games are supposed to be family friendly. The religious right doesn't care anymore, they found more profitable battles to fight, and it turns out profit was their only real interest. So the real losers now are 10-year-olds who might be into a Batman if his world didn't look like the Saw movies. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Arkham games. But I feel like the animated series, for the most part, struck nice a balance, child-friendly without being childish. Occasionally, it went too far into baby-land. And sometimes, it got way too messed up. But overall, I don't think it would have been improved by more blood or bigger boobs in skimpier costumes. It wouldn't kill the franchise if Batman dropped into a more kid-friendly version of Gotham from time to time.
@@rottensquid Ok, so what's your point? Are you saying the games should be kiddier? Or...? I dont get exactly which piece of media you are complaining about.
@@karenamyx2205 I'm not complaining really. I love dark and gritty Batman. I just also would like to see a version of the character that's not "mature audiences only." I feel like something's been lost. That said, I'm not looking for kiddie pool Batman either. I liked the Brave and the Bold animated series okay, but it felt like it overcorrected from all the hardcore stuff in the films, in Beware the Batman, in the games, and in the comics. And I love all that stuff. I watched all of Beware the Batman all the way through twice. One of the things that makes Batman so awesome is how open he is to reinterpretation. Getting the character "right" is a pretty wide target. It's just that Batman:TAS was a perfect balance of tones, and I miss that. When everything is a reaction to the last thing, "balance" is a hard target to hit.
You mentioned at 1:20:35 that Arkham City was barely a glint in Sefton Hill's eye but I can assure you that Rocksteady was already working on that game 7 months before Arkham Asylum was published. It explains the short timespan between Asylum (2009) and City (2011).
This was phenomenal. Genuinely shocked and impressed. It is creators like you that prove to me that the halls of academia are not the only place that the wise can be found and that beautiful creation can take place.
I would like to point out that the characters' faces have suffered a considerable downgrade in the "remaster" version, especially Batman's, ironic as it is. The cutscene lighting is also noticeably flat compared to the original. The original cutscenes had much deeper shadows and more nuanced textures. I recommend going back to the original if possible: it holds up much better than the remaster would have you believe.
@@redxgabi I don't think that's an ideal solution, as it might affect other aspects of the lighting in undesirable ways. Anyway, it's not just the lighting, I also have a problem with Batman's face model (in Asylum). It just looks derpy. So that's why I don't have the remaster. I'm happy playing the originals on PC.
@@roarsack503 i totally understand, the remaster version is what made me the batman/dc fan i am today so that's why im a bit biased towards it lol (the only "game console" i own is a ps4 slim so that's the only version i can play)
@@redxgabi haha, I can relate. I got deep into Batman lore through the original release of Asylum. But if your first experience was with the remaster, I get that the changes are not going to bother you. No matter the version, the Arkham games are still some of the best games ever, so I'm just glad that people get to experience them. And if a slightly modernized version is what it takes to make them more appealing to newcomers, then that's great. :D
For me the best Batman is animated series Batman. He wasn't the barely restrained authoritarian badass so much media portrays him as. He was a man acting in utmost compassion to save people from a similar experience he had as a child not rage and contempt for his fellow man. He seemed to me to be someone that always wanted to talk his enemies off the ledge which was exemplified by the end of the Baby Doll episode where he basically let her cry on his shoulder after she finally came to her senses. The world around him generally allowed for that kind of interaction. Even Joker wasn't this near omniscient demon of hate and chaos he is in other media. He was clearly human which allowed him to be treated as a human. Portrayals like the games encourages the audience to want Batman to be a bit more brutal and finally start killing his villains because the scale of harm created is so huge and they don't show any humanity.
@ShimmyFr To be fair he does only call villains by their real names (except Harley for some reason, maybe because it’s just a nickname). We also got him working with Poison Ivy and her sacrificing herself to save Gotham. And him carrying Joker’s body out of Arkham City after failing to save him (which he clearly feels very guilty about in the next game). And based on what Joker says when you lock up Riddler in Knight, alongside the fact that Joker is in Batman’s head and just an extension of his thoughts, it’s not unreasonable to believe he wants to do more for Riddler and get him the help he needs. There’s some subtlety for you.
15:00 The problem with The Killing Joke is it’s a good story on its own, but then some people started thinking that was the definitive version of Batman (and sometimes people ignore the fact that Joker’s ‘one bad day’ idea failed in the end)
Funny thing at around 1 hour and 40 minutes, the scene with Joker electrocuting the guard can be skipped if you disable the power before going to that hallway. May have not saved the guard, but Joker DOES have commentary if you do it first, frustrated you beat him to it. Same thing happens in the library if you go up to the top to cut the chandelier first. He even lowers the timer to fuck with you.
The problem with The Joker fight is that, since this is still an action game, finishing the game without a fist fight is difficult. It´s obvious that the Joker's Boss fight is the entire game, everything that we, as the Batman, were put through was becasue of the Joker, all the kilings, the physical strain, the psycological stress, discovering how corrupt the Asylum was, all of it happened becasue of the Joker. To me, they should've made Batman solve some sort of final trap set by the Joker out of desperation and leave it there.
I love interspersing the game with the comic that was the primary inspiration. It compares and contrasts well. Especially in regards to that ending. I've never really considered it before, but you're right, it really was a big oversight to have no follow about the horrendous conditions of the asylum within the game itself, especially with the fact he directly helped fund this nightmare. We don't get to see the compassion that batman should have like in the comic ending
Before I replayed them recently, I remember thinking I liked Arkham City more of the 2. Watching this just reinforces why I like Asylum the most. It's such a tight, contained story that keeps you moving without too much slack in the gametime (outside of trophy collecting.) Wonderful video man, I can't wait to see what else 2023 brings!
One of the biggest strengths of this game, in my opinion, is the easter eggs for characters not included. It implies that the rest of the Batman world is existing in this universe, even if they couldn't fit it all in.
100% My favourite thing about this game was exactly that. Just the set up for the outside world. Penguin, freeze and calendar man’s cells, killer moth and rat catchers gear, just sets up so much interesting mystery
"The Morgue is not out to truly terrify us" I think I may have done something wrong then, back when I first played this in 2009 xD Amazing video so far. It has really reignited my intrigue and passion for this game (and the Arkham comic as well!). Hopefully all these years later, I can play it with confidence, and... not shut it off in terror whenever another Scarecrow section comes up ^^;
YES LET'S GOOO Just found out about this channel recently and has been my favorite analysis channel since. Always glad to see more from such a talented writer!
Sorry, I'm sure this was a great retrospective but about 18 minutes in I heard the words "Harley" and "gapes" in the same sentence and then got really distracted for the next 2 hours and 10 minutes.
You briefly mentioned how Batman being the “billionaire who’s always prepared” makes him boring, I felt a few years of my life return to me. I feel like many forget that one of Batman’s most formidable skills is that he knows he has limits, something fans tend to forget. Many fans act as though with enough PrEp TiMe he can’t be beaten, but that makes him boring. Batman is interesting because he’s just a man, he can fail, he often does fail.
You completely missed the point of Batmans contingency plans. It's not that he is invincible and will always win with "prep" time It's the just the mere fact that he always has a plan for every situation is a staple of his character. Bruce is a paranoid guy that thinks of every situation. It makes sense for Batman to do these things like have plans to take down league behind there back if they go rogue. It's a literal character trait and thats the entire point of it. It's not Boring either cause even alot of his contingency plans fail to. I think I lost a few years of my life seeing your comment have that many likes to be honest. Media literacy truly has gone down the drain
There are a few key facts that must be known to be a Batman fan: 1. Batman doesn’t kill. Nobody cares if “oH bUt OrIgInAlLy BaTmAn HaD a GuN aNd ShOt CrImInAls”. It’s just not a part of his character and it’s boring to pretend it is. 2. Batman cares about his Rogues. 3. Batman doesn’t solo everyone with prep time. 4. If you can’t picture your Batman comforting a frightened child, that’s not Batman: that’s Punisher in a silly hat.
Jimmy Palmiotti did good with Harley but c'mon. It's basically a "sexy clown" version of the Animated Series' Harley outfit, isn't it? Which is apparently the issue with her "sexy clown nurse" Arkham outfit.
I loved this game. I remember I got stuck at a mission because of a bug which didn't allow me to accomplish an objective and I rage-quit. I'm thinking of playing it again thanks to your video.
Really really well done video. I particularly love how you interspersed the Arkham asylum comic with your review. You’re actually pretty good at reading it like an audio book - you could do more of that stuff
I was looking forward to watching this one! Arkham Asylum is one of my all time favorites and as a wee Batman fan I remember BEGGING my parents for a PS3 for Christmas so I could play it. You mentioned it a bit in the video, but one of my favorite details is how you can keep returning to the visitor center for therapy sessions with the joker for unique dialogues after the major events. Great video! Really loved your breakdown of the riddler challenges and why they did/didn't work. Hope you continue this series through the rest of the Arkham games!!
The bat torment from Amadeus' memories was so awesome, as if him and the bat were destined to fight from the beginning, the legacy of Arkham vs the son of the bats
Sam here, even if I can admit the later entries are technically better I love the atmosphere too much not to place this at the top. I would love to see a remaster with the better combat and enemy design of knight.
This is excellent. Always appreciate your deep, compassionate insights into different games and media, and the Arkham games, in particular, mean a lot to me, so I was stoked to see Asylum was next on your list. The Batman: Arkham games were a major part of my life when I was in school, I spent endless sleepless nights sat on the floor, watching my friends make Batman zip from rooftop to rooftop, enough so I associate the image of that parachute-like cape with calm and comfort, more like a weighted blanket than the caped crusader. It’s probably a strange way for me to think of the game, (oh well, everyone has a strange coping mechanism or two, right Dent?), but it became a cornerstone piece of media during my formative years. And hey, now I just have more excuses to think deeply and critically about Asylum with this video! Huzzah!
Watching through all this was a joy, and ending it by mentioning you're getting married this year made me so happy to hear. Congratulations! And another great video as always
Man, I really LOVE your critiques. I'm so grateful I stumbled upon your Bioshock breakdowns. Even though you started relatively recently, I find with the quality of your videos, you are way up there with the likes of The Salt Factory and Joseph Anderson. I really hope one day you will get similar numbers so you can keep growing and keep at it for years to come!
These Batman videos are AMAZING!!! It's genius going back and forth between comics and the game. Pure brilliance and masterfully done! I found you by happenstance via youtube autoplay. I fell asleep to other video essays and I woke up to yours! So damn cool.
Batarangs are underrated with the combo upgrade. They're usage to knock down a goon that picked up a gun across the room is insurmountable. Also that and the batclaw are so good to use to set up a ground takedown to get points in the combat mode. Heck I even used the jell while fighting the titan in the sewer and for the joker boss fight by setting them at the spawns to buy me time for my hard mode playthrough. And the line launcher can be used to attack goons. Really good to knock them off of ledges
Quick fire triple batarangs and the triple bat claw are super useful in combat when used sparingly. Disagree that gadgets aren't effective, you just have to be really deliberate about your timing.
Great video! Arkham Asylum is one of my all-time favorites. I'd never really thought about the clash between old vs new as a throughline in the game's story and world. But it seems obvious now that you laid it out. Thanks for that insight! Looking forward to your City and Knight critiques.
@@Terminal_Apotos There's a difference between how a character looks physically and how they dress. If the men were sexualized just as much in this game, Batman would be baring midriff to show off his abs.
So I don't think anyone has ever mentioned this, but has it not been super obvious that Sharp was the "Spirit of Arkham?" His voice actor has the most recognizable voices ever. He voiced the beaver puppet from the Netflix "8 bucks a month" commericals, and was the narrator for the Star Wars Cartoons.
This is still my favourite Batman game. It's the most solid and focused of the Arlham series, and is easily the most replayable. I go back to this series every couple of years.
For me, this is the definitive Batman story. This is MY Batman. And the fact that they leave much of the earlier stories open to interpretation means that the story can be whatever we want it to be.
Despite a lot of bloat, or monotonous chores, this series is a foundational one for me. I love the series, and Asylum is a great base to build from. Asylum has the bulk of my favorite dialogue, characterization (minus Riddler), and lore exposition (I wish they kept the comic book style of bios). This is one of the best videos I've ever seen on it, mostly because of how you mixed in readings of the comic. Well done! Side note: If you want to get elite at the seires' combat, I could teach you a thing or two.
I was sincerely worried people would hate the comic interludes. I still think they’ll end up being marmite as the video gains traction, but thank you for the kind words!
@@MontyZander Even if you couldn't come close to the voices I would have enjoyed the juxtaposition. But you also did a surprisingly good job with the voices.
FInally, another Monty video! And here I was, itching to hear your voice again that I started rewatching all of your video essays for the 4th time. Great video as always, I love hearing your interpretations and critiques. The side by side reading of the comic and the gameplay analysis was really cool and kept me interested and listening intently. That wheezy Joker laugh while you read the comic was fantastic, its exactly the kind of voice/laugh I'd expect from him just based on the visuals of the comic.
1:16:20 One of my favourite details of Arkham Knight is the intro with ACE Chemicals feeling like one long repudiation of this attitude in Asylum and City, showing Batman mourning the dead facility personnel and promising to avenge them.
1:00:00 when speaking about your metroidvania test I would add that it must continually open the world. If used once and discarded, as far as exploration and 'world opening' goes, then I wouldn't count it personally.
I feel like the comparison between the game and the actual comic that helped inspire it adds so much. It paints ckearly what The Arkham Asylum Batman mist be going through. He isnt doing this but is made to have to do it. The hesitance of the comic paints his rhoughts in game. The panic paints his resolution
Another fantastic critique of a beloved game. The amount of time and work you put into every video is amazing down to even the smallest details of the game. Thank you for all you do Monty and I am looking forward to all the future videos. Getting a nagging feeling that Gotham Knights was just not that great of a game. Weird, not sure what could have given me that idea. Also, that shot at Calisto Protocal's audio diaries was perfect!
Another absolutely fantastic video!!! I never had the chance to play these games back in the day, and it's fantastic to finally have some insight into the hype. As always, your insight is illuminating, and I love how you paired it with that particular story from the comics to really make the feel of what the story tried to say hit home. Thank you so much for the absurd amount of work and love you put into this!
I’ve been rewatching the animated series following the release of caped crusader and I’ve remembered one of the reasons btas is my favourite Batman, he never solved his parents murder, it was a random mugging wrong place wrong time and there was no evidence, he never solves it so he worked to make sure others aren’t in that position, there’s an episode focusing on joe chill and how the murder of the Wayne’s effects his life in the years that followed
Arkham Asylum is one of my favourite games of all time for the atmosphere, aesthetic, and villains even if it has flaws. It helped me get into more Batman content including the comics referenced in the game. It’s extremely nostalgic for me along with the animated series from the 90’s. This was the best video I’ve seen on this game with so many details, some I never thought of like the colour palettes when villains are in control or the stiff plastic animation from mocap to add to the surrealism. You got a new subscriber!
I binged all of your retrospectives last month and I was so sad to be out of them. Nobody does this like you, combining gameplay critique with philosophy, politics, psychology etc. Im so so happy to have something new from you. I know it’s going to be amazing quality. Thank you for what you do!
The pacing of these videos is fantastic. So happy you don’t just recap the story, you really hit on all the elements of the game as they become the most relevant. Just a very smooth ride of a video!
Oh boy am I excited to lieten to this while I work on school. I want to say that I love these long form video essays especially your bioshock ones. They opened me up the political theories that I want to learn more about, a fine example of looking for gold and finding diamonds. I have feeling these arkham videos are gonna open me up to psychological stuff that's really interesting. Thank you so much for making these videos.
"Not just a batman but THE Batman." yea thats true. i really was a big Batman fan and just knew the movies and animated series but the Arkham series really made me one. the 3 arkhams really belong into my top 10 games of the last 20 years. kingdom come deliverance is my no.1 ofc
I held the number one spot for one of the free flow combat mini games for years with a little over a hundred thousand points with second place being in the millions. I figured out that it was because I concluded all four rounds without getting hit and having completed them in one unending combo. After about five years, I was dethroned, and a friend of mine explained that that was probably someone cheating with a mod. Don't know if that's true, but it's my one brag that I have til this day...
Awesome video as always. Looking forward to your coverage of the rest of the series. I think it's interesting how Batmans charecter balance is mirrored by some of the difficulty of balancing superhero games. Batman is often seen as a more "dark" hero, and people can often have difficulty balancing that with him being a real hero. In games, playing Batman means wanting a power fantasy while also still wanting a challenging and satisfying game. Arkham Assylum does pretty well in both its characterization of Batman and balancing power fantasy with challenge.
This has been the 5th Independent Video Essay/Review of the Arkham Games/Series since 2020. _And I gotta admit, you're a very close Second to being the best I've seen._ Excellent work, I hope you happen to cover Arkham City in this style too. 👌
Good lord that reading of the comic was bloody brilliant I’m guessing that you might do videos on the rest of the Arkham games in the future? Also like usual your game analysis is amazing
Thanks so much! I think they’ll end up being marmite for viewers but I wanted to tell ASHOSE alongside the critique the second I started writing it Definitely covering the others! Working on them as we speak
Please for the love of god, do the other games too please. This was phenomenal, I was not expecting a game analysis and a dramatic reading in the same video.
I love the way you broke up thos video with the comic. It makes it feel grand, more impactful. I always loved the idea of that comic and seeing it up against Arkham Asylum. Really hit.
You’re dead right for how much detail is sitting around. There were several parts of the game I kept scanning because I assumed that something with that much unique flavor had to be a riddle solution.
The first riddle regarding Warden Sharp and the portrait gets even better if you wait a little bit before scanning it and Nigma will start getting annoyed 😂
Loved this game. I always thought of it as Metal Gear Batman with Arkham taking the place of Shadow Moses. Even the Scarecrow's fuckery was on par with Psycho Mantis. One of my top 3 games ever. Great video 🔥🔥
I really enjoyed this approach to a comic book game retrospective. It adds just that extra layer to see the comic source laid out next to its adaptation into a game
Excellent video on one of my favorite games.....gonna have to play it again now :) I like that you discussed the comic along side. Made for a bit of extra perspective.
This game and dark knight(Nolan) were the first time I was anticipating a batman project. I engaged with batman as a little kid but this game and Heath Ledger's portrayal were the first time I was excited.
My favourite game of all time, truly one of the greatest and most atmospheric works of art out there. I’ll always come back to this franchise and find myself 100% completing the games once again, I think we can all agree that wether suicide squad has a bad story or gameplay, it’s going to be packed with just as much care and love as every other arkhamverse game. That much is evident from the trailers, so many details to pick up on that you wouldn’t see on first glance. It’s my dream to work at Rocksteady one day, I love these games
Monty I cannot thank you enough for your amazing videos. The first things of yours I watched was your Bioshock Videos. You're Hollow Knight video is why I am currently on a two week binge of Hollow Knight playing for the first time and basking in the wonder of it all. So thank you so so so much I am excited to see what else you have in store for us.
Another banger, it's probably a ways off, but I'm excited for the Arkham Knight video. In my opinion, it's the best Arkham game, for how complete the power fantasy of being a fully-realized Batman is, and for how well it delves into the psychology of Batman and his fears.
So happy to see a new video from you. I binged all your work on this channel and what a masterclass!!! Especially the bioshock series and hollow knight 🙌🙌🙌
So not to ruin any childhoods or anything, but every time I hear warden sharp speak all I can hear is Mr. Herriman from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and hearing Mr. Harriman talk about beating people to death and generally being a serial killer haunts me while simultaneously being hilarious.
@@baki484so I looked it up. His names is Tom Kane and he is the voice of Mr. Harriman but funnily enough he’s also the voice of Professor Utonium and Darwin Thornberry so that’s something to think about
Grab Atlas VPN for just $1.99 a month before the deal expires: get.atlasvpn.com/MontyZander 💥
J 1:04:00
@@gavincosy😊
If you return to the morgue after the end of the game, Ras Al Ghul's body is gone. You can guess what happens to him next.
I always find the versions of Batman that nail the balance between the darkness of the universe and it's inherent comic book campiness to be the best. A lot of versions try to cheat by making "gritty and realistic reimaginings". I always find it more interesting when writers like Paul Dini can make the villains dark while still staying true to their comic book personas and designs. It's the fundamental anachronism that makes Batman and his rogues so interesting.
That BTAS episode I reference - “Christmas with the Joker” has one of my favourite Bats moments when he goes on a patrol on Christmas Eve and is a little bit disappointed when he learns he’s not needed that night! No big crimes etc. I love beats like that in his stories
@@MontyZander I really hope you're planning on including the Black Sheep of the series, Arkham Origins, because of this exact contrast. For as many issues as i have with that game, one of my favorite moments when Batman is on the bridge and he and Alfred just quietly and almost sadly wish each other a merry Christmas. But it's Alfred would initiates the conversation, as if he's trying to get an emotion that isn't anger for once and it just dies when Batman just says " you too."
😢
Which is why I am looking forward to Robert Pattinson's Batman universe.
It is the most grounded live action take of the character by far. Even more than Christopher Nolan's.
But UNLIKE Christopher Nolan's and even the other Batman films, it embraces the style of the character. With its creepy, dark, gothic yet heartfelt/sweet and almost romantic at times style.
No film has struck this balance perfectly yet!
Something I would have enjoyed for an ending fix is to give him a walk through the asylum to go through. No more puzzles or combat, just a talk with everyone you beat up. Give some seeds to Ivy for her to raise, talk with Bane on helping get the remaining Titan purged, visit Scarecrow in the medical ward, etc. something to show he does care about them as people.
That truly would have elevated the game in my opinion. That care and compassion for people who just recently tried killing him is what makes Batman as a character so special in my eyes.
I think that would’ve been the ideal ending for a Batman game, but not this one. The way this Batman works that doesn’t really fit. He didn’t go through a character arc or show any special sort of kindness, matter of fact he’s emotionless for most of the game. If they had small things like him pausing and looking defeated when croc takes crane, or a small burst of anger at seeing bane instead of shock it would’ve been perfect.
grdjhdrjdrj123grdjhdrjdrj123
@@ddl3718 That's something that always bothered me about the Arkham Batman. He's not very charismatic or empathetic. He's just always unpleasant. Sure, he fulfills the "Goddamn Batman" power fantasy that makes the game fun, but the actual character just is just so coarse to anyone and everyone that it's jarring. I'm reminded of a moment from Arkham City where Bruce is willing to let thousands of people die so he can save Talia, a trained ninja assassin, from the Joker despite outright admitting earlier in the game that Arkham City was filled with political prisoners who had done nothing wrong and other people who had already paid their debt to society. The idea that Bruce would even for a second be okay with the deaths of so many innocents, let alone the actually guilty, is just the anti-thesis of Batman as a person.
@@TheAzulmagia It seems like the Arkham games were taking inspiration from Frank Miller when writing this interpretation of Batman.
I think Arkham Asylum has one of the greatest intros ever. It really makes you feel like you are there, as Batman. I don't think any other game franchise has replicated this feeling of putting you in the titular character's shoes so well.
Problem is that this trick only works once. Once you get the jist and the novelty wears off, it's a forced slow walk segment with no gameplay beyond moving forward. None of what makes the moment-to-moment experience fun is here in the opening and that can seriously drag on repeat playthroughs.
Thankfully, City, Origins, and Knight all open on skippable cutscenes, with City having a much shorter walking segment and the others not having one at all.
@ginge641 i played the game maybe 5 times and always loved the walking segment. See it's not about the walking to me because the dialog they gave to joker for example is on point and something i always want to hear time and again.
Now obviously i get what you're saying as it won't work in any game, but in this game it's flawless.
@@shalindelta7 How far apart do you play this game? Five times since 2009 suggests pretty far apart unless you got it more recently. Yeah, stuff like that, it's fine. But if you've played the game recently or you know the entire thing by heart already, there's nothing in it for the player except hearing something they know already. It gives the game no replay value for me beyond years later when I've forgotten enough to make it novel again.
Now, the games with NG+, they got it right in making the intros quick and with skippable cutscenes. Asylum doesn't have NG+, so the intro isn't **crippling**, but it is an annoyance for me at this point.
@ginge641 more recently maybe 2013 but definitely played it twice within the last 4 years. Arkham series is one of my all time favs and will play it again maybe next year if not later this year for sure. I like revisiting short story games when I'm waiting for new releases that interest me. Right now I'm revisiting ps3 and playing stuff like infamous and the old god of war games.
Twice that’s it? I play it like 3 times a year
If you wanna talk about the "implications" of Raaz's body being in the Arkham morgue...
Let's talk about the implications of his body disappearing if you return after you solved his riddle
I know this happens in City. I haven’t seen it happen in Asylum. Is that what you’re talking about?
@@thecreatorlair
In Asylum, you can find a pair of legs sticking out of a freezer in the morgue with a toe tag reading "Ra's al-Ghul". After beating Asylum, Ra's body disappears from the morgue, leaving being only the tag.
I think the whole section on Quincy Sharpe and on the building itself were the best parts of the video. Good lord, I completely missed a lot of this stuff when I played this game all those years ago. (Realizing this game is gonna be 14 years old this summer makes me feel old)
My favorite Batman interpretation is the JLU Batman, who, even with all he’s lost, has a fundamental compassion for others. (The Ace scene still makes me cry)
Somebody said it ages ago that this is the ultimate test if the character is The Batman or just a weirdo who stole the ears and the cape. If he will comfort a dying child or not. The bar is on the floor and the amount of versions that can't clear even that is shocking.
Eh he's kinda a humourless asshole unlike how he was in the original animated series
I loved the inclusion of a serious house on serious earth in this. I've never actually read or heard the full story of it, and it works amazingly intertwined between key points of the game. It has a lot of comparisons to the game's version of the asylum as well, and shows where the ending flops a little. Great video, like all of them end up being.
That comic book is so epic, as if Arkham and Batman were destined to clash from the beginning
I love that in a video about Arkham, you managed to put the words “Love” and “Craft” back to back
Ha, I noticed this too.
Arkham being picked as the name of the asylum was 1000% a Lovecraft nod.
Did you know that if you don't immediately solve the Warden Sharp picture puzzle, Riddler gradually gets increasingly more angry at Batman for not figuring out the answer? A similar event occurs in Arkham City if you keep tampering with Riddler's devices when he wants you to go to the church.
I did not know this! Amazing!
@@MontyZander Glad I could tell you something new! I also learned while messing around in Arkham City once that if you shoot the TYGER Helicopters with the REC, they will immediately open fire on Batman as if Protocol 10 is in progress. And I'm sure you know that you can beat up the goons that invite you to Joker's party in Arkham Asylum, both outside and inside the Visitor's Center.
I got that on my first playthrough, I knew I was looking for a painting of warden sharp, I just couldn't figure out where it was.
I love this game - one of my all time favorites. The environment especially. Sometimes I just stop to stare at the old buildings and architecture, the modern and sophisticated awkwardly melded with the old and archaic . The atmosphere and sense of history is incredible.
chock full of Easter eggs, too! 🕵🏻
It feels like it has a soul of its own. It’s creepy and so mysterious
This might be your best retrospective/deep dive/thingy yet. Also, props for the great voice acting during the comic book sections!
Monty's Joker laugh is something I didn't know I needed until now.
I loved this game when I first played it all those years ago, and I like to revisit it now and again simply because it's one of (if not the only) game I feel really captures the feeling of that comic book style hero... something we see fail time and time again with games like the new Avengers and Gotham Knights. Looking forward to what else you have for us this year, Monty!
It really is the definitive Batman game (at least IMO), and perhaps the best kind of follow-up to BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES considering Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are present here. This is the kind of story that's probably *too* massive and detailed to truly tell in a comic book, or for that matter a film, considering just how dense the game's environment is.
Well done, sir.
I feel like the Arkham series is exactly what B:TAS would've been without 90s censors to work around. But what's most impressive about that is how despite those censors, they still made a series(B:TAS) that I would 100% call adult & mature. Almost nothing is sacrificed, it's just never specifically pointed out, because they knew the audience would get it. And then you have the handful of episodes where they said "screw it, let's see how far we can push". Heart of Ice, Mad Love, Baby-Doll, The Forgotten, The Underdwellers. All those episodes deal with things that even modern television treads lightly on.
@@RaptorJesus Perhaps, but I I've come to feel that Batman shouldn't always be aimed solely at adults. When I was a kid, I thought edgy, transgressive animation was the shit. But now, it's not really transgressing against anyone but younger audiences. There are no more pearl-clutching squares screaming about how animation and video games are supposed to be family friendly. The religious right doesn't care anymore, they found more profitable battles to fight, and it turns out profit was their only real interest. So the real losers now are 10-year-olds who might be into a Batman if his world didn't look like the Saw movies.
Don't get me wrong, I loved the Arkham games. But I feel like the animated series, for the most part, struck nice a balance, child-friendly without being childish. Occasionally, it went too far into baby-land. And sometimes, it got way too messed up. But overall, I don't think it would have been improved by more blood or bigger boobs in skimpier costumes. It wouldn't kill the franchise if Batman dropped into a more kid-friendly version of Gotham from time to time.
@@rottensquid
Ok, so what's your point? Are you saying the games should be kiddier? Or...? I dont get exactly which piece of media you are complaining about.
@@karenamyx2205 I'm not complaining really. I love dark and gritty Batman. I just also would like to see a version of the character that's not "mature audiences only." I feel like something's been lost. That said, I'm not looking for kiddie pool Batman either. I liked the Brave and the Bold animated series okay, but it felt like it overcorrected from all the hardcore stuff in the films, in Beware the Batman, in the games, and in the comics.
And I love all that stuff. I watched all of Beware the Batman all the way through twice. One of the things that makes Batman so awesome is how open he is to reinterpretation. Getting the character "right" is a pretty wide target.
It's just that Batman:TAS was a perfect balance of tones, and I miss that. When everything is a reaction to the last thing, "balance" is a hard target to hit.
You mentioned at 1:20:35 that Arkham City was barely a glint in Sefton Hill's eye but I can assure you that Rocksteady was already working on that game 7 months before Arkham Asylum was published. It explains the short timespan between Asylum (2009) and City (2011).
This was phenomenal. Genuinely shocked and impressed. It is creators like you that prove to me that the halls of academia are not the only place that the wise can be found and that beautiful creation can take place.
Small detail: Ra’s Al Ghoul’s body disappears from the body back. This denotes that it’s been taken to the Lazarus pit, which is pretty cool
I would like to point out that the characters' faces have suffered a considerable downgrade in the "remaster" version, especially Batman's, ironic as it is. The cutscene lighting is also noticeably flat compared to the original. The original cutscenes had much deeper shadows and more nuanced textures. I recommend going back to the original if possible: it holds up much better than the remaster would have you believe.
@ShimmyYaBro yep. There's probably a reason why they never bothered releasing the Return to Arkham collection on PC.
i have the brightness turned to 0 maybe that would help you too? (if you have the remaster)
@@redxgabi I don't think that's an ideal solution, as it might affect other aspects of the lighting in undesirable ways. Anyway, it's not just the lighting, I also have a problem with Batman's face model (in Asylum). It just looks derpy. So that's why I don't have the remaster. I'm happy playing the originals on PC.
@@roarsack503 i totally understand, the remaster version is what made me the batman/dc fan i am today so that's why im a bit biased towards it lol (the only "game console" i own is a ps4 slim so that's the only version i can play)
@@redxgabi haha, I can relate. I got deep into Batman lore through the original release of Asylum. But if your first experience was with the remaster, I get that the changes are not going to bother you. No matter the version, the Arkham games are still some of the best games ever, so I'm just glad that people get to experience them. And if a slightly modernized version is what it takes to make them more appealing to newcomers, then that's great. :D
For me the best Batman is animated series Batman. He wasn't the barely restrained authoritarian badass so much media portrays him as. He was a man acting in utmost compassion to save people from a similar experience he had as a child not rage and contempt for his fellow man. He seemed to me to be someone that always wanted to talk his enemies off the ledge which was exemplified by the end of the Baby Doll episode where he basically let her cry on his shoulder after she finally came to her senses. The world around him generally allowed for that kind of interaction. Even Joker wasn't this near omniscient demon of hate and chaos he is in other media. He was clearly human which allowed him to be treated as a human. Portrayals like the games encourages the audience to want Batman to be a bit more brutal and finally start killing his villains because the scale of harm created is so huge and they don't show any humanity.
@ShimmyFr To be fair he does only call villains by their real names (except Harley for some reason, maybe because it’s just a nickname). We also got him working with Poison Ivy and her sacrificing herself to save Gotham. And him carrying Joker’s body out of Arkham City after failing to save him (which he clearly feels very guilty about in the next game). And based on what Joker says when you lock up Riddler in Knight, alongside the fact that Joker is in Batman’s head and just an extension of his thoughts, it’s not unreasonable to believe he wants to do more for Riddler and get him the help he needs. There’s some subtlety for you.
15:00
The problem with The Killing Joke is it’s a good story on its own, but then some people started thinking that was the definitive version of Batman (and sometimes people ignore the fact that Joker’s ‘one bad day’ idea failed in the end)
Funny thing at around 1 hour and 40 minutes, the scene with Joker electrocuting the guard can be skipped if you disable the power before going to that hallway. May have not saved the guard, but Joker DOES have commentary if you do it first, frustrated you beat him to it. Same thing happens in the library if you go up to the top to cut the chandelier first. He even lowers the timer to fuck with you.
Smart man here
The problem with The Joker fight is that, since this is still an action game, finishing the game without a fist fight is difficult.
It´s obvious that the Joker's Boss fight is the entire game, everything that we, as the Batman, were put through was becasue of the Joker, all the kilings, the physical strain, the psycological stress, discovering how corrupt the Asylum was, all of it happened becasue of the Joker.
To me, they should've made Batman solve some sort of final trap set by the Joker out of desperation and leave it there.
I love interspersing the game with the comic that was the primary inspiration. It compares and contrasts well. Especially in regards to that ending. I've never really considered it before, but you're right, it really was a big oversight to have no follow about the horrendous conditions of the asylum within the game itself, especially with the fact he directly helped fund this nightmare. We don't get to see the compassion that batman should have like in the comic ending
Before I replayed them recently, I remember thinking I liked Arkham City more of the 2. Watching this just reinforces why I like Asylum the most. It's such a tight, contained story that keeps you moving without too much slack in the gametime (outside of trophy collecting.) Wonderful video man, I can't wait to see what else 2023 brings!
The best batman game. The best joker. The best batman. It may literally never get ANY better than this game when it came out
Agreed man. Couldn’t agree more. But you gotta admit Lego Batman the video game is like #3 spot
@@StudMacher78 ok l moll nm p
Indeed I think so to
And they topped it with the sequel
Love these games so much. VERY excited for the Arkham City video. Also, VERY excited for Lore Dump 2023. Thank you for all your hard work, Monty. 🙏
The first 2023 Lore Dump comes out tomorrow!
@Monty Zander Awesome! I can't wait. I hope you guys can cover Resident Evil 8 and it's DLC soon. 👀
@@MontyZander oh shit let the hype train in my head start chugging
One of the biggest strengths of this game, in my opinion, is the easter eggs for characters not included. It implies that the rest of the Batman world is existing in this universe, even if they couldn't fit it all in.
100%
My favourite thing about this game was exactly that. Just the set up for the outside world. Penguin, freeze and calendar man’s cells, killer moth and rat catchers gear, just sets up so much interesting mystery
The voice acting was awesome. Such a compelling reading of one of the best batman stories of the 80s. This channel deserves more subscribers
"The Morgue is not out to truly terrify us"
I think I may have done something wrong then, back when I first played this in 2009 xD
Amazing video so far. It has really reignited my intrigue and passion for this game (and the Arkham comic as well!). Hopefully all these years later, I can play it with confidence, and... not shut it off in terror whenever another Scarecrow section comes up ^^;
YES LET'S GOOO
Just found out about this channel recently and has been my favorite analysis channel since. Always glad to see more from such a talented writer!
Ditto!!!
Monty is amazing.
Sorry, I'm sure this was a great retrospective but about 18 minutes in I heard the words "Harley" and "gapes" in the same sentence and then got really distracted for the next 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Go outside.
You briefly mentioned how Batman being the “billionaire who’s always prepared” makes him boring, I felt a few years of my life return to me.
I feel like many forget that one of Batman’s most formidable skills is that he knows he has limits, something fans tend to forget. Many fans act as though with enough PrEp TiMe he can’t be beaten, but that makes him boring. Batman is interesting because he’s just a man, he can fail, he often does fail.
One line that is from the comics of the same hero is the no killing when he was a young batman
You completely missed the point of Batmans contingency plans. It's not that he is invincible and will always win with "prep" time
It's the just the mere fact that he always has a plan for every situation is a staple of his character. Bruce is a paranoid guy that thinks of every situation. It makes sense for Batman to do these things like have plans to take down league behind there back if they go rogue. It's a literal character trait and thats the entire point of it. It's not Boring either cause even alot of his contingency plans fail to. I think I lost a few years of my life seeing your comment have that many likes to be honest. Media literacy truly has gone down the drain
There are a few key facts that must be known to be a Batman fan:
1. Batman doesn’t kill. Nobody cares if “oH bUt OrIgInAlLy BaTmAn HaD a GuN aNd ShOt CrImInAls”. It’s just not a part of his character and it’s boring to pretend it is.
2. Batman cares about his Rogues.
3. Batman doesn’t solo everyone with prep time.
4. If you can’t picture your Batman comforting a frightened child, that’s not Batman: that’s Punisher in a silly hat.
Jimmy Palmiotti did good with Harley but c'mon. It's basically a "sexy clown" version of the Animated Series' Harley outfit, isn't it? Which is apparently the issue with her "sexy clown nurse" Arkham outfit.
Watching this video made me realize how much worse Return to Arkham looks than the original game
I loved this game. I remember I got stuck at a mission because of a bug which didn't allow me to accomplish an objective and I rage-quit. I'm thinking of playing it again thanks to your video.
Really really well done video. I particularly love how you interspersed the Arkham asylum comic with your review. You’re actually pretty good at reading it like an audio book - you could do more of that stuff
That grant Morriston quote is fantastic. I've never heard it before, but it's brilliant
I was looking forward to watching this one! Arkham Asylum is one of my all time favorites and as a wee Batman fan I remember BEGGING my parents for a PS3 for Christmas so I could play it. You mentioned it a bit in the video, but one of my favorite details is how you can keep returning to the visitor center for therapy sessions with the joker for unique dialogues after the major events. Great video! Really loved your breakdown of the riddler challenges and why they did/didn't work. Hope you continue this series through the rest of the Arkham games!!
I’ve listened to A LOT of critiques and retrospectives on these games. This one was my favorite.
The bat torment from Amadeus' memories was so awesome, as if him and the bat were destined to fight from the beginning, the legacy of Arkham vs the son of the bats
i love the feature of the heart monitor letting you know YES these prisoners are TERRIFIED when they encounter batman
Imo the high contrast, optionally black and white, pause screen, echos the look of Batmans text boxes in the graphic novel
Asylum remains the game with the best atmosphere which makes it my Nr. 1 in the series
Yep, you as a player really do feel trapped and in danger. Batman is at his best when he's the underdog.
Sam here, even if I can admit the later entries are technically better I love the atmosphere too much not to place this at the top.
I would love to see a remaster with the better combat and enemy design of knight.
This is excellent. Always appreciate your deep, compassionate insights into different games and media, and the Arkham games, in particular, mean a lot to me, so I was stoked to see Asylum was next on your list. The Batman: Arkham games were a major part of my life when I was in school, I spent endless sleepless nights sat on the floor, watching my friends make Batman zip from rooftop to rooftop, enough so I associate the image of that parachute-like cape with calm and comfort, more like a weighted blanket than the caped crusader.
It’s probably a strange way for me to think of the game, (oh well, everyone has a strange coping mechanism or two, right Dent?), but it became a cornerstone piece of media during my formative years.
And hey, now I just have more excuses to think deeply and critically about Asylum with this video! Huzzah!
Watching through all this was a joy, and ending it by mentioning you're getting married this year made me so happy to hear. Congratulations! And another great video as always
As always, Monty comes back with some truly top tier content. Particularly enjoyed the reading from the comics.
Holy shit. I've never heard of that graphic novel, but two-face revealing the coin was actually scarred side up gave me legitimate chills.
Man, I really LOVE your critiques. I'm so grateful I stumbled upon your Bioshock breakdowns. Even though you started relatively recently, I find with the quality of your videos, you are way up there with the likes of The Salt Factory and Joseph Anderson. I really hope one day you will get similar numbers so you can keep growing and keep at it for years to come!
These Batman videos are AMAZING!!! It's genius going back and forth between comics and the game.
Pure brilliance and masterfully done! I found you by happenstance via youtube autoplay.
I fell asleep to other video essays and I woke up to yours!
So damn cool.
By the way, the footage that he’s using is from that remastered Batman, Arkham asylum return to Arkham. That is a lot brighter.
Batarangs are underrated with the combo upgrade. They're usage to knock down a goon that picked up a gun across the room is insurmountable. Also that and the batclaw are so good to use to set up a ground takedown to get points in the combat mode. Heck I even used the jell while fighting the titan in the sewer and for the joker boss fight by setting them at the spawns to buy me time for my hard mode playthrough. And the line launcher can be used to attack goons. Really good to knock them off of ledges
Quick fire triple batarangs and the triple bat claw are super useful in combat when used sparingly. Disagree that gadgets aren't effective, you just have to be really deliberate about your timing.
Also, another nice detail is on batman’s suit damage
The more the game goes, the more damage it gets
your critiques always make the game feel more an art than a technology, I love it!
Video games are inherently art.
Great video! Arkham Asylum is one of my all-time favorites. I'd never really thought about the clash between old vs new as a throughline in the game's story and world. But it seems obvious now that you laid it out. Thanks for that insight! Looking forward to your City and Knight critiques.
This one was really good, Monty. I can tell you came at this one from a place of heart.
Hyper sexualized Harley and Poison were PERFECT
Facts, and it’s not as if the men aren’t Sexualized either. They’re all Buff Action Figures. Better than Ugly Harley they got in SSKTJL.
@@Terminal_Apotos There's a difference between how a character looks physically and how they dress. If the men were sexualized just as much in this game, Batman would be baring midriff to show off his abs.
So I don't think anyone has ever mentioned this, but has it not been super obvious that Sharp was the "Spirit of Arkham?" His voice actor has the most recognizable voices ever. He voiced the beaver puppet from the Netflix "8 bucks a month" commericals, and was the narrator for the Star Wars Cartoons.
just finished up a Replay of Arkham City, i love how brutal the combat is in these games.
This is still my favourite Batman game. It's the most solid and focused of the Arlham series, and is easily the most replayable. I go back to this series every couple of years.
For me, this is the definitive Batman story. This is MY Batman.
And the fact that they leave much of the earlier stories open to interpretation means that the story can be whatever we want it to be.
Despite a lot of bloat, or monotonous chores, this series is a foundational one for me. I love the series, and Asylum is a great base to build from. Asylum has the bulk of my favorite dialogue, characterization (minus Riddler), and lore exposition (I wish they kept the comic book style of bios).
This is one of the best videos I've ever seen on it, mostly because of how you mixed in readings of the comic. Well done!
Side note: If you want to get elite at the seires' combat, I could teach you a thing or two.
I was sincerely worried people would hate the comic interludes. I still think they’ll end up being marmite as the video gains traction, but thank you for the kind words!
@@MontyZander Even if you couldn't come close to the voices I would have enjoyed the juxtaposition. But you also did a surprisingly good job with the voices.
FInally, another Monty video! And here I was, itching to hear your voice again that I started rewatching all of your video essays for the 4th time. Great video as always, I love hearing your interpretations and critiques. The side by side reading of the comic and the gameplay analysis was really cool and kept me interested and listening intently. That wheezy Joker laugh while you read the comic was fantastic, its exactly the kind of voice/laugh I'd expect from him just based on the visuals of the comic.
1:17:45 The Throne Joker is sitting on is made of broken mannequins. I can't say there are no skulls, but its mostly broken mannequins
1:16:20 One of my favourite details of Arkham Knight is the intro with ACE Chemicals feeling like one long repudiation of this attitude in Asylum and City, showing Batman mourning the dead facility personnel and promising to avenge them.
1:00:00 when speaking about your metroidvania test I would add that it must continually open the world. If used once and discarded, as far as exploration and 'world opening' goes, then I wouldn't count it personally.
In the artbook they talk about how the huge doors WERE a deliberate Artistic choice to highlight the verticality and abstract art style of the design
I feel like the comparison between the game and the actual comic that helped inspire it adds so much. It paints ckearly what The Arkham Asylum Batman mist be going through. He isnt doing this but is made to have to do it. The hesitance of the comic paints his rhoughts in game. The panic paints his resolution
Another fantastic critique of a beloved game. The amount of time and work you put into every video is amazing down to even the smallest details of the game. Thank you for all you do Monty and I am looking forward to all the future videos.
Getting a nagging feeling that Gotham Knights was just not that great of a game. Weird, not sure what could have given me that idea.
Also, that shot at Calisto Protocal's audio diaries was perfect!
Another absolutely fantastic video!!! I never had the chance to play these games back in the day, and it's fantastic to finally have some insight into the hype. As always, your insight is illuminating, and I love how you paired it with that particular story from the comics to really make the feel of what the story tried to say hit home. Thank you so much for the absurd amount of work and love you put into this!
I’ve been rewatching the animated series following the release of caped crusader and I’ve remembered one of the reasons btas is my favourite Batman, he never solved his parents murder, it was a random mugging wrong place wrong time and there was no evidence, he never solves it so he worked to make sure others aren’t in that position, there’s an episode focusing on joe chill and how the murder of the Wayne’s effects his life in the years that followed
Wait what’s the Joe chill episode ?
Arkham Asylum is one of my favourite games of all time for the atmosphere, aesthetic, and villains even if it has flaws. It helped me get into more Batman content including the comics referenced in the game. It’s extremely nostalgic for me along with the animated series from the 90’s. This was the best video I’ve seen on this game with so many details, some I never thought of like the colour palettes when villains are in control or the stiff plastic animation from mocap to add to the surrealism. You got a new subscriber!
I binged all of your retrospectives last month and I was so sad to be out of them. Nobody does this like you, combining gameplay critique with philosophy, politics, psychology etc. Im so so happy to have something new from you. I know it’s going to be amazing quality. Thank you for what you do!
The pacing of these videos is fantastic. So happy you don’t just recap the story, you really hit on all the elements of the game as they become the most relevant. Just a very smooth ride of a video!
Oh boy am I excited to lieten to this while I work on school. I want to say that I love these long form video essays especially your bioshock ones. They opened me up the political theories that I want to learn more about, a fine example of looking for gold and finding diamonds. I have feeling these arkham videos are gonna open me up to psychological stuff that's really interesting. Thank you so much for making these videos.
"Not just a batman but THE Batman." yea thats true. i really was a big Batman fan and just knew the movies and animated series but the Arkham series really made me one. the 3 arkhams really belong into my top 10 games of the last 20 years.
kingdom come deliverance is my no.1 ofc
I held the number one spot for one of the free flow combat mini games for years with a little over a hundred thousand points with second place being in the millions. I figured out that it was because I concluded all four rounds without getting hit and having completed them in one unending combo. After about five years, I was dethroned, and a friend of mine explained that that was probably someone cheating with a mod. Don't know if that's true, but it's my one brag that I have til this day...
Awesome video as always. Looking forward to your coverage of the rest of the series. I think it's interesting how Batmans charecter balance is mirrored by some of the difficulty of balancing superhero games. Batman is often seen as a more "dark" hero, and people can often have difficulty balancing that with him being a real hero. In games, playing Batman means wanting a power fantasy while also still wanting a challenging and satisfying game. Arkham Assylum does pretty well in both its characterization of Batman and balancing power fantasy with challenge.
This has been the 5th Independent Video Essay/Review of the Arkham Games/Series since 2020. _And I gotta admit, you're a very close Second to being the best I've seen._ Excellent work, I hope you happen to cover Arkham City in this style too. 👌
Good lord that reading of the comic was bloody brilliant
I’m guessing that you might do videos on the rest of the Arkham games in the future?
Also like usual your game analysis is amazing
Thanks so much! I think they’ll end up being marmite for viewers but I wanted to tell ASHOSE alongside the critique the second I started writing it
Definitely covering the others! Working on them as we speak
Please for the love of god, do the other games too please. This was phenomenal, I was not expecting a game analysis and a dramatic reading in the same video.
I love the way you broke up thos video with the comic. It makes it feel grand, more impactful. I always loved the idea of that comic and seeing it up against Arkham Asylum. Really hit.
You’re dead right for how much detail is sitting around. There were several parts of the game I kept scanning because I assumed that something with that much unique flavor had to be a riddle solution.
The first riddle regarding Warden Sharp and the portrait gets even better if you wait a little bit before scanning it and Nigma will start getting annoyed 😂
Loved this game. I always thought of it as Metal Gear Batman with Arkham taking the place of Shadow Moses. Even the Scarecrow's fuckery was on par with Psycho Mantis. One of my top 3 games ever.
Great video 🔥🔥
Wow, I've never actually seen Kevin Conroy's face, he looked a lot like Willem Dafoe, I need to check out his book
I really enjoyed this approach to a comic book game retrospective. It adds just that extra layer to see the comic source laid out next to its adaptation into a game
Love what you did jumping from arkham asylum to a serious house on serious earth that also happens to be on my top 3 batman stories
Excellent video on one of my favorite games.....gonna have to play it again now :) I like that you discussed the comic along side. Made for a bit of extra perspective.
I am impressed by your voices and narration of the graphic novel.. I've really enjoyed your content but was surprised by that.
Well done
This game and dark knight(Nolan) were the first time I was anticipating a batman project. I engaged with batman as a little kid but this game and Heath Ledger's portrayal were the first time I was excited.
My favourite game of all time, truly one of the greatest and most atmospheric works of art out there. I’ll always come back to this franchise and find myself 100% completing the games once again, I think we can all agree that wether suicide squad has a bad story or gameplay, it’s going to be packed with just as much care and love as every other arkhamverse game. That much is evident from the trailers, so many details to pick up on that you wouldn’t see on first glance. It’s my dream to work at Rocksteady one day, I love these games
Monty I cannot thank you enough for your amazing videos. The first things of yours I watched was your Bioshock Videos. You're Hollow Knight video is why I am currently on a two week binge of Hollow Knight playing for the first time and basking in the wonder of it all. So thank you so so so much I am excited to see what else you have in store for us.
25:19 Officer Balls
BWAAAHHH
Another banger, it's probably a ways off, but I'm excited for the Arkham Knight video. In my opinion, it's the best Arkham game, for how complete the power fantasy of being a fully-realized Batman is, and for how well it delves into the psychology of Batman and his fears.
LETS GO!!!! New Monty Critique and on one of my favorite series
Fantastic video. Including the comic as a parallel narrative really enriched it.
So happy to see a new video from you.
I binged all your work on this channel and what a masterclass!!!
Especially the bioshock series and hollow knight
🙌🙌🙌
I like your reading of the comic book throughout the video. It really sets the mood entertainingly. I hope your videos reach more audience.
So not to ruin any childhoods or anything, but every time I hear warden sharp speak all I can hear is Mr. Herriman from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and hearing Mr. Harriman talk about beating people to death and generally being a serial killer haunts me while simultaneously being hilarious.
There's a thought is it the same voice actor? If so it'll be hard to separate them going forward.
@@baki484so I looked it up. His names is Tom Kane and he is the voice of Mr. Harriman but funnily enough he’s also the voice of Professor Utonium and Darwin Thornberry so that’s something to think about
@@jeffreyrhodes326 he's got good range I never though it was him.
@@baki484 hearing warden sharp again now I can kinda hear professor Utonium but Darwin really threw me for a loop. The man’s got talent no doubt.