Many of the defining features of Batman: Arkham Asylum can be wrapped up into a single word: Atmosphere. Every aspect of this game and it\’s setting is dripping with the look and feel of Batman. The way the combat flows makes you feel like the Dark Knight tearing through groups of enemies, using detective mode to investigate clues and solve Riddler puzzles, picking off enemies one at a time from the shadows and using fear as one of your weapons to take out the rest.
Let\’s get into the campaign! The story of Arkham Asylum begins with Batman speeding his way towards the asylum with Joker in tow, dazed and defeated. Handing him over to the authorities within the asylum, Batman remarks about how this all seemed too easy. Well, surprise surprise, he\’s right! Joker wanted you to put him in the asylum and he breaks free in typical Joker fashion and immediately sets about taking over the asylum. Pretty soon the asylum is plunged into chaos and Batman must make his way through many of his major enemies (Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Bane, etc.) and stop Joker from unleashing his plan on all of Gotham. The story is really fun and intriguing and keeps you engaged through the combat and detective portions of the game, though honestly the main story is not the highlight of the game. As I said before it feels like a story straight from the comics, meaning it doesn\’t feel exactly new or refreshing. It\’s like a comfort food version of a story, nothing new or crazy, but still really good. Later games in this series really challenge the main character and demonstrate the interesting relationship Batman shares with the Joker. But this one was more than likely a story written around the setting, which still allows it to shine. But once again, it really is a well polished, albeit simple story.
The game play of Arkham Asylum is really where everything comes together. Detective mode is an interesting feature in the game that puts you kind of inside the cowl and lets you see through the night vision/thermal vision eyes of Batman. You use this mode primarily swinging from ledge to ledge and taking out inmates of the asylum as quickly and quietly as possible. The combat of the game is really my favorite part, completing nearly all of the optional combat challenges. I was always perhaps way too excited whenever a cut scene ended and just started dumping enemy after enemy into a room for me to knock the crap out of them. I know I\’ve been talking a lot about how this game makes you feel like Batman, but the developers obviously put a great deal of time and effort into perfecting this game play that truly puts you in his (rubber?) boots.
The Glenfiddich 14 year single malt is as equally well-rounded and impressive as Batman: Arkham Asylum. This particular scotch is made using ex-bourbon barrels and as such you get some of the sweeter, caramel type flavor that you find in bourbons. It also has nice fruity notes with some vanilla in the finish and there is some mild spice as well. The finish is very clean and smooth, not much peaty flavor to speak of but that is more typical of highland scotches. Overall I think of it is a great scotch that is very well rounded and has obviously had a great deal of care and attention put into it, just like Arkham Asylum. Both Glenfiddich 14 and Arkham Asylum are very well made and give you a kind of comfort food experience that I would happily recommend! As always, please leave a comment, subscribe to receive notifications, and share with your friends!
Story Mode Scotch 