In a crude sense, Arkham Asylum could be called a metroidvania. It was a place where nightmares are locked away."
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"When I saw the first illustrations of Arkham Asylum for the game with the rotting weeds and the statues and crumbling brick work and the full moon over it-I just knew it was perfect because it was both of our world and not of our world. "To some degree I don't think Batman works in a completely modern city I think Gotham has to be reflective of his personality and those of his enemies," Dini says. In an interview with The Telegraph, writer Paul Dini notes how Rocksteady's own London influence played a part in making a "uniquely British" Batman. Modern technology is bolted onto the old. Arkham Asylum's halls are imposing, stretching to uncomfortable lengths, beset by gothic architecture. The world of Arkham Asylum was grim, but not without charm. In an interview with Engadget, lead narrative designer Paul Crocker says it helped to keep the focus not on previous Batman installments or comics, but the core of the character: "We started by focusing on: Who is Batman? What is Batman? What does Batman bring to a game?" Batman is the one trapped inside the Asylum, tasked with re-jailing some of his great nemeses in a single night. He's brought into Arkham when, in a span of minutes, the tables have turned and the inmates are loose.
In just the opening minutes, the tone is set. It felt like a greatest hits of Batman, bringing in an entire rogue's gallery headlined by, of course, the Joker. This wasn't a licensed film-game or crossover. With a touch of inspiration from the grittiness of the Christopher Nolan films and a cast backed by the critically acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series' leads, Arkham Asylum was both a collage of Batman's past and something new entirely. Ten years ago yesterday, Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum changed all that. The caped crusader was often limited to beat 'em ups more in the vein of the Adam West games than anything capturing his terrifying demeanor, detective work, or inner demons. Batman, most of all, saw the short end of the stick. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was still in its nascent stages, and gems like Spider-Man 2 were diamonds in the rough. The superhero game concept seemed a lost cause before Batman: Arkham Asylum.