Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3)

The premise is that the Joker has taken over Gotham's premier lunatic asylum, freeing the inmates and trapping Bats and Commissioner Gordon along with assorted guards, doctors and other staff.

It's down to Batman to save the day, doling out a touch of his own brand of justice to the Joker's goons along the way.

A host of Gotham's best-known villains pop up to torment the Dark Knight - a certain Dr Jonathan Crane provides some genuinely terrifying and uniquely mind-bending moments while The Riddler has scattered a series of conundrums around the asylum and its grounds, ranging in difficulty from fiendish to head-slappingly easy.

There's a good balance between action and detective work; you'll be using hand-to-hand combat or grabbing a villain while hanging from a gargoyle one minute and following clues such as blood trails the next.

Former Jedi Mark Hamill has portrayed the Joker in the animated version of Batman for years and gives a marvellously unhinged performance as the Clown Prince of Crime. He is joined by other veterans of the cartoon tales, including Kevin Conroy as Batman.

The gothic visuals look great and the game play is compelling; it's easy to lose several hours after sitting down for a 30-minute session.

Whether you are a devotee of Bob Kane's brooding hero or someone who enjoys excellent video games but couldn't tell Harley Quinn from Harley Davidson, you'll have a blast.