Batman has been doing a good job of delivering what seems to be an adult experience in Teen-level ratings these days. The Dark Knight was a sometimes-disturbing look into the world of Batman, with a now-iconic take on the sociopathic joker... that came with a PG-13 rating. Batman: Arkham Asylum likewise delivers a brutal fighting system and mature themes in a game that comes complete with a Teen rating. The demo for the title is out now—for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC—and it's pretty much your duty as a gamer to give it a go.

Batman has rarely been treated well in the gaming world, but Arkham Asylum strikes the player as a game that understands its characters. The Joker is never really locked up in Arkham, not really. It's simply a place where he is able to safely plan and scheme; what better place for the clown prince of crime than one where he is surrounded by his fellow criminals and mad men? Arkham Asylum points out that this is one of the few places that the Joker feels at home, and even in the introductory scenes Batman seems out of place and even somewhat awkward. The point is made: Batman is comfortable stopping the Joker's plots, but once he's apprehended there is no clear idea of what to do with him.

The characters are ably voiced by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, the men who brought both Batman and the Joker to life in the animated series, and the character design is a mix between what we're used to in the comics and what we've seen in the movies. Arkham Asylum shows an incredible amount of confidence; this is a game that isn't tied into any one version of the characters, but instead creates its own take. One look at Killer Croc will let you know that there may be some surprises ahead.

We've discussed the fighting system at length in the past, but in the context of the game itself, out of the Challenge Mode, it works just as well. It's not button-mashing, not exactly, but you'll have to pay attention to context and spacing much more than which button lands what attack. The demo gives you just enough time to try out the fighting, and then some of the swooping and hunting action, before booting you out. It's worth playing more than once simply to see more of the fighting animations—and they do look painful—or to take a few different approaches to hunting the Joker's henchmen in the one room where you're given more freedom to move.

There are some downsides to the demo. The environment seems sterile and somewhat unconnected to the characters inside it; there is very little environmental interaction other than the gargoyles that allow you to swing around near the ceiling. The voice actor who plays Commissioner Gordon is passable at best, and the difficulty level is pretty light. The camera can also be dizzying in places. That being said, it does exactly what it's supposed to do: introduce you to the game, get you comfortable with some of the mechanics, and leave you wanting more. If you're reading this from work, you now officially have something to look forward to when you get home.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is coming to the Xbox 360 and PS3 on August 25, and the PC version will be released on September 18. We played the demo on the Xbox 360.