LogFAQs > #909800258

If I remember right, the only gadgets you can use in combat in Asylum are the batarangs and batclaw. Using other gadgets in combat, like the batgel, wasn't added until City.

The batarang is pretty useless in combat until you get it leveled up so that you can throw 3 batarangs at the same time and also get the ability to knock people down with the batarangs when you have a combo going.

Combat in the Arkham series is kind of defensive in nature. It's better to counterattack rather than to directly attack. Rather than doing a direct counterattack with the counterattack button, it is actually better to use the move that flips Batman over an enemy. That is one of the best moves, and you should be doing it frequently. Flip over an enemy and then hit him in the back. You want to keep your combo going since you move faster and hit harder when you get the combo high enough. I think there is even an achievement that is unlocked by getting an 80+ hit combo. You will really feel like a badass when you get good enough to get that high of a combo.