In Short
Arkham City is a more complete Batman experience, with abundantly more on offer than with Arkham Asylum. The game’s world is way larger than the previous game and Batman has a host of new side-missions scattered around the city. New gadgets have been introduced as well as enhanced new gameplay.
The package is again executed with such charm providing a slick, progressive, engaging and above all a riveting gaming experience.
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros.
For fans of: Everyone should try this one
Reviewed on: Xbox 360
Also available on: Playstation 3, PC coming soon
If we had to give it a numerical score: 9.8 out of 10
Overview
Arkham City picks up some months after the events of Arkham Asylum. The city is the security home for Gotham’s underworld. Quincy Sharp is the mayor and the sectioned-off area is run by Hugo Strange houses. The story is brand-new story and features many of the sinister characters that we have grown to love. Batman is again battling Joker and needs to ultimately find a cure for a virus that is being spread by Joker’s blood and that could ultimately kill batman. Along the way Batman will face most of the inglorious villains from the Batman series.
What I loved
- Epic story
- Gameplay is second to none
- Atmospheric
- Loads more to do thanks to side-mission
- Satisfying, stylish combat
- Art design
- Voice acting
Not so much
- I have seen better animations if I am being picky.
Gameplay and Features
Arkham City’s narrative is filled with sinister villains, but not all play major roles, some are just featured in side missions. Joker is again Batman’s foremost adversary while Penguin and Freeze are significant foes to. The villains are again brilliant and an important ingredient in what make’s Rocksteady’s Batman games so charming. Catwoman is now also a playable character in Arkham City courtesy of a free code included in new copies of the game (or you can purchase one online). Catwoman’s missions play out adjacent with Batman’s main one and provide a nice distraction, but she is merely a supporting player in this tale. Robin is also set to make his appearance as an add-on in future and before the game’s release Rocksteady revealed that you will be able to play through the entire game with Robin.
Arkham City is not only a larger gaming world, but is more open than its predecessor – you can stay on track with the storyline as your main quest or you can venture off in tons of the side missions. You are even able to take whatever route you want in the main quest – getting from A-B often has various routes across Arkham City. Exploring is paid off by finding training missions which unlock new skill-sets. Or you can get lost trying to find Riddler’s never-ending riddles scattered all over [and I need to emphasis ‘all over’] the city. If the fifteen or so hours of the main campaign and the dozens more for the collecting crazed isn’t enough, then ‘Game Plus’ mode is unlocked on completing the main campaign. This new mode is basically the game over on a ‘hardcore’ level. The puzzle-solving is imminently more difficult and the hints or notifications disappear making the brawling more challenging. Stealth takes centre-stage and so you will need to plan your attacks more carefully. You play through all the levels with everything unlocked this time around.
Just as Batman’s skill-sets were well suited to the modestly sized gaming world in Arkham Asylum, so too is the evolved skill-set on offer in Arkham City, a much larger gaming world. As you progress and earn XP, you will spend it on a variety of new skills or gadgets, from better grappling abilities thanks to the new grappling gadget to the improved soaring or swooping abilities. The new gadgets and abilities suit the evolved gameplay and the larger world that you will need to navigate around. The Dark Knight is a perfect candidate for gadgets, from his stealthy to detective ways – all so perfectly suited for all the toys. But it must be said though, Rocksteady managed to marry the gameplay with the new gadgets perfectly, providing even more ‘wow’ moments than with their first Batman instalment.
Another major highlight that Rocksteady introduced with the predecessor was the intuitive combat which is again an absolute joy and visually pleasing, more so than the predecessor. The combat progresses as you unlock new abilities or actions all in with the aim of stringing together multiple-hit combos. There are plenty of new moves throughout Batman’s generous arsenal of attack – plenty new eye-candy.
The gameplay in short is one of the major attractions to the Batman games from Rocksteady. It’s fresh, intuitive, engaging, easy on the eye and an absolute joy to play. The gameplay is a far cry from the norm and one of the major reasons that the series has won such a cult -like following and has been critically acclaimed.
Sound and Visuals
Another major reason the series has sprung to fame is the artistic design. There was nothing wrong with the gorgeous visual design with the predecessor that was true to its comic roots, and so Arkham City continues with the same design and presentation. The graphics are polished, filled with detailing or texture. The dark colour palette and clever use of lighting combined with the stunning design all create one of the most atmospheric gaming experiences with the well suited ‘dark’ theme that goes with the Dark Knight. The stars of the game look stunning with plenty of detailing making them stand out. The Unreal Engine was always going to be a perfect component with the general gritty look of Arkham City.
The voice acting and character design is top notch and all bear resemblance to their comic counterparts. The Sound echoes the visual quality of the game with the voice acting being amongst the very finest. Gamers will surely remember some of the more memorable lines delivered by Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the brilliant Joker and Steve Blum deliver many of the villains. The soundtrack and scoring elevates the mood in Arkham City and helps create the immersive atmosphere.
Conclusion
Arkham Asylum brought innovative gameplay to a stylish design and was rounded off by a gripping storyline which was further elevated by the memorable characters. So Arkham City had the full potential to be one of this year’s greatest gaming experiences.
What did surprise me was how much more Arkham City delivers – I applaud Rocksteady for not resting of their laurels with a stunning title and not just re-hashing a new plot and sending it out. Arkham City has evolved in all the major areas to deliver one of the most satisfying, engrossing, clever and most stylish titles that you will play not only this year, but this generation.
Another epic masterpiece from Rocksteady.
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