Batman: Arkham Asylum is justifiably the most revered comic hero game ever made. It may have seemed far fetched to think that Rocksteady studios could outdo their first outing with the Bat, but they managed to do it in every single way. Batman: Arkham City is not just a good game, it is a fantastic game. Batman is a character that appeals to more than just comic fans, as he carries with him a multitude of admirable qualities for a superhero. He has easily the most robust list of rogue enemies, he's not a superhero in the traditional sense; making him more relatable to the rest of us super-powerless humans, he has an arsenal of high-tech equipment and wonderful toys, and when it really comes down to it, his dark demeanor and brutal tactics to intimidate his foes flesh out an individual that stands out from the usual hero crowd. He's possibly the most accepted cultural comic character; having a myriad of success in graphic novels, television, films, and video games. Batman: Arkham City could arguably be the finest experience with the Dark Knight yet. For those not interested in comic book characters, the game alone stands out as an incredibly well made undertaking.
You don't necessarily need to be a fan of the source material to enjoy one of the best made games of not only 2011, but in gaming history. Arkham City is not perfect by any means, but the pros outweigh the cons substantially. There are several villains in the game, but some of the more popular ones are not done justice. A few of them felt like they were just thrown into the game just to be there, while others stand out as the best interpretations of the character in any medium. Rocksteady didn't roll over after the success of Arkham Asylum and instead created a game that is five times larger; contains more villains, cameos, gadgets, animations, playable characters, challenges, and side quests; and even manages to craft an even more enthralling narrative than its predecessor. Arkham City begins 18 months after Arkham Asylum with Batman infiltrating a section of Gotham that has been branched off and made home to the city's most notorious villains and their gangs, the criminally insane, as well as the depraved and politically imprisoned. This is all made possible under the tutelage of Arkham psychiatrist Professor Hugo Strange, who has carefully manipulated his way into power. Strange also just happens to contain Batman's greatest secret, making him a greater threat than even the more vile of the Bat's rogues gallery. Thus begins another unpleasant night for the Caped Crusader in which he must traverse the new criminal city while crossing its deadly inhabitants and also getting to the bottom of Strange's plans.
Added to the mix is Catwoman, which players will control for about 10% of the game in four separate missions interwoven within the narrative. It can't be stressed enough how engrossing the story is, written once again by the award winning Paul Dini. From the surprising opening to the cataclysmic ending, Arkham City will keep you glued to your controller as the events unfold. The game's plot can be concluded somewhere between 15-20 hours with at least an additional 15-20 hours in side quests, individual combat and stealth maps, and 400 collectable and hidden Riddler challenges. Throw in a more difficult New Game Plus mode after completing the story, an open world littered with an abundance of criminals to beat down until your heart is content, and you have a medley of gameplay teaming with replay value. Batman's mechanics aren't changed much from Arkham Asylum. He still walks a little stiff, but the incredibly brutal combat system returns with even more animations, takedowns, and equipment to dispose of your threats in ways that are undeniably Batman. Imagine yourself surrounded by 10-15 thugs and simultaneously incapacitating each with heavy blows, acrobatics, counter attacks, and an arsenal of bat gadgets without taking a single hit. This is all possible in Arkham City. Stealth gameplay known as Predator Combat returns and is utilized less efficiently the second time around, and will require more careful planning to clear a room of armed thugs.
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