‘Welcome to hell Brucey-boy!’ – Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin
Console: Xbox 360/ PlayStation 3/ PC / Wii U* (*2012 release)
Players: Single Player
Release Date: 21st October 2011
Developers: Rocksteady Studios
Publishers: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Genre: Action Adventure
Price: €54.99*
It wasn’t exactly a tough choice…we could have eaten like a King for a week or we could buy Batman: Arkham City! So it’s now after nearly 24hours of play do we find ourselves on the Batman diet and it’s so worth it! Batman is back in the latest instalment in the Arkham series and we could not be happier. The direct sequel to the award winning and revolutionising Arkham Asylum, Arkham City throws us right back into the action only now with some updates, new plot, foes but the same old Batman that we love!
The game does its best to make you love it and we have got to admit that right from their start they knew how to play our emotions. The game opens with some of Two Faces thugs (one of whom some Gears of War fans may find sounds similar to another tough brute!) checking out a hidden vault when their party is gate crashed by none other than the deadly Catwoman – instantly thrust into combat it’s obvious how much improvement Rocksteady have done on an already well built fighting system. Combat feels like pure liquid gliding blows and kicks from one guy’s chest cavity to another’s jaw, countering and dodging only to flow right into another powerful blow.
We’re somewhat in love with Ms. Kyle so this was a fantastic treat for us and only wet our appetite for her side story even more.
In another part of Gotham Bruce Wayne is holding a rally against the occupation of Arkham City in the heart of Gotham but his protest is quickly shut down and Wayne finds himself carted off inside under the instruction of Dr. Hugo Strange, the man running the City of thieves and criminals.
Strange reveals he knows Batman and Wayne are one and the same, he informs Bruce of his intentions to carry out ‘Protocol 10’ and any attempts to do so will force Strange to reveal the secret. Now locked inside Arkham City amongst some of Gotham’s most treacherous villains Batman must uncover the Doctors plan and put a stop to it!
Arkham City is…look let’s be perfectly frank here…there is very little to nothing that we can say about this game to cast it in a negative light. Rocksteady have without a doubt outdone themselves and Arkham City is a close to perfect as a video game can get! Instantly you will find yourself immersed in the world of Arkham and despite the gadgets and fighting prowess, it is not something you can just breeze through. The game offers you multiple ways of engaging enemies from tactile takedowns to all out brawling in the streets; you decide how you wish to play your Batman.
Playability is much the same as Arkham Asylum so players of the previous game should find it a lot handier to ease into the controls again but for any first times you won’t find a better system or handling out there at the moment. As we already mentioned the combat system is a dream come through and while we will take some of our enemies out with some strategy there is nothing like diving into a gang fight head first and coming out with some bloody knuckles and the victor.
Visually the game is like dessert for your eyes – the dank and dangerous streets of Arkham City only pull you in further and the cut scenes are fantastic with perfectly timed emotive response and facial reactions from characters. Speaking of the characters the voice actors need a mention here Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Troy Baker, Tara Strong and the rest of the cast of heroes, anti-heroes and villains bring the game to life. In particular Hamill and Conroy bring their chemistry from the original Batman: The Animated series back almost 16 years after the show ended, their interactions are a welcome wave of nostalgia and goosebumps!
Batman has at his disposable a nifty arsenal of gadgets from smoke pellets to batarangs, the bat claw to cryptographer. The game carries over a lot of the same system from Asylum, defeating enemies earns you experience which will allow you to level up and upgrade your abilities and your batsuit.
Detective mode is back and while the mode had its uses it feels and looks so much better now and you will find yourself being forced to use the mode to solve and uncover forensic evidence as well as scouting out enemies and monitoring their conditions and surroundings.
For fans of the Riddler and his puzzles from the first game we’re glad to let you know Nigma is back and his riddles require a little more thinking than in Asylum.
Sister is doing it for herself! Catwoman has her own side story and missions to complete!
Nightwing and Robin also make an appearance in the game but the real treat for us has been the opportunity to don the catsuit and crack the whip. Move over Batman, Catwoman is here to sort out Arkham City and try make something out of it for herself too of course! However not everyone is happy about Catwoman and the other ladies in Arkham City with some people going so far as to say the game portrays women negatively and is even sexist… well clearly these people don’t know how to read between the lines. The women of Arkham City are just as deadly as their male counterparts and while they have their feminine wiles ready to use, seduce and charm they are not above clenching their fists, loading their bazookas and growing deadly plant life – the ladies of Gotham City can give just as good as they get and we welcome them aboard, curves, claws and all!
Harley Quinn stands up to Batman hoping her Mr. J is watching!
Arkham City is quickly climbing to the top of our favourite games pile and it has done its predecessor proud both in terms of playability and story. To Rocksteady Studios we’d actually like to congratulate you on your success and commend you for your hard work, it has truly paid off! If you haven’t already got yourself a copy of Arkham City then finish reading this review and then go get one – you will not be disappointed!
Good Points
Everything!
Bad Points
Still trying to find some!
Rating
95/100 (Only because it needs MORE Catwoman!)
Come to kitty…
