Product Features

Genre: Action and Shooter
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Release Date: November 25, 2011
Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3

Batman: Arkham City

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Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City, the new maximum security "home" for all of Gotham City's thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight. Batman Arkham City is the follow-up to the award-winning hit video game Batman Arkham Asylum and delivers an authentic and gritty Batman experience...

Dave Wallace February 24, 2012 PS3

****

There was a time, long ago, when you could pretty much guarantee that any officially licensed game would turn out to be a sub-par offering. You'd occasionally get the odd gem - the Marvel characters showing up in the 'Marvel vs. Capcom' series, for example, or the James Bond 'Goldeneye' game on the N64 - but for the most part, there was a general sense that games developers would see a high-profile license as an excuse to skimp on actually putting together a decent game.

With the appearance of 'Batman: Arkham Asylum' in 2009, that perception changed. Arkham Asylum won over legions of fans by making them feel as though they had really been put in the shoes of Batman, called upon to fight a prison riot at a facility filled with many of his deadliest foes. As one of that year's biggest-selling and most critically-acclaimed games, it was inevitable that a sequel would soon appear - but even Arkham Asylum's most ardent fans wouldn't have dared to dream that the follow-up would be as good as Arkham City.

In the best sequel tradition, Arkham City takes everything that was great about the original game and amps it up. So, Batman has to go up against more enemies; he's facing a bigger threat; he's armed with even more gadgets than before; and the world of the game is dramatically bigger than the confines of the small island that provided the setting for the first instalment.

It's this final element which is the most striking aspect of Arkham City. Whilst the play area is still limited to an extent (explained in-game by the fact that uber-villain Hugo Strange has cordoned off an entire district of Gotham, turning it into a high-security prison for all of the City's most loathsome inhabitants), it's so extensive that it feels as though you could carry on exploring it forever. And not only is it big, but it's clearly been thoughtfully-designed down to the last pixel.

Whole areas of town are themed after different Batman villains depending on which one of them controls the gangs in that zone. This means that what could have otherwise been dull, uniform streets and buildings are given a real sense of individuality and character, providing variety and also making it a little easier to navigate around such a huge sandbox.

Whilst there's a strong central plot to the game - which manages to pull in just about every Batman villain you could think of, as well as several supporting characters who assist the caped crusader - there are also plenty of side-missions that provide a bit of a change of pace, as well as a pleasant distraction if you're getting a bit bogged down with a challenging section of the main story. These secondary tasks are as varied as chasing down a serial killer through the phone network, uncovering the mystery of an enigmatic interloper who watches you from afar, and - of course - working out all the puzzles set by the Riddler, who plays a similarly removed role here as he did in the first game.

But, as with Arkham Asylum, it's the sheer sense of 'being Batman' that is this game's real selling point. With the freedom to roam wherever you want, using whatever gadgets you want (unusually, you start this game with virtually every toy that you had at the end of the last, with no need to earn them all over again), and deploying all sorts of secretive strategies and dastardly detective skills to see off the bad guys, the game establishes itself as simply the best 'superhero simulator' that the gaming world has ever seen. Even the fast-paced combat is rendered accessible through a control system that's simple enough to get the hang of easily, but complex enough (in terms of precise timings and special move combinations) that it'll take a long time to master.

Alongside a well-written plot and dialogue (written by comics and TV scribe Paul Dini), some characterful vocal performances (Mark Hamill once again reprises his unparalleled take on the Joker, whilst fan-favourite Kevin Conroy once again lends his voice to Batman), and some truly epic challenges, this is not only the best Batman game ever made, and not only the best superhero game on the market, but is also one of the best games outright to have hit any system in recent years. If you haven't played it yet, you're really missing out.