Batman: Arkham City

I have a confession to make, I am Batman. While it may have been possible to dismiss my statement as the delusions and idle fantasies of an overweight and geeky fellow who is wearing a Batman t-shirt and a cardboard mask, that all changed when Rocksteady Studios released Batman: Arkham Asylum in late 2009. In fact, those that played it really became Batman.

It was a ground-breaking game, given the sobering reality that prior to Arkham Asylum, superhero video games used to have a very sordid reputation. Most were fun, but rarely captured the essence of their subject matter. In addition, they were generally dismissed as either being mediocre or absolutely terrible or uninspired movie tie-ins. Batman wasn't immune to this practice and in fact, the Dark Knight was amongst those superheroes who always seemed to struggle when it came to games. It wouldn't be untrue to say that most Batman games (except maybe 1989's Batman the Movie) were universally panned.

For the most part, every attempt to create a Batman game focused on all the wrong aspects of the Dark Knight, a bit like when Joel Schumacher became obsessed with Batman's nipples in Batman & Robin (but the less we say about that cinematic travesty the better). Regardless of the cynics and sceptics, Rocksteady changed all of that, and for the first time in videogame history, Batman wasn't just a curious guy, dressed in a funny suit that went around beating the snot out of criminals (and the mentally-ill), but you became Bruce Wayne of the comics. This video game version of Batman was truly a master tactician and super-sleuth (a detective of the calibre of Sherlock Holmes or an investigator with the resources and knowledge of Gil Grissom from CSI). It just so happens that he's also a skilled martial artist. It was a refreshing change of perspective that highlighted the major aspect that set Batman apart from other superheroes: he has the cerebral edge (and the fighting is secondary). Arkham Asylum was a phenomenal game that redefined what a Batman video game should be like.

Two years on, and the anticipation for a sequel was palpable. Rocksteady promised that Arkham City would be even grander and larger in scope than its predecessor, but the real questions remained - would it live up to the feverish expectations of the fans, and more importantly, can it unseat Arkham Asylum as the definitive Batman experience? This is generally where a game show host would throw in an advert break, while sheepishly smiling at the camera as a contestant nervously bites their fingernails, and as clichéd as it might be, that's actually what I'm going to do. The answers will come eventually, but for now, let's consider what Batman: Arkham City has to offer.

Arkham City takes place more than a year after the events of Arkham Asylum, however, in typical Batman fashion, something rotten is brewing in Gotham City. The former warden of Arkham, Quincy Sharp, has become mayor (presumably by taking credit for foiling the Joker's attempt to take over the asylum), and one of his first acts is to close both Arkham and Blackgate Penitentiary and to open a new facility that will house all the former inmates and patients of both. Sharp converts one of Gotham's slums into a massive open-air prison by enclosing it with imposing walls. In one foul move, Arkham City is born. This vast facility is placed under the curatorship of psychiatrist and evil genius, Professor Hugo Strange. For those who are not familiar with the Batman mythos, Hugo Strange is one of the few Batman villains who knows the true identity of Batman. A revelation that Strange exploits when he uses Arkham City's heavily-armed security force, Tyger Security, to capture and detain billionaire Bruce Wayne. It's on that spectacular note that Batman: Arkham City begins.

I won't spoil too much of the plot, but I will add that Paul Dini (who also wrote Arkham Asylum) does a sterling job. Where Arkham Asylum fitted a strong narrative within a confined space (the small and claustrophobic Arkham Island), its sequel has much bigger ambitions. Batman: Arkham City takes place in a portion of Gotham City that eclipses the former game in size but also provides a generous glimpse of the cityscape of Greater Gotham. The developers clearly did their homework since the imagery is straight out of DC comics, with inspiration clearly taken from the recent and older Batman movies. It's a tour de force that captures the stark realities of this crime-ridden city to perfection, however, it wouldn't be fair to diminish Rocksteady's vision either, because clearly after two games, they've put their distinctive stamp on Batman. Arkham City is surrounded by guard towers, spotlights and barbed wire, and the interior is equally grim, as Tyger Security choppers circle like vultures. It's a cold, dismal place that's covered in snow, sleet and frozen trash litters the streets. In this regard, Arkham City is just as much a character as the psychopaths Batman is forced to face.

And, what a terrible gang of psychopaths and sociopaths they are. Arkham City is literally littered with characters from the Batman universe, and for a brief second it almost feels reminiscent of the powerful Knightfall story arc in the comics of nearly two decades ago (where Batman was forced to capture all the inmates of Arkham Asylum, while Bane, the Titan-enhanced genius plotted his demise). There are cameos throughout the game. Some characters are tied strongly with the main narrative, while others have their own mini-stories for Batman to explore. It's easy to get lost because it can get convoluted, however, even a minor Batman villain is expertly portrayed.

In that regard, Arkham City absolutely shines, because not only is the characterisation of Batman spot on, but so too are his enemies. For instance, his arch-nemesis, the Joker, returns with a vengeance. It's sometimes hard to imagine that the face of Luke Skywalker could ever be such a striking Joker, and that's exactly what actor Mark Hamill has achieved, and it's not just Hamill that produces an Oscar worthy performance. Kevin Conroy continues in fine form as the Dark Knight, but it shouldn't come as any surprise since he has been the voice of Batman in animated shows and movies for decades. Also, voice acting superstar Nolan North flexes his vocal muscles and sails on uncharted waters as the utterly despicable Penguin. But there's one actor who literally gave me goosebumps and that's Danny Jacobs as the serial killer, Victor Zsasz. Zsasz is a minor Batman villain, but Jacobs gives him such a memorable and creepy presence, that for days after you've played the game, you'll be cautious of answering the phone. It doesn't just stop with these four, because the voice acting is especially exceptional, and every single character benefits from it.

While I could easily write another few paragraphs on the voice actors or even Ron Fish and Nick Arundel's haunting score, what ultimately matters for Arkham City is whether it's a fun game to play, and crucially that the gameplay mechanics are solid. Arkham City resembles a sandbox game, however, it's not entirely an open-world game. The vast size of the prison city may house side missions, Riddler challenges, and even allow you the freedom to glide above the skyline, or use Batman's grapple gun between buildings, but ultimately the cityscape acts more like a vast conduit that allows transit between primary objectives. It's not as constrictive as LA Noir, but it's certainly not as unfocused or free as Saints Row, Just Cause 2 or Grand Theft Auto 4. However, there are treasure troves galore, and fans of Batman lore will love the subtle references, collectables, side-quests and objects (Riddler trophies) that are littered throughout the game.

Ultimately, it's all about Batman, and the game does not disappoint. While there could be more emphasis on Batman the detective, the Cape Crusader does show off the size of his noggin through limited use of the detective mode, but in the end, Batman: Arkham City focuses strongly on combat and stealth. Arkham City employs an improved version of the combat system from Arkham Asylum, and while it would be easy to dismiss it as overly simplistic (since basic combat relies on only three buttons: counter-attack, attack and evade), a far more accurate assessment would be that the combat is easy to get into, but difficult to master. It's a fighting system that works perfectly because after all Batman is a skilled martial-artist that specialises in fighting groups, and few can stand toe-to-toe with him. However, the Dark Knight is not invulnerable. There are many tricks up Batman's sleeves, and it's even possible to unlock a way to use a bat-claw to disarm a gun-wielding brute, or to effectively use explosive goo during a fight. You can even stun enemies with electrical discharges or a well-aimed batarang. There's even a countering system for knife attacks, which relies on quick timing. The variety is staggering, yet it allows fights to flow seamlessly. As the game progresses, it becomes paramount to be mindful of your attacks, especially when faced with different kinds of enemies, particularly those who wear body armour or carry riot shields, automatic rifles, knives or electrified batons (stun sticks). Therein lies the true beauty of the free-flow combat system. You can play it safe, and only stick to the most basic recipe of attack-and-countering, but the real fun comes in when you incorporate Batman's arsenal of gadgets into your attacks, or even some of his more vicious bone crushing finishing (yet obviously non-lethal) moves.

Beyond the main campaign, Challenge maps and rooms make a welcomed return, and are accessible through the main menu. The rooms are similar to the Challenge mode found in Arkham Asylum, and yet again allows you to fine tune your battle strategies. There are two clearly defined room options: Battle mode and Predator mode. In Battle mode, you face a group of enemies in combat. There are generally three rounds, and the goal is to post a formidable high score on the leaderboards. Predator mode sees Batman using stealth, his wits and gadgets to outsmart and subdue a room full of extremely well-armed criminals. It's also possible to add modifiers to the latter mode, upping the ante with time limits or a rapidly depleting health bar. Incidentally, some of the more difficult Challenge maps can only be unlocked by finding Riddler trophies in Campaign mode.

Controversially, Arkham City makes ample use of downloadable content (DLC), and as of writing, both the Catwoman and Nightwing DLC packs have been released on Xbox LIVE, with the Robin DLC pack expected soon. However, for those with newly-bought copies of Arkham City, Catwoman comes free of charge, and at only 200MB provides a storyline that compliments the main campaign in Arkham City. It even intersects at specific plot points, and although not crucial, does tie up a few loose ends as Selina Kyle battles Two Face and tries to steal a few items from Prof. Strange's vaults. My only gripe is that the Catwoman sections could have been left on the disk, or even expanded on, because quite frankly, there just isn't enough Selina Kyle in this game.

In terms of combat, the agile and sexy Catwoman relies less on gadgets and has a far more acrobatic fighting style to Batman. However, if necessary, she can use a whip, bolas, caltrops and even her claws to rip her enemies to shreds. In addition, she can reach areas that are inaccessible to the bulkier Batman (and why wouldn't she? She's Gotham's greatest cat burglar). The Nightwing DLC adds a playable Dick Grayson, but only within the Challenge Rooms modes. Nightwing shares some similarities with Batman, however, his fighting style is influenced by the traditional Filipino martial arts, eskrima, and he can readily use his fighting sticks to devastating effect.

To answer the question I posed earlier, Batman: Arkham City is undeniably the definitive Batman experience. It's a game that literally demands that you do multiple playthroughs, and as a fan of the Bat, it has left me with a toothy grin from ear to ear.

P.S. Once you've finished the main campaign it's possible to switch between Batman and Catwoman (provided you have the DLC of course) and finish any incomplete side quests you may have left over or attempt to solve some of the more challenging tasks laid down by Riddler.

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