Ever since word that a sequel to the acclaimed
Batman: Arkham Asylum was in the works, fans of Batman - and the original game - have wondered exactly how Rocksteady Studios might be able to top the success, level of detail, playability and sheer brilliance of the original game.
Well, now we know.
Batman: Arkham City is a worthy Game of the Year candidate and is one of the best games ever released on the Xbox 360.
The storyline is relatively simple, and carries on from the first game (though you don't have to have played the first game to be able to easily pick things up).
Quincy Sharp, Gotham City's new mayor, has used the events of the first game to convince the public that a high-security mega-prison in the centre of Gotham is a good idea.
To that end he walls off a section of the city to create Arkham City, and he puts mysterious, and seemingly sinister, Dr Hugo Strange in charge.
Very quickly it becomes clear that Dr Strange is more than happy to run the prison as a quasi-gulag, imprisoning all sorts of people, including those who could oppose him.
In fact, there is only one rule - don't try to escape. And whatever happens inside Arkham City, goes, including violent gang warfare led by a rogue's gallery of villians, and brutal punishments for those who transgress or get on Dr Strange's wrong side.
The goings-on attract the attention of Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego, who, in a memorable opening sequence, speaks out publicly against Arkham City before his press conference is raided by storm-troopers and he himself is taken away to be interrogated by Dr Strange.
Dr Strange, knowing that Wayne is Batman, and knowing that Wayne/Batman is/are the only people with the power and ability to stop some secret plans he has in place, decides to lock him away in Arkham City as well.
However, in a continuation of that opening sequence, Wayne breaks free, taking vengeance on his oppressors and donning on his Batsuit in order to get to the bottom of what is happening inside Arkham City.
And there is plenty happening - as well as Dr Strange's secret plans, there are gangs led by everyone from the Penguin to Two-Face, as well as independent characters like Mr Freeze who pose further threats to Batman.
Add to that the fact the Caped Crusader's arch-nemesis The Joker remains alive and unwell (after the conclusion to
Arkham Asylum) inside the City's walls, the Riddler has been up to his old puzzle-based tricks and that Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) is prowling around, and you have a full board of characters to enjoy.
And there's plenty of space in which to enjoy them.
Gameplay/environment: Rocksteady have done a tremendous job on Arkham City's environs.
Many times bigger than the original Asylum, Gotham has been lovingingly recreated in its full, gritty, grotty, grimy brilliance.
Standing atop the Ace Chemicals building after escaping in the opening sequence, it is just a sheer joy to gaze across the environment, watching the light snow fall and the blinking neon lights.
Taking to the air and simply gliding around only adds to this joy.
Truly this is a beautiful, beautiful game.
For those familiar with
Arkham Asylum, the game play and fighting mechanics remain pretty much unaltered. One positive is that Batman has his "toys" - Batclaw, Batgel, Batarangs, etc - from the start, meaning they can be used in fights pretty much straight away, as well as in helping you get around Arkham City.
The ability to glide from a high point (and there are plenty of high points in
Arkham City - this game is much more "vertical" than its predecessor), grapple to another building and launch into the air again is wonderful, with mechanics as smooth as silk.
The game rewards, in equal parts, combat/brawling ability, detective work (as you would expect with Batman) and the Caped Crusader's legendary silent predator ability.
All will be called on throughout the game, and there are few things more satisfying than taking down enemies in a spectacularly sneaky way while hanging upside down from a vantage point or by simply belting the crud out of them in a brawl.
The Freeflow fighting was perhaps one of the great highlights of
Arkham Asylum, and it is back even better than ever in
Arkham City. I found myself purposely seeking out groups of enemy thugs just so I could bash the suitcase out of them, stringing move after move together and literally flowing from one thug to the next.
Oh, you can almost feel the thuds as the punches and kicks land, and you can almost see Batman crack his knuckles in satisfaction once the fight is done and as he stands, surveying the battered and bruised bodies of his foes.
The beautiful fighting mechanic also serves as a great way to earn XP, rank up and gain extra skills, abilities and "toys".
The storylines are multiple and massive. You have your main missions, as well as all manner of side missions starring a huge number of Batman's enemies. In one side mission you might be forced to work in uneasy alliance with the massive Bane, in another you might be set tasks by the tragic Mr Freeze.
You'll answer ringing phones all around Arkham City to try and catch a psychopath, and of course there are the hundreds of question marks laid out by the Riddler - each its own challenge and each unlocking experience and challenge rooms for players to enjoy outside the main game itself.
Of course you'll come face to face with famous enemies like Two-Face, the Penguin, Harley Quinn ("Hi there B-Man"!) and his great arch-nemesis, the Joker. And in the background stands the brutal and sinister Dr Strange and his plans.
Seriously, there is enough packed into Arkham City to fill 3 or 4 games. Everywhere you turn there is something to do or something to see. And sometimes the truly unexpected does occur - who is that character following Batman around, watching him, measuring his efforts and leaving strange symbols atop buildings?
The good thing is that the in-game map, menu system and "Bat Computer" are well laid out, clear and hugely helpful in tracking your XP, abilities, challenges, missions and whatever else you might be doing.
Finally, voice acting in the game is again great - Mark Hamill's increasingly manky-looking Joker remains a highlight and Kevin Conroy is great as Batman.
Special mentions to Maurice LaMarche as the beautifully tragic Mr Freeze, Corey Burton as the menacing Hugo Strange, Wally Wingert as the Riddler and Nolan North as The Penguin.
Extras:It would be remiss not to mention the extras this game features.
The challenge rooms are back, unlockable by solving Riddler riddles and are bigger, better and badder than ever before.
Predator challenge rooms see you test your stealth ability as Batman or Catwoman (more on her in a second), knocking out enemies quietly and without being detected.
Combat challenge rooms are like a Fight Club on steroids. Successive waves and rounds of enemies attack Batman or Catwoman and you deal with them (and despatch them) by stringing together chains of moves. Your score multiplies the longer your chain goes - and if you complete rounds flawlessly, another bonus awaits.
These rooms are wonderful diversions to the main game, as well as a great way to swot up on your fighting and sneaking abilities.
Catwoman is a playable character (with DLC) who has her own small storyline in game, and can be used on these maps. She plays differently to Batman, hitting more lightly but being more agile and having a large whip at her disposal.
Again, great fun.
Achievements:This isn't a quick 1000. Very simply you're looking at multiple playthroughs here.
One great addition in
Arkham City is Game+, where, after your first playthrough, you play through the storyline again with all your weapons and abilities intact against a tougher batch of enemies.
A number of achievements will come in the course of main and side missions. Others are going to take time.
The Riddler challenges (and hostage rescues) will take a lot of time to complete, while there is one achievement linked to The Calendar Man which involves either playing the game on certain dates across a whole year or manipulating your console off-line to alter the date.
Then of course there's the challenge rooms and the medal requirements they have for players to earn achievements.
People will definitely have to earn their 1000 (or more, depending on DLC) points here.
Summing Up:Arkham City is bigger, better and more beautiful than
Arkham Asylum, and Rocksteady should be congratulated on the work they have done to improve on the original.
My suggestion - after you've done the first couple of missions, take some time to travel to Park Row and Crime Alley (just below the words "Restricted Area" on the map, and slightly north-west of the restricted area itself).
Look down on the alley and you'll see two chalk outlines, a single rose and a package.
Descend and walk over to the rose - you will be prompted to pay your respects, as of course this is where Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered many years ago.
Kneel and pay your respects - not only as Batman/Wayne to his parents, but to Rocksteady for such a beautiful game. (And as a bonus, you'll get the Pay Your Respects achievement after you kneel, in silence, for a minute).
Then, listen to the tape nearby from Dr Strange and revel in its simple, menacing, lyrical beauty.
5.0