Now this is more like it. A leap from its predecessor in every way, but also a beautifully realized game in general too. With an unforgettable introduction as Hugo Strange's voice looms “Wake up Mr. Wayne we have much to discuss” in full knowledge of Batman’s identity, Arkham City commences right in the heat of tension with Wayne taken by mercenaries as he voices political aspirations and forced to escape prison. Once he does, enter the Batman.
An urgency beats here throughout, whether it be the rampant criminal activity or the consistently moving pace, there’s almost never a moment to breathe in between the main events and it works so well as it communicates the rapid pace of Gotham’s decline. Gotham City’s darkness has never felt more immersive. The corruption is so evident from its gleamingly superficial towers to the abundance of rotting filth that corrodes on the surface. Atmosphere oozes throughout as you grapple and glide with Batman, taking in all of the game’s mesmerizing scope and carefully planning takedown’s on the overflowing scum. It’s truly evident how much the Gotham has been eviscerated by their activity and that turmoil combined with the constant surveillance of inmates’ voices that summarise the Batman’s presence make this one of the liveliest locations I’ve encountered in a video game. The visual palette is also exactly what I’d always wanted to see Gotham envisioned as and that was so satisfying to experience.
This is hands down the best I’ve seen Batman. His meticulous detective work is on full display but also a real ferocity to his determination. One of my big flaws with Arkham Asylum is that Batman lacked a real personality, but here its clarity is painful as Batman battles with illness to uphold his conflicting morals. It’s a testament to Kevin Conroy’s brilliant voice acting in how effectively his consistent struggle is evoked.
But perhaps even more impressive is how so many villains from the lore of Batman are integrated here to create a story that functions as a fantastic balance of realism and the supernatural. As Hugo Strange's threat overarches throughout in the ambiance, a taste of the Joker (Mark Hamill MVP always), Two-Face, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and Ra’s Al Ghoul just reveal the extent of Gotham’s villainous network in the most memorable way. Their locations just match that perfectly too. I loved traversing through the details of the museum and was in awe as the Wonder City’s mythos oozed especially. I definitely won’t be forgetting the Ra’s and Mr. Freeze boss fights anytime soon. The former is a truly special example of combining surrealism with action and the latter really marks just how much the understanding of stealth has improved as so many abilities have to be used while Freeze’s aura is the embodiment of sinister.
All my problems with Arkham Asylum’s combat are gone here. It feels so fluid both with Batman’s and Catwoman’s respective mechanics, and combo takedowns are so deliciously satisfying. The difficulty increases worked naturally too as I found myself much more pleasingly reliant on strategy for the later boss fights and stealth sequences, in particular very rewarding to see how effective snipers are and how that meant cautiously eliminating them was the only way past.
Arkham City was a game I had heard only great things about from my beloved friends and while I tried to keep my expectations in check, it honestly surpassed them. This is a game that absolutely has me eager to explore more of its world over time and that is one of the most satisfying feelings a game can give you.
An urgency beats here throughout, whether it be the rampant criminal activity or the consistently moving pace, there’s almost never a moment to breathe in between the main events and it works so well as it communicates the rapid pace of Gotham’s decline. Gotham City’s darkness has never felt more immersive. The corruption is so evident from its gleamingly superficial towers to the abundance of rotting filth that corrodes on the surface. Atmosphere oozes throughout as you grapple and glide with Batman, taking in all of the game’s mesmerizing scope and carefully planning takedown’s on the overflowing scum. It’s truly evident how much the Gotham has been eviscerated by their activity and that turmoil combined with the constant surveillance of inmates’ voices that summarise the Batman’s presence make this one of the liveliest locations I’ve encountered in a video game. The visual palette is also exactly what I’d always wanted to see Gotham envisioned as and that was so satisfying to experience.
This is hands down the best I’ve seen Batman. His meticulous detective work is on full display but also a real ferocity to his determination. One of my big flaws with Arkham Asylum is that Batman lacked a real personality, but here its clarity is painful as Batman battles with illness to uphold his conflicting morals. It’s a testament to Kevin Conroy’s brilliant voice acting in how effectively his consistent struggle is evoked.
But perhaps even more impressive is how so many villains from the lore of Batman are integrated here to create a story that functions as a fantastic balance of realism and the supernatural. As Hugo Strange's threat overarches throughout in the ambiance, a taste of the Joker (Mark Hamill MVP always), Two-Face, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and Ra’s Al Ghoul just reveal the extent of Gotham’s villainous network in the most memorable way. Their locations just match that perfectly too. I loved traversing through the details of the museum and was in awe as the Wonder City’s mythos oozed especially. I definitely won’t be forgetting the Ra’s and Mr. Freeze boss fights anytime soon. The former is a truly special example of combining surrealism with action and the latter really marks just how much the understanding of stealth has improved as so many abilities have to be used while Freeze’s aura is the embodiment of sinister.
All my problems with Arkham Asylum’s combat are gone here. It feels so fluid both with Batman’s and Catwoman’s respective mechanics, and combo takedowns are so deliciously satisfying. The difficulty increases worked naturally too as I found myself much more pleasingly reliant on strategy for the later boss fights and stealth sequences, in particular very rewarding to see how effective snipers are and how that meant cautiously eliminating them was the only way past.
Arkham City was a game I had heard only great things about from my beloved friends and while I tried to keep my expectations in check, it honestly surpassed them. This is a game that absolutely has me eager to explore more of its world over time and that is one of the most satisfying feelings a game can give you.