While the "makes you feel like Batman" review quip has been done to death, it stuck for a reason. Rocksteady perfected the superhero power fantasy so thoroughly that even Spider-Man is borrowing from it now.

An open but tightly crafted world, memorable characters and performances, and some unforgettable boss fights set this game apart from its already excellent predecessor. That its sequel was an ambitious but imperfect step back only cements what Arkham City got right: just about everything.