Batman: Arkham City (PS3)

“Batman: Arkham City isn’t just better than Batman: Arkham Asylum, it’s better than most games on the market.” 9.5/10 – IGN

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.

Features:

• Become the Dark Knight – advanced, compelling gameplay on every level: high-impact street brawls, nail-biting stealth, multifaceted forensic investigation, epic super-villain encounters and unexpected glimpses into Batman’s tortured psychology.
• Play as Catwoman – she has her own storyline in the main game which is seamlessly interwoven with Batman’s story arc. Her navigation skills, combat moves and gadgetry have been specifically designed to deliver a fully featured and unique experience.
• Advanced FreeFlow Combat – Arkham’s gangs bring heavy weapons and all-new AI to the fight, but Batman steps it up with twice the number of combat animations and double the range of attacks, counters and takedowns.
• New Gadgets – Batman has access to new gadgets such as the Cryptographic Sequencer V2 and Smoke Pellets, as well as new functionality for existing gadgets that expand the range of Batman’s abilities without adding extra weight to his Utility Belt.
• New Story – Five-time Emmy-Award-winner Paul Dini returns to pen a brand-new story for Batman: Arkham City, taking gamers deep inside the diseased heart of Gotham.
• Arkham Has Moved – Following the closure of Arkham Asylum and Blackgate prison, Gotham’s new mayor, Quincy Sharp ordered the relocation of all inmates to Arkham City – a sprawling new super-prison five times bigger than Arkham Island, enclosing a wide variety of industrial districts, iconic locations and Gotham landmarks.
• Huge Cast of Characters – Players encounter numerous characters from the Batman universe, including Catwoman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Hugo Strange, Victor Zsasz, Calendar Man, The Joker, The Riddler and other iconic characters yet to be revealed.

Review by IGN

“…Batman: Arkham City isn’t perfect, but listing the little things I didn’t like gets in the way of all the stuff I adored. The voice acting, the challenges, the amazing opening, the unbelievable ending and the feeling of being the Dark Knight – these are the things that standout looking back. I’ve beaten this thing twice and still want to call in sick and chase Riddler Trophies.
Batman: Arkham City isn’t just better than Batman: Arkham Asylum, it’s better than most games on the market.”

IGN RATINGS FOR BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY (PS3)
Rating Description
out of 10 Click here for ratings guide
9.0 Presentation
I think a few villains deserved more attention than they got here, but the story, the setting and the comic nerd love given to this game are awesome.
8.5 Graphics
Some texture pop-in along with iffy lip syncing, but Arkham City looks great in a totally grimy, filthy way. Got to love Batman’s costume breaking down over time.
9.0 Sound
Mark Hamill’s Joker and Kevin Conroy’s Batman are out of this world. A bit too much of the same voice actor for generic thugs. Music and sound effects rock.
9.5 Gameplay
I felt like Batman – that’s awesome. The majority of stuff will feel familiar, but from gadgets to gliding it’s been tweaked and improved.
9.5 Lasting Appeal
You need to play the game twice. Then, there are the side missions, the Riddler Challenges, the challenge maps and whatever DLC Rocksteady whips up.
9.5
OVERALL
Amazing
(out of 10)