To call Batman: Arkham City a good game would be an understatement. In fact, to call it a great game might even be underselling it still. Developer Rocksteady Studios certainly had their work cut out for them, creating a worthy successor to Batman: Arkham Asylum, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for the “Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever”. They pulled this feat off spectacularly, however, and created a game that will definitely take that world record from its predecessor.
The game kicks off with Bruce Wayne entering “Arkham City”, the titular super prison formed from a sectioned off piece of Gotham City’s slums. The place is filled to the brim with murderers and maniacs and is divided with giant barbed wire fences and snipers. Basically, it’s the kind of place no sane person would want to be stuck in, unless you’re Batman (SPOILER ALERT: Bruce Wayne is Batman). Arkham City is also stocked with The Dark Knight’s usual rouge gallery. Returning characters like Bane, Mr. Zsasz, and of course, The Joker make routine appearances, but fan favorite villains like Two Face, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and The Penguin, (who were only briefly mentioned but never seen in Arkham Asylum) also show up. That’s about as much as I can tell you about the story, however, since it takes so many twists and turns that I don’t want to spoil for anyone even remotely interested in playing it.
The game is essentially free-roaming, giving you the ability to go anywhere within Arkham City using Batman’s trademark pointy cape to glide around and the grappling hook to scale buildings. Combat, of course, plays a big part as well, considering Batman’s habit of bashing heads in. The combat is just as fluid and brutal as it was in Arkham Asylum, but with the added improvement of being able to counter and take down two enemies at the same time and seamlessly using gadgets in combat. One of the other big additions to the game, is the addition of Catwoman as a playable character. This doesn’t add much to the game but instead gives some backstory to the story and what is occurring. She’s fun to play as and is nice change of pace, but you can really take it or leave it.
Easily the best part of Arkham City is that it treats the source material seriously. The villains are vicious, and not only want Batman dead, but are also hunting down each other for more control of the city. Even the less ambitious criminals can get plenty sketchy (the side-missions featuring Mr.Zsasz are especially disturbing). Rocksteady’s biggest accomplishment, however, was creating a game that not only pleases bat-nerds like me who can list off every Robin in order but also the folks who haven’t touched a comic book since they were eight.
Essentially, Batman: Arkham City has more in common with The Dark Knight than just license. They are both the best use of the iconic character in their respective mediums and always will be. If I have to give this game a score, it would be a 10 out of 10, an A+, 5 out of 5 stars, and a cookie. Yes, a cookie. It’s that good.