Review: Batman: Arkham City

Video game companies have a very uneven record with superhero games – mostly leaning toward the bad side.

A notable exception, released in 2009, was Batman: Arkham Asylum. This third-person action-adventure game brought the Dark Knight, along with a passel of bad guys to life to almost universal acclaim. The mix of brawling, stealth and action made for an enjoyable game with solid gameplay, sterling voice work and nice visuals.

Warner Bros. and Rocksteady Games are back this year with Batman: Arkham City, where the number of evil super villians and the size of the landscape has been expanded.

But does it rcapture the fun and sense of adventure of the first game?

The first game, confined to the Arkham Asylum, was a bit claustrophobic – intentionally. The majority of the game was played out in hallways and rooms of the asylum. This game, unfolding across the Arkham City section of Gotham City, greatly extends the scope of the gameplay and also brings back a whole cornucopia of evil.

At the core is Batman, of course. His mix of cool gadgets and steely determination drive the game. His old nemesis The Joker is still stirring up trouble, along with a new main bad guy – Dr. Hugo Strange – who has a mysterious plan in the works for all of the denizens of Arkham City. Also in for the action are Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, Ra’s al Ghul and others.

The game continues with the idea that Batman is a somewhat pacifist superhero. He never kills, under any circumstances, only incapacitating foes. This, of course, means that any previously defeated evil mastermind can reappear at any time.

It also forces gameplay to be a bit more thoughtful, since he can’t just unload a machine gun into a group of henchmen.

It means that stealth is the order of the day, when possible. Many a scenario is presented that forces Batman to strategize precise takedowns to avoid detection. And since he applies no deadly force, each and every battle is up close and personal, giving a more visceral feel to combat.

To say there’s a lot to do in the game is an understatement. The main storyline takes up – at most – 30 percent of the action on the disc.

In addition to the Joker and Dr. Strange centerpiece storyline, there are 360 Riddler medals to be earned – half by Batman and half by playing as Catwoman. These medals are earned by completing mini-missions – first as is and then by applying modifiers. These might be beneficial (quicker takedowns) or detrimental (a time limit), for instance.

There are also several Catwoman levels that carry the overall storyline along. These are only available with a pass that is included with new copies of the game.

In game, there are also other diversions, including additional Riddler challenges, with time limits, played out across the vastness of the city.

Side missions are also scattered about and upgrades and collectibles (character trophies, concept art, etc) to be gathered during the course of the game.

The developer of both games – Rocksteady Studios – elected to tinker very little with the winning formula from Batman: Arkham Asylum. That decision was the right one. Batman: Arkham City expands on the first game, while retaining all that made it a success.

Platform: PlayStation3/Xbox 360

Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Games

Rating: Teen

Score: 9.5 chiropteran chilies