{"id":77846,"date":"2024-02-28T09:11:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T15:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=77846"},"modified":"2024-02-28T09:11:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T15:11:08","slug":"batman-arkham-city-the-greatest-superhero-game-ever-made","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=77846","title":{"rendered":"Batman Arkham City – The greatest superhero game ever made"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By NICK McCOY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting with 2009\u2019s \u201cBatman: Arkham Asylum,\u201d<\/a> the \u201cBatman: Arkham\u201d series quickly became one of the most defining and beloved superhero game franchises of all time. With its great story, excellent characters and voice acting, innovative \u201cfree flow\u201d combat system and excellent stealth mechanics, \u201cArkham Asylum\u201d absolutely defined what a superhero game should look and feel like, and brought Batman back into the video game spotlight following some absolutely terrible releases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the success of \u201cAsylum,\u201d developer Rocksteady decided to up the ante for the next installment, going for a much larger open world and perfecting the combat engine, as well as putting more emphasis on Batman\u2019s traversal and detective abilities. This led to 2011\u2019s \u201cBatman: Arkham City,\u201d and there are really no words to describe how big this game turned out to be. \u201cArkham City\u201d was a massive improvement over its already excellent predecessor, building on the blocks of \u201cAsylum\u201d to create an excellent superhero experience that still stands the test of time. There\u2019s no wonder it\u2019s often in the discussion for some of the greatest superhero games of all time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
\u201cArkham City\u201d was once again developed by British company Rocksteady and published by their parent company, Warner Bros. Interactive. Following the massive critical and commercial success of the previous game, \u201cArkham City\u201d was made with a much greater scale and budget. On top of that, \u201cArkham City\u201d was advertised by a massive marketing campaign, costing upwards of $10 Million.\u00a0
<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, I am here to argue that \u201cBatman: Arkham City\u201d is not one of the greatest superhero games of all time; It is THE greatest superhero game ever to grace the market. Featuring an amazing story and larger cast of characters, amazing voice performances, fantastic combat and stealth mechanics, and a large open world that is infinitely fun to explore, all of it comes together to create not only the best superhero experience ever, but one of the best gaming experiences period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Release and Addt. Info:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in October of 2011, and for PCs in November of that same year<\/li>
  • Developed by Rocksteady and published by Warner Bros. Interactive.<\/li>
  • A massive and expensive marketing campaign was used to promote the game<\/li>
  • \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d Writer Paul Dini was once again heavily involved in development<\/li>
  • Remasted in the \u201cReturn to Arkham\u201d collection, alongside \u201cArkham Asylum,\u201d for PS4 and  Xbox One in October of 2016<\/li>
  • Followed by the prequel \u201cBatman: Arkham Origins\u201d in 2013, and sequel \u201cBatman: Arkham Knight\u201d in 2015. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Following the events of \u201cBatman: Arkham Asylum,\u201d the titular asylum was deemed ineffective and promptly shut down. Because of this, Arkham City was built, a massive prison complex encompassing the slums of Gotham City, cut off from the rest of the city, headed by the sociopathic Dr. Hugo Strange. While protesting the prison during a press conference, Bruce Wayne is publicly arrested by TYGER guards, Strange\u2019s private security force, and thrown into Arkham City, where Strange promptly reveals he knows Bruce\u2019s secret identity as Batman. Now trapped in the facility, Batman wastes no time in suiting up, aiming to stop Strange and take down Arkham City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Batman, of course, also encounters the Joker, who is suffering from a fatal illness after being exposed to the TITAN formula in the previous game, which he also infects Batman with, leading to his search for a cure, all while uncovering the mystery behind \u201cProtocol 10\u201d, Strange\u2019s master plan. Batman also faces various other members of his Rogues Gallery, including the Penguin, Two Face, the Riddler, Mister Freeze, and Ra\u2019s Al Ghul, among others. The game also stars Catwoman, who presents her own moveset and parallel story next to Batman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cBatman: Arkham City\u2019s\u201d story is just one big reason why this game is such a masterpiece. There was really never a moment of this game where I didn\u2019t enjoy the story. The overall mystery of Protocol 10, and uncovering the truth behind Arkham City itself is an amazing journey throughout, only propelled by the excellent cast of characters. Of course, Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return to deliver their absolutely phenomenal performances as Batman and the Joker. However, this time, Batman is able to shine with various other villains. Hugo Strange is an excellent main villain despite being more of a background presence, and even those who don\u2019t get a ton of screentime, such as Penguin and Two Face, are a delight to watch; Penguin, in particular, is one of my favorite additions, in large part due Nolan North\u2019s incredible voice performance. Troy Baker\u2019s role as Two Face is also worthy of praise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n
    \u00a0In addition to Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and the Joker, several other notable voice actors were cast as different members of Batman\u2019s rogues gallery. Greatly expanding the number of villains present, \u201cArkham City\u201d introduced iconic supervillains Penguin on Two-Face, voiced by veteran voice actors Nolan North (left) and Troy Baker (Right). Other new additions include Mister Freeze, Ra\u2019s Al Ghul and Mad Hatter.\u00a0
    <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Speaking of great additions, Mister Freeze is one of the best inclusions, from his design to his voice actor, Maurice LaMarche. Hearing that robotic tone to his voice when he puts on his helmet never fails to send chills down my spine. Ra\u2019s Al Ghul is also another new villain that more than deserves his place, with an excellent performance from Dee Bradley Baker and an adversarial\/respectful relationship with the Dark Knight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The supporting cast is also great across the board. Catwoman\u2019s flirtatious, carefree attitude is contrasted perfectly by Batman\u2019s quiet, brooding manner, with yet another fantastic vocal performance from Grey DeLisle. Then there\u2019s Talia Al Ghul, whose complicated feelings for Batman make for some really great moments between the characters. This was also the first \u201cArkham\u201d game to include Alfred Pennyworth, and what a great addition he was. His well-mannered but constantly sarcastic banter with Batman was a high point for me, and I was more than happy to see him return in future \u201cArkham\u201d games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are many things that \u201cArkham City\u201d expanded and improved upon from its predecessor, starting with the world. While \u201cArkham Asylum\u201d featured a much smaller, interconnected series of buildings and islands, \u201cArkham City\u201d features a much greater open world, allowing players to freely explore the prison city. Because of this, much more focus was put on Batman\u2019s gliding and grapnel gun. While you could glide in \u201cAsylum,\u201d it was typically only in short bursts, and you could easily get around on foot. In \u201cArkham City, on the other hand, gliding is your main method of travel, and it feels so fun to pull off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Batman can use his cape to glide great distances, and when used in conjunction with his \u201cdive bomb,\u201d where he plummets to the ground at high speeds, you can cover some very big ground. It only gets better when you unlock the grapnel boost by completing certain challenges, making it entirely possible to go for miles without ever touching the ground. Arkham City is an excellent open world to explore, and just gliding around the facility is so much fun. On top of that, the City feels much more lively than the Asylum, with the conversations of various thugs being heard as you traverse the city. These add so much to the world and atmosphere of the game, and some of the conversations you come across are also pretty funny. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The combat present is just as satisfying and brutal as before, but with much-needed tweaks and improvements. Firstly, there are Batman\u2019s gadgets. In \u201cAsylum\u201d, the only gadgets Batman could use were his Batarang and Batclaw, which, while fun to use, suffered from the same clunkiness as everything else. Here, not only do you have the aforementioned gadgets, but you can also use Batman\u2019s Explosive Gel, creating an explosion that knocks enemies to the ground. There is also the new addition of the Freeze Blast and the Remote Electrical Charge, both of which are perfect for crowd control. Then, there are some new combo moves, including the beatdown, ultra stun, and so on, which are essential to dealing with some enemies, and insanely gratifying as Batman beats the daylights out of some poor thug. Plus, that satisfying feeling of delivering a slow-motion punch or kick to the last man standing never goes away. Seriously, I can\u2019t praise this game\u2019s combat engine enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n
    \u201cBatman: Arkham City\u201d maintains the same \u201cFree flow\u201d combat system and predator missions featured in \u201cArkham Asylum,\u201d but much more refined. Players can make use of a greater arsenal of Batman\u2019s gadgets in combat and have access to a greater series of moves. Given the much larger scope of \u201cArkham City\u201d, much more emphasis was put on Batman\u2019s gliding abilities, allowing for much larger glides across the city. In addition to Batman, his enemy\/ally Catwoman was also made playable, featuring her own unique combat abilities and traversal mechanics.\u00a0
    <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Then, there are the boss battles. The bosses in \u201cArkham City\u201d are the stuff of legend amongst fans, and this game truly delivers some of the best in the series. This is due to both the higher villain count and Rocksteady realizing there should be more variety in fights aside from just \u201cdodge and attack.\u201d There are plenty of standouts, including a fight against the hulking zombie Solomon Grundy in Penguin\u2019s Iceberg Lounge, the absolute trip that is Ra\u2019s Al Ghul\u2019s boss, and a pretty challenging final boss against the shapeshifting Clayface. However, the best boss fight in the entire game is easily Mister Freeze. Not only does his design and voice make him extra intimidating, but it makes excellent use of all of Batman\u2019s tools, as with each attack you use against, Freeze adapts to your moveset and forces you to change tactics. It\u2019s a genuinely phenomenal boss fight, which really shows what the game has to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other highlights: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Phenomenal graphics and art style <\/li>
    • An amazing soundtrack <\/li>
    • Plenty of post-game content, including combat and stealth challenges<\/li>
    • Great DLC, including new costumes and expansions, such as the excellent \u201cHarley Quinn\u2019s Revenge.\u201d <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n


      While I do think \u201cArkham City\u201d is as close to perfect as you can get, there is one aspect of this game that always kills my enjoyment: Riddler. The Riddler trophies have become a mainstay of the \u201cArkham\u201d series, and no matter what interpretation, there are always the most annoying parts of the game. \u201cArkham City,\u201d overall, features some really good side missions outside of the main story, including ones with Deadshot, Bane, Victor Zsasz, the Mad Hatter \u201cTea Party\u201d mission, and of course, the excellent \u201cIdentity Thief\u201d missions, featuring Hush. However, gliding around Arkham City and collecting these stupid green trophies is nothing more than anything, in no small part due to just how many there are. \u201cArkham Asylum\u201d featured a total of 101 Riddler trophies, which may seem like a lot, but a majority of them were easy to find and usually just required a specific gadget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In \u201cArkham City,\u201d including the Catwoman exclusive trophies, there are 440 Riddler trophies to collect in total. And these aren\u2019t just a simple case of snatch and grab; each trophy comes with its own puzzle. Some are beyond easy, while others have solutions so obtuse they are impossible to get without a guide. The rewards you get for collecting them, such as Character trophies, concept art, challenge maps, and additional worldbuilding with the \u201cArkham City Stories,\u201d are really cool and interesting. Still, it doesn\u2019t make collecting them any less painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Other criticisms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • As much as I like Catwoman, her gameplay just isn\u2019t as fun <\/li>
      • Much like Asylum, it is very easy to get lost<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        That being said, \u201cBatman: Arkham City\u201d is still an absolute masterpiece. From its phenomenal characters, intriguing narrative, fantastic open world and satisfying combat, \u201cArkham City\u201d has held up incredibly well 13 years later and manages to capture the magic of playing as the Dark Knight perfectly. The game stands as not only the greatest superhero game ever created, but also one of the best games ever made, period. Whether you\u2019re a Batman fan or just want a fun action game, \u201cBatman: Arkham City\u201d is absolutely worth your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Nick McCoy is a senior at Fort Hays State University, studying digital media and journalism. An avid gamer and music listener, he reviews video games and songs and hosts the radio show \u201cThe Understanding of Nick\u201d for KFHS. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        By NICK McCOY Tiger Media Network Starting with 2009\u2019s \u201cBatman: Arkham Asylum,\u201d the \u201cBatman: Arkham\u201d series quickly became one of the most defining and beloved… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":142,"featured_media":77847,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,10490],"tags":[10119,15622,14765,15260,1729],"class_list":["post-77846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-video-games","tag-batman","tag-batman-arkham-city","tag-nick-mccoy","tag-video-game-reviews","tag-video-games"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Arkham-City-Feature.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77846"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77854,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77846\/revisions\/77854"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/77847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}