Batman: Arkham City is a definite positive evolution from the first, which is no easy feat for games these days.
GAMEPLAY - Not much has changed from the first...it has only been improved upon. Starting with combat, you now have a variety of new gadgets and special moves you can pull off. They have also made it much easier for those who had trouble getting high multipliers in the first game to do so here (once you've acquired the right skills, anyway). Enemies still have their weapons, but one thing I was happy to see was a decrease in the number of enemies that can shock you. To fill the void there are more enemies with shields and ones that you have to stun before you can even hurt them. They got rid of the crazy enemies that just ran at you from the first game, as well as changing how the titan-like enemies fight.
Then there is getting around the environment. While the map isn't as expansive as Arkham Asylum, it feels much more organic and has places of greater importance. In addition to gliding from the first game, you can now alternate between gliding and dive bombs to keep airborne for longer periods of time. You are also allowed to grapple around the city whilst doing this. Eventually you can get an improved grappling hook that slingshots you into the air to continue your flight. Spiderman developers should take note at how easy, simple, and effective this system works.
Much like the first game, you have your central story missions and Riddler trophies/riddles to go after, but now you also have side missions. While these aren't incredibly deep or add much time to the overall game, they do help include some Batman villains who aren't part of the main story. Finally, you have a new game plus mode, where you can relive the story with harder enemies. I was happy to see that your accomplishments are shared between both playthroughs.
So Arkham City really is a vast improvement over what the first game accomplished. Everything is the same but only better. In my mind, that justifies what a superb sequel should be all about. - 10/10
STORY - Without spoiling too much, Bruce Wayne gets thrown into Arkham City. You soon dawn the Batman costume and begin to figure out what Dr. Strange has in store for you. I was amazed at how well all the major Batman villains and minor characters were incorporated into this game. So far the only ones that I can think of who I haven't seen or heard mention of are Detective Bullock, the Man-Bat, Rupert Thorn, and Scarface. My biggest surprise was seeing a certain demon in here that I remember from back during the animated series...but I'll leave it at that. Overall I was very impressed with the story. The ending isn't very climactic, and it may also be a sign that this could be the last of this series of games, but overall I had a blast playing through this. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time just to find out what came next. - 9.5/10
GRAPHICS - The graphics are so detailed and beautiful that it's easy to lose yourself in the presentation of this game. The environments have so much going on that you may find yourself walking around rather than running just so you can take everything in. I'm not saying that these graphics have improved greatly since Arkham Asylum, but the setting in which this game takes place seems to make all the difference. - 10/10
SOUND - We have the same voice cast from the previous game here, which I am all in favor for. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill do their roles so well. As for the music and sound effects, everything is flawless. It really makes you feel like you're in the starring role of your own Batman movie. - 10/10
LENGTH/REPLAY VALUE - Here is the only area this game could have used work on. I'm not saying this game is really short, but I was expecting a longer story from the first game. This one ends up being roughly the same length. If you enjoy hunting down all that the Riddler has to offer, however, you're going to be happy with all there is here. The side missions don't add much, but they do add a bit to the experience. As for replay value, I could see myself doing the new game plus option, but beyond that...I'm not sure. This really is a fantastic game...I just wish there was more to do. - 8.5/10
BOTTOM LINE - Batman: Arkham City is turning out to be a sleeper candidate for game of the year, in my opinion. If only there was more to do, I would give this game a perfect score. Everything that was in the first game has been improved upon here; better combat, better logistics, better story, and better atmosphere. While there are a lot of games that are coming out this season that are proving to be some of the best we've seen in a long time, few are really going to accomplish the feat of putting you in the shoes of such a renowned figure. It's so close to the real thing that it almost feels like a Batman simulator. So rejoice, Batman fans, Arkham City is well worth your money, and could very well turn out to be game of the year. - 9.5/10