Game of the Year 2011 by far
Platforms- 360, PS3, PC
Gamespot Score- 9.0 (Editor's Choice)
When Batman Arkham Asylum was released a few years ago, fans of the comic book franchise had a newly acquired love for video games. The game received amazing reviews from both critics and gamers alike and found itself in the talks of several game of the year awards. Now that a few years have past since the first game, Batman Arkham City has jumped onto the scene in an effort to pick up the pieces of the last game as well as expand the universe for the player.
I'll start this review off by talking about the basic story. Bruce Wayne, while protesting the newly built super prison known as Arkham City, is arrested by TYGER guards who are the elite task force of the city. Wayne is then taken to Hugo Strange who is the main authority in Arkham City. Strange knows that Wayne is Batman which explains why he was arrested and now Strange throws Wayne into the prison containment where he can no longer be a problem. (yeah right). Wayne quickly shows what he is capable of when he demolishes some of the Penguin's thugs as well as get a few shots at the Penguin himself. This gives Bruce Wayne the opportunity to get his bearings and call in a very helpful drop from Alfred. Now BATMAN can suit up and the battle for Arkham City can begin.
Aside from all other aspects of the game, the controls and combat are what really shine to the player. The freeflow system has been greatly improved and makes those larger amounts of enemies you'll face seem like the easiest thing in the world. This technology has come so far since it was first introduced and the Batman video game franchise can now hold its place in the history books for being the innovator of freeflow combat. That's how impressive it is. Aside from the awesome combat, the many gadgets are easy to use with the d-pad interface that pauses the game while you browse the selection. I also like the RPG elements that have you spending the experience points earned in battle on various upgrades to your character and gadgets. Just make the Batman that suits you best.
Another thing I really like is the environment that can be navigated freely with minimal concern for the main objective. One major change from Arkham Asylum are the several side missions that span the course of the game. The missions involve some of your favorite ****c villains from years past. I assume the goal of this besides just expanding the game is to make these characters feel important to your experience in a less mandatory way rather than shoving them all down the player's throat in an overcrowded story. It works out perfectly as you complete a side task, then work on some of the story, then in turn opens the next part of the side mission. One of my favorite side missions takes up almost the whole game and has you answering random ringing payphones. On the other end is the psychotic Mr. Zsasz who threatens to kill several hostages if you don't play his game and listen to him go on and on about his life on the phone. But what he doesn't know is that while he is talking, Batman is triangulating the signal so he can save the hostages. Just be patient because you'll have to answer the phone quite a few times to get a lock on the location of the signal.
That's about all you'll need to know before taking the plunge into perhaps the best game of the year (in my opinion please don't sue me).
FINAL BITE- Batman Arkham City has all of the ingredients a game needs to be the best. Story, gameplay, and overall enjoyment all come together in one spectacular package.
Gamer Shark Score- 10/10 (I'm serious, it was that good.)