Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Controls: 7/10
Story-line: 6.5/10
Characters: 8.5/10
Rocksteady promised a great game and have delivered. Given the trailer, the graphics are a tad disappointing compared to this year’s rival, Unchartered 3 but makes up for it in the smoothness of gameplay. Character movement and reaction is great but one of it’s best accomplishments has to be the tools with which batman can travel across the city.
With hints of Spiderman (PS2) you can swing from building top to roof in one movement without a worry or unnecessary difficulty levels. This is an integral part of the smoothness of gameplay that Batman Arkham City delivers.
The pace of the fight scenes is also uninhibited by excessive button combinations, which makes it easy to see as you defeat villains with great moves and combos by pressing only a few buttons. Tools such as the bat throwing stars, the grappling swing, electric gun and ray vision are great additions to the franchise and make this martial arts expert with no super powers, into a fully rounded hero.
The boss levels in Arkham City have just the right amount of difficulty level given the level each player chooses at the start, it isn’t too frustrating and is a part of the story-line of the legendary rivalry between the coexisting Joker and Batman.
One of the best features of Arkham City is the special vision Batman has in his tool box to investigate crime scenes, analyze signs which lead him to the joker and the many other villains he must stop. Even without the helpful hints, this feature reveals hidden gems Arkham city has to offer like the many hidden trophies the Joker has left behind for batman.
One of the top graphical elements of Arkham City are the in-game videos if you lose a life; it’s realism is astonishing and is an inside look into the future of film and gaming without a doubt. Nevertheless it can improve in the transition between storyline video and gaming graphics, which has had the standard set by Unchartered 2 and 3 set to come out in November 2011.
The attention to detail in the character back stories and relationships are another addition to the backtothefuture-like (new reality) world of the turned-dark city of Arkham. Rocksteady studios have gone the extra mile on this one and haven’t missed a beat when it comes to the history of Batman, his accomplices and their villains.
Despite the comical nature and over exaggeration of egos from each character, it adds to the comic vibe of the franchise. In terms of the replay-ability the main story-line is accompanied by dashes of side missions, unlock-able treasures, prizes and Batman boost-ups as well as hidden codes to play as different characters again and again.
For it’s value, it’s one of the should-play games of 2011 and if the 3D tv features, videos and impressive graphics are anything to go by, the future of the gaming experience looks bright.
Play on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
Price on release: Standard Game - $59.99 I Special Collectors Edition (with Batman figurine) - $99.99 I PC: $49.99
Batman Arkham City Review (PS3)
Nov. 3rd 2011
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