In response to your inputs, Batman might simultaneously counter two attackers with a single impressive move, or take advantage of a convenient surface and slam a thug's head against it. The varied attack animations make most tussles look as if they might work as choreographed fight sequences in a movie. It's also as graceful as it is brutal, making it a joy to behold. The combat rewards good timing, and when you get into the rhythm of battle, chaining your attacks together and turning your enemies' attacks against them, it's deeply absorbing. At its core, it's quite simple: one button performs your attacks, while another counters enemy attacks. The excellent Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and the Joker, heading up an ensemble of voice actors who never miss a beat.Ī slew of supporting characters show up during your adventure.Īlso returning from Arkham Asylum is that game's accessible and satisfying combat system.
Each character is represented terrifically, with plenty of nods to their histories as established in the comics, and part of the fun of progressing through the story lies in seeing what character might make an appearance next. Freeze, and numerous other members of Batman's rogues' gallery. That quest brings Batman into contact with the Penguin, Mr. Within the prison's walls, Joker is dying, and the villain's schemes force the Dark Knight to help him find a cure. That allure is particularly strong on the PC, where atmospheric details like snowflakes visibly landing on Batman's cape make this wintry, downtrodden environment even more convincing.īatman has no choice but to explore the alleyways and underground tunnels of North Gotham. It's clearly a work of imagination, but as you explore it, its richness pulls you in, and it becomes a world you can't help but believe in. The exceptional art design draws on 1930s art deco and makes Gotham seem like a once elegant and shining city that has fallen into darkness. These structures, with their faded portraits, old billboards, and plentiful other features, convey a sense of history. Arkham City is home to an old courthouse, a former police headquarters, a musty museum, a disused subway terminal, and other fascinating places. The area of several city blocks that makes up the superprison isn't especially vast as open worlds go, but what it lacks in scale, it more than makes up for in atmospheric detail. Now Playing: Batman: Arkham City Video Reviewīut their misfortune is your gain. By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's