LoginBatman: Arkham City Reviews
Batman: Arkham City review
Posted : 11 months, 4 weeks ago on 19 March 2024 02:27
Ay, si supieran que ahora tengo una visión más pedante y controversial sobre la saga de Arkham... Creo que esto irá más a una saga de vídeos que haré cuando tengas los medios necesarios para hacer vídeos. Podría empezar con el loquendo, pero me niego a usar el formato en estas ocasiones.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
The Best Batman Game of All Time
Posted : 3 years ago on 3 March 2022 09:46
Batman Arkham City took everything that was great about it's near perfect predecessor and improved it beyond belief. Instead of being confined to a relatively small island you are now in a small area of Gotham City specifically made for the scum of humanity. On the surface there doesn't look like much to do in this small space, but the area is teeming with henchmen from Two Face, Penguin and Joker and they're all going to try and kill you at any chance they get. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Long story short, after the events of Arkham Asylum, Warden Quincy Sharp was named Mayor of Gotham and decided that the old asylum was unfit for prisoners. Thus he created Arkham City, a blocked off piece of North Gotham for Batman's worst foes to thrive. He then placed the mysterious Professor Hugo Strange in charge and now deadly gang wars break out as everyone fights for control of the city. Batman must enter the city and find out Strange's real plan, along with stopping his old foes from killing each other.
This is the basic plot of the story, but there are a number of sidequests you can take throughout the game. From destroying the last Titan drug barrels with Bane, to tracking down victims of Deadshot. The Riddler returns physically in Arkham City and has placed twice as many riddle trophies and puzzles in the area. He has also captured doctors and people who worked in old Arkham. These challenges are deadly and requires a lot more critical thinking then in the last game. With all these sidequests combined with the main story you're looking at many hours of gameplay and with new game plus you can replay the game with all the gadgets from your first game and keep any riddler secrets you've found.
The challenge areas are the same as the first game, but there are a lot more to be played and with all the new combat and silent predator moves in this game you will have a blast taking down nameless thugs with an even greater sense of being Batman. With downloadable characters like Robin and Nightwing you have a lot more reason to play the challenge maps then in the first game.
I could go forever on how awesome this game is. But this is one of those games you need to play to believe. It has everything for long time Batman fans and newcomers. With a great plot with a lot of twists and faster combat this game has exceeded all expectations and is without a doubt one of the best games of the year, if not all time. And I haven't even played as Catwoman yet.
Long story short, after the events of Arkham Asylum, Warden Quincy Sharp was named Mayor of Gotham and decided that the old asylum was unfit for prisoners. Thus he created Arkham City, a blocked off piece of North Gotham for Batman's worst foes to thrive. He then placed the mysterious Professor Hugo Strange in charge and now deadly gang wars break out as everyone fights for control of the city. Batman must enter the city and find out Strange's real plan, along with stopping his old foes from killing each other.
This is the basic plot of the story, but there are a number of sidequests you can take throughout the game. From destroying the last Titan drug barrels with Bane, to tracking down victims of Deadshot. The Riddler returns physically in Arkham City and has placed twice as many riddle trophies and puzzles in the area. He has also captured doctors and people who worked in old Arkham. These challenges are deadly and requires a lot more critical thinking then in the last game. With all these sidequests combined with the main story you're looking at many hours of gameplay and with new game plus you can replay the game with all the gadgets from your first game and keep any riddler secrets you've found.
The challenge areas are the same as the first game, but there are a lot more to be played and with all the new combat and silent predator moves in this game you will have a blast taking down nameless thugs with an even greater sense of being Batman. With downloadable characters like Robin and Nightwing you have a lot more reason to play the challenge maps then in the first game.
I could go forever on how awesome this game is. But this is one of those games you need to play to believe. It has everything for long time Batman fans and newcomers. With a great plot with a lot of twists and faster combat this game has exceeded all expectations and is without a doubt one of the best games of the year, if not all time. And I haven't even played as Catwoman yet.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
Batman: Arkham City review
Posted : 3 years, 8 months ago on 8 July 2021 06:28
Overall, the sequel is an improvement over the original game in terms of significantly expanded game design and controls that merge so well with its open world exploration of progressing through the main quests and side quests. Such an incredible game! Arkham Asylum may have had a different approach, but its atmosphere and story is still the highlight for me that still makes it nearly neck-and-neck with Arkham City.
0 comments, Reply to this entry
"Batman: Arkham City" (PS3)
Posted : 10 years, 8 months ago on 21 June 2014 02:35
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This game is basically the same as Arkham Asylum, but in a sandbox (or open world) environment. I personally have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it's a repeat of one of my favourite games of all time, so I can't complain about that! :D On the other hand, I generally don't like sandbox games, and all the problems I usually have with them are present here: the side missions are nothing but distracting. But it's still just so much fun to be Batman that it's totally worth it! :D
The plot definitely has higher stakes than Asylum. The Joker infects Batman with the same Titan formula poisoning that's slowly killing him, so Batman has to find a cure to save both their lives.
Several more of Batman's classic enemies are introduced, including Mr Freeze, Ra's al Ghul and the Penguin. I was still surprised and disappointed that Two-Face got the short end of the stick, though; he's barely in this. Hell, the Mad Hatter gets more screen time than him!
But the main thing the game did for me was the ending. Not to spoil anything, but several characters die, and I genuinely wasn't expecting it.
To sum it up, this sequel is kind of like Portal 2: in many ways it's superior, but I'll always hold the first one closer to my heart. It's still just as fun and dramatically strong as its predecessor; I just have some minor personal issues with it.
My rating: 90%
This game is basically the same as Arkham Asylum, but in a sandbox (or open world) environment. I personally have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, it's a repeat of one of my favourite games of all time, so I can't complain about that! :D On the other hand, I generally don't like sandbox games, and all the problems I usually have with them are present here: the side missions are nothing but distracting. But it's still just so much fun to be Batman that it's totally worth it! :D
The plot definitely has higher stakes than Asylum. The Joker infects Batman with the same Titan formula poisoning that's slowly killing him, so Batman has to find a cure to save both their lives.
Several more of Batman's classic enemies are introduced, including Mr Freeze, Ra's al Ghul and the Penguin. I was still surprised and disappointed that Two-Face got the short end of the stick, though; he's barely in this. Hell, the Mad Hatter gets more screen time than him!
But the main thing the game did for me was the ending. Not to spoil anything, but several characters die, and I genuinely wasn't expecting it.
To sum it up, this sequel is kind of like Portal 2: in many ways it's superior, but I'll always hold the first one closer to my heart. It's still just as fun and dramatically strong as its predecessor; I just have some minor personal issues with it.
My rating: 90%
0 comments, Reply to this entry
This is late, but can still be relevant.
Posted : 12 years, 5 months ago on 22 September 2012 04:15
Batman. You know the name as a cult icon of comic book history. But how does his latest game (that isn't Lego) hold up?
STORY
Depending on whether or not you get the Catwoman DLC, you can play the game in 2 different points of view (Catwoman and Batman), but still get the same normal story, however, the story is anything but normal. You play as of course Batman, in the former North Gotham City, now known as Arkham City, a place where the former inmates of the asylum from the previous game are now transferred here. However, there are more inmates here than there were in the previous game which supposedly took place six months before this game takes place.
To start with the shocking twists, the one who is in charge of this place surprisingly knows your secret identity. You learn this at the beginning during a gripping title sequence (that of which is perfect in every aspect). You reach many different plot points and subplots that get more suspenseful throughout the game which I am not going to spoil for you. You have the option of skipping cutscenes, but, why would you want to? It's already a good game when you have a fantastic story and cutscenes that are just beautiful to look at. And even when the main story is finished, there is still so much more to do.
DESIGN
Developers did their best to make it feel like you had a huge environment to move around in. They did a damn good job of it. Everything is improved with this sequel. The AI is much more sophisticated and lifelike than it was in Arkham Asylum. So much so that you would need the try harder to take some enemies down. Multiple enemies are now able to attack you at once. It can very chaotic, mainly in the challenging New Game Plus mode, but that should be the point, it shouldn't feel too easy. Challenge is a good thing. It isn't hard because of bad controls or the game is broken, it's because the game developers give you bigger variety of options in combat, and enemies that have actual brains as opposed to a repetitively predictable pattern for the AI in Arkham Asylum. Speaking of the enemies, they actually look like individuals and not a bunch of clones like in Arkham Asylum. On the side note: I don't hate Arkham Asylum; it's still a solid game. It's just that its sequel is significantly better.
The environments can only be described in one word: Beautiful. The game has a very open environment with high attention to detail. And a large open area is just what a true Batman game deserves. Very few glitches occurred while I played the game and they usually consist of limbs of KO'ed inmates phasing through the walls and floors which can be distracting sometimes but it only becomes a minor issue.
GAMEPLAY
What should be the definitive part of any game, is for this one. You don't just play as Batman. You ARE Batman. This means that you can do almost anything Batman can do, which allows the game to be a truly immersive experience. The controls are very easy to pick up on and like any game, if you have any trouble with inverted controls, you can always switch them on or off. Speaking of which, as a PS3 exclusive, you can choose whether or not you want to glide with motion controls.
Gadgets have a large variety (which excludes the Ultra-batclaw, and multi-batarangs from the first game) with the ability to acquire new gadgets. You can also use some of these gadgets in free-flow combat, but in a swift and non-time-consuming fashion. For example, you can use the batclaw to quickly pull someone toward you right before you dash toward that same guy just to knock him to the ground.
Predator mode has also been improved, allowing for more ways to take someone down. You can grab a guy from the other side of a window. You can jam someone's gun so that when he spots you, he is helpless against you. Fear is your greatest ally. There are so many more moves in your arsenal to utilize to get the job done effectively. You can use smoke bombs to escape waves of gunfire to buy more time to plan your attack. If there is lone pair of armed inmates standing next to each other, you can just take them down in hand to hand combat, or knock them both out simultaneously in stealth. This move in particular reminds me of Batman Returns for SNES.
See the resemblance?
I was also surprised about how different and varied the boss battles were. Each battle does its signature villain justice, as it should. Of course, encounters with villains don't always have battles, a couple of them, (like the Riddler's big ass side mission) require more strategy to defeat. Side Missions, Riddler trophies, riddles, and challenges will also keep you occupied. So much so, that you might feel the need to complete them throughout the story, which the game thinks is just fine.
SOUND
Sound is usually another important thing in games today. It should usually be counted as one of those qualities in a game that immerses you. And the people who made this game should be praised for the fantastic achievement of making such a memorable and most importantly relevant soundtrack. It is able to be timed successfully with the grippingly well-voiced (though somewhat cliché) dialogue and realistically immersive sound effects. You will realize this from the very beginning, right at the moment you push Start. And who doesn't want to hear epic music while they pick off helpless inmates one-by-one?
OVERALL
Arkham City is game that will keep you in from beginning to end and beyond. The story isn't really over at the end of the credits, because there is tons more to do, like completing Riddler challenges, side missions, a new and more challenging difficulty for the game (which feels more satisfying when you beat it), and even a variety of Easter Eggs to discover that could foreshadow what could be the next game in the series. If you haven't played it yet, I suggest you do so as soon as possible, because it is an absolute masterpiece!
Final Verdict: 9.6/10- a Full Price Buy!
STORY
Depending on whether or not you get the Catwoman DLC, you can play the game in 2 different points of view (Catwoman and Batman), but still get the same normal story, however, the story is anything but normal. You play as of course Batman, in the former North Gotham City, now known as Arkham City, a place where the former inmates of the asylum from the previous game are now transferred here. However, there are more inmates here than there were in the previous game which supposedly took place six months before this game takes place.
To start with the shocking twists, the one who is in charge of this place surprisingly knows your secret identity. You learn this at the beginning during a gripping title sequence (that of which is perfect in every aspect). You reach many different plot points and subplots that get more suspenseful throughout the game which I am not going to spoil for you. You have the option of skipping cutscenes, but, why would you want to? It's already a good game when you have a fantastic story and cutscenes that are just beautiful to look at. And even when the main story is finished, there is still so much more to do.
DESIGN
Developers did their best to make it feel like you had a huge environment to move around in. They did a damn good job of it. Everything is improved with this sequel. The AI is much more sophisticated and lifelike than it was in Arkham Asylum. So much so that you would need the try harder to take some enemies down. Multiple enemies are now able to attack you at once. It can very chaotic, mainly in the challenging New Game Plus mode, but that should be the point, it shouldn't feel too easy. Challenge is a good thing. It isn't hard because of bad controls or the game is broken, it's because the game developers give you bigger variety of options in combat, and enemies that have actual brains as opposed to a repetitively predictable pattern for the AI in Arkham Asylum. Speaking of the enemies, they actually look like individuals and not a bunch of clones like in Arkham Asylum. On the side note: I don't hate Arkham Asylum; it's still a solid game. It's just that its sequel is significantly better.
The environments can only be described in one word: Beautiful. The game has a very open environment with high attention to detail. And a large open area is just what a true Batman game deserves. Very few glitches occurred while I played the game and they usually consist of limbs of KO'ed inmates phasing through the walls and floors which can be distracting sometimes but it only becomes a minor issue.
GAMEPLAY
What should be the definitive part of any game, is for this one. You don't just play as Batman. You ARE Batman. This means that you can do almost anything Batman can do, which allows the game to be a truly immersive experience. The controls are very easy to pick up on and like any game, if you have any trouble with inverted controls, you can always switch them on or off. Speaking of which, as a PS3 exclusive, you can choose whether or not you want to glide with motion controls.
Gadgets have a large variety (which excludes the Ultra-batclaw, and multi-batarangs from the first game) with the ability to acquire new gadgets. You can also use some of these gadgets in free-flow combat, but in a swift and non-time-consuming fashion. For example, you can use the batclaw to quickly pull someone toward you right before you dash toward that same guy just to knock him to the ground.
Predator mode has also been improved, allowing for more ways to take someone down. You can grab a guy from the other side of a window. You can jam someone's gun so that when he spots you, he is helpless against you. Fear is your greatest ally. There are so many more moves in your arsenal to utilize to get the job done effectively. You can use smoke bombs to escape waves of gunfire to buy more time to plan your attack. If there is lone pair of armed inmates standing next to each other, you can just take them down in hand to hand combat, or knock them both out simultaneously in stealth. This move in particular reminds me of Batman Returns for SNES.
See the resemblance?
I was also surprised about how different and varied the boss battles were. Each battle does its signature villain justice, as it should. Of course, encounters with villains don't always have battles, a couple of them, (like the Riddler's big ass side mission) require more strategy to defeat. Side Missions, Riddler trophies, riddles, and challenges will also keep you occupied. So much so, that you might feel the need to complete them throughout the story, which the game thinks is just fine.
SOUND
Sound is usually another important thing in games today. It should usually be counted as one of those qualities in a game that immerses you. And the people who made this game should be praised for the fantastic achievement of making such a memorable and most importantly relevant soundtrack. It is able to be timed successfully with the grippingly well-voiced (though somewhat cliché) dialogue and realistically immersive sound effects. You will realize this from the very beginning, right at the moment you push Start. And who doesn't want to hear epic music while they pick off helpless inmates one-by-one?
OVERALL
Arkham City is game that will keep you in from beginning to end and beyond. The story isn't really over at the end of the credits, because there is tons more to do, like completing Riddler challenges, side missions, a new and more challenging difficulty for the game (which feels more satisfying when you beat it), and even a variety of Easter Eggs to discover that could foreshadow what could be the next game in the series. If you haven't played it yet, I suggest you do so as soon as possible, because it is an absolute masterpiece!
Final Verdict: 9.6/10- a Full Price Buy!
0 comments, Reply to this entry