Batman: Arkham City

[K9]

Gameplay Trailer

I haven't really read up much about this game, but Arkham Asylum was a decent game and entertaining to play, and this one doesn't look to deviate much from what worked. I like the premise of more open, free-running/free-gliding styles of level. I'm not totally sold on more Joker though, since although that worked in the first game, a little variety is nice. It's hardly a massive problem though.

[Ingmar]

First day buy for me, loved the first one. I wouldn't complain if this one is a little longer, if they can do it without losing the tight design (which is already a bit at risk with the more open levels it will presumably have.)

[Samwise]

Yeah, "more open" isn't always an automatic plus.  Batman:AA was at its best in the somewhat claustrophobic interior of the asylum IMO.

That trailer does have me jonesing, though.  Will definitely be buying this one.

[stu]

Batman is such a badass.

And $10 says the Catwoman in this is better than Anne Hathaway. 

[Kalle]

Want this so bad. Arkham Asylum was just, well, perfect.

[cironian]

Yeah, this would be worth a buy for me even if it only had the exact gameplay of the first part with a new campaign. I can't really think of a way they could mess this up too badly.

[Mattemeo]

Loved the gameplay trailer, also thought the choice of music was inspired; gave it a totally new feel that a big bombastic orchestral score wouldn't have been able to achieve. Batman is down town, now. Imagine you're playing GTA IV or Saints Row, run round a corner after a bloody heist and pile into the goddamn Batman. You'd shit yourself and love every second of the sickeningly brief justice done unto you.

Arkham Asylum is my favourite game of this current gen of consoles, I think I've gone on record as saying that before. The only complaint I ever had about it was how 'hench' Batman was - I seriously couldn't work out how he could even bend, let alone dole out the harshness. I don't think he's been slimmed down that much for Arkham City but he looks sleeker somehow.

[Samwise]

Imagine you're playing GTA IV or Saints Row, run round a corner after a bloody heist and pile into the goddamn Batman. You'd shit yourself and love every second of the sickeningly brief justice done unto you.

I LOLed.  Also, that would be the best multiplayer mode EVER.

[Fordel]

What is the song they use for the trailer?


Looks awesome though!

[Mazakiel]

The song is 'Short Change Hero' by The Heavy. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6eSksEp27U

[Fordel]

Awesome, thank you!

[LK]

Instant purchase of the track. Been listening to it non-stop for days. That is one of the better trailers I've seen.

[Mazakiel]

It's a cinematic trailer, not gameplay, but I still thought it was nifty.  Throwing it up here in case anyone hasn't seen it, I don't think it's been posted elsewhere around here. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muCtJsy-d9w

[Soln]

superb

[LK]

What really strikes me about the trailer and the whole Batman: AA/AC vibe is how they boil down all the excitement and coolness of the characters and world without any of the crazy backstory bullshit. It's like it exists in its own history where everything is good. I always appreciated the stories that went outside the franchise continuity. Also the voiceover work is top-notch.

[Lakov_Sanite]

It can be summed up as

"look, you know batman: here's him kicking ass"

[Azazel]

Yeah, that really is a good point. It's not like you need to introduce the characters of Batman, the Joker, Catwoman et al, after all.

[eldaec]

Instant purchase of the track. Been listening to it non-stop for days. That is one of the better trailers I've seen.

Yeah, but I could really do without the 90 second intro.

As for the trailer, while I really enjoyed the first game, they need to change the formula a bit because it was pretty much played out by the end.

Maybe the more open world can do that, but I suspect they'll need a better story to carry it. Nothing in the first game really made any sense, but the sheer density of stuff in the smallish game world pushed you on without really ever really worrying about the whys and wherefores.

[UnSub]

Yeah, that really is a good point. It's not like you need to introduce the characters of Batman, the Joker, Catwoman et al, after all.

True, but a lot of games fall into the trap of having to explain everything ever about the IP as though this was the first time you'd ever met the characters.

In Batman: AA you could have never heard of Batman or the Joker before and the intro section sets the scene perfectly.

[Deadguy2322]

Instant purchase of the track. Been listening to it non-stop for days. That is one of the better trailers I've seen.

Nothing in the first game really made any sense, but the sheer density of stuff in the smallish game world pushed you on without really ever really worrying about the whys and wherefores.

It was a plot brewed up by The Joker, don't look for it to make sense.

[UnSub]

Catwoman will be a playable character with alternate fighting system.

Although only for a small part of the game, according to another interview.

I question the practicality of that costume stopping a bullet to the chest, however.

[MuffinMan]

Also, Robin as a pre-order bonus.

[UnSub]

That's not a bad version of the character. Although he should ask Batman for some head protection.

[rk47]

lol. 'young sam fisher joins bruce wayne in his fight against crime'

[Gruntle]

Do PS3 players get Joker levels again? because those were pretty fun!

[Azazel]

Catwoman will be a playable character with alternate fighting system.

Although only for a small part of the game, according to another interview.

I question the practicality of that costume stopping a bullet to the chest, however.

Airbag protection?

[Ingmar]

This is out (for consoles, no PC til November), cracking it open tonight. Anyone start in last night and have any initial reviews?

[Rasix]

I think ethically I have to choose between this and Skyrim, since I already have two console games I've bought recently that I'm not playing.      

[Ginaz]

I'm waiting for the PC version.  Last time, for Arkham Asylum, I bought the 360 version first then the PC version.  PC version was far superior, IMO, and I just ended up wasting my money on the 360.

[Ingmar]

Thumbs up so far. A little disorienting given the large amount of area you have open to you pretty much right away.

[Khaldun]

I picked it up today for the 360, but can't play it tonight since my kid is having a slumber party in the TV room. Ah well. Soon.

[tazelbain]

Thumbs up so far. A little disorienting given the large amount of area you have open to you pretty much right away.

Its rough for us with video game OCD. 

[Pezzle]

Making PC owners wait a month, wtf is that??

At least I get it free with my new video card.  Hurray!

[CaptainNapkin]

Making PC owners wait a month, wtf is that??

At least I get it free with my new video card.  Hurray!

Yeah that's worth noting for anyone looking at PC version and a possible video card upgrade soon... If you're an nvidia fan this game is being offered free with most current gen Nvidia cards.

[cironian]

Thumbs up so far. A little disorienting given the large amount of area you have open to you pretty much right away.

Yeah, though after getting through the first 5 minutes of , I find that "You're Batman. Here's a city/sandbox full of criminals. Enjoy!" is exactly the game that I always wanted.