Batman: Arkham City is the definition of how comic book properties should be adapted to video games. Everything that symbolizes what and who Batman is seamlessly blends itself into the entire atmosphere Rocksteady Studios created. Our latest venture into the Batman universe allowed players to don the cape and cowl, as they glided over Arkham City. This highly guarded and walled section of Gotham serves as a new "home" for Gotham City's underworld and criminally insane. Gamers and Batman fans alike, were able to become immersed in a world we've longingly admired in our imaginations for ages. With a controller in our hands we became the one and only, Dark Knight. Rocksteady poured their hearts and creative energy into the game and created not only one of the best video games of 2011, but a true testament to what developers can accomplish once they attain a beloved property. Batman: Arkham City was a masterpiece and a game that many will surely want to revist. For us here at WhatCulture, we just can't get enough of the Caped Crusader. Here are a few of the many reasons. 1) Fluid Combat I often wonder if I were a billionaire, master ninja trained in The League of Shadows, and at my peak physical condition, if I would be able to become a legend of the night. My imagination believes yes, but my fragile bones say no. In order to fulfill my wishes of awesomeness I turn to the beautifully graceful brutality that is the combat of Batman: Arkham City. Countering enemies is a thing of beauty. As you climb your combo higher with each strike you're granted access to numerous abilities such as weapon disarms, takedowns, and calling in your own personal bat protection. If this isn't enough to quench your insatiable thirst for justice players are able to nearly use all of their tools and equipment within combat. You find yourself freezing a group of enemies with your freeze cluster grenade, pulling one towards you with the bat-claw, blasting one with a jolt of electricity, and then ground pounding them out. Batman is a boss, and the combat never fails to make you feel like anything less. 2) All Of Those Wonderful Toys Speaking of the gadgets wide range of combat uses, it would be foolish not to mention that it just feels awesome to be able to select them all. All of his tools become available to you as you navigate the world for the second time. Knowing that with the flick of the d-pad you'll be able to access his entire utility belt it only adds to the sense of just how much Rocksteady has tried to keep you in Batman's boots.
You can find yourself tapping into your vast array of equipment for use in all different types of situations. Precise and silent movement may require you to whip out the trusty line launcher and zip from one point to the next. If that isn't enough stop yourself mid-launch and you'll create your very own nest to spy on enemies from. Wait patiently and you can even drop down for a swift takedown.
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Remote control batarangs can be a very useful tool as well providing you with deadly accuracy from afar, and even better allowing you to continue the trend of carrying electric currents to open panels. One of the best parts of the games usage of Batman's wonderful toys is how many of the puzzles require you to use your intuition and pick the right gadget for the job.
3) Playable Catwoman "Meeeeow" "Meeeeeow" is right. I feel that Catwoman was executed perfectly in Arkham City. While there was much frustration for many over the fact that people who didn't purchase new copies of the game weren't granted access to her introductory storyline that helped set-up the start of the game, it was still an excellent addition to the game. It wasn't required to follow the storyline and added a great addition to the gameplay. She controls like you always imagined her too. She flipped, slid, and gracefully took down thugs with precision. Her whip provided the same range effect of the bat-claw, and her caltrops provided some entertaining moments. Watching as crude and brutal enemies charged towards her screaming vulgarities only to furiously claw at their feet and fall to the floor, made me laugh maniacally (I meowed) as I flipped around them. Catwoman provided an awesome new way to play the game, and a great reason to revisit Arkham City. 4) E.Nigma and His Beautifully Deranged Mind Poor, poor Riddler. He just refuses to accept that Batman might just be smarter than him. Every chance he gets he's capturing civilians, or working on the next elaborate plot to prove just how sad Batman is. Every attempt is foiled by Batman, and you wouldn't let him get the best of the Caped Crusader would you? Scattered across Arkham City are numerous intricately designed death-traps that The Riddler has used to place a victim within, in order to test the abilities of our favorite hero. He has challenged Batman to save them if he can by setting up puzzles that the player must navigate through. While many of the traps almost seem to be inspired by the Saw series, I really can't complain. Seeing how it was really only a matter of time before one of the villainous masterminds were inspired by the media, why not let it be Riddler? What's even better about The Riddler's Challenges is that it lends itself to another awesome game mechanic, while it is a smaller one, it adds another layer of depth to the game and tedious task of collection in video games. Edward Nigma's presence in this game allowed gamers to... 5) Interrogating for Intel Batman has an impressive line-up of abilities and intimidation is definitely one of them. It only makes sense that a game where the hero is a detective at heart would need to gather information from thugs and villains in order to accomplish what needs to be done. With the addition of Batman's ability to interrogate enemies it not only adds another element to the game, but adds a depth that requires thought when entering combat situations. As you glide over the city you find yourself activating "detective mode". Giving you access to a greater range of observation abilities, suddenly certain thugs in the streets are highlighted with a green radiance. This signals to you that they have information to give about the whereabouts of The Riddler, and his hidden trophies and riddles. In order to save captured civilians from his elaborate death traps, you need this information. Make your move. Zooming into the combat area you find yourself surrounded by enemies, but you can't relentlessly attack all of them because you need to ensure that the enemy to interrogate is left for last. Strategically you eliminate each foe, and as the last one is left you grab him by the throat to make him talk. Once you've convinced him your map will update with locations of these valuable collectibles and help you get one step closer to bringing down The Riddler.6) Navigating Arkham City as Batman Part of what truly created the feeling that players became the Dark Knight relied in the smooth and intuitive navigation controls that Arkham City implemented. With the original release it felt that Batman controlled fairly sloppily. It wasn't a case of horrible controls in the least, it was confinement. When I think of Batman I picture him grappling through the towering architecture of Gotham. I envision his cape spread across the sky instilling the fear of The Bat into his enemies before he ever strikes. With the original title it never brought us this feeling. Sure we kicked ass, but without Gotham it just couldn't be the same. From the first moments after you put on the suit in Arkham City you stand on the edge of a building. Staring at the beautifully detailed environments you take your first plunge as the Dark Knight, twisting into the alleyways you glide over the streets and for a moment you feel like Gothamis your city. Later in the game the option to be able to boost with your grappling gun only further expands your navigational options, and you find yourself scanning for villains without ever stepping foot on the ground. Oh , the sweet power of Batman. 7) Combat/Predator Challenges You may be done with the game sitting back in your chair laughing at the fact that you already collected every single Riddler trophy. You've solved all of the riddles, and mastered the games combat. There is nothing in the campaign for you to do, other than simply enjoy what Rocksteady has created with Arkham City. My question to you though is have you mastered all of the combat and predator challenges? Now, I'm sure for a master like you this is a silly question, but I mean every single one of them. Have you mastered them as Batman, Catwoman, Robin, and Nightwing? Have you climbed your way to the top of the leaderboards? Did you string together that one perfect combat session? I'm inclined to say I didn't think so...but then again if you have, congratulations. I bestow upon you the highest honor of The Dark Knight. Now please do one last thing for me, visit a tragic place in your life and remember why you've become the man you were destined to be. 8) Crime Alley Pay your respects...I'm sorry, I just, I can't talk about it anymore. It brings a tear to my eye. Batman: Arkham City is a game to be remembered. Even if you only play it occasionally, once the controller is in your hand and you glide through Arkham City, it's easy to remember why this was one of the best games of 2011. With an entirely new slate of amazing games set to release this year, you'd be doing yourself a favor to gently remove the game disc from the case, and play at least one more time. Now, one time before you click a new link, altogether now. I am Batman.