Story:

Bruce Wayne is running to be the Mayor of Gotham City. He wants to shut down Arkham City, which is a big area of the city that was sealed off and is used as a big prison. Something Strange is going on inside there.

During a press conference, Bruce gets arrested and sent to this prison. It is now up to him (Batman) to find out what is REALLY happening inside Arkham City. In the process he will run into villains such as the Joker, Penguin, Two Face and others, none of which like him very much.

Gameplay:

Batman Arkham City is a 3rd person action adventure game. You play as Batman (Bruce Wayne, initially) and move about the city, fighting thugs and advancing in the main campaign.

Combat:

Combat is a main feature of the game. But this is not some blind button mashing, fighting game. Fighting as Batman is almost like an art. You move from one enemy to another, countering their attacks as you hit them with your own. All have to be carefully timed to form a smooth flow. But it’s more then that. You don’t just barge into a fight. You use detective mode to analyze your surroundings, prioritize targets. You jump between vantage points, using them to your advantage. You will use high tech gadgets. You use stealth to silently take enemies down. Indeed, much thought went into the game by Rocksteady Studios.

On screen tips will help you with planning your attacks, letting you know which strategies are optimal. Remember, Batman’s strength is his intelligence and his ability to outsmart his opponents.

But don’t think all this planning takes away from the fun of the game. It is fun watching the enemies move slowly underneath you, waiting for the chance to drop on them on knocking them unconscious without their friends noticing anything. Or just going in for the kill, and disappearing with a throw of a smoke bomb before reinforcements arrive.

The fights start out easy, but as you advance in the game, the enemies become tougher and better equipped. It is in the later stages of the game where the ability to analyze the battlefield will come in the most handy.

Gadgets:

Gadgets play a significant role in the game. Batman gets access to all sorts of gadgets, including smoke pellets letting him vanish out of sight, explosive gel allowing him to blast through obstacles, a sophisticated “Cryptographic Sequencer” letting him hack security systems, and much more. Many of these gadgets can be upgraded as you level up.

Environment:

Arkham city is an immersive environment. The atmosphere of the city really pulls you in. It is almost an open world experience. You can roam freely about the city, fighting thugs, and helping people in distress. One of the coolest features of the game is listening to the communications of the various groups in the city. Batman has a device allowing him to listen in on all radio frequencies. As you roam the city, you will overhear interesting conversations which will add to the overall atmosphere.

Graphics and Acting:

Both the visuals and the cast in the game were really well done. When Batman speaks, he SOUNDS like Batman. The authority in his voice is well delivered. Villains such as Joker and Penguin also deliver a great performance.

Missions:

A main campaign you follow takes you through your primary objectives. The story is intriguing, and you will always be wondering what is coming next. In addition to the main mission, there are plenty of Side Missions to do to keep you busy for a long time. Some of the main missions lead you to epic boss battles where batman must gather all of his wit in order to outsmart and defeat the villain.

Score: 97/100

With an innovative and intuitive combat system, an open world like environment, and an intriguing plot, Batman Arkham City has the "Epic" feeling to it and truly immerses you into the world.