Although there have been multiple new superhero titles that have challenged Rocksteady's superb Arkham series, many still believe 2011's Batman: Arkham City to still be the cream of the comic book game crop. Insomniac's Spider-Man and Eidos Montreal's Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy are the topic of much chatter, but with Matt Reeves' new film featuring the Caped Crusader reminding fans of Batman's immense narrative potential, Arkham City is surely in the sights of many fans' rose-tinted spectacles.
Following the sublime Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City expands the horizons for The Dark Knight, giving the player a sprawling open world to explore that litters Riddler challenges and petty crime across a simply gorgeous landscape. Gliding through the Gotham skyline, diving from rooftops, and traversing the area with the grapple gun is very enjoyable, but with the increase in size, the 2011 title does away with the cramped and claustrophobic halls of Amadeus Arkham's famous Asylum.
Welcome to the Mad House
The walls that line Batman: Arkham Asylum hold some of the franchise's most iconic villains and have forged some of the best moments in Batman lore, from the questionable treatment methods to the events of Grant Morrison's chilling Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth from which the 2009 game is loosely based. The tight corridors create a chilling atmosphere and there is danger at every turn, which means that Batman - and indeed the player - never feel truly in control. As such, Joker's hostile takeover of the asylum and elaborate plan are the most prominent cogs that are turning the nightmare machine.
In Batman: Arkham City, the breathing room that Hugo Strange's 'super-prison' grants is enough to make Batman himself feel like the most threatening presence, whereas it was the asylum itself in the first game. Gliding from the rooftops, perching atop the gothic spires to stalk enemies from above, and rushing across town faster than a speeding bullet to complete one of the game's many side activities is enough to make the player feel like the hero. Batman's many gadgets and refined fighting ability should grant such power, but it unravels the tight, survival horror aspects that made the first so special. It's a somewhat short experience in relation to other open worlds, so The Dark Knight is never lost in the scenery, but it's enough to make it feel as though he is firmly in control at all times despite what the main story may imply.
An Open World Is An Opportunity for Distraction
As is customary for the series, collectibles make up much of the fun outside each game's main campaign, and while they are a welcome distraction, the presence of so many more quest markers and optional challenges throughout Arkham City makes Batman's race against time all the more head-scratching. The Riddler's many trophies that litter the landscape make up much of the post-game fun, but as they were littered across such a small hub world in Batman: Arkham Asylum, running across such items at every turn meant that deviating from the main story to scoop them up was rarely a time-consuming affair. In Arkham City, the elaborate nature of each Riddler task can result in whole minutes going by before the answer becomes clear.
As a result, shutting down Protocol 10 became the secondary objective for many. This is an issue that plagues more than a few open world games, though, with a story that is so dependent on Batman's speed throughout being dampened by the freedom to complete side activities at the player's leisure. A tale that has the Caped Crusader racing against time becomes yet another element of the game that Batman has total control over. Implementing the ever-threatening Batmobile to the mix in 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight was the final nail in the coffin for any true sense of vulnerability for the character.
All the best Batman stories are the ones where it feels as though he's out of his depth, despite an impressive skill set and smorgasbord of gadgets. From the overbearing Court of Owls to the Matt Reeves-directed 2022 film, it is clear that when Batman's back is against the wall, he shines brightest. Bringing the stellar Arkham Asylum gameplay and presentation to an open world is an impressive feat, but it does undo a lot of what made the first game truly special.
Batman: Arkham City is available on Mac, PC, PS3, PS4, WiiU, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
