Exclusive Hands-on and interview ARKHAM CITY from Play magazine issue 208 September 2011
Be prepared to face the worst of the worst in the New Arkham City. Rocksteady promises that all the baddies form Arkham Asylum will be back in the sequel (that is Riddler, Joker, Bane) along with new ones (like Hugo Strange, Harvey Two-Face and Penguin) along with other less common criminals they wished to add to the milieu (like Calendar man, and many others, Rocksteady didn’t allow us to reveal). On Batman’s side, you’ll have Catwoman and Robin helping certain aspects of the game as it progresses.
Some changes have occurred in the game as skills go. First is the DETECTIVE MODE. This mode can be interfered with, jammed or corrupted by your enemies. It will be your job then to identify the problem and take it out (it could even be a thug) before you can use the mode again and carry on the game. The other big change with the detective mode is that instead of being a feature you could use all the time like in Arkham Asylum, this time you will have to sacrifice other important navigation tools while you activate your detective mode. It’s more of an incentive to use the mode only when you need it than rather timing your session.
Since there are no batmobile in this game (so far Rocksteady has not confirmed or denied the fact), make friends with the GRAPPLING HOOK. You will need it to glide through the city covering large amount of terrain in less time than on foot. Aim at a rooftop and tap R1 and you’ll be flying up towards the ledge via the grappling hook but a double tap (and hold) for X before arriving at the rooftop makes Batman kick off at the summit and unleash his wings.
This world is larger, more complex than the experience of Arkham Asylum. Here make the most to interact with the open environment listening to conversations between gangmembers or police just to get a feel of what’s going on around.
So far, this magazine’s experience with the game left them asking for more and according to the editors, any worries that the sequel “would simply be more of the same and lack any real ambition to improve were cleared with the demo” It is a game that “OOZES ambition,style, and an attention to detail that can’t help but get us excited.
Judgment on the game: Batman Arkham City is really, REALLY GOOD!
