Batman: Arkham City

2024-12-14
Hyped up endlessly and while I was expecting something significantly better than Asylum it was more of a modest improvement. And while the gameplay is improved it's still a tough hang a decade later. Batman's weakness to guns and the plethora of gun-toting thugs means too many combat encounters felt like a puzzle to be solved rather than action set pieces. The open world itself feels like a map chock full of trite collectibles and activities I have no interest in.

One of the things these games do the absolute best is capturing a really clear vibe of the Batman universe and especially the character of Batman himself. Casting Kevin Conroy is a fantastic start. But also the way he's written. His stoic, short responses with such confidence, "Everyone who's tried this has died." "Do I look worried?" When he's dying from the Joker virus and coughs up blood and then punches the ground and gets up is such a beautiful way of showing off the famous Batman willpower to overcome literally anything. I mean honestly that was my favorite part of this game is the way they characterize Batman as this just unbelievable badass. He encounters absurd horrors and doesn't blink and says "That's all?" and then just punches them in the face. City's worth the price of admission for that alone in my book.

2022-08-16
Hyped up endlessly and while I was expecting something significantly better than Asylum it was more of a modest improvement. And you know what Aslyum was a really solid game. It got rid of most of the really annoying combat fights against enemies with a single counter. It spruced up the combat overall by adding more options to your arsenal. It had more villains and more of the excellent Mark Hamill. It had more beautiful environments and set pieces. The old mechanical city, the underground lair of Solomon Grundy, the battle at the top of the tower, etc.

I mean, one of the things these games do the absolute best is capturing a really clear vibe of the Batman universe. I think really this is most clear through Batman himself. He's voiced by the same voice actor as the cartoons I grew up on which is a great start. But also the way he's written. His stoic, short responses with such confidence, "Everyone who's tried this has died." "Do I look worried?" When he's dying from the Joker virus and coughs up blood and then punches the ground and gets up is such a beautiful way of showing off the famous Batman willpower to overcome literally anything. I mean honestly that was my favorite part of this game is the way they characterize Batman as this just unbelievable badass. He encounters absurd horrors and doesn't blink and says "That's all?" and then just punches them in the face.

The gameplay overall was actually quite varied and fun. Flying around the city, using the different tools you get to solve little puzzles. The combat and how it kind of forces you to solve it like a puzzle because you can't take lots of shots from guns was my main complaint but turning the difficulty down to Easy made it so I could just ignore that. And really it made it a more fun experience of Batman for me. It's fucking Batman. Of course he can easily fight 20 dudes at the same time and come out victorious.

I guess the last shoutout I have is the end with the Joker's death. Him mocking Batman saying even though he killed the woman he loved he'll still save the Joker because of his code. And Batman saying, "Wanna hear something funny? Even after all of that I would have saved you." And Joker laughs and dies because of his own chaotic energy getting in his way.

Actually pretty excited to play Arkham Knight.