| Batman: Arkham City | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Rocksteady Studios NetherRealm Studios (iOS ver.) |
| Publisher(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Square Enix (Japan)[1] |
| Director(s) | Sefton Hill |
| Writer(s) | Paul Dini |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
| Version | 1.03 |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, Wii U, Xbox 360 |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 NA October 18, 2011[2] AU October 19, 2011[3][2] EU October 21, 2011[4] JP November 23, 2011[5] Microsoft Windows NA November 22, 2011[6] AU November 23, 2011 EU November 25, 2011[6][7] Wii U NA 2012[8] EU 2012[4] |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, stealth, beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
| Media/distribution | Blu-ray Disc, DVD, download |
| System requirements
See Development section |
|
Batman: Arkham City is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios. It is the sequel to the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The game was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The game was officially announced during the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards and was released worldwide for consoles, beginning in North America on October 18, 2011, with the Microsoft Windows version following on November 22, 2011. A Wii U version is set to release in 2012. A spin-off iOS game, Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, was developed by NetherRealm Studios and released on December 7, 2011.[9]
Arkham City was scripted by veteran comic book author Paul Dini, who also scripted Arkham Asylum. It features a main plot and side-missions that develop their own sub-plots. The main storyline revolves around Batman's imprisonment in Arkham City, a sprawling new super-prison five times bigger than the original asylum and enclosing a wide variety of industrial districts, iconic locations and Gotham City landmarks. He must now stop mishaps occurring around this chaotic enclosure caused by Gotham's most notorious super criminals. The game has received universal critical acclaim, making it one of the highest rated video games released in 2011.
Contents |
Arkham City is an open world action video game that incorporates elements of stealth and predator tactics. The gadgets previously obtained in the first game are present at the start of Arkham City, while others are available later in the game. Most of these gadgets have improved or boast new capabilities; for example, the Cryptographic Sequencer can also track signals, the line launcher now can be deployed as a tightrope and has a feature that allows Batman to flip over and launch another zipline, switching directions. The remote control Batarang now has a built in brake and boost, and the grappling gun can now be used while gliding to boost Batman further up into the air. Four additional gadgets have been revealed: smoke pellets to confuse armed enemies when spotted by them, the Remote Electrical Charge which is a sniper-like taser gun used to power generators and shock enemies, ice grenades used to freeze enemies and make pathways through water, and a signal disruptor used to jam firearms and detonate enemy explosives. The game incorporates more puzzle elements; the use of Batman's "Detective Mode", which highlights elements such as enemy skeletons and clues on-screen, is used to perform forensic activities such as tracing the origin of a sniper round.
The player also has access to a criminal database that tracks several investigations across the city and the forensic puzzles much like the first game, as well as an extensive communications interception and tracing network.[10] However, Rocksteady's art director David Hego described the new detective mode as an "augmented reality mode", and game director Sefton Hill has also stated that although enemies and evidence can be seen more clearly, the navigational part is toned down as they found that some players completed Arkham Asylum using detective mode almost throughout the entire game.[11] Optional challenges from the Riddler to collect hidden trophies placed around the city are also present, but require additional effort to locate, such as interrogation of men loyal to the Riddler, and the use of nearly all of Batman's gadgets to disable "traps" and barriers placed around them. After a certain number of trophies are found, Batman must go rescue a hostage that the Riddler has captured, which requires him to disable death traps set by the Riddler.[10][12]
The player controls Batman, making their way around Arkham City to complete mission objectives. In addition to the primary mission, the game introduces secondary missions featuring a number of key characters and their stories. The player can opt to move silently, avoiding inmates and other enemies using a combination of gadgets to sneak up on enemies to incapacitate them. Batman's gliding ability has also been upgraded, allowing players to dive downward and pull themselves back up, making it much faster to move through the air.
At other times, the player may be forced to fight inmates using an improved version of the Freeflow combat system from Arkham Asylum, allowing for multiple simultaneous counters, the ability to counter thrown objects, jump attacks, powerful multi-strike beat-downs, upgraded Batarang and Batclaw attacks, and the ability to use gadgets such as the Explosive Gel in Freeflow. Movement about the city is made difficult due to the formation of gangs and territory between rival villains, such as Two-Face, The Penguin, and the Joker, that causes in-fighting that Batman may avoid.[10]
Catwoman is also a playable character with her own heist-focused storyline at specific points in the game. Her combat is more acrobatics-oriented and features her claws, whip, and bolas.[13][14] She has her own version of Detective Mode called "Thief Vision" to locate items for stealing. Dax Ginn revealed at Gamescom that the game has about 40 hours of gameplay with the main campaign lasting 25 hours and 15 hours for the side missions.[15][16] The game contains 440 Riddler challenges, which make up one of the multiple side missions that players can embark on at any given point in the game.[17] Rather than rely on maps, the player can mark Riddler puzzles as they are found, if the player does not have the necessary equipment to complete them. A portion of the puzzles are also specific to Catwoman, and can only be completed by her.
The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Arkham City include a stereoscopic 3D mode for 3D HDTVs and for 2D HDTVs via Inficolor 3D glasses. It uses TriOviz for Games Technology, which is integrated with Unreal Engine 3. All Arkham City gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.[18]
Arkham City features a large ensemble cast of characters pulled from the history of Batman comics. Returning characters from Arkham Asylum include Batman (Kevin Conroy),[20] the Joker (Mark Hamill)—in what Hamill claimed would be his final time voicing the character[21]—Warden-turned-Mayor Quincy Sharp (Tom Kane), police Commissioner James Gordon (voiced by David Kaye, who replaces Kane), [22] and Jack Ryder (James Horan). Returning villains include the Riddler (Wally Wingert),[23][24] Victor Zsasz (Danny Jacobs),[25] Bane,[26] and Poison Ivy (Tasia Valenza),[27][28]. Joker's sidekick Harley Quinn also returns, voiced by Tara Strong, who replaces Arleen Sorkin. Playable characters introduced for Arkham City include Nightwing,[27] Robin (Troy Baker),[29] and Catwoman (Grey DeLisle).[13] Catwoman takes advantage of the chaos in Arkham City to steal valuable items hoarded by the inmates.[30]
Other characters marking their debut in the series include the manipulative Hugo Strange (Corey Burton), warden of Arkham City, Two-Face (Troy Baker),[31] and the Penguin (Nolan North).[32] Maurice LaMarche voices both Mr. Freeze and Calendar Man, while Stana Katic lends her voice as Talia al Ghul.[33][34][25] Alfred Pennyworth (Martin Jarvis) joins the cast, supporting Batman by radio alongside Barbara Gordon (Kimberly Brooks). Other characters include the undead zombie Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore), the shapeshifter Clayface (Rick D. Wasserman), the leader of the League of Assassins Rā's al Ghūl (Dee Bradley Baker), the mind-controlling Mad Hatter (Peter MacNicol),[35] the assassin Deadshot (Chris Cox), who has infiltrated Arkham City to kill a "high-profile character".[36] The villain Hush (Kevin Conroy), vigilante Azrael (Khary Payton), reporter Vicki Vale (Kari Wahlgren), and Freeze's wife Nora Fries are also featured. Black Mask (also voiced by North) and Killer Croc appear in cameos.
The events of Arkham City take place one year after Arkham Asylum.[37] Quincy Sharp, former warden of Arkham Asylum, has taken credit for stopping the Joker's Asylum takeover, and used the notoriety to become mayor of Gotham City. Deeming Arkham and Blackgate Penitentiary no longer suitable to contain the city's criminals and insane, Sharp has both facilities closed and buys out a large section of Gotham's slums, converting them into an immense open-air prison named Arkham City. Gotham City becomes a police state where those with the slightest trace of a criminal record, and opponents of Sharp's policies, including reporters, are sent to Arkham City. The facility is placed in the care of genius psychiatrist Hugo Strange — who is secretly manipulating Sharp[38] — and guarded by a squad of heavily-armed mercenaries hired from a rogue private military firm, Tyger Security. The inmates are given free rein as long as they do not attempt to escape. Batman maintains a vigil over the detention city, concerned that the chaotic situation there will get out of hand.[10] Meanwhile, the Joker is stricken with a potentially fatal disease, mutated by his consumption of, and subsequent transformation by, the Titan formula—an unstable steroid serum which has the ability to turn men into powerful monsters.[28]
At a press conference held by Bruce Wayne to declare his opposition to Arkham City, Wayne is arrested by Hugo Strange's Tyger mercenaries and is himself imprisoned in Arkham City. Strange discloses his knowledge of Wayne's dual identity as Batman before releasing him into the criminal populace. While Strange prepares for the commencement of Protocol 10, Wayne escapes from Penguin and obtains his crime-fighting equipment via airdrop by Alfred Pennyworth, allowing Wayne to become Batman. As Batman, he is first forced to save Catwoman from being executed by Two-Face who hopes to gain respect with her murder. After an assassination attempt on Catwoman by the Joker, Batman tracks the Clown Prince of Crime to his hideout in the Sionis Steelworks, believing he may know the truth behind Protocol 10.
Batman learns from Joker's doctor that the unstable properties of the Titan formula are mutating in Joker's blood, gradually eating away at his body and killing him. The Joker captures Batman and performs a blood transfusion on him infecting him with the same fatal disease. Batman is forced to find a cure for himself and Joker, or they will both perish. Batman is informed that Mr. Freeze had been developing a cure but has since been kidnapped by the Penguin.
Batman pursues Penguin to the Cyrus Pinkney National History Institute: defeating his forces, his imprisoned monster Solomon Grundy, and ultimately the Penguin himself, before liberating Mr. Freeze. Freeze tells Batman that he has already developed the cure, but its instability renders it useless. Batman deduces that the restorative properties within the blood of Rā's al Ghūl can complete the cure. Batman tracks one of Rā's al Ghūl's assassins to his lair in Wonder City, leading Batman into a confrontation with Rā's and his daughter Talia — Batman's former lover. With Rā's al Ghūl's blood, Freeze is able to develop a vial of working cure, but it is stolen by Harley Quinn before Batman can use it.
Batman returns to the Joker and finds him to be fully healed. While Batman and Joker fight, Protocol 10 is activated — A scheme to wipe out the entire population of Arkham City, destroying the criminal element of Gotham. The Tyger troops begin mass executions of prisoners, and Strange launches missile strikes from his base in Wonder Tower. A missile hits the steelworks, burying Batman under rubble. Before Joker can take advantage of the situation, Talia arrives and offers him immortality in exchange for sparing Batman's life. After he escapes with the help of Catwoman, Batman is convinced to put an end to Protocol 10 before pursuing Talia and Joker.
Batman infiltrates Wonder Tower and disables Protocol 10. Rā's al Ghūl is revealed to be the mastermind behind Arkham City, and mortally wounds Strange for failing to defeat Batman. With his dying breath, Strange activates Protocol 11 - Wonder Tower's self destruction. Batman and Rā's escape and Rā's commits suicide rather than risk capture. Joker contacts Batman, threatening to kill Talia unless Batman brings the cure to the Monarch Theater. As Batman arrives, Talia takes advantage of the Joker's momentary distraction and kills him. Talia offers Batman the cure having intercepted it from Quinn, but she is killed by the real and still dying Joker. The second Joker is revealed to be Clayface, who had been masquerading as the healed Joker at the ailing villain's request.
Batman incapacitates Clayface, but Joker blows up the theater floor, sending Batman plummeting into Wonder City below. Batman destroys Rā's rejuvenating Lazarus Pit before the Joker can use it, and drinks a portion of the antidote. Batman debates curing his foe, but is attacked by the Joker, causing the antidote vial to smash. Batman maintains that in spite of everything Joker has done, he would have saved him. Joker finally succumbs to his illness and dies. Batman carries Joker's body out of Arkham City into the winter dawn.
The concurrent plot with Batman's role in Arkham involves Catwoman performing heists across the city, the first being an attempt to crack Two-Face's personal safe. After being rescued by Batman, she enlists the reluctant aid of Poison Ivy in retrieving numerous valuables seized upon her arrest (being stored inside Hugo Strange's heavily-guarded vault). Catwoman successfully infiltrates the vault and attempts to escape with the ill-gotten gains, but abandons this plan when she stops to help save Batman from the Joker. Intending to return for her belongings, she goes on to fight a rematch with Two-Face and his henchmen.
Serious development of the game's story and concept started in February 2009, as teams were brought in from Arkham Asylum to Arkham City's development as they completed the work on that game.[39] The concept of expanding the game from the asylum into the city came early on in Arkham Asylum's development; once the team had programmed the Batman to dive and glide between buildings of the asylum, the adaption of this gameplay to the city was considered natural. Arkham Asylum was completed with the sequel in mind in both story and gameplay; as found by several players, a secret room in Arkham Asylum shows plans for Arkham City, purposely included to help link the story between the two games.[40] Sefton Hill, Arkham City's director from Rocksteady Studios, stated that a key goal for the game was to deliver the "'Batman in Gotham' feeling."[40] The sequel was described by Conroy as "really, really dark". While relating the game's dark nature to the animated movie Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Conroy also said, "It involves a lot of the villains and it goes to that area – it's that dark."[20]
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As part of the "Batman in Gotham" design philosophy, the arsenal of moves and actions that the player could use as Batman was expanded. Although the team developed several ideas for new moves, gadgets, and abilities to be included, they only went forward with those that they felt would be authentic to Batman.[40] The studio also reviewed the play and combat systems used in Arkham Asylum, and built the new moves as natural extensions of the existing system as a means to "add even more depth and gameplay instead of changing them fundamentally".[40] The number of animations has been doubled to reflect the larger arsenal of moves at the player's disposal.[40]
Another means of giving the player the Batman experience was through the larger game world. Arkham City has a virtual footprint five times larger than that of Arkham Asylum, and the navigational aspects have been improved to give the player the experience of "the freedom and exhilaration of gliding down alleyways and soaring above the skyline".[40] Though the concepts have been compared to an open world game, Hill notes that such freeform nature would not be appropriate for a Batman game, and have designed Arkham City to challenge the player to think like Batman to survive in the game.[40] To counterbalance the larger game world, the developers also sought to include more challenges and side missions, while keeping the player alert as to the primary story mission, such that the players constantly are aware of "extreme pressure of the challenges that they face".[40]
With the open game world, Rocksteady included more villains not simply to populate the city, but purposely selected those that would create challenges for the player in the role of Batman.[39] Hugo Strange was selected as a primary antagonist as his power and control help to maintain the lockdown on Arkham City when Batman enters it. Strange is further aware of Batman's identity as Bruce Wayne, making Batman "vulnerable and exposed in a way that he has never been before", according to Hill.[39] Hill also notes that Strange is a character many players may have not seen in relation to the Batman mythos, but that Strange's backstory and character are fleshed out over the course of the game.[39] Catwoman was also included due to the long history between Batman and her, although she brings her own agenda to the events within Arkham City.[39]
The presence of multiplayer had been rumored shortly after the game's official announcement, but has since been denied by Rocksteady Studios.[42][43] The developers had considered adding a multiplayer element to the game, but ultimately decided against this. According to Hill, they asked themselves "If we use all of the energy that is required to create multiplayer and instead focus this on the single player, would that deliver a better overall game?", and felt that they could not succeed in this, instead using their efforts to strengthen the single player game.[39]
Developers at Rocksteady have also assured players that they can experience variety as each part of the city has been taken over by a certain villain and each territory is villain-specific. Dax Ginn, marketing game manager at Rocksteady Games has said, "If you move into Joker's territory, you get a very Joker-ized experience, and all the artwork on the buildings – whether that's graffiti, signage, or whatever it might be – gives you a dense kind of Joker experience. So our art team has really put a lot of effort in making that sort of transition between one turf zone to another – really helping the player feel like they're making a physical transition into another emotional space." To develop the expanded environment of Arkham City and build a "natural urban environment" for Batman, Rocksteady expanded its workforce from 75 to over 100 people.[44]
A limited series five-issue[45] monthly comic series, also titled Batman: Arkham City was released on May 11, 2011. The series bridges the plot between Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. It is written by Paul Dini with art by Carlos D'Anda.[46] On August 24, 2011 Arkham City's Facebook and Twitter accounts were "taken over" by the Riddler in a marketing campaign. Cryptic messages were created and signed "#EN" for Edward Nigma, the Riddler's alter ego. A special Xbox 360 console was eventually revealed.[47]
Warner Bros. partnered with several retailers and companies globally to provide bonus content as a reward for pre-ordering the game, including: Best Buy, Amazon.com, GameStop, Game, Gamestation, EB Games, Tesco, and Asda.[48] The content was only made available by pre-ordering the game with a specific retailer or purchasing a product such as a NOS beverage to obtain an unlockable code.[49]
Toys "R" Us in New York City, Time Square released 500 copies of Batman: Arkham City on Monday, October 17, a full day before the game officially hit shelves. Only 500 copies of the game were available at the event, and the first 100 customers who pre-order a copy through the stores "Personal Shopping Department" had a chance to get their game autographed by DC Entertainment co-publisher Jim Lee, Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy, and Arkham City game director Sefton Hill. The latter remaining 400 copies of Arkham City could be purchased at the event, although the player is unable to be entered into the contest.[50]
Batman: Arkham City was first officially released in North America on October 18, 2011 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,[2] followed on October 19 by Australia[2] and October 21 by Europe. Australian retailers EB Games and Game broke the official release date two days early, selling the game on October 17.[3] The Windows version had been scheduled for simultaneous release with other versions but in September, 2011 its release was pushed back to November 18 with no explanation given.[7][6]
A variety of alternative suits for Batman were revealed on August 1, 2011 including suit designs the character has worn in The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Earth One, the Bronze Age of Comics, Batman: The Animated Series, and Batman Beyond.[51] The Batman: The Animated Series skin is to be initially only available to GameStop customers in the U.S. with a Power-Up Rewards Membership.[52] A PS3-exclusive Sinestro Corps outfit was revealed in August 2011, that can initially only be unlocked via a unique code obtained with the purchase of the extended cut edition of the Warner Bros. film Green Lantern on Blu-ray from Best Buy.[53][54][55]
Batman's sidekick Robin (Tim Drake)[56] was announced as a playable character, with his own set of moves and gadgets, allowing him to be used in challenge maps. Additional skins were also made available, including his appearance as seen in Batman: The Animated Series and the Red Robin outfit.[57][58] The character also comes with two exclusive challenge maps: "Black Mask Hideout" and "Freight Train Escape".[56] Additionally, the "Joker's Carnival" challenge map was announced, set within the Joker's Sionis Steel Mill base where the player is faced with multiple waves of enemies.[59] The pre-order content was considered an "early access opportunity"[60] for purchasers, with Ginn confirming that all of the content would be made available for download after the game's release date.[60]
In the United Kingdom, the Robin Edition was announced for sale exclusively through the retailers Game and Gamestation, containing the game and all of the Robin pre-order content including the playable character, skins and challenge maps.[61] A series of "Steelbook Edition" versions of the game were also made available, featuring the standard game with a metallic case. The Joker-themed Steelbook includes the "Joker's Carnival" challenge map, the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood on DVD (Blu-ray for PS3), and the Silver Age Batman skin DLC.[62] Three other villain-themed steelbook cases were also offered, featuring the likenesses of Two-Face and the Penguin.[48] A fourth steelbook featuring Catwoman was released, containing the Batman: Earth One alternative skin for Batman.[63]
The Collector's Edition contains a Batman statue by Kotobukiya, a collectible art book, Batman: Arkham City – The Album from WaterTower Music, the animated film Batman: Gotham Knight, the The Dark Knight Returns skin and the Penguin-themed "Iceberg Lounge" challenge map.[64][65] In July 2011, the Microsoft Windows version of the game was revealed to use Games for Windows – Live (GFWL) to access online services.[66] Confusion concerning the use of GFWL was raised when a distributor was told by Warner Bros. that the title did not use the Live system, but the use of GFWL was confirmed in late August.[67][68]
On October 25, 2011, a Batman themed Xbox 360 console bundle was released, containing the game, a DVD of Batman: Gotham Knight, a DVD of the Green Lantern film, the Green Lantern video game tie-in Rise of the Manhunters, and a 250GB Xbox 360 console. Additionally, a bundle containing these items and a Kinect controller was also released.[69]
New purchases of the game are provided with a unique code that unlocks the Catwoman downloadable content (DLC) that enables a series of missions in the story campaign that can be played as Catwoman, with weapons and moves unique to the character. Although the missions were presented as part of the main game, on October 13, 2011, Warner Bros. announced that it would be restricted to new purchases. Users can also purchase the content separately. It was later announced that pre-owned copies purchased from GameStop would also contain the necessary unlock code.[70][71] A Warner Bros. rep confirmed that playing as Catwoman would not be required to complete the game.[72] The Catwoman DLC also contains two alternate skins for the character: her appearances from The Animated Series and Batman: The Long Halloween.[73]
Additional DLC packs are also available or scheduled for release. The Nightwing pack, released on November 1, 2011, includes Batman's ally Nightwing as a playable character for the game's challenge maps, an Animated Series alternative skin for the character,[74] and two additional challenge maps: "Wayne Manor" and "Main Hall".[75] The Robin pack was released on November 22, 2011, and contains the Robin pre-order content: the playable character, "Animated Series" and "Red Robin" skins and "Black Mask" and "Freight Train" challenge maps.[74] A Skins pack containing all of the alternate Batman pre-order skins was released on December 6, 2011.[76] Another pack was announced for release on December 20, 2011, containing the pre-order "Iceberg Lounge" and "Joker's Carnival" challenge maps, and a completely new challenge map: "Batcave".[77] On December 19, 2011, a new Batman skin was released—based on the character's outfit from Batman Incorporated—to download for free on all platforms.[78]
On October 23, 2011, an official map app was made available to purchase on the iOS App Store that contains maps for all areas of the game, the locations of in-game collectibles, and the solutions to the Riddler's riddles.[79]
During the launch week, issues were found to exist in the code-restricted content supplied with new purchases, with some customers discovering the code to be missing from their game, preventing them from obtaining the Catwoman story missions. The problem was reported by customers in the United States and the United Kingdom. Warner Bros. issued a statement claiming that the missing codes had affected less than 0.5% of the total units sold, and provided a process for users to prove their game was purchased new in order to receive a replacement code.[80] Upon release in the United Kingdom, a technical issue rendered the game unplayable for some players, booting them from the game with an error message that the "downloadable content is corrupt." Rocksteady European community manager Sarah Wellock claimed that the fault lay with the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live online systems.[81] In early November, 2011, Rocksteady confirmed that it was investigating reports by numerous users that save files for the Xbox 360 version of the game were being erased without prompting, resulting in players losing their progress and being unable to complete the game.[82][83] On launch, performance issues arose for the PC version when DirectX 11 features were enabled; the developer acknowledged the inconvenience and recommended to run the game with DirectX 9 while a title update was released to address this matter.[84][85]
A spin-off game titled Batman: Arkham City Lockdown was developed by NetherRealm Studios for iOS. The game was released on December 7, 2011.[9] Taking place before Arkham City, the game sees players using touchscreen controls to fight enemies one-on-one, including villains such as Two-Face, Solomon Grundy, Joker and Deathstroke. Defeating enemies earns points that can be used to upgrade Batman's stats or unlock gadgets or costumes.[86][9]
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | (PS3) 95.94%[87] (X360) 94.13%[88] (PC) 90.56%[89] |
| Metacritic | (PS3) 96/100[90] (X360) 94/100[91] (PC) 91/100[92] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | A[93] |
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 10/10[94] |
| Eurogamer | 9/10[95] |
| Game Informer | 10/10[96] |
| GamePro | [97] |
| GameSpot | 9/10[98] |
| GameTrailers | 9.3/10[99] |
| IGN | 9.5/10[100] |
| Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) | 10/10[101] |
| Official Xbox Magazine | 10/10[102] |
| X-Play | [103] |
| Joystiq | [104] |
Batman: Arkham City received universal acclaim by critics and, as of October 29, is the best-reviewed game of 2011 according to review aggregator Metacritic.[44] Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 95.94% and 96/100,[87][90] the Xbox 360 version 94.13% and 94/100[88][91] and the PC version 90.56% and 91/100.[89][92]
The Australian Official PlayStation Magazine awarded a perfect score of 10 stating that the game "is not only the best superhero game ever made, it's one of the best games ever made... it brings the caped crusader's world to life better than any comic, movie or television show before it.".[105] Game Informer also gave a perfect 10 score, labeling it ""the best licensed video game ever made" and stating "Arkham City not only lives up to the standards set by Arkham Asylum, it bests its predecessor."[96] Play3 (Germany) awarded a score of 92%, calling it "the best superhero game ever made".[106] Games Master awarded a score of 97%, calling it "one of the greatest games ever conceived."[107] Joystiq awarded it 4.5 out of 5, crediting the developers for "breathing life into a staggeringly beautiful world; one which hums not only with opportunity, but ambition", but criticized the dialog as clichéd.[104] Eurogamer awarded a score of 9 out of 10, lamenting that it lacks the same "surprise" as its predecessor, but praising the detailed world, the wide cast, and the variety of activities and missions.[95]
Worldwide, the game sold 2 million units in its first week of approximately 4.6 million shipped units, compared to Arkham Asylum which sold 4.3 million units in its entire release. This made Arkham City one of the fastest selling games ever.[108]
During the first week of sales in the United Kingdom, Batman: Arkham City became the number 1 selling game on all available formats, topping the all-format,[109] PS3[110] and Xbox 360 charts,[111] replacing FIFA 12. It became the fourth biggest launch of 2011 after FIFA 12, Gears of War 3 and L.A. Noire, and Warner Bros. biggest UK game launch ever, doubling the first week sales of Arkham Asylum.[112]
According to NPD Group, Batman: Arkham City was the second-best selling game in the United States for October 2011, selling 1.5 million copies across available formats, and the tenth-best selling in November.[113][114]
Batman: Arkham City was nominated for multiple awards at the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards including nominations for: Best Original Score, Best Graphics, Best Peformance by a Human Female (Tara Strong), Best Performance by a Human Male (Mark Hamill), Trailer of the Year (Hugo Strange Reveal Trailer) , Best Studio (Rocksteady), and Game of the Year;[115] and winning awards for: Character of the Year (Joker), Best Xbox 360 Game, Best Action Adventure Game, and Best Adapted Video Game.[116]
In December, 2011, E! Online ranked Arkham City number 1 on their list of the Top 10 Games of 2011.[117][118] Gamespot labeled it the Best Action/Adventure Game as part of its Best of 2011 series,[119] while Wired placed it number 3 on their list of the The 20 Best Videogames of 2011.[120] Time ranked it number 5 on their list of the Top 10 Video Games of 2011.[121]
Batman Arkham City has also won through GameTrailers.com the award for Best Xbox 360 Game of the Year, Best PC Game of 2011, as well as Best Action/Adventure game.
| Batman: Arkham City – Original Video Game Score | |
|---|---|
| Film score by Nick Arundel Ron Fish |
|
| Released | October 18, 2011 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Length | 52:50 |
| Label | WaterTower Music |
The Batman: Arkham City – Original Video Game Score was released on October 18, 2011, by WaterTower Music. The album features 19 songs written for the game.[122] Ron Fish and Nick Arundel, composers for Batman: Arkham Asylum, returned to write music for Arkham City.[123][124]
| "Batman: Arkham City – Original Video Game Score" tracklisting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Contributing artist(s) | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Arkham City Main Theme" | Nick Arundel | 2:47 | ||||||
| 2. | "Sorry, Boys" | Nick Arundel | 1:49 | ||||||
| 3. | "A Monument To Your Failure" | Ron Fish | 1:56 | ||||||
| 4. | "Have You Got My Location" | Nick Arundel | 4:20 | ||||||
| 5. | "This Court Is Now In Session" | Nick Arundel | 2:16 | ||||||
| 6. | "It Was The Joker" | Nick Arundel | 2:19 | ||||||
| 7. | "I Think You Should Do As He Says" | Nick Arundel | 2:35 | ||||||
| 8. | "Refusal Will Not Be Tolerated" | Nick Arundel | 2:44 | ||||||
| 9. | "Wham. Gotcha!" | Nick Arundel | 3:29 | ||||||
| 10. | "Let's Hear Him Squeal" | Nick Arundel | 3:01 | ||||||
| 11. | "I Know What You Guys Are Thinking" | Nick Arundel | 3:34 | ||||||
| 12. | "It's Initiation Time" | Nick Arundel | 1:59 | ||||||
| 13. | "What's He Doing Here?" | Nick Arundel | 2:14 | ||||||
| 14. | "How Does It Feel, Pig?" | Nick Arundel | 2:19 | ||||||
| 15. | "Call Him Off" | Nick Arundel | 4:36 | ||||||
| 16. | "You Should Have Listened To My Warning" | Nick Arundel | 2:10 | ||||||
| 17. | "You Need To Think This Through" | Nick Arundel | 2:43 | ||||||
| 18. | "Bring Her Back To Me" | Ron Fish | 2:08 | ||||||
| 19. | "It's Not Even Breakfast" | Nick Arundel & Ron Fish | 3:51 | ||||||
|
Total length:
|
52:50 | ||||||||
| Batman: Arkham City – The Album | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by various artists | |
| Released | October 4, 2011 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Label | WaterTower Music |
To accompany the original score, WaterTower Music also published Batman: Arkham City - The Album, featuring musical contributions to the franchise by various artists. The album was digitally released worldwide on October 4, 2011, via major electronic retailers iTunes and Amazon MP3. The iTunes Deluxe Edition included a portion of Arundel & Fish's original video game score 14 days before its standalone release.[125] A physical audio CD release accompanied the digital version.[126] The Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition is also to include The Album via digital redemption, featuring an additional exclusive track.[127] All 11 tracks were included on CD from retailer Best Buy.[128]
On their contribution to the album, Claudio Sanchez from Coheed and Cambria said "I write in a very conceptual format with the stories that surround Coheed and Cambria, but Batman has a much larger, defined history and rules that go along with it" and that "my goal was to find universal themes from Batman’s existing history to help give the lyrics legs and dimension so that the song could live within that world".[129] Panic! At The Disco's involvement with the album was publicised on their website on September 22, 2011, with the announcement of their track "Mercenary".[130]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| IGN | (7/10)[131] |
| Alternative Press | [132] |
| Seattle Pi | [133] |
| Some Kind of Awesome | [134] |
| Artistdirect | [135] |
| "Batman: Arkham City – The Album" tracklisting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Contributing artist(s) | Length | ||||||
| 1. | "Mercenary" | Panic! at the Disco | 2:41 | ||||||
| 2. | "Deranged" | Coheed and Cambria | 4:26 | ||||||
| 3. | "Creature" | The Duke Spirit | 2:32 | ||||||
| 4. | "Shadow On The Run" | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club | 4:48 | ||||||
| 5. | "Afterdark" | Blaqk Audio | 4:26 | ||||||
| 6. | "Oh, Stranger" | The Raveonettes | 3:19 | ||||||
| 7. | "The Years" | † † † (Crosses) | 4:01 | ||||||
| 8. | "Trophy Widow" | The Damned Things | 3:45 | ||||||
| 9. | "Drown In You" | Daughtry | 4:22 | ||||||
| 10. | "Losing You" | The Boxer Rebellion | 3:34 | ||||||
| 11. | "Total Paranoia" | Serj Tankian | 2:56 | ||||||
| Collector's Edition Bonus Track | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Contributing Artist(s) | Length | ||||||
| 12. | "In The Shadow" | A Place to Bury Strangers | 3:10 | ||||||
| iTunes Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks (from the Original Video Game Score) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Contributing Artist(s) | Length | ||||||
| 12. | "Arkham City Main Theme" | Nick Arundel | 2:47 | ||||||
| 13. | "This Court Is Now In Session" | Nick Arundel | 2:16 | ||||||
| 14. | "I Think You Should Do As He Says" | Nick Arundel | 2:35 | ||||||
| 15. | "I Know What You Guys Are Thinking" | Nick Arundel | 3:34 | ||||||
| 16. | "Call Him Off" | Nick Arundel | 4:36 | ||||||
| 17. | "You Should Have Listened To My Warning" | Nick Arundel | 2:10 | ||||||
|
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