Batman: Arkham City is a 2011 a
ction-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios with a story written by veteran comic book author Paul Dini, Paul Crocker, and Sefton Hill. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the sequel to the award winning 2009 video game Batman: 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 landmarks of the fictional Gotham City. He must now stop mishaps occurring around this chaotic enclosure caused by Gotham's most notorious super criminals.
The game received widespread critical acclaim and is one of the
highest-rated video games of 2011 according to review aggregator Metacritic. It was the recipient of several awards including awards for Game of the
Year, Action game, Action Adventure game, Adventure game and best
original music score.
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 Game of the Year edition is scheduled for release on May 29, 2012 in North America and on September 7, 2012 for the rest of the world. A Wii U version is set to be released in 2012. A spin-off iOS game,
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, was developed by NetherRealm Studios and released on December 7, 2011.
Gameplay
Batman uses a Remote Electrical Charge against Tyger Security personnel.
Batman: Arkham City features an emphasis on the skillful use of gadgetry when facing armed enemies.
Arkham City is an open world action video game that incorporates elements of stealth and beat 'em up game 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. New
gadgets include smoke pellets to confuse armed enemies when spotted by
them, the Remote Electrical Charge, a 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, as well as a
communications interception and tracing network. 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. 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.
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 allows players to dive
downward and pull themselves back up, enabling the player to traverse
the city by air.
Batman defeats an enemy in a demonstration of
Arkham City's "Freeflow" combat system.
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. 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.
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. 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.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. 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, while the PC version supports Nvidia 3D Vision which allows an
even greater 3D depth due to the Nvidia software and hardware
supporting adjustments of such. It uses TriOviz for Games Technology, which is integrated with Unreal Engine 3. All
Arkham City gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.
Setting
For more details on the setting, see the Batman: Arkham City comic book.
The events of
Arkham City take place one year after
Arkham Asylum. 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 — 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.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.
Plot
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 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 Batman 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 comes to the
Monarch Theater. As Batman arrives, Joker demands the cure. Talia takes
advantage of the Joker's momentary distraction and kills him. Talia then
reveals that she has 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.
Development
Concept
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.
[42] 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.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." 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."
Design
| System Requirements |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
| Microsoft Windows |
| Operating system |
Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 |
Windows 7 |
| CPU |
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 4800+ |
Intel or AMD dual-core 2.5 GHz |
| Memory |
2 GB RAM |
4 GB RAM |
| Hard drive space |
17 GB hard drive space |
| Graphics hardware |
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB or ATi Radeon HD 3850 512 MB |
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 or AMD Radeon HD 6970 |
| Sound hardware |
DirectX compliant Sound card |
| Network |
Online play requires login to Games for Windows Live |
|
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. 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". The number of animations was doubled to reflect the larger arsenal of moves at the player's disposal.
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 were improved to give the player the
experience of "the freedom and exhilaration of gliding down alleyways
and soaring above the skyline". Though the concepts were compared to an open world game, Hill notes that such freeform nature would not be appropriate for a Batman game, and designed
Arkham City to challenge the player to think like Batman to survive in the game.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".
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. 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. Hill noted that Strange is a character many players may not have
previously seen in relation to the Batman mythos, but that Strange's
backstory and character are detailed throughout the game.Catwoman was also included based on the long history between the
character and Batman, though she was given her own agenda running
parallel to the events within Arkham City.
The presence of multiplayer had been rumored shortly after the game's
official announcement, but was denied by Rocksteady Studios. 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.
Variety is added to the city itself, as certain areas are designed
around the villains that control that particular territory. Dax Ginn,
marketing game manager at Rocksteady Games 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.
Marketing
A limited series five-issue
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.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.
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. 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.
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 store's
"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.
Release
Batman: Arkham City was first officially released in North America on October 18, 2011 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, followed on October 19 by Australia 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.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. A Game of the Year edition is scheduled for release on May 29, 2012 in the United States and Canada,and September 7, 2012 in the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and other territories on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Pre-order bonuses
A variety of alternative suits for Batman were revealed on August 1, 2011 including suit designs worn by the character in
The Dark Knight Returns,
Batman: Earth One, the Bronze Age of Comics,
Batman: The Animated Series, and
Batman Beyond. 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. 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.
Batman's sidekick Robin (Tim Drake)
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.The character also comes with two exclusive challenge maps: "Black Mask Hideout" and "Freight Train Escape".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.The pre-order content was considered an "early access opportunity" for purchasers, with Ginn confirming that all of the content would be
made available for download after the game's release date.
Retail editions
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. 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. Three other villain-themed steelbook cases were also offered, featuring the likenesses of Two-Face and the Penguin.A fourth steelbook featuring Catwoman was released, containing the
Batman: Earth One alternative skin for Batman.
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. In July 2011, the Microsoft Windows version of the game was revealed to use Games for Windows – Live (GFWL) to access online services. 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.
A Game of the Year edition was announced on April 23, 2012, containing the game, and all of the released downloadable content (DLC). A free download of the animated movie
Batman: Year One is also included with versions released in the United States and Canada.
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.
Downloadable content
New purchases of the game for Xbox 360 and PS3 are provided with a unique code that unlocks the
Catwoman
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. The PC version of the game includes the DLC, requiring no downloads or additional installs to access.A Warner Bros. rep confirmed that playing as Catwoman would not be required to complete the game. The
Catwoman DLC also contains two alternate skins for the character: her appearances from
The Animated Series and
Batman: The Long Halloween.
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, and two additional challenge maps: "Wayne Manor" and "Main Hall". 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. A
Skins pack containing all of the alternate Batman pre-order skins was released on December 6, 2011.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". 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.
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.
On April 23, 2012, "Harley Quinn's Revenge", a story based campaign
expansion was announced for release on May 29, 2012, for the PS3 and May
30, 2012, for the Xbox 360, with a PC version announced for an
unspecified date. The campaign features a new story, new areas, new
enemies, and both Batman and Robin as playable characters. The story
takes place several weeks after the events of
Arkham City. The mega prison has since been evacuated, but Quinn returns and sets up in Joker's former base. The game follows Robin's search for Batman, who has gone missing in the city while hunting Quinn. On the same day, it was announced that all of the released DLC,
including "Harley Quinn's Revenge", would be made available as part of
the
Arkham City Game of the Year edition
