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Saturday 22 October 2011

EXCLUSIVE Batman: Arkham City Hands-On Impressions

So Batman: Arkham City is finally here- and I've played the first two hours of it! Just how good is it, then? Here are some thoughts...

  • The opening sequence is incredible, more than on a par with Joker's incarceration in Arkham Asylum and to an extent even going so far as to surpass it for sheer scale and ambition. Better still, the opening scenes change if you download the Catwoman online pass (I haven't, but will include her DLC and the Robin DLC at the end of the review).
  • First up after that is something you'll notice within seconds. Arkham City boasts a hugely thrilling narrative, sure to keep you captivated throughout. Even in the first couple of hours alone, there are mind-boggling and canon-twisting shifts that will shock fans in particular to the core!
  • Yet you don't necessarily have to follow the main storyline- a massive wealth of side missions are on offer for players to participate in. From Victor Zsazs's fatal pay phone calls, to a mysterious figure haunting the rooftops, to over 400 Riddler Trophies to find and hostages to save from the meddlesome trickster, there's always another distraction to take you off course, while the Bat Signal in the sky will always guide you to your next story objective.
  • What I haven't focused on yet on the gameplay- in a good sense, this won't take long. The combat and stealth formulas are refined versions of what we saw Arkham Asylum produce, accessible yet infinitely complex. Better yet, once you've got to grips with these, Arkham City practically dares you to take a challenge, throwing even more enemies at you than ever, but giving you new gadgets like smoke pellets to deal with them.
Batman: Arkham City is looking like a big contender for Game of the Year- I'll be reviewing it, the Catwoman online pass and the Robin DLC later next week!

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