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Batman: Arkham City

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Batman: Arkham City
File:ArkhamCity.jpg
Developer(s)Rocksteady Studios
Publisher(s)Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Director(s)Sefton Hill
Writer(s)Paul Dini
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OnLive, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
ReleasePlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows'Wii U'
Genre(s)Action-adventure, beat 'em up, stealth
Mode(s)Single-player, stereoscopic 3D

Batman: Arkham City is the sequel to action-adventure stealth video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, based on DC Comics' Batman, for Onlive, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and Microsoft Windows. It is being developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game was officially announced during the beginning of the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards and is scheduled to be released worldwide during the week of October 18, 2011.

Gameplay

Arkham City, like its predecessor Arkham Asylum, is an open world action video game that incorporates elements of stealth and predator tactics. All of the gadgets previously obtained in the first game will be present at the start of Arkham City, (although players will have the regular Batclaw instead of the Ultra Batclaw) most of them will be possessing improved or new capabilities; for example, the Cryptographic sequencer can also track signals, the line launcher now has a feature that allows Batman to flip over and launch another zipline in the opposite horizontal direction, 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. An additional gadget has been revealed: smoke pellets to confuse enemies in predator mode. 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 the major villains across the city and the forensic puzzles much like the first game.[4] 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.[5] Optional challenges from the Riddler to collect hidden trophies placed around the city will also be present, but it will require additional effort to locate these, 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 will require him to disable death traps set by the Riddler.[4][6]

The player controls Batman, making his 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 and to sneak up on enemies to take them down silently, using new tactics to surprise the enemy. Batman's gliding ability has also been upgraded, allowing players to dive downward and pull themselves back up making it much faster and possibly much more entertaining to move through the air, and now includes the use of the grappling gun while gliding, giving skilled users the ability to move through the air without touching the ground. At other times, Batman may be forced to fight through 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 beatdowns, upgraded Batarang and Batclaw attacks, and Batman now has the ability to use the Explosive Gel and line launcher in Freeflow. Movement about the city is made difficult due to the formation of gangs and territory between rival villains, such as Two-Face and the Joker, that causes in-fighting that Batman needs to avoid.[4]

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.[7] She has her own version of Detective Mode called "Thief Vision" to locate items for stealing. Dax Ginn recently 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.[8][9] The game also contains over 400 Riddler challenges, which will make up one of the multiple side missions that players can embark on at any given point in the game.[10]

Stereoscopic 3D

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Arkham City will 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, for stereoscopic 3D support. All "Arkham City" gameplay and cinematics have S3D support.[11]

Plot

The story for Arkham City takes place about one year after the events of Arkham Asylum.[12] Quincy Sharp, former warden of Arkham Asylum, has taken credit for stopping the Joker, and used the notoriety to become mayor of Gotham City. As neither Arkham nor Blackgate Prison are in any condition to detain inmates, Sharp buys out a large section of Gotham's slums and arms the perimeter with private military contractors from a group called Tyger in order to create "Arkham City". The prisoners are brought into Arkham City and are given free rein, as long as they do not attempt escape. To oversee the city, Sharp hires psychiatrist Hugo Strange who appears to have his own secret agenda for the city. Batman and Robin maintain a vigil over the city, worried that the situation may get out of hand.[4] Part of the setup for "Arkham City" was contained in plans in a hidden room in Sharp's office in Arkham Asylum.

The events of the game are set in motion when Two-Face, seeking to gain notoriety among the inmates and other villains outside the city, devises a plan to publicly execute Catwoman. Batman decides for both the safety of Gotham and of his past relationship with Catwoman that he must stop the execution by entering Arkham City.[4] Catwoman takes advantage of the chaos in Arkham City to acquire jewelry, and a few high tech gadgets; much like how Batman receives new tools and upgrades.[13]

A teaser trailer was released that featured Joker being nursed by Harley Quinn from the effects of the Titan formula (and the explosive gel punch from Batman) while Arkham City descends into chaos.[14] The sequel was described by veteran Batman voice actor Kevin 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."[15]

Cast

Some of the voice actors will reprise their roles from Batman: Arkham Asylum. Batman is portrayed again by Kevin Conroy,[15] Joker by Mark Hamill, Riddler by Wally Wingert[16] Poison Ivy by Tasia Valenza,[17] Harley Quinn by Tara Strong and Commissioner Gordon and Quincy Sharp by Tom Kane. Edge magazine confirmed that Bane will return in Arkham City, but this time he will be an ally to Batman.[18] New playable characters include Catwoman (voiced by Grey DeLisle) in the main storyline[7] and Robin in the challenge maps.[19]

Hugo Strange will be voiced by Corey Burton, Two-Face will be voiced by Troy Baker,[20] and Penguin, voiced by Nolan North now has a Cockney accent.[21] Additionally, Maurice LaMarche and Stana Katic revealed that they voice Mr. Freeze and Talia al Ghul in the game, respectively.[22][23] Calendar Man is also expected to appear in the game.[24] Alfred Pennyworth will be joining Oracle on the communicator. Solomon Grundy is also included as seen in Penguin's trailer. David Kaye has an unspecified role.[25]

Soundtrack

Ron Fish and Nick Arundel, composers for 2009's Arkham Asylum, are returning to write music for Arkham City.[26][27]

Alongside the original soundtrack, to be released on October 18, 2011,[28] WaterTower Music is also publishing the Arkham City music album, to be released on October 4.[29]

Untitled

Batman: Arkham City – The Album tracklisting

  1. Panic! at the Disco – "Mercenary"
  2. Coheed and Cambria – "Deranged"
  3. The Duke Spirit – "Creature"
  4. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – "Shadow On The Run"
  5. Blaqk Audio – "Afterdark"
  6. The Raveonettes – "Oh, Stranger"
  7. † † † (Crosses) – "The Years"
  8. The Damned Things – "Trophy Widow"
  9. Daughtry – "Drown In You"
  10. The Boxer Rebellion – "Losing You"
  11. Serj Tankian – "Total Paranoia"
  12. A Place to Bury Strangers – "In The Shadow" Collector's Edition bonus track

Development and marketing

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.[30] 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", accomplished by several means.[31] One means was through expanding the number of moves and actions that the player could use as Batman. Though 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.[31] 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".[31] The number of animations has been doubled to reflect the larger arsenal of moves at the player's disposal.[31]

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".[31] 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.[31] 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".[31] 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.[31]

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.[30] 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.[30] 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 will be fleshed out over the course of the game.[30] 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.[30]

The presence of multiplayer had been rumored shortly after the game's official announcement, but has since been denied by Rocksteady Studios.[32][33] 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.[30]

Developers at Rocksteady have also assured players that they will be able to experience variety as each part of the city has been taken over by a certain villain and each territory will be 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."[citation needed]

The Microsoft Windows version of the game uses Games for Windows Live.[34]

On August 24, 2011 the Facebook and Twitter accounts for Xbox were taken over by The Riddler in a marketing campaign for the pending release of game. Cryptic messages were created and signed "#EN" in reference to Edward Nigma, The Riddler's alter ego. A special Xbox 360 console was eventually revealed.[35]

Prequel comic

Main article: Batman: Arkham City (comics)

A five-issue monthly comic series was released on May 11, 2011. The series takes place after Arkham Asylum and leads up to Arkham City. It is written by Paul Dini with art by Carlos D'Anda.[36]

Collector's edition

A collector's edition of the game is scheduled.[37] The collector's edition includes a Batman statue by Kotobukiya, a collectible art book, a digitally acquired music album "from WaterTower Music including original songs by hit artists", the DC animated film Batman: Gotham Knight, as well as additional in-game content such as an exclusive skin from The Dark Knight Returns graphic novel and an Iceberg Lounge challenge map.[38]

References

  1. ^ a b Fletcher, JC (2011-03-11). "Batman: Arkham City opens up for tourism October 18". Joystiq. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  2. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (2011-03-11). "Batman: Arkham City release date". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2011-03-11.
  3. ^ "New Wii Announced – Called the Wii U". Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e Vore, Bryan (October 2010). "Diving into Darkness: Batman: Arkham City". Game Informer. pp. 48–59.
  5. ^ Douglas, Jane (2010-07-14). "Arkham Asylum art director talks mistakess". Gamespot. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  6. ^ Goldstein, Hilary (2011-03-15). "Batman: Arkham City – The Riddler's Return". IGN. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  7. ^ a b http://e3.gamespot.com/video/6316267/#toggle_video
  8. ^ http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1020738/batman_arkham_city_up_to_40_hours_long_map_5_times_size_of_asylums.html
  9. ^ http://arkhamcity.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=4592
  10. ^ http://batman-arkham-city.com/441/batman-arkham-city-e3-2011-ign-live-commentary-gameplay/
  11. ^ "Batman: Arkham City supports 3D whether you have a 3DTV or not". Joystiq.com. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
  12. ^ "Batman: Arkham City' Comic Book Miniseries Bridges Games". Monsters and Critics. 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  13. ^ "Arkham City's Plot". Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  14. ^ de Matos, Xav (2009-12-12). "Batman Arkham Asylum 2 announced at the VGAs". Joystiq. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  15. ^ a b Reilly, Jim (2010-04-19). "Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 Will Be 'Really Dark'". IGN. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  16. ^ "The Riddler confirmed for Arkham Asylum 2". 91.8 The fan. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  17. ^ http://918thefan.com/2011/kanas-korner-interview-with-tasia-valenza/
  18. ^ "Bane to fight alongside Batman in Batman: Arkham City". Arkhamcity.co.uk]]. 2011-07-29. Retrieved 2011-07-30.
  19. ^ Bryan Vore (20 June 2011). "First Look At Robin In Batman: Arkham City".
  20. ^ "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Voice Actors Named". June 16, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  21. ^ Marchiafava, Jeff (2011-05-22). "Report: The Penguin Confirmed For Arkham City". Game Informer. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
  22. ^ Miller, Greg. "Comic-Con: Batman: Arkham City Reveals Talia al Ghul". IGN.
  23. ^ "2 New Batman Arkham Asylum 2 Voice Actors Leaked". League of Comic Geeks. Retrieved 2010-06-11.
  24. ^ "Batman: Arkham City". Official Xbox Magazine UK. October 2010.
  25. ^ Fisher, Ian (2010-08-02). "Shogun Gamer Interview with David / Kaye". Shogun Gamer. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  26. ^ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/08/23/the-music-of-batman-arkham-city.aspx
  27. ^ Ron Fish music
  28. ^ Batman: Arkham City – Original Score
  29. ^ Batman: Arkham City – The Album
  30. ^ a b c d e f Miller, Greg (2011-02-14). "Batman: Arkham City Gotham on Lockdown". IGN. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h "Batman: Arkham City". GameSpot. 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  32. ^ Pankinkis, Tom (2010-08-05). "Batman: Arkham City Co-Op On the Cards". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
  33. ^ Pereira, Chris (2010-09-01). "Batman: Arkham City to Feature Multiplayer". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  34. ^ Quinton Smith (June 16, 2011). "Batman: Arkham City Will Use GFWL".
  35. ^ http://gear.ign.com/articles/119/1190261p1.html/
  36. ^ https://read.dccomics.com/comixology/#/series/6512
  37. ^ http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/07/19/batman-arkham-city-collectors-edition-gets-statue-other-bat-stuff/
  38. ^ "Batman: Arkham City Collectors Edition Details". Game Breakers. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
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