Combat Maps - As the player of your choice, you take on 4 separate waves of enemies, with a break in between. Each successive wave increases the number of enemies and consequently, the difficulty level. In each round your performance is scored, based on how cleanly you dispatched of your opponents. Bonus points are awarded in a round for not taking any damage (
perfect round bonus), defeating all the enemies in one flawless string of attacks (
flawless freeflow bonus) and just like in story mode, the longer the combo, the bigger the point bonus. Medals are attained in combat maps after reaching a specified point total for the map.
Predator Maps - In a Predator map you're given three tasks to complete, each task completed counts as a completed medal challenge. The challenge itself is timed, so the faster you can complete all three tasks successfully, the more points you're awarded and the higher your score.
Campaign Challenges are another option. They are a combination of 3 total challenge maps where either 2 are combat type maps and 1 is a predator type or vice versa. Before you begin the challenges you are allowed to select up to 3 modifiers, some that will make the challenge more difficult and others that will provide some sort of benefit.
Combat
The game's combat system is relatively simple and beginner friendly. The three main attacks at your disposal are strike (X-button), counter (Y-button), and cape stun (B-button). An additional attack that can be performed while out of combat is the predator style silent takedown ability (Y-button while hidden from the target). Successful combat encounters are the game's primary source of experience. The amount of experience that is awarded from each encounter is affected by a number of factors, not including obvious reasons such as the level of difficulty (i.e. a 'boss' level opponent such as Mr. Freeze will give much more experience than defeating a few of his henchmen would) or the number of enemies involved in an encounter. The greater the combination (number of consecutively landed blows on opponents without being hit) the greater the amount of bonus experience that is awarded when combat has ended. This rewards players for the level of skill demonstrated in each particular encounter. Other combat bonuses include the intimidation bonus, awarded upon a successful enemy takedown, and the variation bonus which rewards the use of varying kill tactics rather than deploying the same strategies over and over again.
Catwoman (Differences)
Her gadget collection includes bolas, caltrops and the whip; all of which are things I'd like to think a ninja cowgirl might carry around with her, if there were such a thing. Catwoman's thief vision is a downgraded version of Batman's detective mode. Allowing the player to use x-ray vision and make other useful observations, such as identifying whether an enemy is armed or unarmed, discovering hidden clues and showing interactive objects. Although gliding isn't an option she is able to 'leap' a fair distance and instead of grappling with a gun, she makes use of her whip and cat-like climbing abilities to scale buildings and other large structures.
Tips
- Avoid getting caught in the middle of large groups of enemies, or you risk being blindsided from behind
- Make use of your gadgets if you're ever having trouble defeating an encounter
- Use the batclaw to reel in hard-to-reach Riddler trophies
- Use gargoyles and other specifically placed ledges to plan your attack before jumping into a room full of inmates
Pros
- AC is an open world, as a player you're not forced to follow any specific path through the game.
- Riddler trophies provide additional challenge and content.
- Challenge maps are a fun way to test your skills for fun or against friends.
- It's 3-D compatible, which is more than most console games can claim. Sadly, I lacked the proper hardware to test it out myself.
Cons
- You have no access to any type of last resort skill or ability (one time self-healing or 'super' attack)
- In story mode there's no manual save option, instead the game saves at checkpoints
Other Thoughts/Suggestions
- Downloadable content for
Arkham City is available through XBox Live. Two more playable characters, Robin and Nightwing, can be purchased for 560 microsoft points (~$7). The catch is that they are
only playable on challenge maps and lack their respective playable stories. The character bundles also include 2 new challenge maps.
- When using Batman's grappling gun you will sometimes be pulled
through objects (metal beams, railings, signs etc) that are between you and the point you're grappling to.
Bugs
- There was one instance where I attempted to continue story mode from the main menu and it loaded to a gray screen which forced me to restart my XBox, this only occurred on one occasion though.
- Other than that one instance though,
Batman: Arkham City was refreshingly bug-free for the duration of my stay
Score - 87
Arkham City is a cohesive beauty that is sure to please both Batman lovers and gamers alike, particularly those who thrive on its 'big brawl' type combat.
