To make it short: Yes, I am Batman Fan And yes, it really is that good, even without completely subjective Nerd Views ;-).
After absolute surprise success of Arkham Asylum in 2009 it was only a matter of time until the Caped Crusader would get his big comeback on PC and consoles ... and, boy, what it has become for a comeback. But first things first:
1. Story
The plot is located about 1 year after the events of Arkham Iceland. Quincy Sharp, now mayor of Gotham City is more than ever obsessed with the crime which the city has a stranglehold finally breaking his neck (and incidentally enroll in the history books). To this end, he leaves a complete district cordon Gotham and convert the high-security prison, the so-called Arkham City, which will be admitted to the all those subjects from the Arkham Sanatorium and the Black Gate Prison is by ordinary means for a long time are no longer enough. Superintendent of the ghetto is Professor Hugo Strange, in his psychologist and Bat Villain veteran. Of course, Batman is clear that Strange is interested in many things, not only for the safety of citizens of Gotham. But since even Batman can not penetrate easily into the heavily guarded area he attacks (more or less voluntarily) to a very risky trick ...
The story as a whole is significantly better than in AA, where you should not expect, however, tell technological wonders here. Nevertheless, you will be entertained, just as longtime Batman fan you get more than one occasion due to various allusion shivers. Total managed.
2. Graphics
Here there are no fundamental changes have occurred. Fortunately, the graphics style fit already in Part 1 to the wonderfully gloomy Bat universe visually represent to make. Arkham City presents itself in all its wonderfully chaotic, repulsive hopelessness. Thus, the inclined Bat Fan has (at least I) the dark side Gotham always imagined. An infected by madness, self destructive juggernaut, over which the Batsignal seem brighter and bigger needs than ever before!
The character models of the Main Chars are again modeled with great attention to detail and may partially be used directly in the next movie. The manifestations of Standard opponents are also detailed and mainly failed numerous than in the immediate predecessors, but of course also here after a while a some redundancy, but this is the gameplay owed.
3. Sound
The soundtrack, although used sparingly for an action game, it goes beautifully underline the situation atmospherically. Whether quiet and menacing in Silent Hunter Mode or hectic in open combat, it fits almost perfectly every time. Here, the the maker appears quite of matter and their, if they want to call it, 'intermediality' are aware. Often resembling pieces either the playful strumming a Danny Elfman or the pathetic brutal rhythms of Hans Zimmer. High praise for this.
4. Gameplay
As you would expect the game designers went again no big experiments, and including? Never change a running system. The existing system has only been extended and refined. The FreeFlow system appears more complex than in the predecessor. Different tactics for different enemies are needed to counter and evade more important than ever and who probably tried to thresh latest purely on hard uncontrollably survived not even the first confrontation. Opponents droves act essential smarter than in the first part, sometimes have recourse to coordinate and use every opportunity to get an advantage to (firearms, bottlenecks, boxes etc ')
The main weakness of its predecessor, the monotonous Boss Fights also belong to history. The bosses on higher difficulty require an increased level of responsiveness, patience and sometimes even frustration resistance. There are God of War like pretty finisher (only naturally without the cruel Töten'Ist halt Batman ;-))
Slight changes, there are also in the Silent Hunter Mode. The Goons have upgraded with proximity mines and grenades as well as other toys, but this is much less bad than it looks at first, as long as you lining up halfway clever.
With Catwoman gameplay gets a few, but decisive change. Although it is faster than Batman and also more flexible, but it goes down easier. Your fighting style is much more elegant and it's downright fun at the 'Work' watch.
Gadgets There are also new, and the old ones are (more or less useful) adds functionality.
5. Content
Now all these qualities of little value if the actual game would already after 10 hrs. Over, but here you can be calm down would. Arkham City is below the non-existent ceiling crammed with work for superheroes. Whether one follows the Main Quest, innocently imprisoned civilians rescues, various flight training completed units, is the resolve of Riddler puzzles dedicated (the man has too much Zeit'wer Arkham City looks will understand what I mean - or one of the other numerous Side Questes pursues: For employment is taken care of. And after the obvious tasks is not the end, the for the long-term motivation, the developers holds besides the known challenges on the one hand, the New Game +, which can be started after a completed game with the collected to date equipment and what 'difficult' rather a vague hint is on the level of difficulty. Here the opponents are well equipped from the outset and react in areas hunters much smarter than in the regular game. On the other hand, there are, in addition to flogging known from the predecessor and Hunter challenges the Campaign Mode. In this it is 3 challenges, alternately a melee followed by a hunter challenge to complete and, as usual, to complete the appropriate score or the specifications provided. A new feature is that you can install for each card number given by three 'modifiers' or a. This can be negative, such as a time limit or positive such as health regeneration. The only requirement is that you have to have used all three modifiers at the end of the campaign. Here also true Bat professionals for a long time a challenge.
6. Defects
Of course nothing is perfect on earth, and Arkham City is no exception. So it could happen that the command Batman beating a downed Goon KO ignored or simply denied jumps on a 1m remote platforms consistently. The AI has (albeit very rare misfires), for example if a guard with gun Batman full 5 sec. Ignored although this 3m away in front of her. Overall, however, everything to get over quite.
7. Conclusion
Well, what can you say great. Arkham City is a bomb. A great, fantastic designter adventure playground for fans of the Dark Knight, and those who want to be there, every where packed with allusions, places and memories of the long history of Batman. The game makes everything better than the already excellent predecessor and, at least on my list a very, very hot candidate for the GotY and an absolute buy recommendation.
