“You of all people should know…There’s plenty wrong with me.”-Mark Hamill as The Joker
Arkham City is revolutionary. It helped push open world games to new heights(along with GTA: San Andreas and Skyrim), created the open world movement system that would be used for Spider-Man, and is also the best Batman game ever.
Now, I wanna make something clear. I am not “The Batman Guy”. I will cover other topics that aren’t Batman. I just really like this game, and most Batman movies. We will do more Batman eventually, but this will be the last Batman post for a while.
For Video Games, I will usually have a specific way of doing things. For this game, we will talk about the story, and the cast and crew, but other things will be different. For example, instead of the best scene, I will do the best Side Mission, along with the best Boss Battle. You will see more of this later. Now, let’s go!
Batman: Arkham City is a 2011 open-world/Action Adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by WB Games. It starred Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Tara Strong, Dee Bradley Baker, Grey DeLise, Nolan North, Troy Baker, Corey Burton, and Wally Wingert as Batman, Joker, Harley Quinn, Ra’s Al Ghul, Catwoman, Penguin, Two-Face, Hugo Strange, and Riddler, respectively. The game has sold 6.4 million copies worldwide, and is the second game of the Arkham series of games(Third chronologically). It is available on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and the Wii U. A remastered version called “Return to Arkham City” is available on PS4 and Xbox One.
Here comes the General Summary! Yay. this takes me forever to type, because I can’t copy and paste, so please read all of it.
At a press conference held by Bruce Wayne to declare his opposition to Arkham City, an open-air prison taking up half of Gotham City, TYGER mercenaries arrest and imprison him in Arkham City. Professor Hugo Strange, warden of Arkham City, discloses his knowledge of Wayne’s dual identity as Batman before releasing him into the prison’s criminal populace. While Strange prepares to commence “Protocol 10”, Wayne obtains his equipment via airdrop from Alfred Pennyworth, allowing him to become Batman. He first saves Catwoman from being executed by Two-Face, who hopes to gain respect by murdering her. After Joker attempts to assassinate Catwoman, Batman tracks him to his hideout in the Sionis Steelmill, believing Joker may know the truth behind Protocol 10.
There, Batman learns that the unstable properties of the Titan formula from the last game are mutating in Joker’s blood, gradually killing him. Joker captures Batman and performs a blood transfusion on him, infecting him with the same fatal disease. Joker also reveals that Gotham hospitals have been poisoned with his infected blood. Desperate to save himself and innocent citizens, Batman seeks out Mr. Freeze, who had been developing a cure but has since been kidnapped by the Penguin. Tracking Penguin to the Cyrus Pinkney National History Institute, Batman defeats his forces, his imprisoned monster Solomon Grundy, and ultimately the Penguin himself, before liberating Mr. Freeze(This part of the game takes forever to complete).
Freeze tells Batman that he has created a cure, but it is rendered useless via instability. Batman deduces that the restorative properties of Ra’s al Ghul’s blood can complete the cure and tracks one of his assassins to his underground lair, leading Batman into a confrontation with Ra’s and his daughter Talia, Batman’s former lover. With Ra’s al Ghul’s blood, Freeze is able to develop an antidote, but it is stolen by Harley Quinn before Batman can use it. When Batman returns to the Joker, he finds his health has been restored.
While the two fight, Strange activates Protocol 10, which is revealed to be a scheme to wipe out the entire population of Arkham City and destroy the criminal element of Gotham. TYGER troops begin executing inmates as Strange launches missile strikes on Arkham’s denizens from his base in Wonder Tower. A missile hits the steelmill, 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 escaping with the help of Catwoman, Batman is convinced by Alfred to end Protocol 10 before pursuing Talia and Joker.
Batman infiltrates Wonder Tower and disables Protocol 10. Ra’s al Ghul is revealed to be the true mastermind behind Arkham City and mortally wounds Strange for failing to defeat Batman. With his dying breath, Strange activates “Protocol 11”, the self-destruction of Wonder Tower. After Ra’s commits suicide to avoid capture, Joker contacts Batman, threatening to kill Talia unless Batman meets him at the Monarch Theater. When Batman arrives, Joker demands the cure from Batman but is impaled and apparently killed by Talia while distracted. Talia admits to stealing the cure from Quinn, before she is killed by a second Joker, still stricken with the disease.
The healthy Joker that Talia impaled then reanimates into the shapeshifting Clayface, who is revealed to have been masquerading as a healthy Joker all along at the ailing villain’s request. Batman defeats Clayface despite Joker blowing up the theater floor. Batman drinks a portion of the antidote, and destroys Ra’s’ rejuvenating Lazarus Pit before the Joker can use it. As Batman debates curing his foe, Joker attacks him, causing the antidote vial to inadvertently smash. Batman admits that in spite of everything Joker had done, he would have saved him. After Joker finally succumbs to his illness and dies, Batman carries his body out of Arkham City. As Commissioner Gordon asks what happened, Batman places Joker’s body on the hood of a police car and leaves in silence.
Side Missions make up about 50% of the game, so I thought I should summarize them.
Acts Of Violence: Batman must stop random acts of violence happening to political prisoners around Arkham City. After completing like, twenty of these, they will stop and you will have completed the mission. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mAlfFHv-pY
AR Training: Batman must train his gliding skills in order to unlock the Grapnel Boost upgrade. After completing four, you will unlock the Grapnel Boost. After eight, the mission is complete. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMSFL3xzp10
Enigma Conundrum: The Riddler takes the medical team hostage, forcing Batman to solve riddles, collect trophies, and defeat riddler rooms before finally taking down riddler. To complete, you must complete 400 goddamn riddler challenges(Riddler trophies, riddles), most of them tedious. After completing 7 riddler rooms and 400 challenges, the mission will be complete. Room walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4c5iRl9KbM, Challenge playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gluf6GKP9NY&list=PL1FD5613CAE0D2A32
Fragile Alliance: Bane informs Batman that 12 titan containers are in Arkham City. Batman and Bane agree to each destroy six, then meet up again. After destroying his six, Batman learns that Bane took his six, so Batman destroys them. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=KIPtcEt88W4
Remote Hideaway: The undercover cops at the museum inform Batman that they have found a mine disruptor. Complete by going to the museum and collecting the disruptor. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66iKOnfOfoA
Heart Of Ice: Mr. Freeze tasks Batman with recovering his wife Nora, who is somewhere in the City. Complete by finding her and taking down 12 thugs who are guarding her, then informing Freeze. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSeEKG02qsU
Watcher In The Wings: A mysterious figure watches Batman from various places in the four districts of Arkham City. When you see him, he will vanish and leave a symbol on the ground. Complete by finding all four symbols, then visiting the church. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBopGlFuoyA
Shot In The Dark: Deadshot is killing political prisoners under the orders of Strange. Complete by finding three victims, them save Jack Ryder and stop Deadshot. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBopGlFuoyA
The Tea Party: The Mad Hatter attempts to hypnotize Batman into joining him. Complete by defeating him and his henchmen. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGYPGQYTRxE
Cold Call Killer: Zsasz tells Batman to find ringing phones to stop hostages from being killed. Complete by triangulating his position and taking him down. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA6NVWPKxW4
Identity Thief: A killer is killing people in Arkham City and removing their faces. Batman must track him down. Complete by finding three victims, then track him down to his hideout, where he reveals himself to be the villain Hush. Walkthrough here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D6XMpfyhuQ
Alright, that’s done. Now it’s time for the Best Side Mission and the Best Boss Battle.
The Best Side Mission is Cold Call Killer. The side missions in this game range from tedious(i’m looking at you, Riddler), to great with terrible boss battles(Deadshot). But this side mission combines the suspense of hostages being held with a way to explore the city. While triangulating Zsasz’s location is tedious, it’s still not enough to effect the fun of this mission.
The Best Boss Battle is the Mr. Freeze battle. Video Game boss battles normally are you dodging, then attacking, or taking the guy down in a huge fist fight, or by sneaking around. But in this battle, you do have to sneak around, but there is a creative twist: no tactic works twice. You can’t attack him head on, which is already okay, but no tactic working twice encourages you to be creative in the fight. You can electrocute him, break through a wall and hit him, take him down through a vent, glide kick, and more.
Now, The Cast.
Mark Hamill is an American actor(age 67) who gives one of the most fun versions of the joker in this game. He clearly is having a ton of fun in his role, pouring everything into each line. This is one of the funniest versions of Joker ever, just look up some quotes. His career includes: Star Wars 4-8, Batman: The Animated Series, 2019 Child’s Play, and Batman: Arkham games.
Kevin Conroy is an American actor(age 63) best known for being Batman in animated shows. He is one of the better parts of this game, playing Batman with an underplayed ferocity that we will see in Arkham Knight. His career is just basically Batman: The Animated Series.
Nolan North is an American actor(age 48) who you have probably heard before. His voice is legendary in video games, seeing how he has provided the voice of the following: Hades in God Of War, Nathan Drake in Uncharted, Desmond Miles in Assassin’s Creed, Dr. Richtofen in the Black Ops Games, Deadpool in Deadpool, and Penguin in the Arkham Games.
Troy Baker is a american actor(age 43) who is basically just the stand-in for Batman and Joker whenever Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy aren’t available. He has played Batman and Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins, and Lego Batman 1-3.
Dee Bradley Baker is an American actor(age 57), who has one of the most annoying voices iv’e ever heard, due to the fact that he is basically carbon-copying Liam Neeson. His career includes: Phineas and Ferb, Spongebob Squarepants, American Dad, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Corey Burton is an American actor(age 68) and plays Hugo Strange with such perfection. He makes me genuinely think that he could deduce Batman’s identity. His career includes: Aladdin, The Princess and The Frog, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Wally Wingert is an American actor(age 58) does a fantastic job of making me want to rip his head off as the Riddler. He does this with just his voice. It’s insane. His career is basically the Arkham Games.
Critics were quite receptive to this game, with Metacritic giving it a 91 on PS3 and an 86 on Xbox.
With a cast of A-list actors, revolutionary gameplay and an incredible story, I give you…..
Batman: Arkham City.
The Underage Critic 