Batman Arkham City

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In Batman: Arkham City, Gotham's criminals are confined to a massive new prison overseen by classic villains. As Batman, players navigate this open world, using an array of gadgets and abilities to uncover the plot and battle foes. Featuring a deep, engaging story and diverse gameplay, Arkham City offers a thrilling Batman experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 42,650 reviews

story6,312 positive mentions

grinding274 negative mentions

story
14,196 mentions
44 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Batman: Arkham City" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, featuring a rich narrative that intertwines multiple iconic villains, including the Joker, Hugo Strange, and Catwoman. Players appreciate the engaging plot twists and character development, which enhance the overall experience, although some critiques mention that the story can feel convoluted at times and that certain side missions detract from the main narrative. Overall, it is considered one of the best stories in the Arkham series, effectively building on the foundation laid by "Arkham Asylum."
- “The storyline is compelling and rich, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The story is very suspenseful and hard to predict, and very fun to watch unravel.”
- “The story is amazing and honestly a lot of fun.”
- “It's a shame the main story is so short.”
- “The ending of each main and side mission was flat and disappointing to me.”
- “The story feels very unfocused and is kind of a mess.”
gameplay
4,704 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Batman: Arkham City" is widely praised for its fluid combat mechanics, engaging stealth elements, and the seamless integration of exploration and puzzle-solving. Players appreciate the variety of gadgets and abilities available, which enhance the overall experience and allow for creative approaches to combat and stealth scenarios. While some critiques mention repetitive elements and minor frustrations with certain mechanics, the game is generally regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, "Arkham Asylum," offering a rich and immersive open-world experience that captures the essence of being Batman.
- “The gameplay mechanics are refined and incredibly satisfying.”
- “The combat mechanics are fun and the missions and story are engaging.”
- “The gameplay is where Batman: Arkham City truly shines.”
- “Gameplay is ass”
- “Most miserable gameplay experience I've had in a long time.”
- “The gameplay is a shitshow.”
graphics
2,708 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Batman: Arkham City" are widely praised for their impressive quality, especially considering the game's 2011 release. Many reviewers note that the visuals still hold up well today, showcasing a dark and gritty aesthetic that effectively immerses players in Gotham City. While some mention minor performance issues and dated textures, the overall consensus is that the game's graphics remain stunning and contribute significantly to the engaging gameplay and storytelling experience.
- “The visuals and atmosphere are stunning, creating a dark and gritty Gotham that immerses you in the narrative.”
- “I was amazed how good the graphics are in this game; it is still better than most AAA games today.”
- “The graphics are outstanding and that's probably my second favorite thing about this game.”
- “The graphics are poor quality textures with poor graphics for the year of the game.”
- “The graphic is quite outdated now but I think this game still should be worth trying, especially if you are a Batman fan.”
- “Graphics are a bit shit, but that's pretty easily overlooked when everything else comes into play.”
atmosphere
754 mentions
61 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Batman: Arkham City" is widely praised for its dark, gritty depiction of Gotham, effectively immersing players in a richly detailed and expansive open-world environment. While many reviewers note that the atmosphere may not reach the haunting intensity of its predecessor, "Arkham Asylum," it still delivers a compelling and engaging experience through its stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and a sense of constant threat from the city's criminal underbelly. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a significant strength, contributing to its status as a standout title in the Batman franchise.
- “The visuals and atmosphere are stunning, creating a dark and gritty Gotham that immerses you in the narrative.”
- “Batman: Arkham City is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling and gameplay evolution.”
- “The atmosphere is outstanding; it really makes you feel like you're in the Batman universe.”
- “The atmosphere may be compromised due to having an open world instead of an enclosed and familiar asylum environment.”
- “Improved on the previous game in every single way, save for the atmosphere.”
- “While arkham asylum had a better story and atmosphere, arkham city makes up for in better gameplay, villains, collectables, and side quests.”
music
702 mentions
58 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as the best in the series, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact of the gameplay. Composed by Nick Arundel and Ron Fish, the score features a mix of haunting melodies and intense orchestration that immerses players in the dark world of Gotham. Overall, the music is described as epic, fitting, and integral to the game's narrative experience, making it a standout element of the title.
- “The soundtrack complements the mood perfectly, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complements the gritty atmosphere of Gotham City.”
- “From heart-pounding battle themes to melancholic ambient tunes, the music elevates the overall experience, immersing you further into Batman's world.”
- “Only gripe I have with the game is that after the museum, the overworld music stops playing :(”
- “The sound design and the voice acting is superb, my only complaint is that background music (that makes you feel like Batman) will stop playing after you've finished the main story campaign.”
- “Soundtrack ranged from mediocre to just bad.”
optimization
424 mentions
45 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and ability to run well on various systems, while others report frequent stuttering, frame drops, and technical issues, particularly in open-world scenarios. Many users noted that while the game looks great and performs adequately on lower-end PCs, it can struggle with optimization for newer hardware and DirectX versions, leading to inconsistent experiences. Overall, while some players found it well-optimized, others experienced significant performance problems that detracted from their enjoyment.
- “One of the best games with a nice story and great optimization.”
- “Very well made and well optimized game, almost 0 bugs and the story is also great, 100% worth it, I recommend it to anyone looking to buy an action story game.”
- “Great game, incredibly well optimized and I can play it smoothly on my 16-year-old gaming laptop!”
- “The only thing this game lacks is optimization; it suffers from frequent stutterings and slowdowns.”
- “Unfortunately, this 'remaster' is a half-assed port; this game runs worse on my rig than Knight does, which is absurd, so don't assume you can run it well on a lower-end PC just because it's old.”
- “The optimization for flying, running, and jumping from building to building in the city is a joke; even with my GTX 1070, my frames dipped from 60 to 30 at times, and even lowering the game's detail levels to low didn't fix the frame drops.”
grinding
382 mentions
1 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
72 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the process of collecting Riddler trophies and completing challenges to be excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some players enjoyed the grind for achievements and found it compelling, others felt it detracted from the overall experience, making the game feel more like a chore than fun. Overall, the consensus is that while the game offers engaging content, the sheer volume of collectibles and repetitive tasks can be overwhelming and frustrating for completionists.
- “100%'ing the game is not tedious but compelling.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The achievements for this game are possibly the most tedious and agonizing thing I have ever endured.”
- “The amount of side missions and riddler collectibles adds much more playtime, but it can be a bit tedious.”
- “There are over 400 trophies to collect, challenges to complete and riddles to solve across Arkham City, while you’re free to ignore them and they’re only side content it still feels really excessive to have this many collectibles throughout the game, what makes things even more tedious about this is the fact that to defeat the Riddler and finish his series of side missions you have to complete every single one of them, a really tedious process that doesn’t feel worthwhile.”
replayability
368 mentions
41 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous side missions, collectibles, and challenges that keep players engaged long after completing the main story. The inclusion of multiple playable characters, each with unique abilities, along with a New Game+ mode, further enhances the replay value. Overall, players find the open-world design and diverse gameplay mechanics contribute to a highly enjoyable and replayable experience.
- “The open-world design encourages exploration, with numerous side missions and secrets to uncover, ensuring replayability.”
- “With its wealth of content and replayability, this is an experience that will stay with you long after you've put down the controller.”
- “Arkham city offers plenty of replay value, with numerous side missions, collectibles, and challenges to keep players entertained even after completing the main story.”
- “These challenges are a horrible way to add replay value to this game.”
- “Overall a solid game, but lacks any replay value outside of the fun combat.”
- “The only replay value this game has is playing new game plus, having all of your character progress transfer to a new save of much higher difficulty.”
stability
276 mentions
23 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a generally smooth experience on platforms like Linux and Steam Deck, while others have encountered frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay. Some users noted specific issues such as freezing during cutscenes and game-breaking glitches, particularly on PC, which can lead to frustration. Overall, while the game is praised for its story and gameplay, its stability issues remain a significant concern for many players.
- “This game is nothing short of a masterpiece and runs great on PC!”
- “The game was bug free, which I found shocking; literally, not a single bug did I find.”
- “I had no glitches or bugs during my playtime.”
- “Game freezes upon loading cutscenes showing nothing but a black screen; when this happens, the currently selected save file is bricked (as it will load you back into the black screen / frozen state).”
- “Glitches, bugs, and performance problems abound, making it feel like the game was rushed out the door before it was ready for prime time.”
- “In 2020 this game is still too buggy to play, GOTY edition crashed at 3% and is not recoverable... do not buy this game.”
humor
262 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating the witty dialogue, especially between Batman and the Joker, as well as the comedic interactions among enemies and NPCs. Many found the absurdity of the situations, such as Batman's serious missions juxtaposed with silly side quests, to be particularly funny, contributing to a lighthearted tone amidst darker themes. Overall, the game is filled with humorous moments, clever puns, and entertaining character dynamics that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “This game is so funny because you have one main life or death mission and then a bunch of stupid side missions during which you just ignore the fact that your main mission is very much a matter of life and death.”
- “The prodding at the no kill rule here is particularly funny, as convenient deaths happen outside of his control, utterly abdicating him as he reaps the rewards.”
- “The conversations between the inmates as they stand around, bored, waiting for something to happen are hilarious and change to reflect the story progression.”
- “What I see is mediocre, Batman is stupid like hell, Joker and Harley are not funny, rather irritating and annoying.”
- “No... not funny, or interesting for that matter... stop talking.”
- “Also a good game because there isn't a Lego Robin doing stupid stuff that is supposed to be funny.”
emotional
148 mentions
95 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing deep connections to the narrative and characters, particularly Batman's struggles and the impactful storyline involving iconic villains. The powerful voice acting, especially from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, along with a stirring soundtrack, enhances the emotional experience, leading to moments of genuine heartbreak and nostalgia. Overall, players feel that the game successfully immerses them in the role of Batman, evoking a wide range of emotions from joy to sorrow, making it a memorable and transformative experience.
- “The narrative is rich and emotionally charged, exploring Batman's psyche while introducing iconic villains, including the mysterious Arkham Knight.”
- “The powerful orchestral arrangements enhance the emotional impact of key moments, intensifying the overall cinematic experience.”
- “The story is deep, touching, and will leave you craving for more after it is done with you.”
- “Add a boring story to that and you have a pretty garbage and extremely overrated video game.”
- “- DLC level recycling and boring story.”
- “Not as good as the first one in the series (Arkham Asylum), too many unnecessary distractions and game elements, kinda boring story, but still a decent game.”
character development
126 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Character development in "Arkham City" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, enhancing the overall narrative experience. The game features exceptional character designs that capture the essence of iconic figures from the Batman universe, complemented by stellar voice acting. While most characters are well-developed, some critiques mention a lack of depth for certain villains, though the engaging story and side missions provide additional character insights.
- “The character development is top-notch, adding emotional weight to the overall story.”
- “The writing and character development in Arkham City are superb, making every interaction, every villain, and every twist in the story utterly engaging.”
- “The main storyline is very well put together, and the character development as the narrative continues is absolutely amazing.”
- “This can't make up for the super shallow story and that it's missing any character development or depth though.”
- “For me, the vapid plot and a complete lack of character development for any of the villains beyond 'they're bad guys because they do bad guy things' (the notable exception being Mr. Freeze, kind of) was a major detraction.”
- “But only because such things as 'narrative flow' and 'character development' had to go in exchange for cramming in as many characters and elements as possible.”
monetization
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
57 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for feeling like a cash grab, particularly in comparison to the Arkham series, with players frustrated by deceptive advertising and excessive promotion of live service elements. However, some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions in the Game of the Year edition, which offers a wealth of content and rewards without additional costs. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing disdain for microtransactions in the gaming industry.
- “It asks you to loop the 20ish hour game for well beyond its run time, and does so by offering rewards instead of microtransactions.”
- “The gameplay and atmosphere are good enough for any fan to let them carry the story, and a plethora of challenges, extras, and DLC are bundled into this GOTY version without the sting of microtransactions, giving Arkham fans a feast of bat-content.”
- “Arkham City is a classic that respects Batman fans, while the Suicide Squad game feels like a cash grab that disrespects the Arkham legacy.”
- “There is a lot of deceptive advertising in the gaming industry today, but this is taking things too far.”
- “I hate the era of microtransactions.”