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,
most of them will be possessing improved
or new capabilities; for example, the
Cryptographic sequencer can also track
signals. An additional gadget has been
revealed: smoke bombs to confuse
enemies. 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. However,
Rocksteady's art director David Hego
stated that the use of Detective Mode
will be changed to an "augmented reality
mode", as they found players had
completed
Arkham Asylum using
Detective Mode all of the time. 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.
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.
At other times, Batman may be forced to
fight through inmates using an improved
version of the combat system from
Arkham Asylum, allowing for multiple
simultaneous counters, reactions to
thrown objects, and the use of all of
Batman's gadgets within combat. 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.
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. She has her own version of
Detective Mode to locate items to steal.
The game's main storyline lasts about
16 hours. The game contains over 400
additional challenges.
