by: Justin Amirkhani

Ambition is a dangerous thing, especially if it’s fueled by previous success. Batman: Arkham Asylum was a blockbuster out of nowhere that, like the Dark Knight himself, slunk out of the shadows and forcefully pounded its way into our consciousness. The PC version of the game enjoyed a surprising run at the top of Steam’s most played charts, a feat rarely seen outside the FPS, strategy and RPG genres.

With all that love coming from the PC community, Rocksteady Studios saw fit to give the platform some extra love while developing Batman: Arkham City. With support for new DirectX 11 features, Nvidia 3D Vision, and PhysX libraries the PC version was designed to be the benchmark title for enthusiasts and graphics junkies. The thing about being on the cutting edge though is that sometimes you slip, and when you slip it really hurts.

From a design perspective, Batman: Arkham City is a perfection of the formula that made its predecessor the champion of all superhero games. The addition of the open world is a clever and fitting extension of the classically trained exploration elements. With traversal improved in-step with the expanded environments, the city is a playground for Batman to swing and glide around.

Expanding the rogues’ gallery to include a wider breadth of classic and contemporary villains fills in the larger scenery with a myriad of side-quests that feel like their own one-off issues in the middle of a year-long story arc. Despite its size, not once does the city-sized prison feel empty and never are you left looking for action; every corner has an interesting and worthwhile adventure to be had with a notable villain and a quest tailored to their particular modus operandi; whether that’s pursuing cans of the TITAN human growth formula with Bane, or solving riddles delivered Max Headroom style by The Riddler.

The addition of Catwoman offers a brief but palatable repose from the Batman gameplay that, although constantly changing with new combos and gadgets, can get repetitive. Selina’s agile and acrobatic combat style is fast, and though she may not have as much dangling beneath her utility belt, she’s got a few gadgets that are more than just cat-themed variations of Bruce’s toys.

If there’s one thing annoying about playing Catwoman, it’s that her mobility is limited in a city designed for a character that glides. Her whip and claws allow her to latch and scamper up buildings, but it’s a far cry slower than the grappling hook and cape we’re used to.