Batman: Arkham City [360/PS3/PC]

[Fader209]

Found a super secret thing all by myself today Looked on the interwebz and a bunch of other people had spotted it too but dammit I worked it out alone lol.
If you use the Cryptographic Sequencer (the hacky radio gadget) and search around the broadcasts you can hear someone calling out numbers amongst the white noise. After writing them down (there are 3 sets of numbers) I managed to work out one code using the simple A=1 B=2 method and got

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I WILL RETURN BATMAN

. The other 2 sequences I can't crack yet as the same method doesn't apply but it's worth checking out

[Kieran76]

I am really loving the mixed up story, to me it makes sense that a group of super villans would all have vested interests in what happens in the city so Batman should have to go from one to another. I think the fueding and back stories of the villans really adds to the feel of the game.

[rmoxon]

I am really loving the mixed up story, to me it makes sense that a group of super villans would all have vested interests in what happens in the city so Batman should have to go from one to another. I think the fueding and back stories of the villans really adds to the feel of the game.

Its not the fact that the story works or doesnt work thats the problem (though I'm not sure it does work at all really). The problem is tht the game completely lacks focus and is badly structured which means that it keeps failing to hold my intrest compared to the other great games I am playing right now that are expertly put together.

In this I'm often going to one mission, then another will pop up so I will get side tracked and then another pops up on the way to that one and eventually I just think "forget this I'm playing Dark Souls now" becuase this is just such a mess.

[Kieran76]

I like the diversions, I like the idea of being Batman and flying across the city to be sidetracked by a political prisoner being attacked or the need

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the answer the phone to save someones life

. There is also talk of this in the game

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Oracle and Alfred keep telling Batman to concentrate on the cure, rather then catching a criminal etc.

I can see your point of view but the game feels a long way from a mess to me,

[Golgo]

^ agree with Kieran76. It adds to the richness of the game. They're called 'side-missions' for a reason. The narrative always drives you towards the next story objective if that's all you want; indeed, the map/HUD always prioritizes the main story mission unless you explicitly ask it to do otherwise. For my part, I love mucking around in the city, savouring the incredible atmosphere and art.

[Kieran76]

So my save has vanished again.
It looks as if I am not the only 360 owner to experience and to be honest as much as I am loving the game I don't think I can be bothered to start all over again with Skyrim only a week away. Very annoyed.

http://www.shacknews.com/article/70847/batman-arkham-city-save-files-disappearing-for-some-users

[teddymeow]

I can't really get on with this which is odd as I loved Asylum.

I think the game world is just a bit too big for me and I constantly find myself going off track and not focusing on the main story which is what I want to finish.

Also, some sections are nails hard to the point of frustration in terms of combat.

[PeteJ]

Finished over the weekend after what seemed like around 20 hours of game time. I'll never get all the Riddler stuff (collected about 250 though) and another sidemission (Identity) seems to have bugged as even after reading a guide I can't get the next location.

All in all though I thought this was brilliant and much improved over the original. It was a little confusing when you first get access to the city but after a few hours of finding my feet I never looked back. The introduction of new features was perfectly paced, in fact the general quality all around was first rate. One of the most enjoyable games I've played in ages.

[Fader209]

Finished over the weekend after what seemed like around 20 hours of game time. I'll never get all the Riddler stuff (collected about 250 though) and another sidemission (Identity) seems to have bugged as even after reading a guide I can't get the next location.

Maybe the Riddler stuff counts towards completion and then unlocks the next location for that side mission...I'm not sure. It was one of the last things that I did in-game though as well as a couple random acts of violence.

[Hodge]

Rented over the weekend and went through the main story and didn`t bother with the side missions or riddler trophies. Really enjoyed the main story, but do agree that their was no main focus when it came to villian.

It`s a beautiful looking game to, with gotham city being rendered with huge amounts of detail and the ease you can wizz about, is what makes it a joy to play as Batman. To be honest I do prefer the close knit claustrophobic feel of Arkham asylum, but I think Rocksteady did a great job when It came to capturing the feel of gotham city.

I have just started to do the side missions as I have the game till Thursday, but are they worth it? As I`m following zsasz phone calls around and am getting abit bored after the 4th call.

As for riddler trophies, no chance waaayy to many to collect, and by what i heard it`s abit of a anti climax if you collect them all anyway.

['Press Start']

Loving this at the moment. I am a massive fan of Arkham city and I think open world was the way forward after finishing it. Feels good to fly above the city, then dive down and smack some bad guys around. Enjoying the multiple bad guys, welcome change from just having 1 bad guy.

[Family Fry]

Well FINALLY finished this off, don't know my exact playtime but I would say around 30-40+ hours, got lost in it several hours a night, being Batman is still awesome, swoop down and just beat the crap outta some thugs is so satisfying.
I was going for full 100% and THEN onto a new games+ (for possible extra ending) BUT I had heard new game+ was complete fresh start bar your weapons, so needing to do all side missions again grrrr. Also the total 100% includes ALL of the riddler challenges, so standing with every trophy/memo/statues everything it stood at 70% complete.
Tried to do this playthrough without a guide but needed to look at one for 1 riddler trophy solution, I SWEAR TO GOD it's never explained in the main game how to actually use the move required to unlock the trophy

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(You have to go into first person mode to detonate gel in a specific order, was that a move in Arkham City?)

. It was great fun, just pounding along the streets keeping my ear out for CCTV movement or flicking investigation mode on and literally flying around looking for yellow blobs. The Audio Logs you unlock for getting all the riddler trophies are really cool to listen to, almost like mini origin stories for why each bad guy is in arkham city, hugo strange doing the interviews.
On my journey to find stuff througout Arkham City, mainly last CCTV's I found a really cool easter egg down a back alley

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A chalk outline with some flowers beside it and a single rose, when you go over it says "Pay your Respects" press the button and music changes and Batman stands on his knee, after I did this I listened to the voice recording, it was Hugo Strange talking to Batman about his parents and the reasons he hides behind the cape, It hit me and I realised where I was standing. TOTALLY EPIC moment for me.

Also the Identity Theft side mission ending is quality.
I would say though the experience has been a love/hate relationship at times, Arkham Asylum for me was just right on progression so the story didn't suffer, whereas the story here did suffer because I just had so much to do and take me off track I mean

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Batman is suppose to be looking for a cure to stop himself from dying in the game but he has all this extra time to save every Police Officer/Doctor in Arkham City.

It will be in my GOTY list for sure but won't be at the top.
OH did anyone else find the

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Well hidden Scarcrow easter egg? Had my headphones on for that one and I did jump eek. Also recently saw that Killer Croc does make an appearance but you only have 1 chance to see him, looked awesome, if you stumbled on that Easter Egg would be an epic surprise.

[Daragon]

Just found out about the graphic novel tie in on forbidden planet, but it seems there's two pretty much identical versions of it, one being called Titan edition and selling for a quid less.

Anyone know if there's a difference?

[Family Fry]

Isn't Titan like the UK publishing house for DC Comics?
Titan is UK ed
DC Comics is USA ed
I think....

[Brad]

Due out on PC today. I'm not convinced though. There's no pre-load option on Steam yet.