Batman Arkham City Detail Stalk Into Cyberspace

With the announcement of the new shiny title and a few screens, we were all left wanting more. All hoping that Game Informer - where all the exclusive new information is coming from - would dole out some more soon. Well I am glad to say that they have let some more slip out.

What may they have let slip out into the wonderful world of the interweb? Well the below bullet points.

Story info:

  • Quincy Sharp is now running for mayor.
  • Sharp used the Arkham Asylum incident to help win the election
  • Sharp took credit for getting the Joker situation under control
  • Arkham Asylum and Black Gate Prison are unfit to hold inmates.
  • Quincy Sharp buys off part of the slums and walls it off, creating Arkham City.
  • Sharp contracted a mercenary group named Tyger, getting them to defend the walls of Arkham City
  • Prisoners given one rule: "Don't try to escape"
  • The penalty for breaking that rule is death
  • A year has passed since Arkham Asylum
  • Hugo Strange is in charge of Arkham City.
  • Two-Face is admitted into Arkham City
  • Two-Face plans to execute Catwoman to gain respect of inmates.
  • The overdose of venom may not be what's wrong with the Joker.
  • A lot of the super villains have formed gangs, have control of different areas in the city

Game play info:

  • Rocksteady is going to try for a highly detailed city
  • You are now able to counter two attacks at once.
  • You can place explosive gel on the back of an enemy during a fight
  • Press a button and Batman will taunt enemies
  • Rockstaedy is hoping to use more of the "forensics" angle from the first title, incorporate puzzles in them that will get more complex as you progress
  • All gadgets included in the first game are available from the start.
  • Batman has his smoke bomb.
  • Broadcast analyzer: Mainly used so that Batman can listen to a message from the Joker
  • There are several broadcasts Bats can listen to, including the GCPD dispatch and Gotham FM
  • Because of Oracle being MIA, Alfred is the one in Bruce's ear
  • Interrogations instead of Riddler maps now
  • Optional sidestories for some characters, including Zsasz
  • Gangs roam Arkham City; these are recorded in Batman's criminal database.
  • New costume for Harley
  • Rocksteady not talking about multiplayer/co-op plans yet

While not all that detailed, it is a nice little build up for things to come. I do like the fact that you will get to use all of the gadgets from Batman: Arkham Asylum from the start, but I have a feeling that they will go God of War II/III on you at some point. (Read: Taken away to give you a challenge for the rest of the game) That is just my thought process on that.

This also kind of solidifies my thoughts on co-op with Catwoman a bit too. I'm assuming that you will need to swoop in and save her ass before Two-Face "offs" her. It makes sense that would be how they would try to bring in a co-op for all the cry-baby-whiners who think every game needs co-op.

With all that, let's just sit back and see what else the mighty bat-computer will dole out here soon. (Read: The mighty internet and people not wanting to keep everything exclusive before the magazine's publish date.)