Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Review

Battle Armored Tech mode, called B.A.T. for short, makes Batman even more of a force to be reckoned with this time around. During combat, kinetic energy is built up in his new armored suit (hence the Armored Edition name) and can be used to serve up twice the pain. Having this option available will definitely help newcomers overcome some of the larger-scale fights in the game. Plus, it makes those devastating punches feel all that more impactful. Whether the player wishes to take advantage of this new feature is completely up to them. So, if you feel that B.A.T’s inclusion is going to make the game too easy, simply avoid using it.

A More Interactive Experience

The Wii U’s GamePad has opened the door for developers to get creative with how they wish to immerse the player. Arkham City Armored Edition takes the entire inventory management, level up and gadget selection systems and places them on the GamePad. Throughout the game, you’ll be using the GamePad to use the new Sonar mode, mark locations on your map on the fly, direct remote-controlled batarangs and hack, amongst plenty of other actions. These may not be the most original ideas, but the first games to hit the Wii U were always going to be test subjects for GamePad features. Also, much like ZombiU, the audio of those contacting Batman come out of the GamePad’s speakers, furthering the illusion that you really are right there in the action. Fiddling with the GamePad’s screen while Batman taps away at the one on his arm is sure to appeal to everyone’s inner nerd.

The Complete Package

Batman: Arkham City is a game that has tons of content readily available from the start. From the beginning, players can stray from the story’s path to take on countless side missions and random events. These side missions primarily revolve around other recognizable villains from Batman lore, such as The Riddler and Bane. Exploring Arkham City is the only way to get the best experience. Coming across clues leading to some of Batman’s deadliest adversaries turns the usual throw-away side quests into mini adventures that you’ll actively seek out. Arkham City is a grim, open world environment just waiting for you to check out its darkest alleys and highest rooftops. And, assuming you’re ready to dedicate a good portion of your time on side quests, you’ll be kept busy with The Riddler’s hundreds of hidden question marks and handful of hostages. Outsmarting him is much more of a chore than it was in the last game. And, once you’re done messing around in the campaign, there are a flew of Challenge Rooms to play through that come in the combat or stealth varieties.

Furthermore, the Wii U version is basically the Game of the Year edition found on other systems, packing in all the downloadable content released thus far. Catwoman’s (who’s dressed up in a more practical armor suit) story, Harley Quinn’s Revenge DLC, Robin and Nightwing Challenge Rooms and every downloadable character costume is contained on the disc.

NOT

Disappointing Performance

The Wii U was hailed as the beginning of the next-generation. Well, that next-generation talk was clearly aimed at innovation rather than unforeseen power. The Wii U runs Arkham City as expected for the most part, but frame rate drops are present. When you’re starting up a new version of a one-year old game on “next-gen” tech, it’s hard not to expect to see the game taken to all new heights. When these issues arose, it was a reality check, showing me that this port did little to differentiate itself from its counterpart running on my other six year old console.

Verdict

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition brings the critically-acclaimed 2011 game to Nintendo fans via Wii U. While it may not surpass the predecessors on a performance level, the interactivity found within the game can only be had here. Combining the new GamePad features with everything that made the game great on PlayStation and Xbox 360 (plus all of their DLC) makes for the most comprehensive package, one that is enticing enough to revisit and definitely worth checking out for those who passed it up last year. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition is a great port and one that is helping round out the Wii U’s launch library, especially for the hardcore crowd.