"How We Went to the Asylum" - Preview
Batman Arkham Asylum – the best thing that could happen to the comic book adaptation. Hundreds of awards, just as many ‘Game of the Year’ titles, and a prestigious place in the Guinness Book of Records. Rocksteady Studios has managed with one game to position itself alongside developers like Blizzard, Firaxis, and others (I mentioned the first teams that came to mind). And that’s why we’re not worried about the sequel. And if we are to believe the journalists who visited the office of the creators of Arkham Asylum, then as of today, the continuation is ready at 100% (this refers to the content), which means all missions and characters are capable of fulfilling their roles. So what are the developers doing then, you may ask, if the release of Arkham City is scheduled for fall 2011? It's simple, like a multiplication table: polishing, polishing, and more polishing of an already expensive-looking ‘diamond’. Rocksteady Studios has chosen a game development scheme similar to that of Blizzard, and this is undoubtedly the right model to imitate.
In general, comic book worlds are quite pompous and chaotic. Personally, I have long been unable to understand how one can repeatedly capture The Joker, then lock him in a mental institution, wait for him to escape, then catch him again and again put the villain in a straitjacket. I simply do not see any logic in what is happening, unless the police and the mayor of the city are purely humanitarian individuals. On the other hand, what were the writers supposed to do? Remove the most charismatic, craziest, and most talented of criminals who have ever threatened the safety of Gotham? No way. The Joker is like the engine of Batman's story. He disappears for a couple of episodes/issues (cartoons and comics respectively), gives way to another opponent, and then returns with a big bang, characterized only by the Joker's 'haha' and an even more devilish plan. I don’t know about you, but personally, I loved the plots with this character from the cartoon series by Cartoon Network the most (and I can’t even imagine the movie ‘The Dark Knight’ without the phenomenal Joker played by Heath Ledger (...)).
The hook will repeatedly pull us out of the toughest jams
Why such a lengthy prelude? Because the beginning of the Arkham City script is as crazy as one could not have imagined. Events unfold one and a half years after the ending of Arkham Asylum (and this, I remind you, is Batman's brutal showdown with his main enemy, who, by the way, has not forgotten to pump himself up with a special doping called 'Titan'). By some devilish means, Quincy Sharp (director of the Arkham psychiatric hospital) wins the mayoral elections in Gotham. Determined to seriously tackle the crime problem, he takes a mad step: he buys an entire city district. For what purpose? To move all the riffraff, all the maniacs, all the deranged psychos and murderers onto the territory. In theory, the criminals were supposed to engage in this kind of self-healing and rehabilitation. The streets of the unfortunate district are enclosed by a wall, with cops placed around the perimeter. In general, everything is as it should be. In theory...
How about silently taking out two enemies at once?
In practice, everything turns out fucked sideways (I probably should write “SUDDENLY” here). The bandits, having absolute freedom, cause chaos. But instead of eliminating each other as the mayor’s plan suggested, they unite into numerous gangs and begin to directly threaten the safety of the rest of the city. The leadership is taken, of course, by the most notorious authorities of the local criminal world: Two-Face, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and of course, the Joker himself with his beloved companion Harley Quinn. Whether Quincy’s election was coincidental or not – that will be revealed by the plot of Arkham City itself, which promises to be even more tense, ruthless, and unpredictable. For now, we are left only to guess.
Cute Quinn is actually a brutal and merciless killer
Will there really be a constructive dialogue between Batman and Harley?
Arkham City is a sequel, so from the authors, we can fully expect the maximum number of innovations. And indeed, it cannot do without them. So, the game will at least have a couple more breasts. The developers, for some reason, decided to insert a romantic plot into the local cruel world (I write “local” since Batman AA is famous for its distinct atmosphere, not present in other works about ‘The Dark Knight’). Batman's companion, partner and “you can put your own word here” will be Catwoman, who, for obvious reasons, has also been thrown into Arkham City. The beginning of the sequel involves saving her: Harvey Dent, also known as Two-Face, has decided to kill the thief but left the fate of the girl to a dollar coin. However, Batman's appearance ruins the entire plan. The scoundrels from Two-Face's gang receive a dose of beatings, the hero gets a minor wound, and Catwoman is freed.
Damn charming and deadly dangerous
Harvey is tired of being a pawn in grand games. Soon he will personally pay Mr. Bruce a visit. Otherwise...
So, the green-eyed devil will become the main character’s partner in the game. Naturally, the introduction of such a character is a direct hint at cooperative gameplay; at least, I hope so. Another thing is that cupids will revolve around this pair, so avoiding “silly” scenes will be impossible. And this is despite the fact that Batman has become even cooler than in the first part: he is broader in the shoulders, noticeably more muscular, and has the gaze of a ruthless middle school Russian language teacher. And how loving scenes will look under such conditions, I have no idea (it’s just silly). Another thing is if Catwoman does not change her principles: as always, she’ll flirt, neutralize vigilance, and strike from the shadows. I wouldn’t even be surprised if, in the end, we end up fighting not with the Joker, but with Catwoman. I’m willing to give the Rocksteady Studios writers a free lunch from my wonderful grandma for such a turn of events.
This is exactly what I was talking about
It’s too early to talk about the potential enemies Batman will encounter on the streets of Arkham City. It’s clear that mostly common lowlifes will be running around, which will go into the gamer’s experience bank. Harvey Dent, a villain with a complicated fate, will also take part in the show. Most likely, he will work for the Joker, and later decide to go independent (which will not end well for him; I predict based on my experience watching cartoons about ‘The Bat’ from the previously mentioned Cartoon Network). The gorgeous Harley Quinn will also serve loyally to the “king of smiles.” We shouldn't expect setups, betrayals, and other similar things: it’s been long established that she is head over heels in love with the Joker and is ready to carry out any of his orders. Be it the murder of an innocent person or the blowing up of a major supermarket (the difference lies only in the victims). However, regarding the role of The Penguin, Clayface, and some other villains, Rocksteady is currently keeping quiet. And rightly so, it's still too early to reveal secrets.
p.S.: as readers rightly noted, Black Cat from Spider-Man is a completely different character, and I totally forgot :s They are similar, after all.
As for gameplay, the authors found things to improve, add, and upgrade here as well. For example, they “rewrote” detective mode, which significantly simplified gameplay in AA. Now, it will require more brainpower. A villain interrogation mode will also be introduced (somewhat like what we saw in Splinter Cell Conviction). If you looked closely at the screenshots of Arkham City, you should have noticed that Batman’s old utility belt has gone to the dump of history. In its place, a hefty “utility belt 2.0” has arrived with an increased number of pouches for carrying tiny representatives of weaponry to fight the bad guys (wow, that was a stretch). What do you think about explosive gel, smoke grenades, and an ultrasonic emitter (a thing that can summon hundreds of bats to unleash on opponents)? I also think that’s pretty cool.
Sometimes I am amazed by Batman's agility and dexterity while looking at his impressive muscular mass
And of course, the graphics will traditionally become even more detailed and beautiful. As programmers assure, special attention is being paid to Arkham City itself (and it will, I remind you, be 4-5 times larger than the island from the original): each street will have its unique shade and ‘charm’. The characters will receive improved facial animations and, directly, movements. In the end, it should result in a pure interactive movie.
I see no reason not to trust Rocksteady Studios. First of all, the plot, I am sure, is not as simple as it may seem at first glance. Secondly, the next-gen graphics combined with the new facial animation system for the game’s heroes deserve considerable respect. And thirdly, as I mentioned above, we’ll get a couple of charming... well, alright, eyes. Charming eyes of the lovely Catwoman, who should bring a touch of spice to the tough adventures of the big guy Batman. Batman Arkham City is, in all respects, the right sequel, and I will eat my socks if it turns out otherwise.
The post awaits your big thumbs up!