I was right about 2k12 as the game is a mess.

I didn't write off Batman:AC...I put many hours into Asylum and though AC is a much more polished effort, I don't see enough incentive to put in the same amount of time in the game. It just isn't different enough for me but I can see where all the high scores are coming from.

I have absolutely no problems with using Detective Mode. But I think there has been some change to the system wasn't there? It seems like there's some change in the way things are displayed with "mechanical glitches" type effects now that make it less desirable to play through the whole game in that mode. But I might just be inaccurately remembering things about the first one.

I can't fault you for getting rid of it if you weren't digging it. Some people might give you a hard time, but time is precious, and you shouldn't waste it on things you don't groove on. I remember I bought Raw vs Smackdown 2008 or something, and played it for maybe 20 minutes, and then just said "fuck this". Same for Marvel vs Capcom -- that game got about an hour.

However, I'm curious as to how far you got? I just got to (minor spoiler for a boss you face 3 to 5 hours into the game), and things really started to click for me now even more. So much so that I almost want to just start over again, knowing all that I know now. I'm not going to do that, but I think being warmed up on the game would make the first few hours much more enjoyable for me now.

So many people are mentioning being disoriented in the beginning, I wonder if it was a mistake of Rocksteady just dropping you in the city right away. Maybe it would have been a better introduction to the game to have to work your way out of a stronghold, and then have access to the full city?

If I had to guess, I would say about an hour after it.

I assume we are all adults on here with a ton going on and limited gaming time. I am a huge COD nerd and have Battlefield and Uncharted coming up to finish the Best Buy deal as well as Dance Central 2 to check out.

I will probably revisit Batman again in the future as the Spring is usually dead time for gaming, but yes, I totally agree that Rocksteady should have done a better job at the beginning. If you go back and play AA, and maybe it is because it was the first one, but the game hits you in the gut immediately. You have a purpose and a clear and focused narrative right out of the gate. AC drops you in a much bigger environment with random chattering thugs and immediate interaction with multiple villains.

Two years ago after playing AA I would've thought it was an awesome idea to start with everything and jump right in. After being away for years and not being use to the mechanics, it's pretty daunting at the beginning to have everything on hand but not really remembering how to use them.

also didn't it add to your XP as well? Yeah...I liked getting the riddles very cool to solve, especially if you're a Batman fan.

Yeah, I wonder how different my experience would have been with the early parts of Arkham City if I had just replayed Arkham Asylum in September. Even getting the timing down of the fight system threw me for a loop at first -- and that's just one button!

I think the game would have benefited from a 30-45 minute prologue/tutorial. Maybe have you in Gotham City, stopping crimes, fighting regular criminals, perhaps a casual run-in with Catwoman, introduce the idea of building Gotham City during this prologue and at the same time get the player back up to speed with the mechanics of the game. Don't know why they again felt the need to go the "season of 24" route where everything bad goes down on the same day.

To those who "don't get" the Detective Mode complaints:


The size of this new game + Not having Detective Mode on *A LOT* = MISSING LOTS OF SHIT.

It was like that in this in AA, and it has been made "worse" due to the size of the world in the AC. I tried to play without DM on and I found myself backtracking a lot because I passed up stuff because I didn't have DM on the first time I passed things.

works fine for me. Haven't played the game since.....probably Late February or very early March.

Then you're doing it wrong right?

BTW, can Batman throw quick batarangs in fights like before or is that some upgrade?

Yeah. LT + Y, I think (on the 360).

Because I didn't know there was a code until it told me and I didn't want to get up just to enter it.

How would I know how it differs? I haven't played as her but I don't know if I should have with how early I am in the game. It was kinda boring.

Well, I just finished playing through Arkham Asylum again the day before Arkham City came out, so no tutorial needed here!

And B to cape Stun

LT + X(to set) then LT + X again (to detonate) for a quick Batgel explosion that stuns enemies which is handy in large fights.

and others....

The game opens with you controlling Catwoman.

Disagree. The game most certainly does not. Perhaps the extra content does.

Guess I'll have to start over. That should be fun and not at all extra annoying.

From what I've played, the Catwoman stuff is kind of ho-hum. Though it is scientific fact that I would like her sections 22% more if I played them with her in her Batman: The Animated Series skin. SCIENTIFIC FACT!

I was looking at a trophy/model of her with that skin and I was surprised how well it worked, compared to the Animated style Batman and Robin which just don't fit at all.

That is so wrong.

You don't miss anything by not using detective mode constantly. You get maps that tell you where all the Riddler trophies are, and you aren't supposed to be able to get them all the first time you enter an area anyway because you won't have the proper gadget yet. The Arkham games are similar to Metroid in that you need to get the proper gadget then backtrack to pick up the stuff you missed.

The only two things you ever truly need detective mode for is 1) finding which thugs have guns and 2) following trails of DNA/blood/whatever.

I got 100% achievements and the Platinum trophy for Arkham Asylum and I only used Detective Mode for the storyline parts where you had to follow blood trails or DNA. You can find all of the hidden shit in the game without the use of Detective Mode, DM just makes it ridiculously easy. So, I feel that the complaints are pretty silly since it's an optional feature that only makes things easier.

For those of you who haven't redeemed your Catwoman codes, HURRY. It expires in October 2021!!

so, with most of the comments, it seems this game is not easy to just pick up and play for short bits...anyone find it differently?

I don't think anyone is saying that. It certainly isn't Dark Souls. It's just got a lot of gameplay mechanics and most of us haven't played it in over two years. Easy to forget stuff. It's certainly fine for quick plays -- there are tons of side quests to tackle if you just want a brief diversion, and I think it quick saves any time you go in or out of a building.

Just pay attention to the beginning and you'll do fine. otherwise..you're slow or unresponsive to act somehow.

Yeah, this is totally on the nose.