Batman: Arkham City review (PS3) ★★★★★

The story is continued by scripter Paul Dini, a regular contributor to the Dark Knight in many media forms, with a plot that twists and turns in all manner of directions. For those who know their Caped Crusader there is so much to enjoy here. All of your favourite villains are involved with the best from the first game such as the Joker, Bane and Poison Ivy combined with some great new characters like the very non-Arnold Mr Freeze, Ra's Al Ghul and Catwoman. Those who are unfamiliar with Batman's many allies and villains are provided with bios of every character for back story and info, helping develop an understanding of what the Dark Knight is dealing with. One of the beauties of the narrative is that their is a large storyline threading through the game but Arkham City is an open world and you can decide where to go next. Many side missions are provided to give you ample choice in what you want to do.

The graphics are superb and continue the artistic style of the last game. It's an individual take on the characters and Gotham City but works well within that universe. Gliding and grappling through the rooftops becomes an art and a joy in itself. The character designs are also masterful and there are a few departures from the norm with a cockney Penguin gangster being the standout. However they fit the setting and the voice actors do a remarkable job portraying their characters with some stunning work from leading duo Kevin Conroy as the Bat and Mark Hammill as the Clown Prince of Crime.

The combat system quality is remarkable and makes every fight (and there's quite a few of them) intense, challenging and very rewarding. Building on the originals solid design a few new features have been added to provide jaw-dropping combos, dramatic sword fights and a combination of gadgets to be used mid-fight. Plus as a downloable extra there is the chance to play as Catwoman who plays and moves very differently to Batman, as you'd expect. She's a refreshing addition to the game with some very slinky moves of her own. But the game is not all about brawn, brains are needed too. From deciphering the tricky riddler clues to planning a stealthy route of attack on some armed thugs. The challenges are varied and the game never gets dull. The previous game often felt claustrophobic, which of course you'd feel being locked in an asylum, but with the freedom of the city it's really made a difference and makes you feel so much like the dark knight, something we can all say we've wanted to do at some point.

The game may be a single player game but there is a lot of replay value in it. There is the option to play the game with all the gadgets and skills you have earned, there are hundreds of riddler challenges to overcome and there is the many challenge maps. These are features out of the game that revolve around fighting talent and stealth talent. They are again varied and provide plenty of difficulty to many gamers, completing them all is a very hard task indeed.

There are two minor niggles. Firstly, the original game really should be played before this one not only for a grip on the expanding story but also for a good idea of how to control the batman. For this game doesn't even come with any control instructions, there is some brief in game tutorials but they are limited. It feels like Rocksteady expect you to have played the first. Secondly, the first ten minutes of the game feel a little overwhelming. Everything is thrown at you in that time and getting your bearings and focus on what to do is a a little tough. A more streamlined start would have avoided that difficulty.