Looking back at Arkham City... STORY

[FlyingGrayson]

Hi all,

In a few earlier threads, SarahMay talked about letting us, the community, give feedback to Rocksteady/Eidos about what we liked and didn't like about Arkham City. There was a new topic every week for three weeks; we covered COMBAT, RIDDLER CHALLENGES, and CHALLENGE MAPS. The "looking back" series has been dead for about three months now, so I thought I'd revive it so we could look back and offer feedback on what is, in my opinion, the most important part of a game like Arkham City: the story!

The topic for discussion here is the Arkham City story, so please tell Rocksteady/Eidos:

- What you liked
- What you think improved
- What your favourite part of the story was
- What you didn't like
- What could be improved
- Your thoughts on HOW the story was told
- Any Arkham Asylum/Arkham City comparisons, whether favorable or not

I'm sure Rocksteady/Eidos can't wait to hear what we have to say!

[DarkPrince333]

What I liked- The story was captivating, and made me want to keep playing. No point in the story ever told me it was okay to take a break and play something else. The majority of the side-missions could be done at any point if you felt like you needed something to do. The most important thing about the story though is it made me think. I couldn't just do a play through and be done, I felt like I had to have more. Questions were brought up, and it over-all brought me here to the forums to discuss my thoughts. How many games can you say that about.
What my favorite part of the story was- The ending mostly because it's not even a real ending, but an introduction to the next game. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened, and where it will be taken.
What I didn't like- I didn't like how characters like Poison Ivy and Killer Croc were spoken about like they posed a threat, but never really went anywhere. All we got were brief cameos, and minor roles if you got the Catwoman dlc. I thought they had a lot of potential, and then just fizzled leaving me with disappointment. I also didn't like how short, and sometimes meaningless the side-missions could be. I wouldn't mind if we had less side-missions that had a lot more depth, and diversity. It'd make them all the more special. Side-missions should be side-STORIES that captivate you and make you want to do them then and there, not leave them for last because you don't really care at all. I also didn't like how you weren't given free roam with Robin or Nightwing, but we were with Catwoman. I would much rather go around without a story even as Robin, then with a boring one as Catwoman.
What could be improved- The game could be longer, and I either like more closure for things, or the ability to know that it will be in a subsequent game/dlc. More side character involvement from people like Robin and Nightwing would be greatly appreciated too. As a player I love seeing those side relationships grow, not just sit stale in the case of Robin.
My thoughts on HOW the story was told- It was very easy to follow, and all of the decisions made by Batman were realistic. The story had fantasy bits like the Lazarus Pit, but how they were introduced made it seem like they were possible to make in real life. The story had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

[MontyPython]

A truly amazing story and saying anything else would be a lie.

So far DarkPrince is truthful. I'd also like to hear your thoughts, FlyingGrayson.

[DarkKnightDetective23]

The story was fantastic. The ending obviously blew me away. I never expected it but I truly loved it when it happened. The ending was probably my favorite part of the entire story. I can't really say there was anything I disliked. The way they bridged the gap from AA to AC was great. I loved sitting and reading all the AC Stories and learning the background of different characters/locations and how they affected the events in AC. A job well done in storytelling.

[Lance100]

Overall I loved the story. These are a few points in it I want to hit on.
Ra's-Personally I have never been a fan of ra's and all of that stuff with the lazarus pit. It all seemed to be a bit too... far out for batman.
Penguin-Despite what many have said about penguin, I thought he was epic. I liked the way he did things and thought it was extremely appropriate for Arkham City.
Two face-Two face was a bit of a let down, which is why Im somewhat glad I didnt see him too much with Batman.
Catwomen-The catwomen story could have either been improved apon or extended.
JOKER- In this game he was amazing(like the last of coarse). Unfortunatly, before the game came out somebody said something about clayface being joker(this was a guess). Once I heard it I never forgot it, and once I played the game it was in my mind alot of the time. I only wish I could have been blown away like everyone else.
Strange- I exected alot from strange, and for the most part he met my expectations. But the part in wonder tower disappointed me a bit. It seemed like Batman Begins all over again.

[greeknet.com]

The story was amazing(the beggining was very good!) and I loved all the parts of the game! I think the end was a bit melodramatic but it was goood!

[thebat500]

- What you liked:
the beginning and the end
- What you think improved:
the relationship of batman with charecters like talia, alfred, robin
- What your favourite part of the story was:
the ending and the protocol 10 part ( everything was messed up , the music was awesome, batman wanted to go to talia but the res of the bat family argued with him)
- What you didn't like:
it was too short, some charecters like croc, poison ivy and scarecrow would have made it better if they were used
- What could be improved:
arkham city's story was good but it got better when protocol 10 started. if you do arkham 3 like that from the beginning it would be awesome. make it like TDKR where bane just brought hell to gotham by blowing the bridges to isolate the city and control it , complete chaos. and speking of bane, please! make him like nolan's version, please!
- Your thoughts on HOW the story was told:
every thing was leading to another, nothing was forced and that's good
- Any Arkham Asylum/Arkham City comparisons, whether favorable or not:
side missions were good but the dark theme of AA was for me better, i feeled like i was so week among the inmates even when i was batman. but that was an asylum for crazy people, it was suppose to fell like that and i don't expect gotham to be like that. i know that will feel strong because i'm batman, i have aerial advantage that improved from AA to AC ya know what i mean? if RS can mix the themes of AA and AC, the darkness of the asylum and the power of batman in the city, it will be great for gotham

[SarahMay]

Thanks for this!

Apologies for not being more on the ball with this, super busy here!

[ManiMan]

- What you liked

The overall story was very good and worked great for the theme of the game

- What you think improved

Storywise not much the story of arkham city feels a bigger and more important than in akrham asylum but overall the story of arkham city is told as great as in arkham asylum

- What your favourite part of the story was

The intro
Side missions
The very first time entering the gladiator pit in the museum
Meeting mr freeze
beginning of protocool 10
Catwomans "missions" were also good imo


- What you didn't like

As much as i love the game storywise it had some pretty heavy weak points imo.
At first the whole thing with ra's,talia and the league dropped the otherwise great story down big time.The longer i think about their role in the game the more i think some kind of scientist or something would have been a lot better for that particular story part(Kirk Langstrom would have made a great and creepy villian for that part).
Hugo strange is the next problem,after the hugo strange reveal trailer i was so exciting what could happen in the game with a guy like him.
After the beginning of the game i was looking forward so much for what he had planned.In the end i was more then dissappointed in his role.
He wasnt more then a lapdog of ra's and no challenge for batman imo.
Even harley was more dangerous then him in HQR.
All he did was telling the people of arkham city when protocool 10 starts and what rules he has for them.
And dont let me start with the tyger guards,they were as useless as the lunatics in arkham asylum,after the hugo strange reveal trailer i expected them to hunt me a some point of the game but the helicopters were all i got.

- What could be improved

More side missions would be great and a even longer story but i can understand if that is not possible because of all the conversations,textures,animations,sounds ect you have to press on a single dvd.
More action based cutscenes,with shooting,batman using gadgets,batman beating up guys and throwing them through walls,batman knocking out villians like riddler,two-face ect

[Nightwonder]

What I Liked:
The Special Overall story including Harley Quinn's Revenge

What I Think improved:
The Arkham City story was very amazing and unique

My favorite part of the story was:
Catwoman, Two-Face, Penguin, Joker, Ras Al' Ghul and Harley Quinn

Side Missions: Deadshot, Riddler, Hush & Zsasz
A rookie in the Giadiator Pit for the first time
Meeting Mr. Freeze - in the Museum and The G.C.P.D where i fought him of course
Protocal 10 - seeing the damage in Arkham City
Catwoman's side missions - Awesome, I Just wish that she had her own new story after Arkham City....Like Robin saving Batman in Harley Quinn's Revenge

What I didn't Like: No Ultra Batclaw, Powered Gauntlets and Multi-Batarangs in Arkham City

What could be improved: More stories with Catwoman & Nightwing, New Concept Art from Harley Quinn's Revenge, and GCPD rescued Cops 3D Trophies from Harley Quinn's Revenge in the Trophy list