Night. Helicopters patrol the air overhead, their searchlights tracing a meandering path, no particular prey in mind, but keeping an eye out for any potential problems. Someone in an empty alley screams for help while being held against a wall. He’s done nothing wrong, just worked at the wrong place at the wrong time. No one comes. The only other people around laugh and continue on by, shaking their heads. The knife-wielding thug calmly explains, “I told you to find food and bring it to me. This is your own fault.” He slowly begins to press the knife against the whimpering man’s throat. Unbeknownst to both parties, a dark shape has dropped to the ground from the roof overhead, black wings slowing his fall. The silent hero purposefully approaches from behind this gorilla of a man, quickly wraps one arm around the assailant’s neck, clamps the other hand over his mouth and nose, and holds him still until he passes out. The political prisoner scuttles away and breathlessly calls a “thank you” behind him, but the Batman has already fired his grapnel gun into the air and launched himself away. Arkham City is vast and there’s a lot of work to be done if it’s to be shut down.
Moments like this are what give Batman: Arkham City the feeling of a legitimate environment where other characters and people are going about their own business. You’ll be gliding along and one of several moments will draw your attention: a lone gunshot in the night, a body missing its face on the street, a mysterious figure watching you from the rooftops, or a man calling out for help as he’s mercilessly beaten. All of these things and more, will happen as you traverse the world of Arkham City.
