It Is Beated! (Arkham City Review) *SPOILERS*
I finally beat the main storyline today. What can I say? It was fabulously fabulous and stunningly stunning. What more can you ask from a game? What more could you ask from a fandom? Still, there are some things in particular that stood out as extra special and some things that I think could have been done a little better. Nothing is perfect after all.
Things that stood out:
- I LOVE the storyline involving Hugo Strange working with Ras. Strange has always been a rather irritating character to me, mostly because his motivation always seemed rather weak. This story enabled the character to remain as he has been depicted in the past along with a good, solid reason behind it. Bravo!
- I freakin' love the "There's plenty wrong with me" scene and putting Batman in a position where he is forced to help the Joker was a stroke of brilliance.
- Did anyone else notice that Kevin Conroy also voiced Hush? It was amazing! I'm so used to him as Batman, hearing him add a creepy vibe was really nifty.
- The big finale, as much as I didn't want it to happen, was absolutely perfect. Batman ended with a joke, despite the fact he didn't intend it as such, and he was the last thing the Joker saw. Glorious death scene with a heart-breaking addition in the credits. I know some are hoping beyond hope that it's all an act (some even theorizing that it was Clayface), but I don't know. It makes sense to end it if Mark's done, if not however, I'm sure we'll see him again.
Things that could have been better:
- My main irritant was Harley's voice. Don't get me wrong, I adore Tara Strong. She's probably the most amazing female voice talent that's ever been! But her Harley came off as extra whiny and I'm just so darn picky about the character. There was one line in particular (I can't remember which) that literally made me cringe. Was it the worst thing in the world? No, and probably the best replacement they could get. I just found it a bit distracting is all.
- Again with Harley: I would have like a bigger reaction out of her in the finale.
- Batman was particularly broody in this game. I was fine with it except for his rude treatment toward Gordon at the end. "Your men have been dying and chaos is ready to spill over the walls, but I'm totally going to ignore your concerns and go sulk in the shadows. Oh, but I did bring you a present." *dumps Joker's body* I suppose we can forgive him though. After all, he did have to deal with the Joker, Freeze, Penguin, Zsasz, Ras, Strange, Mad Hatter, Clayface, Deadshot, Riddler and who knows who else all in one evening. Oh, and he was slowly dying through the ordeal. Yeah, I think we can be lenient here.
- Did Joker really have to die? Before I begin, don't think I'm arguing about whether or not it should have been done, rather how it was done. I mean, he had the cure, did he not? Suddenly, he gets all distracted at the possibility of immortality. Couldn't he have, I don't know, taken the cure and then worried about the Lazarus Pit? Since when can the Joker not have his cake and eat it too? Even ignoring all that, did he think stabbing Batman in the shoulder was going to assist him? Batman was totally going to give it to him. He knew he would. I would have liked to see the scene following that. It would have been super awkward. I can see them both shuffling their feet, unsure of what to say. lol
Concerns (help!):
Okay, so I'm a bit of an idiot. I've completed all of the side missions (except the Riddler stuff, of course) save one: the Zsasz side mission. See, what happened was I got super distracted by Zsasz's story and awesome delivery that I didn't actually do what I was supposed to do (trace his position) while he was talking. I know. I know. It's a bit embarrassing. Anyway, I didn't figure it out until his fourth or fifth call. The point being, I've received six calls from the man but have only traced his position about 25% of the way. Oops. I'm worried because I've been listening for phone calls while searching for Riddles, but haven't heard any for quite some time. Have I totally screwed up this mission? Is he done calling? I'm going to be so pissed if I've completed everything else to perfection but can't finish this piece!
Things that stood out:
- I LOVE the storyline involving Hugo Strange working with Ras. Strange has always been a rather irritating character to me, mostly because his motivation always seemed rather weak. This story enabled the character to remain as he has been depicted in the past along with a good, solid reason behind it. Bravo!
- I freakin' love the "There's plenty wrong with me" scene and putting Batman in a position where he is forced to help the Joker was a stroke of brilliance.
- Did anyone else notice that Kevin Conroy also voiced Hush? It was amazing! I'm so used to him as Batman, hearing him add a creepy vibe was really nifty.
- The big finale, as much as I didn't want it to happen, was absolutely perfect. Batman ended with a joke, despite the fact he didn't intend it as such, and he was the last thing the Joker saw. Glorious death scene with a heart-breaking addition in the credits. I know some are hoping beyond hope that it's all an act (some even theorizing that it was Clayface), but I don't know. It makes sense to end it if Mark's done, if not however, I'm sure we'll see him again.
Things that could have been better:
- My main irritant was Harley's voice. Don't get me wrong, I adore Tara Strong. She's probably the most amazing female voice talent that's ever been! But her Harley came off as extra whiny and I'm just so darn picky about the character. There was one line in particular (I can't remember which) that literally made me cringe. Was it the worst thing in the world? No, and probably the best replacement they could get. I just found it a bit distracting is all.
- Again with Harley: I would have like a bigger reaction out of her in the finale.
- Batman was particularly broody in this game. I was fine with it except for his rude treatment toward Gordon at the end. "Your men have been dying and chaos is ready to spill over the walls, but I'm totally going to ignore your concerns and go sulk in the shadows. Oh, but I did bring you a present." *dumps Joker's body* I suppose we can forgive him though. After all, he did have to deal with the Joker, Freeze, Penguin, Zsasz, Ras, Strange, Mad Hatter, Clayface, Deadshot, Riddler and who knows who else all in one evening. Oh, and he was slowly dying through the ordeal. Yeah, I think we can be lenient here.
- Did Joker really have to die? Before I begin, don't think I'm arguing about whether or not it should have been done, rather how it was done. I mean, he had the cure, did he not? Suddenly, he gets all distracted at the possibility of immortality. Couldn't he have, I don't know, taken the cure and then worried about the Lazarus Pit? Since when can the Joker not have his cake and eat it too? Even ignoring all that, did he think stabbing Batman in the shoulder was going to assist him? Batman was totally going to give it to him. He knew he would. I would have liked to see the scene following that. It would have been super awkward. I can see them both shuffling their feet, unsure of what to say. lol
Concerns (help!):
Okay, so I'm a bit of an idiot. I've completed all of the side missions (except the Riddler stuff, of course) save one: the Zsasz side mission. See, what happened was I got super distracted by Zsasz's story and awesome delivery that I didn't actually do what I was supposed to do (trace his position) while he was talking. I know. I know. It's a bit embarrassing. Anyway, I didn't figure it out until his fourth or fifth call. The point being, I've received six calls from the man but have only traced his position about 25% of the way. Oops. I'm worried because I've been listening for phone calls while searching for Riddles, but haven't heard any for quite some time. Have I totally screwed up this mission? Is he done calling? I'm going to be so pissed if I've completed everything else to perfection but can't finish this piece!