Lab 2: Analyzing "Batman: Arkham City"

Before I begin my analytical review of this game, let me start by retracting a statement I made in the first week of class. When I stated that my favorite game of all time was The World Ends With You (2008) for the Nintendo DS, I had totally forgotten than just a few months ago, I got my hands on what would soon become my new favorite: Batman: Arkham City (2011). It is my favorite game of all time for a variety of reasons, and I shall explain why.

First off, let me begin by saying that I am a DIEHARD Batman fan; without a doubt, he is my favorite superhero. Secondly, I played the first game, Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) a few weeks and considering the fact that that game was amazing, the sequel would have no choice but to be bigger and better. And I was right in every aspect: Batman: Arkham City was much better than its predecessor in every way possible, from the better graphics, better gameplay, much better story, and most of all in my opinion: BETTER MUSIC.


To me, music helps to make the experience. You'll remember a song from a movie or a game, and attached to the memory of that song will be the event that went along with it. This was one thing that Batman: Arkham Asylum was missing for me: a memorable soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, the game itself was still amazing, but I only really remember the specific events that took place in the game, not any of the music that came with it. Batman: Arkham City, however, GREATLY improved on the soundtrack, creating moments in the game that cannot be forgotten, or remembered without the music playing in your head right with it.





The main theme to the first game was lackluster, something that I actually had to go back and listen to before writing this analysis because I seriously couldn't remember what it sounded like. However, the opening theme to Batman: Arkham City (posted above) is extremely well-composed. The build-up of the song is simply beautiful. I would actually find myself sitting at the main menu for minutes at a time before I finally started the game. The original soundtrack for the game was composed by Ron Fish and Nick Arundel, the two very same composers for the first game, which leads me to believe that the two of them sat down, listened to what they had done in Arkham Asylum, and decided that it was time for an overhaul. And boy, did they deliver. I actually own the soundtrack on my iPod and sometimes sit down and listen to how well-crafted every track is. 

Not only was the soundtrack improved on, but the overall sound design in the game was well done as well. Every sound used in the game, in my opinion, was crisp and clean, from footsteps to grapples to flying bats. Distance was judged very nicely, and the stereo sound was used well; if a group of cronies was discussing something far away to the right, the sound would be faint, and in your right ear. If Batman changed position, the sound would move accordingly. As the hand-to-hand combat or the stealth sequences heated up, the music would pick up in intensity along with the action, which in my opinion makes the player feel as if he or she is accomplishing something and amps them up for more action.

Overall, Batman: Arkham City greatly improved on many aspects its predecessor didn't shine so brightly in, from the story to the sound design. The experience that the whole game brings together is something that NO person calling themselves a gamer should miss out on.