I keep seeing people say they are worried their impressions or thoughts on a game aren't being read. I assure you that there are a lot of us who do read them, we just don't always have a chance to say anything or don't have anything to add. Not to mention the various lurkers in the thread who can't post at all.
As stated, you can always repost them if the game comes up again in discussion, as quite a few of us already do.
So please, share your thoughts, at least you'll know I'll read them.
I'd say the more open map is one of City's least notable additions. The series' bread and butter are combat and stealth/predator gameplay, both of which saw a lot of improvements. The quickfire functions of gadgets adds much to the combat which, when looking back, was incredibly basic in AA. It's hard to believe how much the combat amazed me back when the AA demo was released. It's still good, but just outclassed by AC's. Same with the stealth. All the gadgets have some practical application during those segments. It's more feasible to mix combat and stealth in AC than in AA too; Being able to drop a smoke bomb, then run in and knock out multiple goons, then vanish before the smoke dissipates is both fun and a perfectly Batman-like thing to do. having quickfire functions for gadgets beyond the batarangs helps with that too; I can quickly knock out a guy, freeze a another when he comes around a corner, pull another over a ledge or disarm him with the batclaw, all without having to cycle through or select gadgets on a menu. Whoever managed to map all that to a game pad deserves particular recognition.
I always pimp out
this video by BatmanArkhamVideos, but it helps get my point across about how additions like the ice grenade and smoke bomb go far in improving the experience. the rest of that guy's videos do a good job showcasing how good AC is.
Whether you're going stealth or kill-frenzy, the agility is always helpful, same with time stop.
Aye, the additions to the combat put the game above Arkham Asylum to me because of how much it offers. One aspect I found that I never see too many people talk about due to I guess the lack of interest in the challenge predator maps or preferring to just stick with what works rather than attempting to use as much as possible, is how much of the game can be done without really ever getting face to face with the enemy.'
I love for example while going across Arkham City's overworld near the museum during the period most of the enemies have guns and just taking them all out without ever being seen. I could glide down and kick them all, but it's much more enjoyable as I casually play the game (as I am now, if anyone looks at my Steam profile screenshots and activity feed) to freeze some while pulling one off a roof or using a Batarang to knock someone out or blasting an enemy into another or using the explosives well. It's not needed, it doesn't change the main point of the game, but a small little puzzle of my own choosing.
Likewise I love how I can play a Predator Map, say the subway map and ignore the Medal Requirements and try and K.O. every enemy on the map without ever coming into physical contact with them. Explode their own mines to take out some or using the Remote Batarang to knock a guard who just climbed up the ladder or use the grapple to pull someone down and it's all in good challenging fun of my own making.
I also personal enjoy always trying for the Perfect Freeflow 2.0, the do every combat move and combo. Not always possible in game due to lack of enemies or them being rather weak, but easily keeps away the "you can just button mash to win, it's boring" that alas some run into and harms the game for them.
Yes I know it's not forced on you and to some have the mindset that if there is something easy and cheap they have to use it, but for me battles never get tiresome for me and I'm currently playing Arkham City for the sixth time to full trophy/achievement completion.
What if I plan to kill everyone in sight while doing the sneaky deaky? Thanks for the info though from both you and Munch, gonna invest up in some blink the next few runes I find.
Blink is a required skill no matter how one plays, just too useful. Get around quicker, sneak past enemies, or teleport into the air and drop down on an enemy (great against the enemies on stilts later)
Possession will be your friend in this case. Allows you to sneak around using either creatures of the world or other people, and lets you easily set up a variety of deaths through out the game. I enjoy changing the walls of light to let you go, but not the City Guard and then walking through while possessing a City Guard member.
Two hours in with Gods Will Be Watching:
It's not that I don't like difficulty either, I dug Dark Souls' jib, I rock Call of Pripyat with Misery Mod, Teleglitch was my personal number one last year. There's just a difference between difficulty and bad game design and this team doesn't seem to know the difference.
Disappointing to hear, but expected from what I was seeing. Thanks for the impressions, and I guess off the wishlist it goes until perhaps (not likely) they do an improved version via patches (after Burnout Paradise I'm always hopeful).
