Video Games: "Batman: Arkham City" Exceeds All Expectations

If you're a fan of Batman, I'm sure you're already aware of the release of "Batman: Arkham City," the second installment in the newest series of Batman, the game.

The first, "Batman: Arkham Asylum," was, at the time it came out, simply the single best superhero game ever made. "Arkham City" is even better.

Let's start with the story, which is admittedly quite thin, unless you get deep into the supplementary story material. The premise is that Gotham has been divided by political machinations and Arkham Asylum and Blackgate penitentiary have been moved to a large portion of Gotham.

It must be said that, although the premise of the game is slightly lacking, the characters, including the villains, are amazing. They are just the way you remember them from the comics.

The voice actors are also amazing and serve the story well. You may even recognize a few from the animated series, chief among them being Mark Hamill as the Joker. For you "Star Wars" fans out there, yes, that is Luke Skywalker.

The world is beautifully detailed and makes you feel connected to it. Every building carries with it a memory of a former exploit. Every dark alley makes you feel like a predator from on high.

The combat is also outstanding. The game uses the same free flow combat system of "Arkham Asylum" but slightly streamlined. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but it's there.

The gadgets are there in droves and used in combat. And their creative use will be essential as you begin to attack the game's many puzzles set by the Riddler.

The Riddler plays a much bigger role in "Arkham City" than he did in "Asylum." In fact, his mark can be seen all over the city. This is not as tedious as it sounds and is quite fun and also adds some extra gameplay to the experience.

"Batman: Arkham City" is an excellent game for anyone, whether you are a fan of Batman or not. If you are a fan, this game will be one of the best Batman experiences you have ever had, and if you are not, it gives you every reason to love the series.

It's a winner on both counts.

Available for the PS3, XBox 360, and Windows computers.