Batman: Arkham City Catch-All

Even before Arkham City I feel Arkham Asylum was dark enough to warrant an M rating. Which is one of the reasons why I understand Rabbit when he discusses how he lets his son play Halo even though it is rated M but Batman is a different story.

To me, Halo is basically gaming's current Star Wars. There's some violence in there and a monster's arm gets chopped off, but it's mostly safe. Batman, on the other hand...I mean, just listening to some of the tapes for the villains is twisted and disturbing.

The Robin/Nightwing DLC is just combat/predator challenges. A fun variation, but adds nothing to the story.

I ordered the GOTY for £15, then cancelled. After reading the technical forum and support messages, I'm still concerned about the risk to save games. I rented AC when it launched and lost 20 hours to a corrupted save. I couldn't risk that again given the stories on the official forum.

The PC patch in March was supposed to fix that. People are still having issues?

1Dgaf wrote:

I ordered the GOTY for £15, then cancelled. After reading the technical forum and support messages, I'm still concerned about the risk to save games. I rented AC when it launched and lost 20 hours to a corrupted save. I couldn't risk that again given the stories on the official forum.

Oh man, that would be soooooo frustrating. Sorry to hear that.

Eleima wrote:

So really, am I the only one who did that in the Catwoman DLC?

Spoiler:

Walking out and not helping Batman? It seemed more in character, but when you think of it, even the floor and big arrows, red to the right, and green to the left, as if to say "HEY PLAYER, you MUST - TURN - LEFT"! Still seemed to make more sense that she would take off to me!

Spoiler:

I went to help Batman specifically because it was in character for Catwoman. She has a huge crush on Batman and would never let him be killed.

I find it interesting that people didn't finish the Riddler Puzzles. I loved them, even the physical challenges, while occasionally irritating (why would I fly over water like this?) were all pretty fun to me. Kind of wish the map would differentiate between what is possible and what is not for you based on gear you have... but other than that, I loved going for 100% on these, was certainly more interesting than the ending to Azrael, Fade, or some of the other side quests that basically made for "cases to solve later", which seemed especially dumb as I had already found everything else (finished Riddler stuff before them) and got loading screens saying all issues resolved, preparing for prison closing.

Can someone explain how to add the DLC to your steam copy?

I got the GFWL thing running with a profile but I don't know how to select Robin/Nightwing. I *think* I got some DLC challenge maps ? The Penguin map, but I don't know how to confirm if the DLC got installed.

Steam gives me 3 codes when I begin the game - The first is to activate the game online. The 2nd and 3rd codes don't work anywhere I've found, even on GFWL "Downloads" folder. Does that mean the DLC is installed?

Mex wrote:

Can someone explain how to add the DLC to your steam copy?

I got the GFWL thing running with a profile but I don't know how to select Robin/Nightwing. I *think* I got some DLC challenge maps ? The Penguin map, but I don't know how to confirm if the DLC got installed.

Steam gives me 3 codes when I begin the game - The first is to activate the game online. The 2nd and 3rd codes don't work anywhere I've found, even on GFWL "Downloads" folder. Does that mean the DLC is installed?

If you go to the Riddler challenges, where you select which version of Batman to use, you should be able to go right and choose from Catwoman/Robin/Nightwing, depending on which DLC you bought.

Mex wrote:

Can someone explain how to add the DLC to your steam copy?

I got the GFWL thing running with a profile but I don't know how to select Robin/Nightwing. I *think* I got some DLC challenge maps ? The Penguin map, but I don't know how to confirm if the DLC got installed.

Steam gives me 3 codes when I begin the game - The first is to activate the game online. The 2nd and 3rd codes don't work anywhere I've found, even on GFWL "Downloads" folder. Does that mean the DLC is installed?

No, you need to activate them in games for windows live, then download them there. You should have games for windows live installed, so open it from your desktop or start menu. Then go and look for the redeem a code section (cant remember exactly where it is) and type your codes in there. Then you'll need to download them.

I'm pretty sure that's what I had to do, even though i bought the dlc from steam. But then it's been a while since I did it, so memory might not be flawless.

Yeah, that's what I did but when I added the code in the "Redeem code" section it tells me it doesn't work.

GFWL f*cking stinks >_<

Ehh I guess I don't need the DLC but I feel stupid for spending money on it :/

Well, I was gonna knock Far Cry 2 off my backlog, but then I fired this up instead and I played it for 3 or 4 hours last night, so I guess it's my current game now.

Man I forgot how much I enjoyed Arkham Asylum. Starting this game felt like coming home. Swooping down into a crowd of goons and unleashing hell is one of my favorite things, and it's one of the only series where, when I see a combat arena where there's obviously gonna be a big fight, I get excited rather than annoyed. I went to bed thinking about trying different combos and gadgets in combat. The power fantasy of Being Motherf*cking Batman in this game is amazing.

So far the story isn't anything special, and it's very video-gamey in that the open world is stuffed to bursting with distractions that cry for attention even when you're hurriedly moving to the next main story objective.

A couple minor highlights:

Spoiler:

- Punching the Penguin as Bruce Wayne
- Finding Bane as a seemingly nice guy (I'm sure that'll change later)
- The fight against Mr. Hammer

No problems getting GFWL installed on Windows 8, but I seem to be one of the few people who have had zero problems with it in the past.

I hate that I hate the combat in this game. This coulda been a contender for me. Alas. Glad to know other people are living that experience.

LarryC wrote:

I hate that I hate the combat in this game. This coulda been a contender for me. Alas. Glad to know other people are living that experience.

What did you hate about it? I liked AA better (was more tactical, and in this game it is more just button mashing and dodge), but I love the engine.

Not trying to change your mind(is that possible!:) ), just honestly interested.

I tried hard to like it. Went as far as Solomon Grundy and did a few challenge rooms. It just wasn't clicking. I prefer fighting game and brawling game conventions, apparently. I'll probably go back to it at some point. I want to be Batman, too! But it's probably best to give it a rest to get some fresh eyes on it.

The fighting is the batman games is more of a Rhythm game than it is a brawler.

DanB wrote:

The fighting is the batman games is more of a Rhythm game than it is a brawler.

Well put.

DanB wrote:

The fighting is the batman games is more of a Rhythm game than it is a brawler.

This. It's not technical in the sense that you have to be aware of frames of animation and complex combos. You just have to fire off your commands at the right rhythm and watch the awesome play out. When I get hit or do badly in a fight, I always feel like I know what I did wrong and can try to do better next time, rather than just being frustrated that I couldn't remember a button combination or got hit cheaply by some special attack.

I know all that, guys. I can fight in the game. I can do the combos. But it's not fun for me. I don't feel the fighting, if that makes any sense. I want to. I'm hoping that setting the game aside for a year or so can put me into a new perspective.

LarryC wrote:

I want to be Batman, too!

I know. Maybe after I'm gone. You've got a better chance than Q-Stone.

Also, I thought the Solomon Grundy fight was the worst part of Arkham City.

Don't get sensitive! If you don't like it, no one can fault you for that. I just like Dan's characterization.

No, worries, SallyNasty. I just posted to reassure folks that I'm okay with it. I can see how it is and why it's awesome. I just wish I could rejigger my brain to enjoy it.

Bonus_Eruptus wrote:
LarryC wrote:

I want to be Batman, too!

I know. Maybe after I'm gone. You've got a better chance than Q-Stone.

Now that's just low.

So I player this a few hours last week but haven't touched it since. GFWL problems, natch.

Couldn't log in to GFWL when i first loaded it up, so I skipped it. So of course this means there's no way to save anything. So depressing.

So is there an easy fix? I don't care at all about cheevos, but if I'm going to have to spend an hour fussing with GFWL just to replay the hours I lost, I may never pick this game up again.

LarryC wrote:

I know all that, guys. I can fight in the game. I can do the combos. But it's not fun for me. I don't feel the fighting, if that makes any sense. I want to. I'm hoping that setting the game aside for a year or so can put me into a new perspective.

It may simply be that you don't find the combat satisfying, in a sense. It's built to be empowering and accessible. You don't have to master it to be The Batman, and you can continue to do a good job of busting up foes without learning some more advanced techniques. Contrast this with the sort of brawler you're bringing up, where in order to excel you have to master the system.

A system that starts off empowering may not be to your liking is all. It fits with the goal of the game (in other words, how to avoid dying like a shmuck and to be THE BATMAN), but it's not necessarily going to fit everyone's game tastes.

@LarryC, didn't we have this same conversation years ago in connection to Arkham Asylum? Or am I thinking of someone else?

Quintin_Stone wrote:
Bonus_Eruptus wrote:
LarryC wrote:

I want to be Batman, too!

I know. Maybe after I'm gone. You've got a better chance than Q-Stone.

Now that's just low.

IMAGE(http://skreened.com/render-product/d/c/r/dcrwgxaarwgcwdivkebu/i-m-not-saying-i-m-batman.american-apparel-unisex-crew-neck-sweatshirt.heather-grey.w760h760.jpg)

I have that T-shirt... only it's actually a piece of nano-ceramic/spider silk body armour painted black and cushioned with form-fitting sponge-type impact-resistant MOF resin.

NO MORE GFWL!

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/EjSNzib.jpg)

Got a 92 MB patch, and just tested it. GFWL is gone from both AA & AC.

Oh happy day!

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/mwO12DI.gif)

sh*t - can you opt in? I WANT my AA Goty to be GFWL.