I’m Batman.
Not really, but it may be something you utter frequently after getting caught up with the highly addicting Batman: Arkham City Lockdown. It’s a well-designed fighting game that will interest longtime fans and newcomers to the Batman franchise.
As Batman, you are tasked with beating down Gotham City’s criminal element. This takes place in the Arkham City universe, which is a criminal paradise that can only be cleansed by Batman’s fists.
Much like Mass Effect Infiltrator, this Batman game (a universal app for iOS) is a spinoff from the main console title. It is a clever way of building momentum for the main title. Yet it is also a wise move to not try and re-create or port a console or arcade game (such as Mortal Kombat) onto a touch-screen device, which has been done in other cases with less-than-ideal results.
How Batman Arkham City Lockdown is played is where it excels. The fighting moves are conducted through swipes, gestures, and taps. To succeed you will need to master Batman’s martial arts arsenal. A key to winning fights is not just the combination moves, but also when to duck and use Batman’s cape to block punches. While the controls were very responsive, the only hiccup I found was in Batman’s cape-led block not responding.
Yet it wouldn’t be Batman without all of the cool gadgets. You are not just left to fire them; when Batman throws the boomerang you must control it by tilting the device as it hurls towards the enemy.
Speaking of enemies, while there are many faceless thugs, the game includes many appearances of nemeses from the Batman comics. Two-Face and The Joker are among the guests.
There are upgrades galore: by beating up a sufficient number of enemies, gamers can cash in and upgrade areas like Batman’s strength, defenses or fighting skills. If you have an affinity for the Adam West-style Batman, his outfit is one of the many that can be purchased from the gallery.
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown does not ignore its comic book heritage. There are sample comics from the Arkham City timeline that look especially good on the iPad.
In all the game has a dark, ominous tone that is faithful to the Arkham City series. While at $5.99 it is priced higher than other iOS games, it is well done and worth it for those who want a first-rate fighting game or are passionate about all things Batman.
Download Batman: Arkham City Lockdown from the App Store ($5.99)
On Target:
- Excellent gesture-based controls
- Challenging
Off the Mark:
- Some upgrades will cost you
