The world of video games is moving at a breakneck pace. What was once considered the pinnacle of gaming can quickly become outdated by new rendering techniques and more powerful hardware. Revisiting classics from time to time is crucial to see how they fare with an unbiased, modern perspective. Let’s imagine if Rocksteady's acclaimed Batman: Arkham City was released in 2025 instead of 2011. Would it still be considered a groundbreaking experience, or has time dulled its edge?
A Timeless Narrative
The tale in Arkham City begins as Bruce Wayne is unjustly tossed into the criminal-filled prison of Arkham City. From there, it launches into a plot with wide-reaching implications. The story is never too simple yet not too convoluted, making for an enjoyable tale from start to finish. It is a delicate balance, a blueprint evidenced in titles such as the more modern Spider-Man 2.
A superhero story needs villains. Arkham City deftly weaves in iconic characters from Gotham's Rogues Gallery into a cohesive narrative, most notably the Joker. Its timeless blueprint is something many superhero games, including 2025's top titles, will continue to follow.
Gameplay: Still Fresh Today
When it first hit, Arkham City was a breath of fresh air. It moved away from the claustrophobic corridors of Arkham Asylum into the open skies of a Gotham City prison. This transition from a Metroidvania-esque structure to a full-on open-world action-adventure game was incredibly well-realized. It retained all the core gameplay tenets of the original.
There's a big playground to run around in. The movement system was really well designed at the time. Batman glides with grace from rooftops and grapple points that zoom him across the city in style. It may not be as flexible in terms of moves compared to modern games. This largely comes down to the character's limitations and not due to game design.
Combat: Still a Knockout
The combat system builds upon the already excellent foundations laid down in Arkham Asylum. The game seamlessly switches between stealth action and full-blown action brawler scenarios. Encounters typically take place in large arenas with multiple vantage points. This allows players to thin out the herd with quick takedowns before transitioning to a more aggressive style.
The rhythmic combat and memorable boss fights are still a high point. Especially the fight against Mr. Freeze is an experience. The combat system will continue to be super fun in 2025 because of the generous parrying timings and weight attached to each of the attacks. It's hard to deny that the combat system really makes you feel like a superhero. Even considering how far games have come, these sequences are still a fun experience.
Open-World: Showing its Age
One aspect that hasn't aged as well is the open world itself, specifically, the side quest content. The side quests in this game do fit in thematically. However, they are not all that engaging, mostly serving to pad out the game. This is a common element in open-world games for that era. By today's standard, activities in the game could use some polish.
Graphics: Still Palatable
Arkham City pioneered computationally taxing effects such as NVIDIA PhysX when it was originally released. This made it one of the most graphically impressive games on the market. While it does not look so impressive in 2025, it is still palatable. Turning the graphics up on PC can still make the game graphically pleasing. However, it wouldn't make it a looker by 2025 standards.
A Great Game Even in 2025
Overall, Batman Arkham City remains a fun open-world title and truly understands the character of Batman. Whether it's its storytelling, rhythmic combat, or stealth gameplay, everything works in perfect harmony. Even if Arkham City had been released in 2025, it would be one of the best in class and would easily see an 8 out of 10. The evidence of its effects on modern superhero games cannot be denied. The game's core strengths transcend the test of time. The title would still carry the tag: a must-play in 2025.
