Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown is an action-adventure video game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for iOS and Android. The game is part of the Batman: Arkham series, and was released on December 7, 2011 for iOS[2] and June 26, 2013 for Android.[1] It acts as a prologue to Batman: Arkham City, set a few weeks prior to the game's events, and follows Batman as he faces numerous supervillains in the streets of Gotham City, such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Penguin, Solomon Grundy, and Poison Ivy, who have escaped from Arkham Asylum.[3] Defeating enemies earns points that can be used to upgrade Batman's stats or unlock gadgets or costumes.[4] The game features integration with Game Center.
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Developer(s) | NetherRealm Studios |
Publisher(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment |
Designer(s) | Mike Lee |
Programmer(s) | Anthony J. Rod |
Composer(s) | Nick Arundel |
Series | Batman: Arkham |
Engine | Unreal Engine 3 |
Platform(s) | iOS, Android |
Release | iOS
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Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
This game involves the player using the touch screen in order to play. If the player moves his finger left and right he or she can make Batman punch his foes repeatedly. If a foe attempts to punch Batman, the player can slide their finger down to deflect the foe's attack. Batman can also counter foes by tapping a certain body part on the screen which will result in a takedown (or deplete a lot of their health). When Batman defeats a Gotham thug he can advance to the next phase facing off another thug. After defeating the last foe, the level is complete.
If a foe punches Batman, he will lose some health. If the foe makes Batman lose all his health, the game is over and players have the option of trying again or quitting the game. During this process, players can use Batman new abilities to change kinetic energy to potential energy to create devastating blows. Foes may also have an advantage of attacking Batman which he can only dodge these moves rather than attack due to their red colored shield. There are a total of 4 (or 3) thugs to fight in 2 stages before fighting the villain (boss) behind the crime. There are also 4 Bonus Stages which give upgrades to Batman. After the player levels up, he or she gains experience. With this experience, players can buy gadgets, physical build, combo strikes, health boosts, etc. Players can also make Batman change suits from his Arkham City appearance to his 1970s Batsuit, which one can purchase for free upon download. After the player completes the game, they can play it again on an even harder mode, where thugs and bosses are harder to beat.
Plot
After the announcement of Arkham City, a new super-prison in based in the decaying urban slums of Gotham City, by Mayor Quincy Sharp, the Joker breaks out from Arkham Asylum, joined by several other villains, who cause mayhem in the streets of Gotham. Intent on stopping the escapees, Batman first goes after Two-Face, defeating him and his gang on the streets, soon defeating Penguin's gang, who have escaped from the Blackgate Penitentiary, and Solomon Grundy in the sewers as well. He is later attacked by the assassin Deathstroke and his goons, hired by Hugo Strange, the warden of Arkham City, at the Steel Mill, but Batman prevails and leaves them to be arrested and incarcerated at Blackgate, while Strange formulates a new plan to defeat the Dark Knight in the future.
Later that night, while patrolling the rooftops, Batman encounters the Joker, who is slowly dying due to the unstable properties of the Titan formula (which he injected himself with at the end of Batman: Arkham Asylum). Batman ultimately triumphs over Joker and his gang, taking them back to Arkham Asylum. However, the Joker's sidekick, Harley Quinn, soon manages to escape alongside Mr. Hammer, a new thug hired by Joker. She then captures a reporter in the hopes of finding a cure for the Joker, but is defeated by Batman and locked up once again. Later, Batman goes after the last escapee, Poison Ivy, in the Business District of Gotham, where Ivy has enslaved the GCPD and Robin with her special pheromones. Batman is able to subdue all the police officers and Robin, freeing them from Ivy's control, before defeating her and taking her back to Arkham Asylum as well, putting an end to the outbreak.
Development
The game has been updated three times since its release. The first update added more achievements and costumes, while the second and third added more areas and villains (Harley Quinn in Update 2 and Poison Ivy in Update 3). Each of these updates also added more skins and achievements, and raised the level cap.
Cast
The game features voice acting, with many actors reprising their roles from Arkham Asylum and Arkham City: Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill, as the Joker, Tara Strong as Harley Quinn, Fred Tatasciore as Solomon Grundy and Mr. Hammer, Troy Baker as Two-Face and Robin, and Corey Burton as Hugo Strange. It also features Amy Carle as Poison Ivy, replacing Tasia Valenza, and Larry Grimm as Deathstroke, who would later be voiced by Mark Rolston in Arkham Origins and Arkham Knight.
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | 69/100[5] |
Publication | Score |
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Eurogamer | 70%[6] |
IGN | 70%[7] |
Pocket Gamer | 70%[8] |
TouchArcade | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Gamezebo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Eurogamer called it addictive.[6] Gamezebo summarized it "too easy, too short, and completely devoid of a story – but Batman Arkham City Lockdown is also a fast-paced, finger-swiping good time that looks stunning, keeps you hooked, and lets you be Batman."[10] IGN said "There's a lot to like about Arkham City Lockdown, but there unfortunately isn't much to love. The game is a fun way to pass the time, but lacks the fantastic story that's made Rocksteady's Arkham games so notable on consoles."[7] Pocket Gamer said that it "adds its own spin to the Infinity Blade-styled action game and packs a meaty punch with its presentation, but it never quite takes flight."[8]
References
- Futter, Mike (June 26, 2013). "Batman: Arkham City Lockdown And Scribblenauts Remix Now On Android". Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- Crecente, Brian (2011-12-07). "Take on Deathstroke in This Surprise Batman: Arkham City Game". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- Molina, Brett (2011-12-08). "'Batman: Arkham City' glides onto Apple devices". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- Crecente, Brian (2011-12-08). "Batman's Return to Arkham City is Triumphant, But Short". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-12-12.
- "Batman: Arkham City: Lockdown for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- http://www.eurogamer.pt/articles/2011-12-10-batman-arkham-city-lockdown-analise
- http://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/12/22/batman-arkham-city-lockdown-review
- http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Multiformat/Batman+Arkham+City+Lockdown/review.asp?c=36033
- Nelson, Jared (2011-12-09). "'Batman Arkham City Lockdown' Review – The Dark Knight Tries His Hand at 'Infinity Blade'". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- https://www.gamezebo.com/2011/12/08/batman-arkham-city-lockdown-review/