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Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition

Name: Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Item: Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Rating: 5
Author: Marc Saltzman

Game review by

Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Game Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

(i)

Combative Dark Knight game has some blood and death.

Nintendo Wii U
$59.99
2012

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Popular with kids

Parents say

age 11+

Based on 4 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 11 reviews

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Educational Value

Kids can learn problem solving, goal achievement, and cooperation by playing Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition. In its Detective mode, gamers scour an area for clues, collect and analyze the evidence, and use the information to complete the objective. The GamePad controller can also be used to look for items in the environment as it's a real-time map. While mainly a role-playing game with superhero combat, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition challenges kids to solve problems and cooperate if playing with others.

Positive Messages

This game has mixed messages. On one hand, you play as a superhero who is fighting evil and protecting innocent civilians, but on the flipside Batman doles out plenty of violence in the game.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Batman, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne, is a positive role model because he wants to clean up Gotham City and protect innocent civilians. But when Wayne dons the cape he uses fists, kicks, weapons, and gadgets to take down the villains and their henchmen. Also, gamers can play as Catwoman, who is a "supervillainess," according to DC Comics.

Ease of Play

Using the Wii U GamePad, this game is fairly easy to control but there will be a slight learning curve as it's a new console. Plus, players can access parts of the game on the touchscreen, too.

Violence

While fitting for a comic book- and movie-inspired superhero game, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition has plenty of violence, some blood, and scenes of death. Players can use hand-to-hand combat, weapons, and gadgets to maim or kill enemies, and is often dramatized with close-up camera angles, slow-motion effects, and screams of agony. Some of the cut-scene sequences show hostages who die.

Sex

Many of the female characters wear tight-fitting outfits that reveal a lot of cleavage. Some of the references are also sexual, such as villains who mutter phrases like "sure could go for some porn right about now" and "...hints of repressed sexual tension." One neon sign in the game says "Live Nudes."

Language

While not over-the-top, some of the characters use words like "bitch," "bastard," "ass," "damn" and "hell."

Consumerism

Batman is based on a comic book character, and arguably this game was heavily influenced by the darker The Dark Knight movies.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

There are a few isolated references to smoking and drinking in this game. One scene shows a character smoking a cigar, while references to alcohol include "I'd give anything for a nice cold beer right about now" and "She got a little drunk and killed her classmates."

What parents need to know

Parents need to know Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition is a darker and more violent side to Batman. He inflicts pain on enemies with kicks, punches, acrobatic moves, melee and range weapon, and gadgets; and if Batman fails to save innocent civilians, they could die. Along with violence and a bit of blood, the game also has some sexual references and suggestive imagery, profanity, and some references to alcohol and smoking.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 7 and 12 year old Written byStephen the great December 26, 2012

age 10+

Good for kids

This is a great game. Good for kids because batman never kills people. Still it is pretty violent. (no gore at all).

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Parent of a 7 and 16 year old Written bySimon S. September 3, 2016

age 14+

Probably the best Arkham game in the series!

Holy cow, this game is amazing! It's got an interesting story, cool characters, and fun gameplay! In terms of violence, it's mainly just comic book vi... Continue reading

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Teen, 13 years old Written bybatman4567 December 8, 2012

age 10+

GOOD GAME

This game is a good batman game. The game is like the dark knight but a little bit darker. I'm Ten and i have this game. Give your kid this game if they wa... Continue reading

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Teen, 14 years old Written bySovaso March 27, 2013

age 14+

Welcome To Arkham City: Population: 200 Inmates 50 Political Prisoners and 1 Bat

Arkham City. This game redefined the combat system, open world adventure and more. It's great. The game relays the message that perserverence is key. The g... Continue reading

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What's it about?

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY ARMORED EDITION is a lengthy single-player adventure that builds upon the original 2011 game by including all downloadable content already preloaded on the disc, along with exclusive features that take advantage of the new Wii U GamePad controller. Without giving too much away, the dark story is about Gotham City sealed off and used as a maximum security prison for all of Arkham City's criminal masterminds: Penguin, The Joker, The Riddler, Harley Quinn, Two-Face and Mr. Freeze. As you might expect, it's not easy to contain these villains. In addition to the Caped Crusader, you get to play other familiar faces, including the likes of Robin, Catwoman, and Darkwing.

Is it any good?

Yes, most definitely. As with last year’s game, this third-person adventure folds in many kinds of gameplay, including stealth, melee and ranged combat, gadgets (beginning with your Bat Grappler), exploration (even while soaring from rooftops) and some puzzle-solving. Along with multiple areas to explore – including city streets, a museum, abandoned subway, and old courthouse -- side missions, secrets, and role-playing game (RPG)-like upgrades help keep the game interesting.

Developed for Wii U by WB Games Montreal, the game offers additional content introduced by the game’s original developer, Rocksteady Studios. For one, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition introduces the Battle Armored Tech (B.A.T.) mode and new Armored Suits for both Batman and Catwoman. This allows the characters to build up kinetic energy during fight scenes and then enter B.A.T. mode to dole out more damage and experienced heightened awareness. The Wii U GamePad, which houses a 6.2-inch touchscreen, is now your Batcomputer, which lets you tap to access objectives, select gadgets, upgrade gear, detonate explosive gel, and scour the area for forensic evidence in Detective mode. In fact, this second screen is now a real-time map of Gotham you can call up at any time. And as previously mentioned, this version of Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition houses all previously released downloadable content, namely: Catwoman Pack, Robin Bundle Pack, Nightwing Bundle Pack, Harley Quinn’s Revenge Pack, Challenge Map Pack, and Arkham City Skins Pack. Gamers who haven’t yet played this game will no doubt fall for this refined Armored Edition exclusive for the Wii U console. The Bat is back.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about whether the second screen really adds to the gameplay. How do you feel playing on the Wii U GamePad -- a tablet-like controller that shows information that compliments what's onscreen?
Families can also discuss the impact of media violence. Does it matter that the violence is portrayed in a comic book world?

Game details

Platforms: Nintendo Wii U
Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions, reading
Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, investigation, solving puzzles
Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together
Self-Direction: achieving goals
Price: $59.99
Available online? Not available online
Developer: Warner Bros. Games
Release date: November 20, 2012
Genre: Action/Adventure
Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Superheroes, Adventures
ESRB rating: T for Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence