It took a few play-throughs over the years, but "Arkham City" really grew on me. Almost uniquely so. Somehow, the Gotham City that seemed rather empty was a place I couldn't wait to get back to. You could easily kill a few hours at a stretch just gliding around and beating on people.

Part of it's the added content (I was playing the GOTY edition). Harley Quinn's Revenge is some of the best DLC I've ever played, and only enhances the theatricality. Hell, even just the addition of skins is a real bonus. It's somehow much more fun to beat up criminals as Animated Series or Dark Knight Returns.

You've gotta hand it to the studio for putting together a blockbuster Batman game; the voice talent is top-shelf, the story's ambitious, and the gameplay is addictive. It's easily accessible as a button- mashing free-for- all, but once you get the hang of the combat, it's just plain exciting.

This was a real gem.

11/10