Batman Arkham City Collectors Edition Xbox-360

Released on 21-Oct-2011

Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition Includes:

• Batman: Arkham City game
• Custom Batman statue produced by Kotobukiya
• Collectible art book
• Early access to the Iceberg Lounge Challenge Map and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns skin
• Batman: Arkham City album from WaterTower Music including original songs by hit artists, available via digital redemption
• Bonus DC Universe animated original movie, Batman: Gotham Knight
  

Welcome to Arkham City.

Featuring an all-star cast of iconic villains, take on the twisted Joker, out-punch the Penguin, and solve the Riddler's mind-boggling puzzles in Batman: Arkham City

The Bat is back, bigger, better and even broodier than before! After taking out crazies in the 2009 hit game, Arkham Asylum, the Dark Knight returns in this epic third-person action-adventure to wipe the criminal scum off the streets of Gotham itself.

From psychotic gangs and thugs through to the most iconic villains in the Bat-verse, fans will punch, kick and fly through the city, investigating crimes, protecting the innocent and unearthing a conspiracy that threatens to tear Gotham apart...

• Gadgets Galore – swoop through the sky using the Batman's grappling hook and cape! Investigate crime scenes with the awesome Cryptographic Sequencer! Dish out rough justice using the multi-faceted batarang! Batman: Arkham City's incredible arsenal is cram-packed with gadgets to save Gotham with!
• Holy Free-Flowing Combat, Batman! – fight gangs of lowlife and evil masterminds using the game's fluid and intuitive combat system, wracking up huge combos as you gracefully flip, throw and fight your way in and out of trouble
• Gotham Revealed – take to the sewers, streets, roofs and skies of Gotham, soaking up some of the sin city's most iconic locations, and discovering its many dark, dank secrets
• Claws out for Catwoman! – with her own storyline and unique set of moves, the world's slinkiest superhero is unleashed on Gotham for cat fans to toy with in Batman: Arkham City.

• New Game Plus mode confirmed for Batman: Arkham City

  Rocksteady Studios has confirmed that the upcoming Batman: Arkham City will include a New Game Plus mode.

  Revealing the news on its official forums, the developer revealed that players who finish the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC adventure will be able to replay it, carrying over all of their experience and gadgets from the first playthrough.

  However, the powered-up Batman will have to contend with an overall higher level of difficulty, with more cunning and powerful thugs populating the game world, while boss encounters will also be more difficult.

  Moreover, gamers will no longer be given a visual indicator of when enemies are about to attack, making it trickier to pull off counterattacks.

  Batman: Arkham City is out next month and is set to be five times bigger than the acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, as well as featuring 3D support.

  Published: 07/09/2011

• Batman gets soundtrack album. No sign of Prince.

  Arkham City, the new Batman adventure, will be giving its cinematic counterparts a run for their money in October, as it launches a tie-in soundtrack album featuring new, Batman-inspired songs from a line-up of popular rock bands. Sadly, a cover of Prince's Batdance is not among them.

  Among the acts contributing are Panic At The Disco, Coheed and Cambria, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Raveonettes and Serj Tankian from System of a Down.

  The album will be released on October 4th, two weeks before the launch of the game, but those buying the collector's edition will get a code to download the album for free, with a bonus track by A Place to Bury Strangers.

  The full tracklisting is as follows:

  Panic! At The Disco - Mercenary
  Coheed and Cambria - Deranged
  The Duke Spirit - Creature
  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Shadow On The Run
  Blaqk Audio - Afterdark
  The Raveonettes - Oh, Stranger
  +++ (Crosses) - The Years
  The Damned Things - Trophy Widow
  Daughtry - Drown In You
  The Boxer Rebellion - Losing You
  Serj Tankian - Total Paranoia
  A Place to Bury Strangers - In The Shadow (Bonus Collector's Edition track)

  
  Batman: Arkham City is released on October 21st on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

• Rocksteady keen to return to Arkham in the future

  Batman may be going up against a veritable rogue's gallery of villains in the upcoming Arkham City, but developer Rocksteady is already keen to return to the Batcave for a third time.

  In an interview with CVG, producer Dax Ginn explained that the London studio is eager to keep working on Batman games, for as long as there are compelling stories to tell.

  'I think as long as we're still enjoying it and as long as we feel we can contribute to the Batman universeThat's how it feels. There's some amazing stuff going on with Batman all around the world at the moment and we feel as though we're making our own little contribution in the form of the Arkham-verse... I feel like we're in a real sweet spot with the games that we're making, the opportunities that we have so I don't really want that to change.'

  Batman: Arkham City expands the gameplay of 2009 hit Arkham Asylum to take in an entire openworld section of Gotham City, now transformed into a prison for supervillains. The caped crusader will encounter such memorable foes as Catwoman, Two Face and The Penguin as he navigates this new location.

  Arkham City launches on October 21st for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

• Batman Arkham City - Review

  Super-powered sequel

  2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum was hailed by many as the greatest superhero game of all time, but Batman: Arkham City arguably takes the genre to new heights with the introduction of a stunning open-world setting and more fully-realised characters.

  Without giving away any major plot points, its premise sees different parts of the city claimed by villains vying for power, with each section of the world displaying a distinct personality. At about ten hours in length, the main story feels a little less focused than Arkham Asylum's tight plotting, perhaps due to the fact there are so many characters competing for top billing, from heroes like Robin, Catwoman, Alfred and Vicki Vale to villains such as the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, the Riddler and the Joker.

  Nevertheless, your journey through the campaign, from one brilliant set-piece to the next, is always engaging and remains a finely crafted experience rather than a sequence of loosely organised encounters, while the opening and conclusion serve as highpoints that will have Bat-fans frothing at the mouth.

  Amazing world

  Batman himself was the star of Arkham Asylum, but Gotham City takes centre stage in the follow-up. The open-world environment is much larger than the original game island asylum, and each location, from an atmospheric museum and a dilapidated subway station to the gothic streets and skyscrapers of the city exteriors, is presented in even greater detail.

  Stand on a rooftop and gaze out at the city before you and youl be floored by the architecture. Each building look unique, and gliding, leaping, climbing or rappelling across this urban playground offers as much exhilarating freedom as any open-world game to date.

  Electric combat

  Revolving around stealth, acrobatic combat and exploration, the core gameplay elements of Arkham City remain unchanged from its predecessor, with highly effective systems that are as simple to pick up as they are difficult to master. The free-flowing combat is still a game of timing as you leap from one target to the next, countering and chaining moves together to beat your way through crowds and increase the strength and speed of attacks.

  You have plenty of new gadgets this time round too, including a freeze gun, a smoke bomb and a remote electrical charge that can zap henchmen, each of which can be seamlessly used in battle alongside more traditional attacking moves. Your improved arsenal is a necessity given the large groups of enemies you face, who now carry shields, wear armour and take aim at you with knives and electric rods of their own.

  Good Knight

  Batman: Arkham City is fleshed out with a heap of side-quests and collectibles separate to the main storyline, which can be played as you go through the campaign or tackled after its conclusion. Answering a ringing payphone, entering a building on a whim or approaching mysterious figures in the shadows can set off all manner of optional, yet extremely substantial and satisfying quests featuring their own characters and sub-plots, from destroying weapons of mass destruction to tracking down serial killers.

  Batman: Arkham City offers a wealth of content and everything is polished to perfection, from the gameplay mechanics to the beautiful open-world setting. Playing as Batman is never less than a pleasure and the game offers one of the most impressive depictions of Gotham City in any medium to date. Quite how developer Rocksteady can go about improving on Arkham City has us stumped, but itl be a pleasure finding out.

  
  

  GAME's verdict

  Good:
  + The best superhero game ever.
  + Fantastic open-world setting.
  + Tonnes of things to see and do.

  Bad:
  - Story is a little less focused than Arkham Asylum.
  - Bosses battles could have evolved more.
  - Can this be bettered?
  

  Review by: Tom aped CrusaderIvan
  Version Tested: X360
  Review Published: 19.10.11

  Published: 19/10/2011

  Published: 19/10/2011

• Batman Arkham City Review

  It good to be Bat

  
  

  Few games have given comic book fans as much to grin about as Batman: Arkham Asylum. Rocksteady crime-fighting master-class took the Dark Knight out of graphic novels and blockbuster movies and turned him into a bonafide videogame superstar. Suddenly, here was a caped crusader who was able to solve crimes as well as pummel baddies, while the setting a Victorian looney-bin stuck on an island in the middle of nowhere put him up against all his greatest foes. It a modern classic.

  And it left us with the question: how could the developer Rocksteady ever better it? How could they come up with a sequel that matched up to the original? The answer, thankfully, is ith ease Arkham City isn just the best Batman game wee ever played, it the best superhero game wee ever played too. It the adventure that both the Dark Knight and his fans have been crying out for.

  Dark City

  
  

  It bigger, brasher, and far, far battier, and it starts with a shift in locations. Following the events of the previous game, Arkham warden has become the mayor of Gotham City, and his first act has been to cordon off the slums of the metropolis, erect guard towers, and turn the place into a huge open air prison. It here that Batman finds himself drawn into his most dangerous mission yet a mystery that will ultimately hold the fate of all Gotham in the balance, while pitting him up against a truly deadly gang of foes.

  Arkham streets are filled with roaming gangs, their goons having sworn allegiance to one of the asylum leaders. The people in charge include the Penguin and Two-Face, and theye not to be taken lightly. Meanwhile, Hugo Strange is the new warden, and the Joker - poisoned by Titan and dying - lurks in the shadows with his own plots.

  It all adds up to one of the best open world set-ups wee ever seen in a game as Batman swoops over the city, tracking down the baddies and busting up their criminal empires. It a mission that will see him scaling the heights of the Wonder Tower, the huge framework of which dominates the skyline, and plummeting through the sewers to explore Gotham mysterious Victorian past. To say any more would be to spoil some of the delights and some of the horrors the plot has in store for you. Cameos abound, and the boss fights are bigger than ever. When it comes to delivering brilliant set-pieces in an open world, Batman only rival is The Legend of Zelda.

  Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly

  
  

  A bigger world calls for new ways of getting around, and Batman can now glide through the air on his cape, and boost his way into the sky using his grapnel gun. Youl spend hours soaring amongst the peaks and rooftops of Gotham, and when you come down to earth, you can mix things up with some great new gadgets. Old favourites like the explosive gel and the batarang return, but you can also expect to mess around with the REC, an electrical shotgun, and an improved line-launcher that allows you to switch paths in mid-air.

  Every gadget as useful in combat as it is in puzzle-solving, and the brawling in Batman is as good as it ever been, with more enemies to take on at any one time, new animations, and a range of new take-downs to put your foes to sleep with. Bam.

  Beyond all that, if youe a comic book fan, youe in for the time of your life, with a range of side quests to play through once the main campaign is over, all of them leading you to a different classic villain. We can spill too much on this front, but we can tell you about Catwoman, who a playable character in the game with her own story missions, her own side quests, and her own vicious approach to combat and getting around. Arkham City the game is every bit as big as Arkham City the place and we defy you to get through all of this content in under twenty hours.

  So the bat back, and it brilliant to see him again. Whether he lurking in the shadows and plotting a stealthy take-down, or whipping through the skies on the trail of adventure, the Dark Knight simply never been as real, as fully-formed, or as brutally convincing as he is here. Arkham City is an astonishingly brilliant game, and that just leaves us with a very familiar question: what next?

   

  

  Bat-tastic!
  + Great new gadgets!
  + Huge environments!
  + Plenty of side-missions!

  Jokerific!
  - We want more!
  - Maybe throw in the Batmobile next time?
  - How long will we have to wait for a sequel?
  

  Published: 27/10/2011

• Batman: Arkham City tops UK charts

  Batman: Arkham City tops UK charts

  Batman: Arkham City has claimed the top spot in the UK's gaming charts, pushing last week's number one FIFA 12 into second place.

  Developed by Rocksteady, Batman: Arkham City allows players to enter the open-plan world of Arkham and wreak havoc on unsuspecting members of the game's shady underworld.

  Its launch this week has catapulted it to the zenith of the UK gaming world, doubling the figures seen for the release of its predecessor Arkham Asylum back in 2009.

  Other games that make up this week's top ten include the aforementioned FIFA 12, Sega's Football Manager 2012, Forza Motorsport 4, Just Dance 3, The Sims 3: Pets, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, Rage, Zumba Fitness and Gears of War 3.

  Meanwhile, XBox 360 owners are set to benefit from a new DLC pack for Gears of War 3 - RAAM's Shadow - which is set to be released in December and will focus on the exploits of characters from the original title.

  Published: 04/11/2011

• Battlefield 3 holds steady atop UK charts

  Smash-hit shooter Battlefield 3 has retained its position atop the UK all-formats chart, despite a strong challenge from Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

  EA and DICE's acclaimed action game managed to continue its blockbusting pace to see off Naughty Dog's latest PlayStation 3 adventure, topping the official GfK-ChartTrack rankings for a second week.

  However, second-placed Uncharted 3 was still able to generate massive numbers of its own, recording the 11th best PlayStation 3 launch ever, while far exceeding the debut of 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

  Third place went to FIFA 12, while the ever-popular Batman: Arkham City and Just Dance 3 rounded out the top five.

  Sega's latest Sonic the Hedgehog adventure, Sonic Generations, also cracked the top ten, slotting in at tenth place.

  Next week's chart will be rocked by the imminent launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which is likely to break more than a few sales records when it debuts on Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3.

  Published: 08/11/2011

• Wii U confirmed for European release before Christmas

  Speaking to investors, Nintendo has offered its first confirmation that its new Wii U console will launch in all major markets - including the UK - for Christmas 2012. The console, first revealed at E3 last year, was already pencilled in for a 2012 release, but it was unclear if that only referred to Japan.

  The console is an evolution of the existing Wii, with far more graphical power, HD graphics and an innovative new tablet controller which works together with the Wii remote. The console was shown off again at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, and will be the centrepiece of Nintendo's presence at E3 in June.

  As for software, a new Super Smash Bros game is known to be in development while Legend of Zelda has been used for some demonstrations. Exclusive Wii U versions of smash hits such as Batman: Arkham City, Ghost Recon, Battlefield, Assassin's Creed and Darksiders also feature in the console's confirmed line up.

  So that's the Christmas shopping sorted nice and early then.
  

• Batman and LA Noire lead 2012 Video Game BAFTA nominations

  The finalists for the 2012 British Academy Video Game Awards have been announced, and this year everyone will be watching the detectives, as Batman: Arkham City and LA Noire top the lists with eight nominations apiece.

  Sony will be happy that Uncharted 3 and LittleBigPlanet 2 both get six nominations, while Skyrim and Portal 2 each have five.

  Categories include Action, Artistic Achievement, Design, Story, Innovation and, of course, Best Game. Batman and LA Noire rub shoulders with FIFA 12, Portal 2, Skyrim and Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in that category. The omission of best-seller Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 may raise eyebrows, but that gets a nod in both the Action and Multiplayer categories.

  Promising indie projects get a look in thanks to the Dare to be Digital One's To Watch award, and there's also a public vote, with ten blockbuster games to choose between. You can head to http://www.baftagameaward.com to pick your favourite.

  The winners will be announced at a sure-to-be-lavish ceremony on March 16th.

• Young Justice: Legacy to soar in 2013

  The teen heroes of the popular animated series Young Justice will be appearing in a new videogame based on the cartoon early next year.

  Little Orbit and Warner Bros Interactive have pencilled in a 2013 release date for Young Justice: Legacy, which is in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS.

  As with the TV show, Young Justice: Legacy focuses on youthful heroes such as Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Miss Martian and Superboy, as they face off against iconic DC Comics villains and prove themselves to their Justice League mentors.

  Featuring a range of playable characters and online multiplayer modes, the game will also include an original storyline penned in collaboration with the show's writers Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti.

  Matt Scott of Little Orbit said: "Our core mission is to create a unique experience that fits seamlessly into the world of the show and offers a new way to interact with these popular DC Comics characters."

  The DC brand is coasting on a wave of acclaim at the moment thanks to the continuing success of Batman: Arkham City, which is one of the frontrunners at the annual GAME British Academy Video Games Awards.

  Published: 23/02/2012

• Xbox 360 - The Essential Games

  
  

  So, you've just got yourself an Xbox 360 - congratulations! You've now entered a world of fantastic HD graphics, powerful gameplay and everything Xbox LIVE has to offer, from online gaming and chat to streaming movies, music and more. There's only one question left - what games should I get?

  Worry not - help is at hand! Thanks to our wonderful customers who entered our recent Facebook competition, we can now recommend the top Xbox 360 games you need to get going, and our competition winners will tell you why!

  Presenting, the Xbox 360 Essentials List - as chosen by YOU!

  

  Action/Adventure

  The consensus was clear. If you want action and adventure on Xbox 360, there's only one man who delivers - Batman. Arkham Asylum broke the mould of what you could expect from a comic-book adaptation. Winner Oliver Brown says "Every time I played it, there were more and more secrets to find, even after finishing the game... The story was very well driven as well, creating an emotional bond with the man behind the mask and cape... and I feel it is essential, for some long term single-player action that you don't see much any more". This was followed by formidable sequel Arkham City, which you said was "pure badass Batman" and "one of the best super hero games of this generation but also one of the finest action/adventure titles available on Xbox 360"
  

  

  Shooter

  You must really like Battlefield 3. You voted for it at the Baftas, and it was the overwhelming winner here too! You all loved the sound, visuals and destruction, but winner Harlen Hatter tells it best: "The Xbox 360 manages to bring an incredible Battlefield experience directly into your front room. The game is a massive scale shooter featuring 4 diverse classes, vehicular warfare, dog-fighting and endless destruction. Oh, and this is usually happening all at once... If you want to call in an airstrike, you have to tell your buddy up in the aircraft to fly down and give you fire support. Every player has a role which makes you feel like a valuable asset to the team... It pushes the Xbox 360 to its limits."
  

  

  Sport

  Your top choice for sports action on Xbox 360 also won by a landslide. FIFA 12 is, according to winner William Chan, "...far superior to any other football games out there. Each goal you score in this game feels like a life accomplishment - even more, if you play LAN with friends. The whole experience is just unbeatable. The game is packed with different game modes which can be frustrating, but fun and rewarding once you get into the stride. This games is one of those laid-back games you can play at a mates house, a local pub or anywhere the pitch takes you." The varying game modes, realism and the ability to defeat your mates were firm reasons from many entrants, praising it as "the closest you will get to the beautiful game" and "an almost complete football experience".
  

  

  Sci-Fi/Fantasy

  You praised its epic scale, it's characters, and the emotional bond you make with Commander Shepard across the series - the Mass Effect saga is the essential Xbox 360 sci-fi experience! In the words of winner Curtis Taylor "This game will last you a long time, it's so immersive and you can play it how you like, you can play it like an RPG or if you're more of a 'run and gun' kind of player then you can just play like that and ignore the RPG aspects, this is what made this game stand out for me. I normally get bored of a game after finishing the campaign once but with Mass Effect, I played it through at least 3 times as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mass Effect is a must-have for any gamer."
  

  

  Party

  In what was the closest fought category, some top music and sports games narrowly missed out to the fun that is Dance Central. Making full use of the Kinect's motion controls to get you to match the dance routines on screen, it is, according to winner Dario Orlando, "All the fun of a night on the tiles, without drunk people stepping on your feet! Plus, with different difficulties, even those with two left feet can own the dancefloor!". You all loved the game's versatility ("guys' night in or girls' wine party"), but most importantly, the fun factor "there's nothing like making an absolute fool of yourself, especially if you couldn't even dance to begin with". So shake a leg and get dancing!
  

  

  Racing

  In another landslide victory, Forza 4 was your choice for pole position. You championed the graphics, realism and choice of cars, while the competitive gameplay and Kinect controls were also reasons you recommended it. It was clear from your entries that this game is a car lover's dream, as summed-up by winner Oliver Dyson: "The 'Autovista' system allows true car enthusiasts to get within 4-inches of closeness to over twenty different dream vehicles... Jeremy Clarkson will not only take you through the ins and outs of each vehicle but also let you compete for times on the infamous Top Gear circuit... Forza 4 is simply essential to anyone with a love of adrenaline, and a passion for the cars you can obtain in it."
  

  Many thanks to all of you who entered - there were some really good choices and reasons why. And if you are in the market for an Xbox 360, I hope the advice of your peers will help!

  As usual, if you have any comments on these games - or alternative essentials - feel free to share them below!
  

  Published: 17/04/2012

• Bring On the Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he is a massive #@+! and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

• Batman still hasn't uncovered all of Arkham City's secrets

  Even after seven months on sale, players still haven't found all of the secrets and Easter eggs hidden among the grim streets of Arkham City, developer Rocksteady has revealed.

  The British studio hid lots of references to Batman lore in its sprawling openworld superhero adventure, and some were discovered incredibly quickly. ""Some of them we put in there that were really obscure were found within a week," the game's director, Sefton Hill, told audiences at the Kapow! Comic Con in London. A secret lair for Scarecrow was just one of these teasers that fans cracked almost immediately. "We didn't think anyone would ever solve that," said Hill, "but it only took people two days."

  However, there are still a few mysteries to be solved, for those with detective aspirations. "There are still three or four things that people haven't seen - some of them very subtle things," Hill told the crowd. "There's one that we had right in one of the first demos that we did that nobody has found - it's in there if you look hard enough."

  Don't worry if you haven't got started on this fantastic comic book caper yet. It's out now on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, and there'll be a Game of the Year edition, including all the game's downloadable content, due in the Autumn.
  

• Arkham City prequel to feature Justice League?

  Arkham City prequel to feature Justice League?

  Rocksteady are planning another game in their massively successful Batman Arkham games. But rather than a sequel to Arkham City, this new game will be a prequel. And this time, Batman won't be alone...

  According to Hollywood bible Variety, Batman will be joined by some of DC Comics biggest super hero characters including Superman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern. The plot details suggest the film will be set in the period where Batman first fought the Joker, and the formation of super-team the Justice League.

  The report goes on to say we won't see this game until 2014 "at the earliest", which has led to speculation that it may appear on the next generation of consoles.

  For those who want to see Batman team with his super-friends to take on the Joker before then, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes will let you do just that, with a bit more fun injected. The DC heroes and villains will next be seen in brawler Injustice: Gods Amongst Us.

  Published: 12/07/2012

• Bring On The Bad Guys!

  
  

  

  This week sees the release of Prototype 2, where the Alex Mercer, hero from the first game seems to have become the new bad guy to beat. So, in celebration of all things vile and villainous, the digital team has once again been gently prodded to share with you our favourite evil-doers. These are the people, who, in the style of Bugsy Malone, are "the very best at being bad"

  
  

  

  Glenn - Mad Mod

  Diablo is the Lord of Terror and a Prime Evil of Hell. That's a job title that alone warrants a spot on our best bad guys list.

  He manipulates his opponents using their innermost fears and then obliterates them with his Demonic strength and incredibly powerful Spells. The strongest Demon in Hell, named after the Devil himself, and seemingly indestructible (Read - he's been destroyed a number of times, even with the Arch Angels helping and he's still keeps ticking, like a malevolent Duracell bunny), devious and able to possess his enemies, Diablo is the Ultimate Bad Guy. And he's back in Diablo 3!
  

  

  Marc - Analyst to the Stars

  The little girl from F.E.A.R. - Alma Wade.

  She was scary. Honest. Like the girl from the Ring (Japanese version, obviously). The first corridor experience with her and the ceiling of blood is one of the scariest scenes ever in a game.

  The Music and Sound was eerie too. It was just all far too scary and Alma was the cause of it all.

  Carl - Design Doodler

  Shao Kahn from Mortal Kombat. Because he's massive and I can't kill him!

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  My favourite video game villain is Revolver Ocelot. He started life in Metal Gear Solid as a random gunslinger who you could kill if you (as Solid Snake) waited for him to need to reload his revolver - he really should have named himself something with more than 6 bullets!

  After cutting off his arm you assume that's the end of him, but he's more maniacal than you realise as he replaces his arm with that of your dead clone brother Liquid Snake. In a strange twist of surgery his arm takes over his mind so you have to beat him again in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Finally the epic family feud of a lifetime is over, but with Metal Gear nothing ever seems to stay dead. Roll on Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance!

  James - Captain Category

  G-Man from Half-Life - not really a villain but still very creepy

  

  Nick - Colonel Category

  Wesker from Resident Evil.
  
  How many times did he die escape get retconned? Nigh on unkillable (until the muddle that was Resident Evil 5), the variety of his super powers (whatever the situation demanded, basically) and his smartass one-liners made him the man (ish?) well all loved to hate.

  Plus, sunglasses in those dark places, yes, THAT's how hard he was!

  Louis - Merchandising Meddler

  Wesker be top of my favourite picks, too. From his humble beginnings in a dual life as a scientist/Umbrella genius/STARS Leader, he goes about sacrificing his entire team in the name of science... and obtaining reliable combat data.

  After he is foiled by Chris and Jill, Wesker fakes his own death, escapes, and, not content with the destruction of Raccoon City, tries to continue his research away from the tenacious and meddling Redfield...

  But, Wesker is a bad guy and is therefore doomed to fail. After failing twice, mutating his body beyond belief and moving to Africa, he becomes nothing short of annoying and impossible to kill. The only way he is stopped is by being tackled by Chris and Eva and hundreds of bullets later, is engulfed in a pool of lava.

  Truly special, I'll always remember him for his rubbish sunglasses (worn at all times) and even worse Matrix-esque coat (RE 5). It was also really weird the way his accent changed too. He went from camp American to indignant English... I guess that cemented the transformation from mildly devious to completely evil!

  My second pick would be The Shredder (many Turtles games, but in particular, the 1989 TMNT Arcade Game). Not content with burning down April's apartment building, he kidnaps her too - forcing the Turtles into action and on a mission to end all missions. To a degree, menacing, but generally just annoying and incessant ; )

  Finally, I'd say my third pick would be Dr. Robotnik from Sonic. Generally, he's also just annoying, but also very devious and innovative. From trying to run Sonic down with a drill machine, to smashing Sonic with a giant wrecking ball, to trying to drown Sonic, to pitting Sonic against Metal Sonic in a race to save Amy Rose. Robotnik never gives up... You gotta love a good villain!

  

  Robyn - In-Yer-Face Interfacer

  Baron von Blubba. You know, the whale in Bubble Bobble! When time runs out it goes ape and super fast... Waaaaaah!!!! (o_o)

  Damien - Good Word Writing Man

  Does 'Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames' from Guitar Hero: World Tour count? Talk about an unbeatable enemy... No? Well then there's always the Joker in Arkham Asylum and City - played with delicious glee by Mark Hamill. He won an award for it and everything.

  Published: 22/04/2012

• Games you can't afford to miss from 2011

  
  

  There's no denying it, we've been spoiled rotten by the flood of quality games this year. There isn't enough time in the day to get through them all! Fortunately, the Christmas holidays are here to give us a little more time to catch up on the best of 2011.

  We've hand-picked a selection of games from this year's release schedule that are all worthy of your Christmas Gaming time...

  Batman Arkham City

  

  A comic hero game that turned out to be very good? We were left speechless when Arkham Asylum was released in 2009. Even more incredibly, Rocksteady Studios' sequel managed to be even better than the first!

  Batman Arkham City sets you in a massive open world, players assume the role of a Batman imprisoned in the sprawling super-prison of Arkham City. Every nemesis you could hope for makes an appearance in the game - as well as an epic storyline offering dozens of hours of gameplay, there's a huge quantity of sidequests and missions to explore once you've put the baddies to bed.

  Uncharted 3

  

  This third outing for Nathan Drake is his grandest adventure yet. Set amongst deserts, lost cities and ruins, Uncharted 3 is a technically astonishing PlayStation 3 game that features all of the exploration, fighting and explosive set-pieces we've come to expect from the series.

  Better multiplayer, more customisation options and some of the most impressive motion-capture animations to hit gaming make Uncharted 3 an unmissable, cinematic rollercoaster. Don't miss out on one of gaming's finest adventures.

  The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

  

  If you can't get your money's worth out of a game like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, you're very hard to please indeed! Bethesda's follow-up to the best-selling game Oblivion left players and critics alike reeling. A gorgeously rendered, enormous world stuffed with terrifying dungeons, endless quest-lines and open-world dragon fights, Skyrim packs more content into a side-quest than most games manage full stop.

  Are you an archer, berserker, magician or rogue? Whatever your play-style, there's a highly customisable role for you in this most epic of RPGs. Hundreds of hours of gameplay are here for players to gorge themselves on, all spread across a game that is likely to become one of the most fondly remembered of this generation. The greatest RPG of all time? It might just be.

  Gears of War 3

  

  Tying up all the loose ends of the previous games, this climax to the best-selling Gears of Wars franchise sees Marcus Fenix and co set out to finish the Locust Horde once and for all in Gears of War 3. Some of the most awesome baddies the series has ever seen make their appearance in this conclusion, and there'll be no shortage of sweaty palms once the fighting's over.

  Multiplayer provides endless re-playability for the game, as you team up with friends to take on wave after wave of Locust forces. If you'd rather rip your friend's face off than lend a helping hand, you can now fight as the enemy, raining horrible destruction on your whole family once the Christmas pudding's gone down.

  FIFA 12

  

  Once mocked by gamers for churning out what often amounted to little more than annual updates, EA has been on a charm-offensive these last five years or so, bringing significant innovation and improvements to their flagship footie title every single time.

  FIFA 12 sees the introduction of a far more dynamic system for defending where you can link up with an AI defender to put pressure on attackers. Head to Head seasons allow you to take part in a highly competitive ladder tournament, while simply playing the game also adds points to your chosen club. It's as addictive as ever, and about as fully-featured a sports game as we could hope for.

  The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

  

  The perfect game to settle into while the family are having a good old row downstairs,The Ledgend of Zelda Skyward Sword will charm the pants off you with it's perfect telling of the classic Zelda tale, mixed with the best combat and world design the series has ever seen.

  Set prior to the events of the N64 (and now 3DS) classic Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword starts off in a beautiful cloud city by the name of Skyloft. Of course, it's not long until Link's childhood friend Zelda is whisked off into the lands below, beginning a fantastic journey of world exploration, soaring flight, and devilishly tricky dungeons. Skyward Sword is a must-play for any Zelda fans, past or present.

  Published: 14/12/2011

• New Batman game due this year, Warner Bros reveals

  Following Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, a third Batman game will be released this year, publisher Warner Bros has slyly revealed.

  The news came not through the usual games industry sources, but as part of a call to investors by Time Warner's Chief Financial Officer John K. Martin. Talking up the success of the media giant's gaming arm, he told shareholders that "we also have a strong games release this year, which will include the next release in the Batman Arkham franchise."

  While that nugget may have been of only passing interest to the money men on the other end of the call, it's a pretty big bombshell for gamers, with the Arkham series being one of the most popular and successful superhero adaptations of all time. There's no further information on what form the game will take, or when it will be released, although the previous games launched in August and October respectively.

  Rumours persist that the third game will be a prequel, set in the colourful comic book Silver Age, and will find Batman working with members of the Justice League. Warner Bros, perhaps wisely, is keeping quiet on the details.

  For the most recent entry in the Batman saga, check out Batman: Arkham City Armoured Edition for Wii U.
  

  Published: 13/02/2013

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