When Batman Arkham City hit consoles last year, it seemed inevitable that a tie-in game would be released for portable platforms. But instead of a mediocre piece of shovelware, the iPhone received an impressive fighting game tailored to suit the iPhone’s touchscreen interface. Reviews of Batman: Arkham City Lockdown mostly complained that it was too short, but that’s changed now with a new, free update featuring everyone’s favorite Coulrophile, Harley Quinn.
The game was developed by NetherRealm Studios who also created Mortal Kombat, so they know a thing or two about fighting games. Arkham City Lockdown has similar mechanics to the sword-fighting iPhone game Infinity Blade, and has players taking on Gotham’s Archvillains, and their henchmen in hand-to-hand combat. Rather than trying to compress every aspect of the consol edition of Arkham City down onto the iPhone, Lockdown focuses on the fighting aspects. Foregoing the use of a virtual joystick, it uses precisely-time swipes and taps on the touchscreen to dodge and throw combos.
Players don’t directly move Batman around the levels as in a typical third-person beat ‘em up. Movement is handled automatically by the game, and players only have indirect control over the Caped Crusader by directing his combat moves. While a bit repetitive, it’s action-packed and full of advanced techniques to master.
There are RPG elements too. As Batman defeats enemies and uses the more difficult techniques, he is rewarded with experience points that allow him to upgrade his abilities and Bat-gadgets. Unlockable skins can be used too, just like in the console version of Arkham City. Lockdown will let players dress up their Batman in outfits seen in various adaptations of the character, who has had many costumes over the decades that he’s been fighting crime.
The update that hit the iStore this week adds in a new level for the game with Harley Quinn facing off against Batman, but not before he dispatches a level full of her clown-themed thugs.
Aside from the new location and villain, the update also gives players a free skin for Batman, plus a new one available for purchase. The free skin is Bruce Wayne in his civilian identity dressed in street clothes. The skin that can be purchased in app is Batman Incorporated, from the recent Grant Morrison comic.
There are also new gameplay features, including a batarang minigame. The Harley content also gives players new achievements to complete, plus it adds a raise in the level cap from 30 up to 35. There is also a new Waynetech training sequence in Critical Strikes.
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This is the second free content update for the game, following a smaller one last December that added in iCloud support along with two new skins: Earth One Batman, and 70’s Batman. Batman Arkham City Lockdown is available for iPhone and iPad for $5.99, the Harley update is out now and can be downloaded for free. Check back with Explosion.com for our review of the game and a look at how it has grown with the new content.
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