VIDEO Batman: Arkham City (Arkham Asylum 2)

I tried to use Detective Mode as little as possible because you miss how beautiful the game is.

Generally, I went Tomb Raider style, only using it while standing still to look around. After using it frequently in Asylum, I was actually surprised at how little I really needed to use it. Spotting vents and electromagnets with the naked eye was quite easy.

I'd use it in combat occasionally while stationary too. Made it a little more challenging but I had no problem with that.

 

You can almost always see him by sight alone. Even if you're in the smaller room and he's outside, you can see his scanners through the window.

The only time I really felt the need to use detective mode in combat was to get a sense of where everyone was in a Stealth Predator room before I attacked anyone. Since my first attack was usually to string someone up from a gargoyle/vantage point, most of the enemies would go check it out and I'd know where they are.

 

I used it in combat all the time, much easier to see enemies as skeletons (and highlighted red when they have guns) than in the flesh given how dark the game often is.

I agree Freeze was the hardest boss fight, he was a good character in the game. His tapes with Strange were interesting too.
The villains were all done well, I liked Penguin and Riddler was much less silly than he is often shown as being. He was actually quite Jigsaw-esque, as shown in his trailer for the game:

 

Glad I wasn't the only one to get a Saw vibe from Riddler in this game. Thought that was especially represented in his hideout with all the different cameras and room ideas strewn about.

Bearing in mind I played the game on normal, I only died on two bosses. Neither were Freeze, given that his gun actually did very little damage.

The first was Joker... or should I say his army of goons. I could easily handle the Titan guy, but they threw Hammer (or was it Sickle?) in there too, and I completely screwed up on my first attempt.

The second was Two-Face, who I did not expect to have a rocket launcher. Took him down to within a hit of defeat and he shot me right in the face.

 

If they're doing a next-gen sequel, I demand a massive Gotham City with driveable Batmobile(s) and Batwing.

 

Isn't that what Origins is doing? Well, besides the vehicles.

 

I hope so, but I want all of Gotham - and it's big! Have you seen DC's map of it?