Batman returns in video game form

Christian Bale will return as Batman next summer in the movie "The Dark Knight Rises," but fans of the Caped Crusader can get their fix much sooner in video game form. "Batman: Arkham City" is the latest release of the Batman Game series, and gamers all over the world will be able to explore a new district in Gotham City soon. "Batman: Arkham City" is the sequel of "Batman: Arkham Asylum," the 2009 hit that won over critics and gamers with its dark tone, and blend of stealth gameplay with action and adventure. The new game setting finds Batman watching over Arkham City, a new district in Gotham that has been fortified to hold the city's criminals. It gives gamers much more room to roam and battle enemies including the Joker to Two-Face. Dax Ginn, marketing manager of Rocksteady Games, said, "For 'Batman: Arkham City,' we've taken the action out in the streets of Gotham City. So the whole game takes place within this sprawling super-prison that's about five times bigger than Arkham Island." In the open-world game, players can expect much of the same style of free-flowing combat and use of gadgets like the bat-claw or explosive gels. But besides the action, there's also a bit of detective work and psychological thrills in the game. Dax Ginn said, "We're also focusing on stealth, forensics, crime-scene investigation. We're also really exploring that sort of dark psychology of Batman as a man, as a hero and as a character. All of that within this incredible game world amongst a huge number of villains in the rogues gallery." "Batman: Arkham City" is due out in October this year on various platforms. There will also be a collector's edition that features music soundtracks, an animated film and a Batman statue.