Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first hour has a strong pull because Arkham City lets you inhabit Batman’s usual problem-solving fantasy from several angles. You can stalk enemies, start a fight when the moment feels right, and lean on gadgets rather than treating every encounter as a straight brawl. That mix is why the game’s action and stealth labels matter: changing your approach is part of the fun, not a side activity.

The Wii U additions are most useful when they reduce friction. Keeping the mini-map, objectives, and waypoints on the GamePad means you can check your direction without interrupting the television view. Quick access to upgrades and a custom gadget loadout is similarly welcome; it encourages you to adjust your tools instead of leaving useful options buried in a menu.

Some GamePad ideas go further than simple convenience. You can steer a thrown batarang by tilting the controller, while Investigation mode has you move the GamePad to scan around the environment after calibrating it to the TV. The cryptographic sequencer also becomes a touch-screen mini-game. These touches make the controller feel involved in the detective work, although they can be more demanding than simply using standard inputs when you just want to keep moving.

B.A.T. mode is this version’s biggest exclusive twist. Building kinetic energy in combat and triggering the mode by pressing both analogue sticks adds a clear reward for staying engaged in a fight: enemy locations are heightened and Batman or Catwoman can deal more damage. It is a satisfying emergency lever when a battle gets crowded, but it does not fundamentally rewrite the game’s combat. Think of it as a punchy bonus layered onto an already proven formula.

Graphics

The game keeps the camera behind Batman or Catwoman, letting their upgraded suits remain visible as they move through the campaign. B.A.T. mode’s heightened enemy-location view gives combat a more information-heavy look when it is active, while the second GamePad screen takes maps, bios, and certain interaction screens away from the TV.

Story

Arkham City – Armored Edition centers its campaign on Batman, with Catwoman also receiving the upgraded suit and access to B.A.T. mode. The game introduces those suits and the new mode through a video embedded in the story, so the Wii U-specific addition is not simply dropped into the action without context.

The package is notably fuller than the base release. It includes the Catwoman Bundle Pack, Harley Quinn’s Revenge, and the Nightwing and Robin bundles, alongside skins and challenge maps. That matters because the edition does not ask you to choose between the central campaign and a barebones version of the surrounding material.

Don’t buy it expecting the included add-ons to turn it into a different story. Buy it because you want Arkham City with its related character content and Harley Quinn’s Revenge already in the box. For a licensed superhero game, that kind of completeness is valuable: you can settle into the world without immediately feeling like major side material sits outside your copy.

Overall Experience

This is an excellent Wii U version of a game built around the pleasure of being prepared. The best moments come when stealth, brawling, gadgets, and investigation all feel like parts of the same Batman toolkit. The GamePad does not merely mirror the TV; it regularly handles information and specialized tasks in ways that keep the main action flowing.

There are limits to the extras. Tilting the controller to guide a batarang or physically moving it during scans will either make you feel more involved or briefly slow down your momentum, depending on your tolerance for motion-based interactions. B.A.T. mode is fun, especially when you want a burst of combat advantage, but the core game remains the main attraction.

If you own a Wii U and want Arkham City in its most content-rich form, this is the version to seek out. The included DLC gives it real value, the GamePad features are often practical rather than ornamental, and the underlying action-stealth blend remains compelling. It earns its 8.4 because the Wii U changes complement a great game instead of distracting from it.

Retro Replay Score

8.4/10