Games: Batman Arkham City for Wii U

Last year, I played through Batman: Arkham City on my Playstation 3. The game received much critical acclaim and I thoroughly enjoyed it as an excellent follow up to Arkham Asylum. In fact, I have often praised both of these games as the best video game interpretation of Batman as a character and mythos that I've ever enjoyed, capturing the feel of 'being' the Dark Knight in a visceral and palpable way.

With that in mind, it was an easy choice to pick up the 'Armored Edition' of Arkham City for my new Wii U (thank you, Christmas!), and I must say that I feel it's the DEFINITIVE version of the game. Even if you've already played through this excellent title on XBOX 360 or PS3, the Wii U version adds elements that enhance the game tremendously PLUS it includes all of the later-released downloadable bonus content, like 'Harley Quinn's Revenge', at NO extra cost!

Why, you ask, do I consider the Wii U release of this title to be superior? It's all about the GamePad. Arkham City: Armored Edition uses the Wii U GamePad masterfully and thoroughly. When you're running around Arkham City, the map you would normally have needed to pause the game to pull up is constantly on display on your GamePad screen, complete with waypoints marked for your next objective, side missions, Riddler trophies and more. When Batman needs to hack into computer terminals, isolate radio frequencies, detonate explosive gel or control his remote-controlled Batarang, the GamePad also comes into play, which means the only thing that would make you feel more like The Dark Knight is if the GamePad was strapped to your left arm. Furthermore, when you want to customize your gadget loadout, the touchscreen is so much easier to work with than buttons and sticks.

The game's graphics engine chugs occasionally so the framerate and textures don't quite compare to those on the other two platforms (I believe this had more to do with a rushed development than any deficiency on the Wii U's part), but apart from that this edition of the game is a knockout. Oh, did I mention that it supports off-screen play? Definitely a winning feature.

If you'd like to enjoy this version of Batman: Arkham City, click over to Amazon right now and pick it up: