Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition

Batman: Arkham City - Armored Edition brought to Wii U one of the best-reviewed superhero games ever made, right at the console's launch. The foundation is the same as in the original version: part of Gotham has been turned into an open-air prison district where criminals including Joker, Two-Face, and Penguin have been shipped, and Batman moves through it freely, gliding between towers on his cape and dropping down into alleys full of gangs. The structure combines a main storyline, a series of side cases with classic villains, and hundreds of Riddler puzzles that push the player to explore every corner of the map.

The combat system rests on fluidly chaining strikes, counters, and dodges, where it's crucial to watch the warning icons over enemies' heads and never break the rhythm. Alongside this there's stealth work in rooms full of armed guards, where Batman uses ceiling structures, ventilation shafts, and all sorts of gadgets to pick off opponents one by one and ramp up their panic. The Wii U version added BAT mode, a temporary suit boost charged up by successful hits, and moved equipment, the map, evidence scanning, and remote-controlled gadgets onto the controller screen. Some puzzles and hacking sequences used the touchscreen directly.

Atmospherically, Arkham City is an exceptionally strong work; the city feels bleak and cold, with snow, neon signs, and the constant crackle of radio chatter that can be eavesdropped on. The music works with dark orchestral motifs, and the main characters' voice acting ranks among the best in the genre. The Wii U release also included most of the later add-ons, making it a very generous package. Reviews were very good, though some reservations came up about visual smoothness compared to older versions. Today it's still a superb action-adventure, one that for many years defined the shape of superhero games.