Batman: Arkham City - new detective mode to change how players solve The Riddler’s challenges

Batman’s detective mode is going to get an overhaul in Batman: Arkham City. Speaking to PSM3, game director Sefton Hill explained how the tweaks will change the way players approach and solve The Riddler’s challenges.

“As with nearly every area of the game we’re enhancing it. One example is the criminal database coupled with the new interrogation mechanic… The Riddler continues to taunt the Dark Knight with mind-bending puzzles and exploration challenges, but the location of his biggest secrets are known only to him and people he’s told. Rather than unlocking their locations using maps, Batman will be able to scan a gang of thugs to find a potential informant,” explains Hill.

It sounds great, but Hill warns players that keeping the informant alive while beating down thugs around him could be tough. “This is the guy you need to question, but first you’ll have to take down all the other gang members while sparing the one you want. That can be tough when Batman’s in a seamless FreeFlow combo chain,” says Hill.

Above: We’re guessing that the orange guy is an informant. Be sure not to go too crazy with your FreeFlow combos

We’re wondering if keeping the informant out of harm’s way will be more annoying than tough. We can just see ourselves screaming ‘Noooooooo!’ as we watch Batman deliver a finishing blow to the informant in slow-motion as we mash the start button to find the load game option.

Earlier this year at the Develop Conference, Arkham Asylum art director David Hego expressed regrets about how powerful the detective mode was in the original game. According to Hego, it was so useful that many players went through the whole game with it on, missing out on the finer details in the game’s gorgeously gritty setting.

Sep 29, 2010

Source: CVG

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