Batman: Arkham City

[Rumpy]

I haven't even tried the Predator challenges yet, still going for 3 medals for bats and cats in the combat rooms.

[Mzo]

Every three steps outside triggers like 29 side quests. It's a little overwhelming at first!

[Rumpy]

It calms down once you get some stuff done.

[cka]

yeah don't worry too much about the side quests getting in your way, they kinda pile it on at the start of the game but you'll eventually get to where it won't say anything and you won't have any goddamn idea where to go next during them

the only one you should really do asap is the AR training for the grapple boost upgrade because you're basically going to need that for a lot of the timed stuff, luckily they are fairly easy and straightforward

[Rumpy]

For all you honest achievement hunters be sure to visit Calendar Man today (he's in the basement of the court house)!

[Hero]

Friend is letting me borrow it. This thing is overwhelming! Not even an hour in and all the story beats get interrupted by lots of side missions popping up.

Also, it's crazy the amount of button combinations needed to do things. Like RT to crouch, then A to remove a grate, but just A to open it. Or LT does something different dependent on the gadget equipped, each of which have their own unique commands. Its annoying to see those prompts each time to do something, but it also feels a little needed, since there's just so many different commands.

I haven't played a lot, but it already feels like Asylum was a bit better. Maybe more focused. I liked how that one played out like Metroid, offering a lot to see, but in a very directed way. City just drops you in and says go - which is also a lot of fun. But a little more chaotic.

[Chux]

Hero: Hating games that everybody else loves since 2010.

You make good points about the control scheme though.

[Yoshi]

Also, it's crazy the amount of button combinations needed to do things. Like RT to crouch, then A to remove a grate, but just A to open it. Or LT does something different dependent on the gadget equipped, each of which have their own unique commands. Its annoying to see those prompts each time to do something, but it also feels a little needed, since there's just so many different commands.

Some of today's games are complex for the sake of not seeming casual I am convinced, and it's unnecessary. The number of buttons you use is not proportional to the quality of your game.

[Rumpy]

Pushing two buttons at once is complicated? I can't think of anything that requires more that isn't an attack combo. The LT is the quickfire for most gadgets. The game teaches you how to use everything as you go, once you learn it, you don't even have to think about it. There's some alt fire stuff that isn't vital (like the rear batarang attack throw), but that's easy to forget while still having its uses to players (same with quickfire gadgets for combat, but again, that's two buttons at once territory and necessary for the highest combat scores). I'm pretty sure you can turn off the prompts when you're ready. It's not made by Nintendo so you're not forced to wait through a paused screen and a scrolling text box every time the same action comes up.

[Brand X]

Yeah, nothing is complicated about the controls at all. For all secondary weapons, left trigger to activate, right bumper and/or bumper to use. The rest like Rumpy said isn't necessary at all and can be ignored. I think I'm about halfway through and the only reason it took me a bit of time to adjust was because I played Dark Souls for 80 hours before I jumped into this and those controls were burned into my skull, and once I broke old habits everything controls really well.

I do agree though that the open-endedness is a bit overwhelming and unfocused in comparison to AA. It just seems like challenges for the sake of challenges, and not that they have any purpose. The sheer number of riddler challenges is kind of insane, and even though it doesn't get in the way of anything, annoying since ever 10 steps there's a massive question mark and mini puzzle to figure out no matter where you are. Not a huge complaint since it's more content they added to the game, but something that could have been integrated a bit more elegantly.