Batman: Gotham City

There is no denying that Batman: Arkham City is the best video game based off of a comic book I've ever played. Arkham City gives the player a chance to experience Batman like no other game ever has. Although much of the gameplay was established in its predecessor, Batman: Arkham Asylum, AC is bigger, better, and packs a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Since the end of AC, a few of my friends and I have been speculating where a future game, if any, will take place. It would make sense for the next game to take place in the city of Gotham. Even though Batman was stuck inside Arkham Asylum the first time around, the map was deep enough that it didn’t feel cramped. With AC being five times the size of AA, I was grinning ear to ear the entire game. If Rocksteady follows their pattern from small, to bigger, then I think they’d go to the biggest; especially considering Gotham City is based off of New York City, and is absolutely huge.

Arkham City has been locked down, again, and all of the thugs inside have nothing to do but wander the streets, and pick fights. With Batman and Gotham City Police Department watching the facility instead of TIGER, things are bound to go well, right? Without giving the ending of AC away, it’s hard to imagine how the game could go into Gotham City. There were several villains’ stories left wide open, and one of the most obvious is Mr. Freeze. Out of all of the villains in the game, he is the only one that is not confined somehow. Although Batman leaves him to be with his frozen wife, he is free to come and go as he pleases. If he wanted to, he could easily escape Arkham City by using the water to get around it. Harley Quinn is another villain that doesn’t have any resolution in the game. She is found towards the end of the game tied up inside the Joker’s industrial facility. You have the opportunity to talk to her, but then leave her to rot; nothing is said of what happens to her when the game is completed.

There are several side stories in AC that keep you occupied for a good chunk of time, and one of them in particular has me wondering if he’ll be the next main villain. I won’t say his name, but he was a friend of Bruce Wayne’s growing up, and eventually becomes very jealous of Bruce and his rich lifestyle, causing him to become a villain. Long story short, his appearance in AC is extremely short, and leaves the door wide open for another game entirely. I think that Rocksteady meant to do this, because it was a side mission throughout the game, and was subtle enough that the player would likely forget about it.

Killer Croc also makes a very brief appearance in the game, but you wouldn’t know that unless you tried to exit the subway system right after solving a riddle involving his chains. There is the possibility of him returning for a third game, because he can swim anywhere, and uses the sewers to get around. He could very easily swim out of AC, and get back into Gotham City. Another villain I believe could make an appearance in a third game is the Scarecrow. One of the riddles that you solve involves finding his mask, and scanning it, in addition to the possibility of finding his secret headquarters located in AC itself. Even though you never see the Scarecrow, it definitely leads me to believe that he’s left AC, and fled to Gotham City.

All and all there are a lot of villains in AC whose stories are left open to the possibility of an appearance in a third installment; but if I had to guess, as to location, I'd say it will be in the heart of Gotham City. Where else could the game take place?