Watched The Dark Knight Rises, played Rocksteady's Batman games, read the comics, and even created a personal Batman suit? If so, well done, but Gameloft has released a movie tie-in game for iOS running concurrently to the final movie in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. So spoilers are ahead and Touch Arcade previewed the title.
As a game following the movie's plot, Batman aka Bruce Wayne, returns after 8 years of exile and dwindling fortune. With the Joker in prison, Bane is introduced. He intends to destroy Gotham City by setting off a nuclear bomb.
The game bears resemblance to Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, from Rocksteady, with an open world-esque nature and the timing-based combat Rocksteady popularized with the Batman Arkham titles.
The game is broken up into chapters and missions and alternates between comic book-like jump cut scenes, which is jarring, according to Touch Arcade. The game depicts a comic book-style fight scene with Bane, but doesn't end up delivering on the tension and suspense from the movie.
Despite selling for $7, the title has in-app purchases including pills to heal Batman after he has been shot, which is a questionable design decision. Upgrades for weapons can be bought with the in-game currency, along with experience boosters when meeting certain skill requirements. Batarangs also carry over between missions, so the way to buy them is through the in-game store, unless Batarangs are found in the environment.
The open world, aside from the main quest, has miscellaneous quests where players can beat up thugs and generally complete non-essential objectives. The Dark Knight Rises game also takes players indoors, resembling the Arkham games further: players can hide on gargoyles before surprising enemies from above. The difference is that the A.I. isn't great and, therefore, players can run past enemies while Batman hasn't been seen. Not the greatest immersion.
Players can also travel around in vehicles, which can be upgraded, including Batman's motorbike or the Batpod.
The in-game store offers a lot of content, from a map showing locations (and perhaps hidden collectibles), upgrades including glide time, consumables (including the aforementioned pills), and Special items can be bought with real money. The rest of the items are in-game money only.
The Dark Knight Rises game is not the highest quality product available on the iOS App Store. Gameloft is also the production brain behind games like "Modern Combat" (a clone of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare) and "N.O.V.A.," heavily influenced by Halo.
The Dark Knight Rises is a universal iOS app, available now, for $6.99, and carries the same price tag on Android.
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