== TEASER ==
It is sort of difficult to imagine Batman: Arkham Asylum directly incorporating a multiplayer mode because the story line is so rich —but that doesn't mean that you can't have multiplayer, right? Take Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, for example. Ezio's story line is one of the richest video game stories I have ever seen —and I am no gaming expert by any means, but I'm sure a lot of you would agree. Yet, even with that rich story, game developers still managed to tack on multiplayer to AC:B, allowing gamers to play with their friends. So would the exclusion of multiplayer in Batman: Arkham City deter fans from actually purchasing the game? I'm gonna go with no. For many fans, Batman: Arkham City is a game they are looking forward to because the first game had an incredible story. Written by Paul Dini, the man responsible for Batman Detective and Batman The Animated Series; I have a very little doubt that Dini will fudge up Batman: Arkham City. Not only did Dini do a fantastic job with the first game, Batman: Arkham Asylum; but he has also made the decision to include more obscure characters like Dr. Hugo Strange in the game- a villain that is often overlooked even in the Batman comic book universe, but one that holds a phenomenal advantage over the rest of Batman's rogue's gallery due to his knowledge of Batman's true identity.There have been a number of rumors circulating about a multiplayer mode in Batman: Arkham City so let me start by saying, once and for all, that Batman: Arkham City is a "single-player only" experience. Our thought process behind this was fairly simple: when we investigated adding multiplayer we asked, "If we use all of the energy that is required to create multiplayer and instead focus this on the single player, would that deliver a better overall game?" With the game now coming to the final stages, I can honestly say it would not have been possible to deliver Arkham City the way we wanted to if we'd have added multiplayer.
We know Hugo Strange is going to be a completely new character to some players, but he was the perfect choice for the role of Warden of Arkham City. Hopefully the trailer at the end of last year has given you a few hints to his character and motivation. Strange makes the rules that all prisoners have to abide by. He enforces these rules with a zero tolerance policy through his Tyger security force, a force equally as fierce as the gangs the incarcerated criminal bosses have amassed. The walls and airspace are constantly patrolled by heavily armed Tyger guards who share Strange's contempt for criminals. The other dimension to Hugo Strange is that he knows Batman's true identity, which massively raises the stakes for Bruce Wayne. By entering Arkham City, Batman is vulnerable and exposed in a way that he has never been before. But don't worry if you've never even heard of Hugo Strange. Arkham City tells the story of the first time Batman has crossed swords with Strange, so you will know a lot more about him by the end of the evening.
I, like many of you, simply cannot wait for the release of Batman: Arkham City (and sort of wish it would come a bit sooner). What do you think? Will the fact that the upcoming game have no multiplayer mode affect the decision of whether or not to purchase? Are you looking forward to seeing more obscure villains in the game, like Dr. Hugo Strange for example?
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