Since its release last October, Rocksteady’s smash hit sequel Arkham City has received its fair share of DLC. Until now, such offerings didn’t really extend beyond new challenge maps, costumes, and characters (Catwoman’s episodes being the one exception but many would argue they were technically part of the base game). But now Rocksteady has finally delivered what fans have been asking for: some brand new story-based DLC.
Obligatory Spoiler Warning!!! Since this DLC takes place after the conclusion of Arkham City’s main campaign there are obviously some pretty heavy spoilers. You have been warned.
Titled Harley Quinn’s Revenge, this DLC expands upon the events that took place at the end of Arkham City and right off the bat (no pun intended) manages to shake things up thanks to a new playable character. Until now, Tim Drake a.k.a. Robin was only playable in the game’s challenge maps but Harley Quinn’s Revenge throws players right into the action as everybody’s favorite boy wonder as he arrives on the scene at Joker’s steel mill.
A brief conversation with Oracle reveals that Batman has been missing for two days after he ventured into the mill in search of several G.C.P.D. officers who had been kidnapped by Quinn and Oracle voices her concerns that Batman hasn’t been the same since the deaths of Talia and Joker. Robin does his best to reassure her before he sets out to rescue the Dark Knight from the depths of the steel mill.
Players who purchased Robin’s DLC challenge map pack should feel instantly familiar with his moves and gadgets. His zip kick allows him to traverse distances much like Batman’s line launcher while his extendable bullet shield can protect him from both gunfire and environmental hazards. He may not have Batman’s raw power but Robin’s extendable staff allows him to smack around Quinn’s thugs with ease.
Robin soon discovers that Oracle’s worst fears have become a reality; Batman has been captured by Harley Quinn and he isn’t keen on imagining what she’s planning to do to him considering she clearly blames the Dark Knight for the death of her precious Mister J. The DLC’s narrative then switches over to Batman’s perspective back when he first got the call from Commissioner Gordon about the missing officers.
Batman’s segment is a bit more open-ended than Robin’s. Players must navigate the steel mill’s exterior as they hunt down Quinn’s most trusted henchmen in order to discover where exactly she is keeping the kidnapped officers. Since the DLC assumes the player has already beaten the main campaign, it isn’t afraid to throw some nasty curveballs; expect to deal with snipers, titan thugs, armored henchmen, and pretty much any other enemies that gave you a hard time in the later parts of Arkham City’s main campaign.
The player’s perspective shifts between Batman and Robin several times during the DLC’s story as they work to save the kidnapped officers and uncover Harley Quinn’s devious plan. However despite the multi-branching narrative, the DLC is sadly not very long and can be beaten in maybe 45 minutes to an hour if you just blaze right through. There are several “Harley Balloons” scattered throughout the environment that can be hunted down collectible-style but even they don’t offer much replay incentive.
That doesn’t mean Harley Quinn’s Revenge isn’t worth its $10 asking price though because it certainly is. Not only do you get a well-crafted stand-alone adventure featuring the Dark Knight and his boy wonder sidekick, but you also get over ten new achievements/trophies to earn, some new 3D concept art, and a few new insights into what the future may hold for Rocksteady’s Arkham series.
So if your copy of Arkham City has been gathering dust on your shelf these past few months, now is the perfect time to brush it off and give it another spin. Harley Quinn’s Revenge may not be the most substantial DLC out there, but for Arkham City fans hoping for one last action-packed adventure, it fits the bill perfectly.
