On the Download: Harley Quinn's Revenge Review

For this edition of On the Download, I want to do something different.  Instead of highlighting the biggest downloads of the week, I am going to review the biggest download of the week as I picked up the Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC for Batman: Arkham City and subsequently beat it.  I thought long and hard about how I would rate DLC as this will be my first review of any DLC whatsoever.  If I would rate it on the number scale or a completely different more simple scale like thumbs up or thumbs down approval rating.  After debating it long and hard, I came to the consensus that I will be reviewing all DLC like I review games on a scale out of 10.   Without any further ado, let us get to my first DLC review.

Harley Quinn’s Revenge serves as an epilogue for Batman:  Arkham City.  It is a standalone adventure that allows players to experience the aftermath of Arkham City’s incredible and controversial climax.  Harley Quinn’s Revenge is an excuse to play more Batman: Arkham City, which is always a good thing, but at the end of this two hour story mission you are left with a little more to be desired.

Set a couple weeks after the events of Batman: Arkham City, Harley Quinn has escaped the psychiatric ward of Arkham and has kidnapped a few Gotham City Policemen as well.  Batman returns to Joker’s steel mill in Arkham City to save the kidnapped policemen only to be trapped by the rather insane Harley Quinn.  Now it is up to Robin to infiltrate Harley’s secret base in order to save Gotham’s Dark Knight from the clutches of Joker’s insane girlfriend.

Harley Quinn’s Revenge features the same incredible gameplay featured in Batman: Arkham City.  The biggest addition comes from being able to play as Robin.  Robin plays a little differently than both Batman and Catwoman.  Robin has a bo staff, which he uses for combat, and other unique gadgets such as the Snap Flash and Shield.  If you did not pick up the Robin Challenge Map DLC, it will take little bit of time to get used to how Robin plays.  After a little time, Robin is just as satisfying to play as Batman and Catwoman are.  You play as Robin for the majority of Harley Quinn’s Revenge, but at two points you will be able to take control of the Dark Knight himself.

The main pull in Harley Quinn’s Revenge is the story.  With great acting and fun moments, there are glimpses of the greatness found in Arkham City’s story, but Harley Quinn’s Revenge ultimately falls a little short.  There are some nice hints at Batman facing some depression and who Batman really carried out of the opera house at the end of Arkham City, but nothing more.  Personally it felt like a missed opportunity as I believed this DLC will be the bridge between Arkham City and Rocksteady’s next Batman game.  Also not being able to freely roam Arkham City as Robin after beating Harley Quinn’s Revenge feels like another missed opportunity that could have added more lasting value to this piece of DLC.

Everything established in Batman: Arkham City such as the excellent environment, atmosphere, puzzles and combat, all carryover to Harley Quinn’s Revenge.  At the end of the day, it does feel like Rocksteady could have done a little more to take Harley Quinn’s Revenge from good to an incredible addition to Arkham City.  For what it is worth, Harley Quinn’s Revenge is good two hour, possibly three if you search for all the hidden balloons, romp back into Arkham City.  There is just enough content here to justify the 10 dollar price.  Harley Quinn’s Revenge is a worthy adventure for those who love Arkham City.