Hey there, fellow Bat-fans and speedrunning enthusiasts! Ever stared at the clock ticking down, wondering if the seemingly impossible is actually achievable? Well, get ready to have your capes blown off, because we're diving deep into the electrifying world of Batman: Arkham City speedruns, specifically focusing on a monumental achievement: a New Game Plus, 100% completion run clocking in at an astonishing 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds. This isn't just about beating the game; it's about mastering every nook and cranny of Gotham in record time.
So, what drives a speedrunner to tackle Arkham City with such a demanding category? It's the ultimate test of game knowledge, precise execution, and a deep understanding of every mechanic. This run isn't for the faint of heart. It demands near-perfect runs through challenging combat encounters, intricate stealth sequences, and the meticulous collection of every single riddle and hidden object. Achieving a
WR in this category is a testament to dedication and sheer skill.
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## The Quest for 100% in Under 2 Hours
The goal of a 100% speedrun in Batman: Arkham City, especially on
NG+, is to complete every single objective the game throws at you – all main story missions, all side missions, and every single one of the Riddler's 440 collectibles. This means meticulously planning a route that minimizes backtracking and maximizes efficiency. It’s a category that truly tests your endurance and your knowledge of the game’s world. The
World Record of 2:03:23 is incredibly tight, leaving very little room for error. Any deviation, any missed punch, any poorly timed gadget use can cost precious minutes.
## The NG+ Edge: What Changes?
Playing on New Game Plus offers some distinct advantages for speedrunners. Enemies are tougher, yes, but they also spawn more readily and in greater numbers, which can sometimes streamline combat encounters if managed correctly. Crucially, in NG+, the challenges are already unlocked from the start, meaning you don't have to beat the main story to access the combat arenas and predator rooms needed for 100% completion. This allows for a much more streamlined approach to ticking off those objectives.
The ability to tackle challenges from the outset in NG+ is a game-changer for 100% runs, shaving off significant time that would otherwise be spent progressing the story.
## Crafting the Optimal Route: Every Second Counts
For a run of this magnitude, route planning is everything. It's not just about knowing where to go, but *when* to go there. This involves:
* **Optimized Movement:** Utilizing Batman's traversal abilities like gliding, grapnel boosts, and batclaw jumps to their absolute fullest. Every zipline, every rooftop parkour sequence, needs to be executed flawlessly.
* **Strategic Combat Engagements:** Knowing which combat encounters are mandatory and which can be skipped or optimized. Sometimes, taking out a group of thugs quickly is faster than trying to avoid them entirely.
* **Efficient Collectible Gathering:** Planning the route to collect Riddler Trophies, Riddles, and even destructible objects in the most logical order, often chaining them together with traversal segments.
* **Minimizing Menu Time:** Even the few seconds spent in menus can add up. Runners often develop muscle memory for navigating equipment selection and mission logs.
## Mastering the Predator and Freeflow Combat
Batman: Arkham City is renowned for its Freeflow combat system and its tense Predator encounters. In a
speedrun, these become high-stakes puzzles.
* **Freeflow Combat:** The goal is to clear combat arenas as quickly as possible. This involves perfect counter-timing, efficient use of special moves like the
Psychological Horror (if applicable to the run's strategy) or the
Batclaw, and chaining takedowns to maintain momentum. Understanding enemy patterns and knowing when to use gadgets is crucial.
* **Predator Encounters:** These require a different kind of precision. Stealth is key, but in a speedrun, it's about being aggressive with your stealth. Runners often use
gadgets like the
Batarang or
Explosive Gel to isolate and take down enemies quickly and quietly, often from unexpected angles.
The difference between a good run and a WR often comes down to mastering the rhythm of combat and the patience of predator sections. It's a delicate dance of aggression and stealth.
## Leveraging Glitches and Skips (or Not!)
While some speedrun categories heavily rely on
glitches and
skips to bypass large sections of the game, a 100% run like this often has a more limited scope for them. The nature of collecting everything means fewer opportunities to "break" the game. However, minor glitches or sequence breaks that save a few seconds here and there are invaluable. For example, precise
movement tech or minor
out-of-bounds exploits might be used if they don't conflict with objective completion. The beauty of this category is that it's more about pure skill and game knowledge than finding obscure exploits.
## The Riddler's Gauntlet: Collecting Every Piece
The Riddler's challenges are the backbone of any 100% run. This involves:
* **Riddler Trophies:** These are scattered throughout every district of Arkham City. Runners will have memorized the most efficient paths to collect them, often chaining multiple trophies within a single traversal sequence.
* **Riddles:** These require you to find specific landmarks or characters and scan them while the riddle is active. Knowing the riddles and their solutions beforehand is essential.
* **Breakable Objects:** These are often hidden or require specific actions to destroy.
* **Victim Puzzles:** Rescuing hostages often involves unique challenges.
## The Mental Fortitude of a Speedrunner
Beyond the physical execution, the mental game is paramount. A
speedrunner attempting a 100% NG+ run in Arkham City needs immense concentration. One mistake can cost minutes, leading to a potential
choke. The ability to reset and go again, or to push through a less-than-perfect segment and make up time later, is what separates good runners from the best. The pressure of holding a
WR is immense, and maintaining that focus for over two hours requires incredible discipline.
## Impact on the Arkham Speedrunning Community
Records like this don't just appear out of nowhere. They are the result of countless hours of practice, experimentation, and collaboration within the
speedrunning community. This WR will likely inspire other runners to push the boundaries further, discover new optimizations, and perhaps even develop new strategies. It’s a benchmark that shows what’s possible and fuels the competitive spirit. You can find more discussions and resources within the dedicated
GamingCommunity for Arkham speedrunning.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main challenge of a 100% NG+ run in Batman: Arkham City?
The primary challenge is the sheer volume of objectives and collectibles. Unlike simpler categories, you must complete *everything*, requiring extensive planning, flawless execution of both combat and stealth, and near-perfect traversal across the entire game world.
Are there any major glitches used in this WR category?
For a 100% run, major game-breaking glitches are typically avoided as they would prevent objective completion. However, minor skips and optimal movement techniques that save fractions of seconds are crucial. The focus is more on perfect play than exploiting bugs.
How long does it typically take to get good at this category?
Mastering a 100% NG+ run for Batman: Arkham City can take hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of dedicated practice. This includes learning the optimal routes, mastering combat mechanics, and memorizing all collectible locations and puzzle solutions.
What makes NG+ different from a standard game speedrun?
NG+ offers a significant advantage as all challenges are unlocked from the start, allowing for a more direct approach to collectibles and side missions without having to progress through the main story first. Enemies are also tougher, requiring more precise combat skills.
Where can I find more information about Batman: Arkham City speedrunning?
The best place to start is by checking out the official speedrunning leaderboards on sites like Speedrun.com and joining dedicated community Discords. Many top runners also share their strategies and
Guides on platforms like YouTube.
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This 2:03:23
WR for Batman: Arkham City NG+ 100% is a monumental achievement that showcases the pinnacle of skill and dedication in the speedrunning world. It proves that even in a game as meticulously designed as Arkham City, there's always a way to shave off those precious seconds and push the limits. What other Arkham City speedrun categories fascinate you? Let us know in the comments below! Are you inspired to try this run yourself? Share your own personal bests and strategies! Join our
Community Gaming channels to discuss your runs and get tips!
