Making its world premiere last 2010 Spike Video Game Awards, Batman: Arkham City is steadily gaining popularity, exciting Batman fans and gamers alike.

The game is based on DC Comics’ Batman, and is a sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum released last 2009. With the same open-world gameplay as of its predecessor, the scheduled worldwide Batman: Arkham City release date is on the week of October 18, 2011.

Batman: Arkham City is being developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The action-adventure stealth game will be available for PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U. The game takes place about one year after the events of its predecessor Batman: Arkham Asylum.

For the gameplay: as previously stated above, you can freely roam in an open-world type of gameplay which incorporates predator tactics and stealth. Players control the Dark Knight as he goes around Arkham City to complete primary missions as well as secondary missions featuring key characters with their own stories.

Gadgets and weapons previously obtained in the first game Batman: Arkham Asylum will be available at the start of Batman: Arkham City with most of them having new and improved capabilities.

There will be more puzzle elements in the game that can be solved by using the “Detective Mode” which is now changed to an “Augmented Reality Mode”.  There will also be optional Riddler challenges to collect hidden trophies within the game.

To add, Catwoman will be a playable character at specific points in the game with her own heist-focused storyline. Robin is also a playable character in challenge maps. With over 400 challenges in-game, Batman: Arkham City may take up to 25 hours of Batman experience of completing the game’s main storyline plus other side challenges.

And if you haven’t watched the Batman: Arkham City trailer, you can watch it here:

Video courtesy of IGN