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I
VIDEO GAME REVIEW
In "Batman: Arkham City," the Dark
By ADAM RUDNICK
"m Batman."
Those two words conjure
. up emotions in both children
and adults alike -- whether it's from
the late 1980s film "Batman" starring
Michael Keaton or the Dark Knight's
most recent appearance on the silver
screen in "The Dark Knight."
For more than 70 years, audiences
have been reading about Batman's ex-
ploits and adventures and seeing him
take down criminal masterminds on
TV and in movies. To a lesser extent,
they've been able to playias the caped
crusader in video games.
With 2009's "Batman: Arkham Asy-
lum," players were finally given free
reign to control Batman 0n a modern
generation of gaming i
hardware on the
Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. And
it was glorious.
Fast forward two years and "Asy-
lum" developer Rocksteady has done it
again -- this time by making use of an
extensive open world in which players
can float, grapple and explore in ways
"Asylum,' didn't allow.
"Batman: Arkham City," released in
October on the Xbox 360 and Playsta-
Knight goes up against a numl ~er of iconic supervillians, such as Mr.
"Batman is ca[led
in to intervene,
and immediately
players are
[ m me rsed oo."
tion 3, improves on nearly every aspect
of"Asylum" by giving players a chance
to not only take down memorable Bat-
man villains such as The Penguin, Mr,
Freeze and The Joker, but to explore a
beautifully realized and gorgeous city.
"Arkham City" takes place just
months after Batman bested The
Joker in "Asylum." In response to the
events in "Asylum," an entire area
of Gotham City was quarantined off
for city bigwigs to put their seedy su-
pervillians, who quickly ravage the
walled-off area.
Of course, Batman is called in to
intervene, and immediately players
are immersed and handed the reigns
to explore the newly named Arkham
City.
Players who enjoyed the first game
Union Deli, but took time a
• J.iSLOl~' few years ago to put together
Continued from page B-1 an album for charity with
other local musicians called
With three stories finished "Bred to Jam for Bread."
and nine mor~ on the way, "The more unique [story] I
Hostetler needs at least 18 think has more appeal," she
more suggestions to complete said. '~/ou don't have to be
the work. alive - one of my stories will
Hostetler gave the Jour-be on Sam and Mary Theler."
nal a sneak peek of some of This project is fun for
her entries in the book.Hostetler, and has her sim-
One, she said, is about ply giddy with excitement,
Lloyd Prouty, who tirelessly but the stories aren't just for
worked to not only restore a fun. Learning about and doc-
historic and gigantic statue umenting local history helps
of Paul Bunyan, but alsothe next generation of Mason
recently fundraised for and COunty residents make bet-
bought an accompanying ter and more informed choic-
Babe the Blue Ox to go with es about the future, she said.
it. Prouty brings the statues "I'm a definite believer
to local festivals and parades, that the youth is our future,"
She also wrote about she said.
Robert Poole, a local musi- To suggest a local phi-
clan based in Union. Poole lanthropist, activist and
organizes an open mic night all around good person
at the Robin Hood Pub and to Hostetler, email her at
another musical night at the Clydeneh@wavecable.com.
Page B-6 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November I0, 20t 1
Harstine
Continued from page
to get a message to (
cia, leader of the ins
where in the interim
There was no Black[
iPhone, no mail and
The great question v
get a message to Gal
named Rowan was c~
asked no questions a
excuses. He only ask
off on a beach in Cut
with the message in
sion, he made his we
the jungle in just thl
and delivered the "N
Garcia." Our honore,
a "Message to Garci~
son, one who assume
completes it with tot
tence, whether it is
HICC website, arran
kinds of recording ai
devices for our educe
grams, being our em
ernmental units for ]
our tidelands, or bei]
of the HICC. It is m~
present the Citizen c
Award for 2011 to Bi
Again, I thank Ka
for the Women's Clul
which I will paraphr
The November meeti
at the community ha
brought our own bro
lunch. The hostesses
were Margie Plebuc~
Conley, Jackie Pate
Bykerk. The dessert
tional pumpkin pie.
tions centered on th,
and many colorful gc
Wendy Cobb's gardeJ
tables.
Their program spe
Shannon Ktasell fror
will of course enjoy Batman this time
around. The protagonist at the push of
a button can grapple to most ledges in
the city, making it a breeze to maneu-
ver him around the environment and
traverse from building to building.
Once Batman does decide to mix it
up, the game's fighting system caters
to both amateur players and expert
button-mashers. Batman can jump,
shock, disarm and, of course, punch
the living daylights out of bad guys
with ease.
When he's not exploring the city or
kicking costumed enemies in the face
during the game's main story mis-
sions (approximately 10 hours of game
Batman can take part in a num-
play), '~'"'
ber of side missions -- most glaring of
which are collecting Riddler trophies
scattered throughout the world. The
more than 400 trophies add a puzzle
element to the otherwise action-heavy
title, but are somewhat distracting
and easy to miss. Collectors and com-
pletionists will enjoy tracking down
these trophies, but casual players
would be better served sticking to the
main storyline.
Speaking of story, "Arkham City"
again offers an interesting comic book
Freeze.
,[
Courtesy of Eidos Interactive
yarn, and features the excellent voice
work of Mark Hamill, who reprises
his role as The Joker. Players who re-
member the 1990s TV series "Batman:
The Animated Series" will surely enjoy
hearing the same voice actors featured
in the show, including that of Batman,
Catwoman and Two-Face.
"Arkham City" offers players more
of the same thing that they had in
"Asylum" and improves combat, explo-
ration and that visceral sense of fin-
ishing off an enemy with a non-lethal
blow that few games can do.
One small gripe with the game
deals with Catwoman, who is featured
as a playable character to those who
purchased the game brand new: The
parts that include Catwoman are ref-
erenced to in the game's main story, so
playing without her will cause players
to scratch their heads.
Despite its minimal shortcomings,
"Arkham City" should not be missed
and anybody who has enjoyed any Bat-
man lore, whether it's movies, comic
books or TV shows, would be remiss if
they missed out on the Dark Knight's
latest escapades.
4.5 out of 5 Timbers
County Literacy. She spoke of
the challenge the program has to
B-1 assist people who desire to learn
the English language as well as
~eneral Gar- people who return to the learning
lrgents some- process to acquire their GED. The
of Cuba. need is great for volunteers to
erry, no help the program achieve the goal
no telegraph, to educate. We have four such vol-
as "How to unteers within our Women's Club
cia?" A fellow group. Pat Remine, Jan Irving,
dled for. He Della Rogers and Donna Hamilton
nd made no each spoke of their contributions
ed to be put and told stories of success for
a. All alone, many of the students. Shannon
his posses- encouraged others to participate
y through in this worthwhile program.
ee weeks After the informative speaker
essage to presentation, Patti continued
this year is with the meeting. Marilyn Lau-
kind of per- bach won the door prize, which
a task and was a donation of a canvas carry
1 compe-~ bag from Mason County Literacy.
etting up an Diane Dawley said that the
ging various Holiday House is full and ready
d monitoring to open Saturday, Nov. 26. Di-
tional prb- ane actually has a waiting list
ssary to gov- of vendors who want a booth
Jrotection of at the annual event held at the
tg president community hall and adjacent
privilege to fire hall. Della Rogers informed
f the Year everyone that she would be sell-
ll Burrows." ing our Island cookbook and the
~hy Bykerk 2012 Island calendar at Holiday
) minutes, House.
tse here. Judie Schaaf thanked all the
ng was held ladies who participated in the lat-
ll and they est memorial lunch. Jan Irving
~n bag encouraged anyone who has not
for the lunch yet signed up to join the commu-
, Bobbi nity club to do so. The member-
md Kathy ship runs April to April and there
was tradi- are currently 297 members.
~he decora- Patti announced that Billie
fall colors Fish is the new historian and will
urds from add to the club's scrapbook with
topped the photos. Brenda Stainbrook, Sher-
ry Ford and Judy Graft will chair
~ker was the hospitality committee. The
Mason holiday luncheon is just around
the corner to be held on Decen~
1. Patti said there is still a nee
for a few more ladies to help w
setting up and taking down tal
and some help in the kitchen.
you can assist please call Patti
Chapman.
This next spring, the craft
fair will take place on Saturda
March 17, 2012. If you have a
craft you'd like to share please
contact Patti Chapman. There
a plan to post signs on and off
island, as the Craft Fair is ope
to all.
Marlene Holman suggested
that they adopt a family from 1
Pioneer Elementary School for
ber
d
[th
ties
f
is
~he
he
Christmas this year. The vote ~as
unanimous and Marlene will r ~-
port back to them on Dec. 1 wi ;h
details. Marlene Holman told
them about a patriotic concert to
be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday a ]d
Thursday Nov. 9 and 10 at the
Catholic Church.
The next senior lunch will b
on Wednesday, Nov. 16. As umkal,
the doors will open a little befc re
noon and lunch will be served it
noon. On the mid-month menu
you will find sausage with sau.
erkraut and potatoes, raw veg-
gies and brownies. Arrive a litl le
early and remember they ask f ~r
a small donation of $3 to help lay
for the basic cost of food.
Last week you were remind d
about the upcoming Thanksgiv ing
Dinner at the community hall. If
you want to have dinner with
your fellow Islanders, make su re
you let the hosts know you are
planning to attend. It is a potb tck
dinner with the turkey and all the
trimmings provided by HICC. ~f
you already know you are going to
attend call either Jim and Ruth
at 426-0260 or Mike and Lindslat
426-7803.