FAQs

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions and their Answers

This is the FAQ Section (obviously) and normally a FAQ section does not require an introduction but the thing is, Batman: Arkham City is a HUGE and complex game that generates a lot of questions, so the FAQ Section has been divided up into subjects.  Seriously, there are that many...

(A) Alternate Costume-Related Questions Section
This section contains all of the alternate costume, skin, and Code related questions and their answers.  If there is a question that you have related to this sub-section that has not been asked and answered here, please feel invited to email the author so that he can answer it and add it here!

Q1.  How do I obtain the Batman Beyond Skin?

A1. This applies ONLY to gamers who are located in the United States and parts of southern Canada (mostly cities that are on the border)...  If you live elsewhere I am sad to say that this does not apply to you because hey, only cans of NOS created at the NOS plants in North America have the proper codes printed in them.  Yeah, that sucks for you if you live in Holland, but on the other hand, chances are really good that you have a person on your Friend List who lives in North America, right?

In your favorite retail location that sells liquid refreshments -- this includes convenience stores, grocery stores, package stores, and some vending machines FYI) -- look for the energy drink section where you may find a beverage called "NOS."  Before we begin to address this answer there is something that needs to be said: Energy Drinks commonly claim to provide the person consuming them with a temporary boost to their energy levels that permits them to stay active & alert when they are tired.

These increasingly popular beverages are not only sold in grocery and convenience stores, they are also sold in bars and dance clubs.  The packaging on these beverages invariably claim that they are safe to drink -- I am not a physician and so I do not offer medical advice; I am not an expert on safety so I do not offer safety advice.  I am however a responsible journalist who makes their living by investigating stories, interviewing people, and reporting the truth.

Most brands of Energy Drinks contain about as much caffeine as you might find in the average sixteen-ounce cup of coffee (between 80-150mg).  In addition to the hefty dose of caffeine, many brands contain a fairly significant amount of refined sugar and/or corn syrup, as well as perfectly legal herbal plants or extracts that also can function as stimulants.  These herbal extracts can include Carnitine, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, Guarana Seeds, Inositol, or Taurine, or even combinations of these mixed together.

Of these ingredients you should be aware that one of them in particular -- Taurine -- is a natural amino acid that is normally produced by the human body in very very small quantities.

It is thought to help your body to regulate its normal heart-beat and rhythm by aiding in its muscle contractions -- your heart is really a large muscle in addition to being a pump.  The thing about this is that the effects of Taurine in humans when it is consumed as a drink additive are not fully understood.  That is to say that doctors -- not to mention the chemists who formulate the recipes for these libations -- admit that they do not fully understand the effect that this amino acid might have in large quantities that are found in Energy Drinks.  

It strikes me as an obvious point to be concerned about -- as damaging your heart or interfering with its beating would -- I think we can all agree -- not be a good thing, so I suggest that before imbibing one of these tasty libations you pause to read the ingredients that are, by law, required to be printed on the outside of the chilled container in which they complete the sacred journey between the factory and your oral orifice, and eschew -- that is to say avoid -- the ones that number Taurine among their ingredients.

It is generally accepted as fact -- even by witchdoctors and those in the medical profession -- that when used in moderation these drinks are not considered to be harmful, but of course they should never be used as a substitute for sleep because that really would not be very healthy, but that is not what my concern is about here...

-- Back on the Subject --

When you set out to purchase your NOS libation you will find that there are, beneath the pull tab that you use to access the chilled beverage inside the container, something called "NOS points" -- that is assuming you have selected one of the specially marked cans that indicates it is part of this promotion --  but that should be very obvious.

Write down the code you find under the tab on your specially-marked container of NOS and then, when you have access to an Internet-connected computer, simply travel to the website  (www.drinknos.com) and, after registering a free account thereon, enter the code in order to add the points that it represents to your new (or existing) account.  You cna then use these points to select your Batman Beyond Skin Code for the XBOX 360!

Once you have obtained a Batman Beyond Skin, go to your Xbox and select the Guide Button (the large "X" button in the middle of your gamepad)  and then using the D-Pad move two times to the left and select Redeem Code and hit the 'A' button.  Now simply enter the Batman Beyond Skin Code and hit Done (Start) to initiate the registration, and voila!  You are now the proud owner of a Batman Beyond Skin!

Q2. I have my (alternate costume) and I want to wear it but I can't!  The game will not let me! / How do I wear my alternate costume? / Where/When can I wear my special costumes?

A2. First, congratulations on getting your special suit!  The confusion surrounding these is easy to understand -- because the suits are actually use-limited.  You can only wear them in the Challenges, during New Game play, or in your game only AFTER you have completed the main story line on either Normal or Hard Difficulties -- Easy Difficulty DOES NOT WORK. 

The alternate Catwoman costumes may be worn by selecting "Catwoman Episodes" in the main menu next to "New Game " if you want to wear those - Mreow.

Q3. How do I select an alternate costume or skin in my current game?

A3. As mentioned above you can only do that after you have finished the main story line on Normal or Hard Difficulty -- once you have, simply return to your game menu and any alternate costumes/skins you have downloaded will be available when you select  the 'Continue Story' option. 
 
If you have obtained the Animated Skins and you select them for Batman, Catwoman will also be wearing her animated outfit as well when you switch characters.

Q4. Are the third-party promotions the only way for me to obtain those costumes?  / I live in Holland, we cannot get NOS here, how do I get the costumes?

A4.  Our understanding of the plan is that these special costumes are only available via the third-party promotions NOW -- but that at a later date they will be included as DLC offerings online -- meaning that you will have to pay for them.

(B) Main Game Related Questions
This section contains the questions and answers on stuff related to regular game play...

Q1. How do I unlock New Game ?

A1. After you complete the main story on Normal or Hard Difficulty -- Easy does not count -- the New Game option will automatically unlock.

Q2. Will New Game unlock for all of my game saves once I get one of them done?

A2.  Nope -- it only unlocks for any save that has the story campaign completed.

Q3. If I unlock Trophies in one save, will they be unlocked in my other saves too?

A3. Well no!  Seriously, a save is a completely distinct and separate game -- the collection items that you unlock in one save have nothing to do with your other saves and vice-versa.

Q4. Do the trophies and gadgets reset in New Game ?

A4. Nope!  Once you have unlocked a gadgets or trophy in that game save it is unlocked period -- which means it carries forward into your New Game play!  Can you imagine how frustrating it would be if you had to do them all over again in New Game ?!  You still have to play the story and side missions again if you are trying to 100% the game, bit not the gadgets and trophies.

Q5. Can I use Robin or Nightwing to play through the main story campaign?

A5. No.  And it is odd that people are asking this question -- the additional characters were always referred to as being for the Challenge Modes and their own specific levels -- nobody at Rocksteady ever said that they were alternate Characters... 

Q6. When I try to start the game all I get is a black screen!  WTH?!

A6.  Chances are you are using one of the older style Xbox models but it can happen with the new ones too -- but basically you installed the game discs to your hard drive.  The problem has something to do with the differences between the way that the files are stored on the hard drive, and the way they are stored on the disc.  It should not be an issue, but it is -- and until they come up with a patch to fix it, you will need to delete the game discs from your hard drive, and play the game from the disc itself.

(C) DLC-Related Questions and Answers

Q1. How many DLC items/packs are planned for the game?

A1. Well considering that I do not work for the studio or the publisher, I cannot provide a definitive answer to the question -- but I can tell you what has been publicly stated by them:

-- The Online Pass for the Catwoman DLC is included in new copies of the game.

-- Riddler's Revenge is available for 800 MS points as DLC.

-- The Robin DLC is available with specially marked boxes only at Best Buy stores but be available on November 22nd as paid DLC for 560 Microsoft Points.

-- The Nightwing DLC is available now for 560 Microsoft points.

-- Every one of the character skins / costumes will eventually be available for download.

(D) Collection-related Questions and Anwers...

Q1. There are Catwoman collectibles (the pink glowy ones) in the game -- when I am playing as Catwoman, can I also collect Batman's collectibles (the green glowy ones) if I come across them? 

A1. Yes to both but the same is not true if you are playing as the Dark Knight -- he cannot collect the Catwoman collectibles.

Q2. Do I need to collect all of the collectible items in my first play-through?

A2.  Nope -- when you start the New Game you get all the collectible items and gadgets you have already unlocked, and you can finish collecting the rest now.