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UK OPM’s Batman issue has dropped a metric fuck-load of new Arkham City info in its cover feature, which is full of both the game’s recently leaked screens and never-before-seen character art.

Warning: spoilers.

There’s a lot of new information here, gleaned from a Rocksteady demo seen by the British official mag.

Firstly, there’s the premise. Arkham Aslyum boss turned Gotham mayor Quincy Sharp has fenced off “miles” of Gotham City, filled it with criminals and “thrown away the key”. Their only rule is that they’re not allowed to leave. Aside from that, Gotham’s underclass is left to its own devices. Arkham City’s warden is Hugo Strange, a mystery character to Batman.

The fenced-off area is five times the size of Arkham Asylum. Batman, obviously, doesn’t like it: “He’s been monitoring this place,” said director Sefton Hill. “He’s worried. He thinks it’s a time-bomb waiting to explode into the streets of Gotham.”

Batman’s taken to patrolling AC. The setting is described as “a mix of Tim Burton’s original Batman movie and a touch of Escape from New York,” with spires and graveyards swapped for alleys and streets.

The mag was promised that despite the huge play area, “every nook and cranny has a story.” Also, thanks to distances, Bats will need a way to move around. When asked if vehicles will be included, Warner PR said it’s “something we’ll cover at a later date.”

Fly me to the moon

Wheels or not, Batman can essentially fly this time round. He has a new gadget called a Grapple Boost, which pulls him up and launches him into the air, and can be combined with a new dive which pulls into high-speed, street level flight.

He also now has a second zip line which he can shoot out while using the first: think classic Spider Man.

Hill promised the anti-hero now has new moves for “running across rooftops, blending in, running while grappling, sliding underneath objects” and “jumping between objects.”

Batman can also, “Slide and smash through vents, slide straight into hanging off an edge. You can dive through windows and over railings as well.”

The mag was shown a mission in which Batman needs to rescue Catwoman, as she’s been kidnapped by Two-Face. In it, Bats uses a Grapple Roll and a quick takedown to remove a sniper. He ends up facing 40 enemies at Two-Face’s Courthouse, although Hill promised the would be “bigger fights”.

Basic fighting is “the same,” according to OPM, with combinations of punches, kicks and throws. Additions include the ability to throw back projectiles, launch aerial attacks from walls and windows and unleash “beatdown” flurry attacks. He can also backflip and spray explosive gel on the floor before detonating it to stun opponents.

Twos-up on Catwoman

And get this. There’s a not-so-subtle hint that Catwoman is a playable, co-op character. She uses her whip in the mission in the same way Batman uses his zip line. Hill wouldn’t be drawn when asked directly if she was controllable.

“I’m not allowed to comment on that,” he said.

“Forensics” is something Rocksteady wants to push in the sequel, and Batman will be “solving crimes with multiple bits of evidence.” There are loads of side-stories in the game this time, Hill added, although the developer doesn’t “force you to do those. It’s your choice.”

Harley Quinn was also seen in the demo, as was the more traditional, Arkham Aslyum gameplay of hunting goons from above in closed environments. Additions here include a hanging takedown where Batman throttles a man from above with his legs, and the ability to punch through panels to get to enemies on the other side.

Arkham City is out next autumn for PS3, 360 and PC

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Sefton Hill, game director for Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham City was recently had a conversation with PSM3 about their upcoming game. He was asked many questions, including what type of game Arkham City would be. His answer, telling us that Batman: Arkham City would be both an open world experience and linear story line experience, excites us because it already seems like it will work this new gorgeous game.

"We don’t want to define Arkham City as an open world or linear experience. While the backbone is still the strong main narrative, there’ll also be many character-driven sub-plots to reward gamers who explore the streets," says Hill.

"These optional side aspects will flesh out the story and show how many of Gotham’s greatest villains have adapted to life inside a new facility. So overall, there are elements of both a linear story and more open world adventure. I believe this combination will give the game a completely unique feel while remaining unmistakably authentic to Batman," says Hill.

The game is currently set for a 2011 Quarter 3 release date window.

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Game-Director Sefton Hill hat dem PSM3-Magazin einige Details zum Detektiv-Modus des linearen Open-World-Spiels “Batman: Arkham City” genannt.

“Wir verbessern so ziemlich jeden Bereich des Spiels. Ein Beispiel ist die Verbrecherdatenbank, die mit einer neuen Befragungs-Mechanik gekoppelt ist”, so Hill.

“Der Riddler wird den Dunklen Ritter weiterhin mit kniffeligen Rätseln und Erkundungsaufgaben verspotten, aber die Position seines größten Geheimnisses ist nur ihm bekannt und den Leuten, denen er es erzählte. Anstatt deren Standorte anhand von Maps aufzudecken, wird Batman in der Lage sein, die Verbrecher zu scannen, um einen potentiellen Informanten zu finden.”

Sobald ihr einen Informanten entdeckt habt, beginnen die Kämpfe: “Da ist dieser Kerl, den du befragen willst, aber zuvor müssen alle anderen Gang-Mitglieder außer Gefecht gesetzt werden, während der eine verschont bleiben muss. Das kann sehr schwer sein, wenn Batman zu einer nahtlosen FreeFlow-Combo-Kette ansetzt.”

Weiterhin ist im Magazin zu lesen, dass der zuvor bestätigte Multiplayer-Modus gar nicht mehr so bestätigt ist. So heißt es dort: “Weder Multiplayer noch Koop wurden bisher angekündigt, aber bis zur Veröffentlichung vergeht noch ein Jahr - und viele Überraschungen warten.”

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Warner Bros. has reiterated a release date of “autumn 2011″ for Batman Arkham City to VG247 today, despite three UK retailers have altering listings for the game to March 2011.

“Just to confirm, Batman Arkham City will be available in autumn 2011,” a rep said by email this evening.

The comment came in response to a shift in dating from Play and Shopto to March 25 and Amazon to March 26.

When the game was announced back in August, it was suggested it would be released in fall 2011.