Secrets and Spoilers - Batman: Arkham City Guide - IGN (2024)

Code to Unlock skins in Story Mode

Using the cheat below, you can select all the Batman Skins and play them in the main game, without having to complete the full game.

To unlock this, simply press the following combination on the Main Menu screen (after you have selected your save slot):

• LEFT, LEFT, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT, UP, UP, DOWN.

You will get an audio confirmation and when you continue your game, you will get the option to select your favorite skin.

If this code does not work, you dont have any skins, you have either unlocked all the skins, or the game may require an online (soft) patch. Please connect your system to the internet for the latest Batman Arkham City patches and updates.

Big Head Mode

Use the Cryptographic Sequencer. Hold down all shoulder buttons (don't let go), rotate the left stick counter-clockwise and the right stick clockwise. After a few seconds, the mode will activate. (Warning: You need to play on atleast Normal for this to work.)

It's also worth noting that it works with all the various Skins.

Easter Egg: The Return of Scarecrow and the Secret Ship Hatch

Follow these videos to find Scarecrow's mask and hints toward his future plans for Gotham City. You need to go to the boat closest to the ocean, land on the hidden hatch and hack it. Once you do this you can go inside; you'll find crates ofco*ckroaches, and a shipping invoice:

Customs Declaration:
Live insects for medical research purposes.
Shipping Notes:
Jonathan,
I hope you find everything satisfactory. Mr. Fine was very specific about the shipping details and we have followed them to the letter.By now you will have received the initial 15 shipments. The rest are in transit and will be with you shortly.

"Mr. Fine" is Sherman Fine, the Broker. He buys and sells property for supervillains.

Easter Egg: Killer Croc Cameo

In the sewers underneath Arkham City, you can have a brief encounter with Killer Croc! This can only be done after defeating Ra's Al Ghul, but before surfacing from the sewers.

When in the room with the train cars and broken bridges (the "End of the Line" challenge map room), don't go back the way you came. If you want to see Croc, go the other way.Watch the video for more!

Alternate Ending

In order to unlock the alternate ending, you must have theCatwomanDLC. In her third mission when you have the option to go left or right with the "loot," head right for the alternate ending. Don't worry; you'll be able to "rewind" back and not ruin anything in the main game. You can view this ending in theEndingssection if you so wish!

Unlock New Game Plus

Complete Batman: Arkham City on Normal or Hard difficulty to unlockNew Game Plus.

Easter Egg: Batman's parents death place

Behind the Monarch Theatre,in Crime Alley,you can find the exact spot where Bruce's parents died, this location is going to be in one alley behind the theatre. There you can listen to atape that Hugo Strange has left to Batman and you can also pay your respects. Also, a little more southeastern is a sign that says Crime Alley which you can scan to figure out a riddle.

Easter Egg: Secret Radio Messages

Throughout the game use theCryptographic Sequencerto search the radio waves. There are a few stations that give off seemingly random numbers followed by a chime.

STATION 500.00/900.00

5 15 9 7 21 18 18 14 3 5 24 15 12 7 22 3 10 5 15 9 22 3 8 25 26 15 16 25 10 15 17 25 *chime*

Decoding this message can by done by, first, assigning a number to each letter starting with "z" (Z=1, Y=2, X=3, etc.), and second, shifting up by three (so that Z=4, Y=5, X=6, etc.).

Decoded as: You will pay for what you have done to me."

STATION 700.00/500.00

9 23 9 12 12 18 5 20 21 18 14 2 1 20 13 1 14 *chime*

Decoding this message can be done by matching each number to its corresponding letter in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.).

Decoded as:"I will return Batman."

STATION 200.00/500.00

3 20 26 18 26 16 24 1 11 4 24 9 3 8 5 2 12 18 6 16 7 11 3 10 17 5 13 4 21 8 *chime*

Decoding this message is more complicated. First, match each number to its corresponding letter in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.). This gives the sequence:C T Z R Z P X A K D X I C H E B L R F P G K C J Q E M D U H.

Next, use the Atbash cipher (you can do it automatically using thiswebsite). A is substituted for Z, Y for B, X for C, and so on. This gives the sequence:X G A I A K C Z P W C R X S V Y O I U K T P X Q J V N W F S.

Finally, use the Vigenere cipher (you can do it automatically using this website). A keyword, though, is needed to solve this cipher. The keyword for this code is "SCARECROW", which was discovered by some savvy detective work using in-game clues, and a lot of trial and error.

Decoded as: "Fear will tear Gotham City to shreds."

This solution came from the tread here.

Because this final message is solved with the key word "SCARECROW," it's safe to assume that these messages are indeed from the Scarecrow.

A Future Date with Calendar Man?

Don't feel like resetting your console's clock to hear all of Calendar Man's stories? Watch the video below! After listening to all twelve stories, revisit his cell. A dead Two-Face thug will be hanging from the ceiling and Calendar Man will be gone!

Every Game Over Screen

Every time you die, a villain will appear and voice his/her disapproval of you. See all the game over screens for Batman below! Catwoman not included.

Hints at Third Game

There is also a possible hint to a sequel if you go to the Joker's lair in the Steel Mill in any occasion. To the right of Harley Quinn's dress there's a desk with a schematic of Arkham City and on top, an arrow similar to the ones you see entering the lair pointing towards a Globe, which could be a reference to Arkham World. The hint of a possible sequel was also seen in the VGA's Spike award the Joker recieved for Best Character, and accidently SPOILED a script from Batman: Arkham City.

The Pregnancy Test

If you return to where the Joker's lair in the Steel Mill from the beginning of the game, you will find a pregnancy test next to Harley's things sitting on the ground. The test reads positive.

In Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC, there is now a baby crib set up with the scarface doll and a negative pregnancy test. On both boxes reads the line "chance for a false positive." Additionally, there are many other negative test results scattered around the crib.

Secret. Map in Room - Catwoman Prologue

In the first level as catwoman where you are in the office, look straight at the vault and then turn behind to your left and you will see a corner table with a lamp on it. If you look closely at the pictures on the wall above those tables, they are actually blueprints of a place and a map. The map is more likely Arkham City. What the blueprints are about remain a mystery.

Mr. Freeze Has a Sense of Humor

After completing the side mission, "Heart of Ice," return to the GCPD after Mr. Freeze has left. Inside the forensics lab, walk up to Freeze's computer and zoom in on the keyboard. Instead of letters, each of the main keys is a different emoticon ranging from silly faces to happy faces.

Joker's Doppelganger Hint

When you first enter the steel mill, by flying through the furnace chimney, keep progressing with the story until a fight with alieutenantwielding a large hammer and a group of henchmen. Immediately after this if you walk under the room where Harley just shut herself in you will get a hint at the Joker's plan for the game. She remarks, "You look perfect baby, its like a miracle...oh wait, that's not you is it?" Which the joker replies with, "Be quiet Harley!"