Navigating the grim landscape of Arkham City often pairs Batman against several iconic villains, each introducing their own unique brand of psychological terror. Among these dangerous side activities is the chilling quest involving Victor Zsasz, a deranged psychopath obsessed with marking his kills directly onto his skin. Successfully completing this dark trial requires players to maintain sharp observational awareness and act quickly under pressure as they trace public payphones scattered across the virtual map.
Answering the Initial Payphone Call
Your interaction with the serial killer begins when a random payphone starts ringing loudly as you explore the rooftops of the sprawling city. Utilizing your built-in Detective Mode helps pinpoint the exact location of the ringing console, which appears as a bright highlighted object emitting distinct acoustic sound waves. Answering this initial call triggers a disturbing conversation where Zsasz reveals he has taken several innocent hostages whose survival depends on your participation in a deadly game.
Ignoring the ringing phones or failing to reach them in time will result in the immediate termination of the hostages, shifting the narrative stakes significantly. Once the call concludes, an active countdown timer will immediately appear on your display, forcing you to sprint across the cityscape to intercept the next designated line. Balancing your traversal mechanics while keeping an eye on the clock is crucial to keeping the captured citizens alive during these intense early sequences.
Tracing the Signal Across Arkham
To successfully locate the killer's secret sanctuary, Batman must answer subsequent calls while manually tracking the electronic signal on his map interface. During these voice communications, you must move your cursor around the display panel to keep the moving signal focused within the tracking reticle before the criminal hangs up the line. This mechanical tracing puzzle occurs over multiple stages, demanding patience as you slowly compile the geographic telemetry required to narrow down his exact whereabouts.
Interestingly, you can naturally wrap up this entire investigative side quest immediately after receiving the Line Launcher tool during the main storyline progression. No highly advanced gear or specialized gadgets are required to complete this search, relying entirely on the equipment already resting inside your standard utility belt. Trusting your deductive instincts and planning efficient grapple routes between the ringing booths will drastically reduce the difficulties encountered during the tracking phase.
Infiltrating the Secret Hideout
Once the mathematical coordinates are fully calculated, the precise waypoint of the villain's hidden hideout will be marked permanently within the industrial sector. Sneaking inside this flooded facility brings players face-to-face with the final environmental puzzle, where the hostages are kept suspended in precarious positions above lethal waters. Utilizing your line navigation tools allows you to cross the open gaps silently without alerting the psychopath to your sudden presence inside the room.
Approaching the final platform stealthily allows you to execute a sudden takedown move from behind the grid before the murderer can act against his prisoners. Subduing the criminal officially concludes the terrifying mission line and unlocks the coveted Dial Z for Murder achievement for your profile showcase. Saving these citizens provides a profound sense of accomplishment, cementing the Dark Knight's legacy as the ultimate protector of Gotham's most vulnerable inhabitants.