Batman: Arkham is one of the most popular video game series out there. Developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games, the games in the series are considered to be amazing in several aspects and still have a fanbase. The fourth main game in the series, Batman Arkham Knight, was released back in 2015.
The game has been very well received, but the original story was intended to be very different that the one fans got. This is because the developers decided to go with Geoff Johns’ story instead of Paul Dini’s.
Batman Arkham Knight Originally Had a Different Story
Batman Arkham Knight was released in 2015 and was set nine months after the events of Arkham City. The game’s story followed Batman as he confronts Scarecrow after the attack on Gotham City with the fear toxin, which caused evacuation from the city.
The game has been heavily praised for its storyline and how well it continues the narrative set by the previous games. However, the initially planned story of the game was different than this.
The original storyline of the game was written by Paul Dini, who was the writer of the first two games in the series. The story labeled as ‘Arkham 3‘ was supposed to feature and focus on two main antagonists, Scarecrow and Hush.
Paul Dini's original "Arkham Knight" storyline. Paul Dini's "Arkham 3" story was supposed to contain and centre around, namely Scarecrow and Hush being the two main antagonists of the game. Rocksteady decided to dump Dini and go with . pic.twitter.com/W466gR9Jz0
— Dark Monarch (@The_DarkMonarch) July 10, 2024
However, Warner Bros. Games and Rocksteady allegedly did not like it and dumped it. Eventually, the story from comic book writer and screenwriter Geoff Johns was chosen for the game.
The Shift in Approach of the Story From City to Knight Is Very Evident
Fans like the story of the game, and honestly, it works, but many still think that the original story would have been much better, given that Dini had already worked on two previous games and had better knowledge of how to go about the story that would both be engaging and take the narrative forward.
The shift from the story of previous games to the one in Arkham Knight can easily be seen, and it reflected in the sales too, with the game selling less copies than City. There are some aspects where the story has the best plot points in the entire franchise, and sometimes, some things just don’t sit right as it is too slow and struggles to captivate and engage the players.
It can’t be said for sure why Warner Bros. did not go for something that was already a hit with fans, which resulted in nothing but a less exciting storyline. Moreover, Hush as a proper antagonist rather than a small villain in a single mission would have worked better for the game and fans would’ve still liked it.
The side mission featuring Hush also feels very bland and lackluster. With the potential that Hush has, the game could have been the best ever in the franchise and it is truly a let-down for many.
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