Superhero games today have a lot of inspirational titles that came before the modern era of gaming. Back in 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum arrived as one of the most phenomenal takes on the Batman universe. Ever since, few games have managed to do justice to the genre.
It has been eight years since the last game in the series came out, and the upcoming entry into the series, Batman: Arkham Shadow, is going to be a fresh take on the franchise. However, fans don’t seem too excited about this one, especially because it’s a VR title and not something else.
Even though the new game promises to make the best use of VR technology, is it truly necessary? Furthermore, why is this new entry so upsetting to fans?
What Made the Arkham Games So Great
Since the first game in the series, the Arkham-series has been a household name for superhero games done right. The combat feels grounded. The stories stay close to the source material. Most importantly, the city of Gotham and its personalities seldom hide behind a curtain. Or rather, a mask in some cases.
Since the series’ beginning, the stories wrapped around Batman and the Joker have found a comfortable place across several gaming platforms. Some of these tales are told so well that movies and TV shows have had a hard time producing something equally fantastic.
There were spin-offs too, like Arkham Origins, that gave players a glimpse into several different villains found in the comic books. Even the cutscenes (remember the one with Deathstroke) would quickly turn into gameplay sequences that showed off Batman’s calculated moves and demeanor.
This Isn’t the First Time the Batman Arkham Series has Tried VR
At his core, Bruce Wayne is a detective who dives into the depths of everything that remains unsolved. This ability of his is pretty evident throughout the different games, and Batman Arkham VR took this to new heights.
Throughout the short experience, players can investigate different crime scenes and almost live the life of a vigilante behind a mask that stays infamous throughout Gotham’s history. While this was a unique experience, players went back to the traditional methods of enjoying the Batman: Arkham games.
The experience of Batman: Arkham Shadow will likely build on a unique experience no one really asked for. This begs the question, ‘Why even build it?’ Fans have a good reason to be upset, and the online community has been reflective of the same.
When the Reddit community first saw this, thanks to user Old_Employee_6535, not a single soul seemed happy about this announcement. From heavy sighs to heads hung in disappointment, it felt like the hype for any new Batman: Arkham game had gradually dispersed into nothingness.
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Users have also pointed out how the Meta Quest 3 exclusivity isn’t really helping the game’s case in any way either.
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If you’ve been an avid lover of the Batman: Arkham series, my heart goes out to you. A lot of us have been expecting a classic third-person action-adventure game to make a return, but it’s simply not happening.
From Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to Arkham Shadow, What Went Wrong?
You’d think that Rocksteady Studios would be conjuring up a nice mix of combat mechanics and narrative for the new range of consoles. Well, they did, and that’s when players received Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Even though the studio is doing everything it can to fix the live service experience, nothing seems to be working.
From mismatched expectations to a completely new narrative direction, the game simply couldn’t meet the requirements of what players needed. It’s been a long time since fans jumped into a Batman: Arkham experience with a loving heart, and the arrival of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League pretty much killed any expectations of a newer, better game.
While Batman: Arkham Shadow’s trailer doesn’t really showcase any gameplay, everything about it seems like yet another attempt at disappointing fans. There’s no traditional combat or storytelling in this one. Rather, it’s going to be an immersive experience that’s not for everyone.
Almost a decade later, it still feels like Batman: Arkham fans will have to wait much longer to truly get a game that they’ve been wanting for the longest time.
What are your thoughts on Batman: Arkham Shadow? Do you think it’s going to stay faithful to the older games? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
