The new Gotham Knights game is on the horizon, giving fans a whole new take on the DC universe much like when Batman: Arkham Asylum introduced fans and gamers to what became known as the Arkhamverse. In 2009, this was a brand-new universe with its own unique take on the Batman mythos that borrowed elements of movies, shows, and comic books while injecting new ideas.
As a result, there were many things that the Batman: Arkham games did better than the comics but also a few disappointing changes. The Arkham games are some of the best superhero games ever made, but that doesn't mean that there weren't questionable choices. They were dark, and epic, and excelled at making a Batman blockbuster more than most movies do. However, for every five great choices made, there was one or two that made gamers tilt their head.
Updated on September 28th, 2022 by Melody MacReady: Despite the flaws that came with it, creating an original universe specifically for the Batman: Arkham games was a brilliant move on Rocksteady Studios' part. Were there some choices and directions that didn't pan out perfectly? Yes, but most big franchises have those same flaws. In the end, however, the Arkhamverse became its own iconic take on the mythos.
Rocksteady could always learn from mistakes or build on them with something better with their new game Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League which is scheduled for 2023. The same can be said with Warner Bros. Games Montréal and their anticipated superhero RPG Gotham Knights which is set to release on October 21st, 2022.
Changes That Were For The Better
A Brand New Batmobile
The movies and TV shows always create a new Batmobile to go along with any new Batman. It's a tradition and each Batmobile has added some interesting new flavor to make it shine. The Arkhamverse definitely managed to keep this tradition going when the Batmobile returned in Batman: Arkham Knight.
The new giant beast of a Batmobile was gorgeously designed in every way. On top of that, the Arkham Knight Batmobile features the ability to transform into an armored tank that can move in any direction. The gameplay for the two Batmobile modes was so perfect that even Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice slightly emulated it.
The Most Terrifying Scarecrow
Where some villains started with great designs and then changed for the worse or vice versa, Scarecrow started with a stellar incarnation and then evolved into something better. In Arkham Asylum, Scarecrow is introduced as this boogeyman that haunted the asylum with syringe needles for fingers akin to Freddy Krueger.
While many will find that scary, most can agree that the John Noble version of Scarecrow in Batman: Arkham Knight is pure nightmare fuel. Due to Killer Croc's attack in Arkham Asylum, Scarecrow came out mutilated and surgically fused his burlap gas mask to his flesh, creating a character design that rivals iconic horror movie villains. John Noble's performance that harkens to classic Vincent Price movies is a bonus that only elevates the character.
More Than One Batcave
Batman is prepared for almost any situation with contingencies for his contingencies. This is why when Arkham Asylum introduced an alternate version of the Batcave hidden below Arkham Island, fans immediately loved the idea. When supervillains started being locked up in Arkham Asylum, Batman began construction.
So when Joker takes over the Asylum, Batman uses that Batcave since he is unable to leave the island. It's how he helps uncover what's happening on the island and where he upgrades his gadgets. Batman himself even calls it a home away from home.
A New Copperhead
Many fans will agree that Batman: Arkham Origins featured the most well-rounded cast of villains. The boss fights were all memorable and the villains were all portrayed well despite being mostly obscure villains. One of these included a completely rebooted version of Copperhead.
This time Copperhead is a contortionist assassin rather than a person in a silly snake outfit. Copperhead also happens to be a Latin woman who provides one of the best boss fights in the game. This version of Copperhead would actually inspire some comics later on.
The Death Of The Joker
The Joker is the most iconic comic book villain ever created and as a result, he's profitable. Which is why it was such a bold decision to kill him off in the second Arkham game. In Batman: Arkham City, Joker dies in the climax as a result of the Titan formula poisoning him.
This leads to Joker returning in Arkham Knight but rather than a zombie, he's more of a phantom in Batman's mind. It was a neat concept to work with and quite effective in the long run. Not many would have the guts to kill off a Joker as iconic as Mark Hamill's so hats off to them.
All Four Games Have A Connective Tissue
Despite the Joker being a bit overused in DC projects, his presence ends up being important to every big chapter of Batman's life. Joker's chaos in Arkham Origins is what leads to the beginning of his rivalry with Batman and also the reopening of Arkham Asylum. The Joker took over Arkham Asylum which partially led to the creation of Arkham City and his illness that led to his death.
However, his infected blood is what leads to Batman's ultimate struggle of the mind in Arkham Knight, allowing Batman to beat Scarecrow by conquering the Phantom Joker in his mind. In a way, Batman locking away Phantom Joker brings everything full circle for the ending of the Batman: Arkham series.
Arkham City Itself
Taking notes from John Carpenter's Escape From New York, the titular Arkham City is an entire section of Gotham City walled off and turned into a giant prison. Batman is locked inside the giant prison and has to uncover a conspiracy from within the walls.
It proved to be a great leap in the right direction for the games but was just a great concept overall. It also helped bring the villain Hugo Strange back into popularity as he was one of the first Batman villains in the comics. It just goes to show that an unoriginal idea can still be used in fresh and awe-inspiring ways.
Changes That Were For The Worse
Titan Joker
At the end of the day, the Arkham games are that: video games. So, it makes sense that in some cases, the developers had to stretch to create giant and fun boss fights. However, the final boss fight from Batman: Arkham Asylum stretched a bit too far.
After Batman ruins Joker's plans to turn the people of Gotham City into an army of monsters, Joker injects himself with the last of the formula. This results in Titan Joker, a ridiculous mix of Joker and Bane which many fans felt was a bit much combined with a lackluster boss fight. The biggest flaw is that it doesn't feel like anything Joker would do, even for this universe.
Batman's Broken Timeline
Arkham Origins takes place two years into Batman's career much like Matt Reeves' The Batman which makes it the earliest in the timeline. Batman: Arkham Knight is confirmed to take place ten years after Origins. So in all, Bruce Wayne was Batman for twelve years.
So, it's expected for fans to believe that Batman trained three Robins, mentored Batgirl, Batgirl lost the use of her legs, Batman met all these villains, and ended his career in just twelve years? In that amount of time, that would mean that Batman only spent a couple of months with each Robin, and apparently they are all nearly the same age. The events of the games should have been spaced out over twenty years instead of ten.
Setting Up Storylines That Go Nowhere
Two of the many side missions in Arkham City build-up for the events of Arkham Knight. Azrael teases the Order Of St. Dumas and Hush sets up the famous friendship turned rivalry between him and Batman. Both of these stories do continue in Batman: Arkham Knight but sadly, both stories are finished rather quickly which makes all the build-up in Arkham City feel superfluous.
In the same vein, the opening of Arkham City sets up Catwoman as having her own story with Two-Face as a rival when really, it's barely bigger than most of the DLC chapters seen in Arkham Knight. Even the way how Batman's story ends in Arkham Knight thus setting up the Bat-Family to take over is not paid off well since all the Bat-Family got were small DLC chapters.
The Fake-Out Death Of Oracle
Having an emotional death scene only to turn around and say that it was all a dream or illusion is a tired story trope. Sadly, Batman: Arkham Knight suffers from this by having a genuinely heart-breaking scene in which Barbara Gordon, one of this series' best side characters, succumbs to Scarecrow's fear toxin and kills herself right before Batman's eyes.
So much of the story becomes dictated by Barbara's death and that becomes completely undermined when Barbara's death was just a trick from the fear toxin. Her death would have been sad, but resurrecting her immediately feels straight out of modern comics that never let characters stay dead. Since this was originally meant to be the finale, her dying would have worked in finishing off this iconic franchise.
Harley Quinn Was Very One Note
In a more mixed entry, Harley Quinn's design would be such a drastic but effective change that the comics, shows, and even Margot Robbie's versions would take some inspiration. Sadly though, all of Harley Quinn's character is diminished in the Arkham games.
Rather than being a tragic villain who constantly battles between being good and evil, she's just a henchwoman. However, Rocksteady seems to be on the path to developing Harley better with the upcoming continuation of the Arkhamverse with Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League.
Tim And Barbara Are A Couple?
As mentioned prior, Rocksteady seemed to bizarrely make Dick, Tim, and Jason all near or the exact same age. So after Dick and Barbara are no longer an item (as hinted by her necklace), Barbara has another boyfriend in Arkham Knight.
This is when fans learn that not only are Tim Drake and Barbara Gordon a couple, but they are in fact engaged. Typically, Barbara is almost twice Tim's age in the comics, but they are much closer in the Arkhamverse. Here's the thing, though: nobody ever asked for this relationship which is why the revelation was more jarring than anything in Arkham Knight.
Jason Todd
Despite the laughable obviousness that Jason Todd was the titular Arkham Knight, everyone was excited to see Jason get his Arkhamverse debut. Sadly, however, Jason Todd ended up being the weakest part of Arkham Knight and possibly of the whole series.
Rather than being a complex villain who hates the Joker as much as he hates Batman, Jason's entire motivation is played down. Instead, Jason is just upset that Batman "replaced" him with Tim Drake which ends up making Jason sound like a whiny child having a temper tantrum. Combine that with the predictable twists and Jason Todd ended up just being a disappointment overall.