15 Years Later, Batman: Arkham Asylums World-Building is Ongoing

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15 Years Later, Batman: Arkham Asylums World-Building is Ongoing

Key Takeaways

  • Arkham Batman games are some of the best superhero video game franchise works, with Arkham Asylum being a classic revitalizing Batman’s mythology.
  • Arkham Asylum’s gameplay may not be as advanced as later games, but its immersive atmosphere and world-building are arguably unparalleled.
  • While the Arkhamverse has evolved into open-world sequels and a live-service shooter, Arkham Asylum’s elegance as a tighter Metroidvania entry remains satisfying and influential.

As a longtime fan of the Arkham series, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when I think about Batman: Arkham Asylum. You see, I was there at the beginning, back in 2009, when Rocksteady Studios unleashed this masterpiece upon the world. It was like a lightning bolt striking the gaming industry – a game that felt fresh, innovative, and yet somehow comfortingly familiar.

Only a handful of superhero games have achieved the same level of acclaim as the Arkham Batman series. While not all Arkham titles have been universally adored, especially spin-offs like Lockdown and Blackgate, which accompanied Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Origins, the series as a whole represents some of the finest work in the superhero video game genre, if not the entirety of superhero media.

If it weren’t for the iconic revival of Batman’s legend that Batman: Arkham Asylum brought about, many things we now appreciate wouldn’t be possible. Over a decade and a half later, the game’s exceptional adaptation of Batman: The Animated Series into a 3D Metroidvania format in a distinctive setting is even more admirable. The gameplay of Batman: Arkham Asylum might not be as extensive as later games in the series, but its rich character development, world-building, and immersive atmosphere set it apart from other games.

Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Gloriously Gothic Atmosphere is Unmatched a Decade and a Half Later

In a manner reminiscent of an ongoing Animated Series, Arkham Asylum portrays the rogues’ gallery of Batman in a way that doesn’t require prior knowledge to enjoy. Over the past 15 years, Arkham Asylum has demonstrated exceptional world-building skills, immersing players in a rich tapestry of lore by emphasizing that Batman maintains intriguing relationships with a diverse group of villains who are already well-known.

One time when Batman takes the Joker to Arkham Asylum is just another instance in a long line of such occasions, showcasing the relationship between them at the close of Batman’s sixth year of crime-fighting. It’s also where the engaging quest for glowing green question mark tokens, puzzling riddles, and chatty Joker teeth collectibles starts. Additionally, this is where the intriguing and mysterious Arkham Chronicles unfold, revealing secrets hidden within the asylum’s walls, and are unique to the game bearing its name.

It’s interesting that the map of Arkham Asylum is smaller compared to other open-world games, which some might argue makes finding its collectibles more satisfying. This is because they aren’t spread out across a vast world, but instead are tied to specific gadget usage, hidden Easter eggs, or deeper lore. Additionally, the way lore is incorporated in Arkham Asylum is done so subtly yet effectively through patient interview tapes that players can collect about each of the game’s main antagonists.

In the courtyard of Arkham Asylum’s island, there is a somber, old-fashioned ambiance, with towering structures silhouetted against a massive moon and dreary, prison-like facilities. However, this grim atmosphere is contrasted by a stunningly crafted and artistic user interface that later Arkham games would abandon in favor of a more technologically advanced design, similar to the Batcomputer and Batman’s cowl. This unique art style sets Arkham Asylum apart and makes it an unspoiled, distinct, and enduring piece within the Arkhamverse, brimming with character unlike any other Arkham game—for now, at least.

Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Gameplay Doesn’t Hold a Candle to Its Successors, But It Doesn’t Need to

Today’s experience of playing Batman: Arkham Asylum could differ significantly for players, largely depending on their attachment to the sequels that evolved its gameplay. Unlike its successors, such as Arkham City, Arkham Origins, and Arkham Knight, which embraced open-world exploration with dive-bomb gliding and grapnel-boosting, Arkham Asylum follows a more linear path in its design of objectives, destinations, combat, and detective investigations. Combat is simpler in the game, with fewer gadgets and mechanics available to Batman, and detective mode investigations are less complex.

Absolutely, the first game in the Arkham series, known as Arkham Asylum, served as its own origin story. It wasn’t built on a pre-existing foundation like some of Rocksteady’s subsequent releases. Instead, it established its footing with an innovative and satisfying freeflow combat system, a captivating and immersive atmosphere, and level designs influenced by The Legend of Zelda’s 3D Metroidvania style. Before its sequels could delve deeper into combat mechanics, the rhythmic freeflow system in Arkham Asylum had already sparked excitement and was influential in shaping many games that followed it.

While Rocksteady hasn’t secured a patent for its distinctive melee combat style, it’s hard not to draw comparisons with the Arkham series when evaluating other games. This is particularly true for Camouflaj’s upcoming Batman: Arkham Shadow, exclusive to Meta Quest 3, as it acknowledges and aims to replicate Rocksteady’s freeflow combat system, along with other essential and unique features that define the Arkhamverse.

With just Batman’s fisticuffs, a cape stun, batarangs, and the Batclaw, the combat in Arkham Asylum is remarkably effective despite having minimal tools. Even to this day, it still delivers the same level of satisfaction as Arkham City, which boasted numerous bone-crunching and knuckle-painful finisher animations.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is an Unrecognizable Shade of What the Arkhamverse Has Become

Initially, the Arkhamverse started as a rundown mental hospital for criminals. However, it had already moved far from its origins by Arkham Knight due to its innovative freeflow combat system, smooth Dual Play partner interactions, and a fully operable Batmobile. Yet, Rocksteady has taken a new path with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, altering the direction of the Arkhamverse.

In Suicide Squad, you can spot traces of Rocksteady’s work from the Arkham games, like their signature blue counter prompts. However, the game’s live-service multiplayer format, which isn’t closely tied to the events of Arkham Knight, makes it challenging to follow how the franchise evolved from its origins. Fortunately, Arkham Shadow is looking promising as a faithful revisit to what made the Arkham games excellent. Nevertheless, it’s improbable that any future game will manage to replicate the uniqueness and authenticity of Asylum, despite studios continuing to strive for it over the past 15 years.

So long as Batman remains a crowd favorite, the Arkham games will continue to stand as a tribute to the brilliance of Asylum. The impact of Asylum is still significant today, much like it was in 2009, showcasing how various elements such as top-notch acting talent, immersive world-building, and gameplay that has left its mark across the gaming industry came together seamlessly in Arkham Asylum.

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2024-08-25 12:54