As a seasoned Batman fan with years of Gotham City adventures under my belt, let me tell you, Batman: Arkham Shadow is a refreshing change from the usual Arkhamverse fare. It’s like Blackgate Prison got a facelift after Arkham Asylum, and it shows!
In “Batman: Arkham Shadow”, Blackgate Prison serves a role similar to that of Arkham Asylum in “Batman: Arkham Asylum”. As Irving “Matches” Malone, players delve into a multitude of inmates and characters previously introduced in “Batman: Arkham Origins” and its spin-off “Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate”. The game’s narrative is tightly woven as Batman and Matches pursue the Rat King, with the roster of antagonists carefully selected from among the prison’s inmates or staff. This selection process ensures that high-profile villains are not overemphasized for the sake of fan service, maintaining the game’s intrigue.
It’s intriguing to learn about the current situations of characters from Origins and Origins Blackgate, since Batman: Arkham Shadow continues directly from those games. For instance, hearing Lonnie Machin’s Anarky talk to Vic Sage sheds some light on things, and the reason for Oswald Cobblepot’s Penguin not being around is that he’s pretending to reform and trading immunity for evidence against Carmine Falcone. Interestingly, a recurring antagonist who has shown up in almost every other Arkhamverse game till now is missing—the Riddler, which is actually quite refreshing.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Takes Another Much-Deserved Break from Riddler
Prior to the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” Riddler stood out as the most prominent antagonist in the Arkhamverse aside from Joker, appearing prominently in every game except for “Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.” He marked each game with his distinctive green collectibles and challenges, ranging from physical to mental. Riddler is the villain in the Arkhamverse that one can despise most effortlessly, despite the abundance of trophies, and yet it’s hard to overemphasize his importance within the franchise.
Riddler even plays roles in Assault on Arkham and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League , cementing precisely how fundamental and inseparable he’s been to the Arkhamverse as a whole.
In the game Batman: Arkham Origins, a less intense origin story is introduced for the character previously known as Enigma, who later becomes more menacing. At this stage, Enigma provided Batman with tasks such as restoring GCR communication towers, destroying network relays, and gathering datapacks. However, his level of threat was considerably lower than it would be in future events. It’s worth noting that Batman: Arkham Shadow, set just six months later, makes no direct mention or appearance of Enigma. Yet, subtle hints can be found in the Riddle of the Minotaur payphone puzzle and a Gotham Herald newspaper report. Additionally, it’s clear that Enigma served as inspiration for the Rat King’s collection of destructible items scattered around.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Puts Collectible-Oriented Arkhamverse Antagonists into Perspective
In Batman: Arkham Shadow, there’s still a trove of carefully scattered collectibles for Batman to find, but without the Riddler’s bowler-hatted self-aggrandizement as a constant companion, it feels less like tiresome or annoying work. Radios can be swiftly removed and destroyed before most of the Rat King’s propaganda reaches the players, and even then, it’s nice that the Rat King’s digital voice isn’t constantly belittling Batman or the player.
In “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” it’s shown that lengthy games set within the Arkhamverse don’t necessarily require the Riddler to provide collectibles. This is intriguing because it suggests other super-villains could take his place. Instead of question mark trophies, you find rodent-shaped idols. The game is also filled with radios, bombs, and maps scattered across maps, offering more items to collect or destroy. Additionally, there are Echoes of the Past, ancient runes, and patient session tapes to discover, adding variety to the assortment of unusual artifacts, puzzles, and tasks that players might choose to explore in future installments.
It’s clear that Riddler became a pest not because of his vast collection of puzzles but due to constant harassment and belittling. As long as new Arkham games are developed, we can expect Riddler to resurface. However, the appearance of Shadow shows that collectibles aren’t necessarily tied to Riddler, which is beneficial for the series’ continued relevance and creativity.
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2024-12-10 14:33