Batman: Arkham Shadow Can’t Be the Last of the Rats in the Arkhamverse

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As a longtime fan of the Batman universe and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the dark, gritty world of Gotham City, I find myself deeply intrigued by the enigmatic presence of the Rats and their leaders, particularly the Ratcatcher. Having grown up on the streets of Gotham myself, I can empathize with their plight, even if they are misguided in their methods.

In the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” Carmine Falcone and Lyle Bolton brilliantly portray the deep-seated corruption within Gotham City’s prison system. Notably, Blackgate inmates and TYGER guards are often large, intimidating characters, a common trope in the Arkhamverse. However, this allows for the emergence of a unique third enemy faction, the Rats, who challenge the conventional interpretation of endless hordes of henchmen in the game.

In the last scenes of the game, Harvey Dent is subdued, Irving “Matches” Malone disappears, and there’s no more Rat King – effectively ending Batman: Arkham Shadow’s interpretation of The Animated Series’ main antagonist Harv. This leaves the Rats without a leader in Gotham City. However, if a future Arkham game serves as a sequel to Batman: Arkham Shadow, the Rats possess a lot of unexplored potential that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Batman: Arkham Shadow’s Rats Deserve Another Entry to Fester in

Among the adversaries in the Arkhamverse, it’s undeniably the Rats that have been given a somewhat understanding portrayal – excepting, of course, the Arkham Asylum guards manipulated by Poison Ivy’s pheromones, and the Dollotrons who are unwilling recipients of Professor Pyg’s involuntary surgeries.

While not all rats are inherently good, their actions often stem from feelings of oppression and being undervalued within society, which is a struggle that Bruce experiences in ‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’ when he disguises himself as a criminal to find the Rat King inside Blackgate. The characters in the ‘Arkham’ series have long served underworld masters for lesser rewards, primarily aiming to absorb their power or capitalize on Gotham’s constant turmoil for personal gain. However, due to their deliberate targeting of Gotham’s disadvantaged and impoverished areas, it becomes challenging to paint them all with the same broad brush as it would be unfair to judge them collectively.

In the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” the characters known as The Rats serve to highlight the complex moral and ethical nature of other characters, particularly the GCPD, especially Police Commissioner Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent. Their pursuit of the Rat King creates a platform for further investigation into these intriguing grey areas. This theme is established early on in the game, where Officer Pettit almost shoots a Rat out of anger, and unexpectedly, Dick Grayson is revealed to be one of The Rats (although this has not been definitively confirmed yet).

Dick Grayson’s Cryptic Debut as a Rat is Brilliant in Batman: Arkham Shadow

In the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” there’s a character known as Rat who has been kept mysterious by its director Ryan Payton. It’s said that this enigmatic figure will get a more fulfilling ending in extra content planned for the game, to be released around early 2025. This Rat is seen wearing a Haly’s Circus jacket, using splintered chair legs as impromptu wooden batons, and exhibiting enough combat skills to dodge some of Batman’s attacks. It would be quite unexpected if this character turns out not to be Dick Grayson.

In the upcoming game “Batman: Arkham Shadow,” it’s intriguing to think about how the central theme will be further developed. However, previous hints and plot developments, such as Bruce Wayne reaching out to Dick Grayson through Dr. Leslie Thompkins, suggest that he might become a ward of Bruce and eventually assume the role of Robin. Interestingly, his initial portrayal as a ‘Rat’ implies a deeper connection: he got involved with the Rats during his time at the Youth Crisis Center, under Boone Carver’s Shrike. This experience mirrors the process of finding a sense of belonging, which he will likely repeat when he takes on Batman’s mission.

Batman: Arkham Shadow Only Teases How Great the Ratcatcher Could Be

In a potential future installment of the Arkham series, it wouldn’t seem unusual if the Rats were not present. The Rats are followers who need a leader to direct their endeavors and actions; this was evident when they knocked out Bolton and rescued Malone from the gas chamber at Blackgate. However, the Rats could be reintroduced under the assumption that Malone is hiding, but a new, more tangible king would provide a more engaging storyline.

As a dedicated gamer, I’d say if anyone could claim the Rats as their own without a shadow of doubt, it’s Otis Flannegan, the Ratcatcher. In the game Batman: Arkham Shadow, Otis might not have been as central a figure as initially suggested in pre-release materials, but boy, was that a missed opportunity.

It’s reasonable to assume that the Ratcatcher would be content serving a Rat King. However, Otis’ unusual ability to command real rodents was merely discussed and never shown in the game. Similarly, Otis is a neutral non-player character (NPC) throughout the game who couldn’t provide any helpful information to Batman because he’s as confused as the rest of the Rats, even though their predicament is pitiable.

It’d be intriguing to imagine Otis evolving into a true antagonist in a future installment, capturing Rats and ruling over them as his army, similar to the Rat King. If his appearance in ‘Batman: Arkham Shadow’ remains minimal without further exploration, it might be disappointing not to see him again in subsequent storylines, even if he’s absent later on in Rocksteady’s ‘Arkham’ trilogy.

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2024-12-09 01:14