Batman: Arkham Shadow is Proof That a Like-Minded POV Could Excel

by

As a veteran gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating the dark, brooding streets of Gotham City, I can’t help but feel a sense of anticipation when it comes to the future of the Arkhamverse. The immersive VR experience of Batman: Arkham Shadow has opened up a whole new perspective on the series, and it’s got me wondering if we might see a first-person Arkham game in our future.

In the Arkhamverse, most games offer a third-person viewpoint from behind characters’ shoulders. However, a few Arkham games have ventured into different genres and perspectives. These include the delisted mobile fighting game Batman: Arkham City Lockdown, the 2.5D side-scrolling game Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, and the VR experience Batman: Arkham VR, which is more of an interactive VR glimpse into the Arkhamverse rather than a traditional game. It serves as a precursor to Batman: Arkham Knight. The recently released Batman: Arkham Shadow for Meta Quest 3 is unique because it has fully transitioned the Arkhamverse into the realm of VR/MR, providing an immersive gaming experience that effectively adapts the proven formula of the traditional Arkham games.

It’s not unexpected that the main debate surrounding “Batman: Arkham Shadow” has been about its VR exclusivity. Not only does the Meta Quest 3/3S version deservedly garner acclaim on this platform, but it also opens up the possibility for a flatscreen game in the Arkhamverse featuring a first-person perspective.

Batman’s Arkhamverse is No Stranger to First-Person Perspectives

As a gamer immersed in the world of Batman: Arkham Shadow, I can’t help but admire how skillfully they’ve tackled one of its main design challenges: seamlessly integrating the mechanics and hallmarks of the Arkhamverse with VR capabilities. The gestures are so engaging that even the rats in my chokeholds feel real, and striking enemies in guided motions feels remarkably smooth and fluid.

It’d be easy to see how a casual player might be taken aback by the Arkham formula’s transition into Batman’s POV, too, and meanwhile the Arkhamverse has proven countless times that an Arkham game with a first-person perspective could not only be feasible, but also equally immersive and fluid. There are a handful of instances across the Arkham games where the camera assumes a character’s POV instead of its ordinary over-the-shoulder perspective, such as when players discover Scarecrow’s secret hideout within a ship in Batman: Arkham City.

As a devoted fan, I’ve always felt like I was right there with Batman as he crouched and slipped through ventilation ducts, seeing the world from his unique vantage point – except for in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, where the perspective shifted to a 2.5D viewpoint, breaking the immersion slightly.

Furthermore, the game “Batman: Arkham Knight” skillfully employs first-person perspectives in captivating ways: for example, we experience Officer Owens’ point of view during the chilling opening scene at Pauli’s Diner; an expository prologue flashback seen through Police Commissioner Jim Gordon’s eyes creates a thrilling Batman surprise; and a fear toxin-induced nightmare sequence from Joker’s perspective showcases the Joker gradually taking over Bruce Wayne’s mind. These sequences don’t offer the same level of gameplay as regular third-person sequences, but “Batman: Arkham Origins” gives us a glimpse of what first-person gameplay might look like in this series, assuming it had the familiar control scheme of a gamepad.

Certainly, a first-person Arkham video game, designed for flatscreens, would likely discard the elements that make Batman: Arkham VR exceptional, such as players physically extending their arms to simulate cape gliding or retrieving the batarang from their virtual chest. However, it’s intriguing to imagine a game that combines these two formats and explores what a well-executed fusion of their features might result in.

A New Arkham Game Doesn’t Seem Like an ‘If,’ But a ‘When’

As the Joker’s demise was filled with bravado and certainty, it seemed like Batman: Arkham Knight was the end of the line for our beloved franchise… that is, until Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League came along, dancing on its grave in a macabre tribute. The Arkham games have always hinted at the possibility of prequel stories set during Batman’s early years, and it took Batman: Arkham Shadow a whole decade to capitalize on this unexploited market, following up on Batman: Arkham Origins and its companion piece, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.

It’s highly likely that we will see a new Arkham game featuring a third-person perspective in the future, given Batman’s crucial role in Warner Bros. and DC’s video game success. A traditional approach to this game would likely appeal to the broadest possible audience. Camouflaj and Meta are well-positioned to create a sequel to Batman: Arkham Shadow and there are numerous opportunities to explore untold stories within the Arkhamverse, spanning its past, present, and future. The potential for a first-person Arkham game or any other innovative take on perspectives or genres is immense.

Read More

2024-11-29 15:53