Why Batman: Arkham Knight’s Batmobile Likely Marks the End of a Short Era

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As a long-time aficionado of the Dark Knight and his gritty universe, I find myself deeply captivated by the evolution of Batman’s iconic vehicles throughout the Arkham series. The Batmobile, in particular, has always held a special place in my heart, and it was truly a sight to behold when it finally became playable in Batman: Arkham Knight.

In the universe of Arkham, Batman’s vehicles have consistently been a distinctive part of his character. Notably, the Batwing has been present since the franchise began, and the Batmobile made its significant debut in the game “Batman: Arkham Asylum”.

During the events of “Batman: Arkham Origins,” the Batmobile was still under construction. Interestingly, by the time of “Batman: Arkham Knight” (six months later), a Batboat had already been created.

In previous Arkham games like Origins, players could only ride on the Batwing for fast travel, but it wasn’t until Batman: Arkham Knight that they could actually drive the Batmobile. The Batmobile from Arkham Knight was the only controllable vehicle in the Arkham series, followed by the hovercrafts in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The Batmobile stands out for its impressive and versatile features, though it received criticism despite being expertly designed for playable sequences. It seems likely that the Batmobile will be the last controllable vehicle in an Arkham game.

Batman: Arkham Knight’s Batmobile was Ahead of Its Time

In “Batman: Arkham Knight,” it’s argued that not giving players full control over the Batmobile was a good decision, making it even more impressive. The Batmobile in this game is packed with features, catering to what players might desire from the Arkhamverse’s Batman. It boasts an intricate Battle Mode, enabling players to use a winch for powering generators or scaling buildings, an autocannon, micro-missiles, and an EMP.

Additionally, the game Batman: Arkham Knight would have lost its exhilarating pursuits of armored militia transports and Firefly without the Batmobile. Consequently, Gotham City’s vast open-world islands might have seemed considerably emptier.

As a film enthusiast, I must admit that the overwhelming majority of players expressing dissatisfaction with the Batmobile in a potential future Arkham game suggests that any studio might be reluctant to devote the same level of time and resources to designing it. However, for those who relished Batmobile combat and gameplay, Rocksteady’s inclusion of this uniquely unprecedented feature in Batman: Arkham Knight could be seen as a bold stroke, adding an incredibly distinctive element that set it apart from its predecessors.

Why Nothing Could Hope to Live Up to Batman: Arkham Knight’s Batmobile Nowadays

As a movie critic, I found myself utterly immersed in the open-world of Gotham City within “Batman: Arkham Knight.” The Batmobile, without a doubt, takes center stage, offering a substantial portion of both mandatory and optional content. Stripping it down would’ve left a gaping void, feeling not only underwhelming but potentially unnecessary.

Arkham Knight, it would need to possess the versatility in both combat and environmental puzzles that the game’s Batmobile is known for.

If cape-gliding is designed well, the Arkhamverse may never need an alternative means of traversal.

In the current scenario, the only time a playable Batmobile might hold its legendary charm is when Batman initially drives one within the storyline of the game – an event yet to occur in-game. Subsequent Arkham games are likely to persist with avoiding Batman’s vehicles, as this strategy would help them prevent the same playerbase split that occurred with Batman: Arkham Knight. However, this doesn’t mean a playable Batmobile concept is automatically flawed; it just carries a reputation that may be challenging to shake off. Players might prefer experiencing traditional Batman gameplay instead.

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2024-12-24 15:33