Cognition Dissemination: Hopes for Batman: Arkham Knight

Warning: I go over some plot details for the previous Arkham games in this post, meaning I highlight a massive Batman: Arkham City spoiler and a minor Arkham Origins one. You’ve been warned.

I was a little taken aback upon hearing that Batman: Arkham Knight, Rocksteady Studios’ newest foray in the Batman video game universe, was for new generation consoles only — in addition to PC. The Playstation 4 and Xbox One are fine, if currently expensive, systems, but I’m part of the “waiting it out” contingent. “Waiting it out” isn’t synonymous with “waiting for a price drop,” because I’m not naïve enough to do that after the lack of price reductions their predecessors received (they haven’t received a proper one in years). New consoles rarely receive a plethora of appealing software in their first year, and many hardware and internal firmware features promised at launch are delivered interstitially over that time — if ever. In no way do I want to be part of that phenomenon, even if I’ll miss some potential treasures in the first year.

But upon reading a little further, I understand why the developer and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment made the decision. Anyone who experienced (and will experience, assuming you’re brave enough to buy some cross-generation titles) a bunch of open word titles on PS3 and 360 might have realized neither system handled open world titles with finesse. The games often contained undesirable framerates and other unfortunate issues that hindered immersion. And if they didn’t, their worlds usually weren’t that big. Batman: Arkham City is a fitting example of the latter, a game whose open world didn’t realize its full potential. The game’s city, while pretty, isn’t that big, and it’s peculiarly barren.

The power inherent in next-generation platforms allowed for Rocksteady to build a bigger world for AK’s Gotham City, one they claim is five times larger than AC’s. There’s a good reason why you see the Batmobile in plain view on Game Informer’s cover to promote the cover feature. With a larger world comes the need for Batman to travel around faster, and he’ll use the Batmobile to venture from location to location. Rocksteady also realized that getting in and out of the Batmobile multiple times throughout the game would be a pain. To counter that, they’ve given Batman the ability to quickly leap in and out of the vehicle to not waste the players time. That sounds neat, though it’s the kind of maneuver I’d like to see it in action before judging.

As great as all that sounds, they’ll really have to hammer home the atmosphere, something both the PS4 and XB1 have the power to realize. That should include elements like citizens strolling around the city and atmospheric noise, both of which are very important elements for immersion in open world games. The all-CG trailer (since gameplay screens and info are still Game Informer-exclusive) mentioned an evacuation of Gotham, which already has me concerned about the amount of citizens that could be roaming around the city.

Basically, I’m hoping they use the new technology for features that make the game the best it can be. When I hear about a “AAA” game being primarily made for new consoles capable of high-end graphics, my cynical mind thinks “graphics-over-gameplay” and developers streamlining an experience in the worst possible way; “streamlining” it to supposedly make it more palatable for the mass audience, regardless of whether it’s what they want. It’s possible that’s just me being too pessimistic and jaded, but it’s a difficult feeling to shake off.

Oh yeah, there’s a story too. If there’s anything the previous Arkham games have had in common, it’s way, way too much focus on the Joker. But we shouldn’t have to worry about him this time around, since AC apparently killed him off for good. Last year’s Batman: Arkham Origins, developed by Warner Bros. Montreal, was only able to get away with its lame twist because it was a prequel. We should be done with his saga now, meaning other villains in the Batman universe will get their time in the limelight. This should give Harley Quinn some development too, beyond the little we saw in AC’s DLC: Harley Quinn’s Revenge. (Though hopefully the character model in the trailer isn’t reflective of her in-game model.) That CG trailer also shows Two-Face and the Penguin, though how big their roles will be is currently unknown.

None of them will be the main villains. No, the winner of that prize is the character in the title: the Arkham Knight, a new villain of Rocksteady’s creation. “New” is in quotes there because the concept design shown in GI magazine is peculiarly similar to The New 52 iteration of Wrath. I suspect their personalities will be different, because why would a team waste their time making a new villain that’s similar to one the universe already has? I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with him.

Also, I’m going to punch a Rocksteady employee in the face if he turns out to be The Joker in another disguise. So you guys better watch out!

In fact, I’m looking forward to seeing what Rocksteady does with the game overall, even if I won’t be there for its launch in mid-October. They’re saying this will be the last game in the Batman universe from them, so they’re making the best sendoff they can — presumably before WB Montreal takes it over. We’ll see if the final product lives up to the lofty expectations they’ve set.