TheBatman: Akrhamseries is renowned for taking superhero games from simple movie tie-ins to standalone critical and financial successes. The story behind how developer Rocksteady took the caped crusader and created perhaps one of the most impressive stories in the character’s history has been told dozens of times. Nevertheless, the effect theBatman: Arkhamseries had on modern gaming cannot be overstated, and its influence can be felt in almost every superhero game developed since.
The mainArkhamseries was split across three games, each building upon the last with regards to both narrative and gameplay. Dozens of Batman’s most iconic villains appeared throughout the series, with Joker, Penguin, and Scarecrow serving as some prominent antagonists. By the timeBatman: Arkhamgot to its last installment,Arkham Knight, Rocksteady had already built a deep world with characters that spoke to the core of their comic counterparts. Even though the series was massively popular, it had to end eventually, andArkham Knightdelivered an ending that few have forgotten since.
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Batman Unmasked
The goal of manyBatman villainsin any piece of media has been to reveal his secret identity. InBatman: Arkham Knight, Scarecrow manages to succeed, but it has more to do with Batman allowing him to do so. After Robin and Jim Gordon are captured by the villain, Batman allows himself to be captured and is brought to Arkham Asylum. After the usual bad guy monologue, Scarecrow unmasks Batman to reveal Bruce Wayne on camera to all of Gotham, and then injects him with fear toxin numerous times to show Gotham how even Batman can break.
The Battle For Batman’s Mind
For much ofAkrham Knight, Batman is experiencing hallucinations of the Joker due to a combination of exposure to fear toxin and remnants of Joker’s blood in his system fromArkham City. These hallucinations were greatly exacerbated by the toxin that Scarecrow injected, culminating in a battle between Batman and Joker for control over the caped crusader’s mind. Joker attempts to overwhelm Batman by reminding him of all the people he’s lost over the years, but Batman throws Joker into a cell and locks him away in his mind.
Initiating The Knightfall Protocol
Once Batman regains control of his mind, he is able to overtake Scarecrow with some help fromJason Todd. After reconvening with Jim Gordon and Alfred, Batman decides that he must take care of any lingering crimes before he can return to Wayne Manor to initiate the “Knightfall Protocol.” When Batman returns to Wayne Manor, which has been mobbed by news reporters, he greets Alfred at the front door and the two enter, at which point Wayne Manor explodes. There is no official word on whether Alfred or Batman survive, but an ending cutscene shows a criminal being stalked by a ghoulish figure that resembles Batman.
This ending for one of the most popular superhero game series of all time was very controversial, and it’s remembered for better or worse by many fans to this day. It’s certainly a creative choice that leaves much up to interpretation, and at its core it speaks to the deep mystery and calculated thinking that surrounds the caped crusader. There’s been some excitment givenSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewill be continuing theArkhamstoryin some capacity, so fans will just have to wait until that game releases to see if they get any closure on theBatman: Arkhamstoryline.
TheBatman: Arkhamseries is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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