The Knight at the End of the Tunnel

The end of a fantastic series.

Before reading this review, it should be noted that this game is rated M for mature. Although video games can often be enjoyed by younger players, this particular title contains certain elements that are not appropriate for children. I will try and keep this review as clean and family friendly as possible, since I want content on this blog to be enjoyed by everyone. Always check a game's rating before allowing children to play.

I was fifteen years old when I learned that you could both anticipate and dread something at the same time.

The first trailer for Batman: Arkham Knight was released in spring of 2014. It was just over two minutes long and I watched it dozens of times, so much so that I had it memorized. I was excited for this game... and yet, I also knew what the release of this title meant. Arkham Knight had been marketed as the final game in the Arkham series, a set of games that still remain some of my favorites years later. As much as I was ready to return to Gotham City, I knew that I would be doing so for the last time.

There was also the fact that I would not be able to play the game at release. Arkham Knight was only being released for the newer consoles the time, which were PS4 and Xbox One respectively. Since I was a teenager without a job, I knew it would be a while before I had another console. And so, there was nothing I could do but wait with both hope and dread in my heart. The game released in the summer of 2015 to critical and commercial success, much like its predecessors.

I received a PS4 as a Christmas gift a couple of years later and managed to find a copy of the game at a retail store not too long afterwards. It quickly became one of my favorite titles and I had replayed it a couple of times since then. Each time, there was always something nagging in the back of my brain, something that didn't sit right. I always assumed it was because I was playing the finale and I never want fun things to end. But by playing the title again for the purposes of this review, I finally put my finger on issues with the game that I overall believe to be a fantastic finale to an incredible series.

When I was getting ready to replay the game for review, I was confused as to why this title had an M rating when the other games were rated T. Once I realized that the main villain was Scarecrow, the rating made much more sense. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Batman lore, Scarecrow is a prominent villain in Batman's rogues gallery. A former psychologist named Jonathan Crane, Scarecrow developed a fascination with people's phobias and reactions to fearful situations. He developed a fear toxin that would cause an individual to experience severe hallucinations in order to analyze their frightened reactions. Since becoming a supervillain, Scarecrow has used his fear toxin to inflict terror on innocent civilians and even on The Dark Knight himself. He was previously a minor villain in Arkham Asylum but is one of the central antagonists in Arkham Knight.

Several months after the events of Arkham City, Scarecrow stages the takeover of Gotham City on Halloween night. He plans to douse the entire city in his fear toxin with the hope of preventing Batman from saving them and finally breaking the spirit of the caped crusader. While doing everything he can to stop Scarecrow, Batman runs into another formidable foe - the Arkham Knight. Although Batman knows nothing about this enemy, the Arkham Knight seems to know just about everything when it comes to Batman and it's clear he's out for vengeance. Batman finds himself up against an entire army with the impending destruction of Gotham looming over his head. As he fights for justice, Batman soon comes to realize he must make impossible choices that could spell the end for the legend he’s created.

Batman comes face to face with his mysterious new enemy.

One of the first things I feel obligated to mention is the graphics. As technology changes, it can very quickly make things that were revolutionary feel outdated. I am happy to report that is not the case here. This title is eight years old and still looks incredible. In some respects, it looks better than some of the newer titles being released today. It's strange to feel a sense of realism when it comes to someone dressing up like a bat, but I was consistently blown away by character models and lighting. The experience truly felt cinematic at certain points, and I give five stars to the design team for this game.

While the gameplay has similar basic fundamentals to the previous titles, there are definitely some changes. The freeflow combat system that became popular through these games has become even more fluid and intuitive. There are more ways to upgrade your gear and combat styles. I will say combat is also far more challenging than before. Enemies appear in greater numbers and varying types. With the previous games I knew that once I had upgraded my armor, I was essentially untouchable and could walk into a firefight and still come out victorious. In this game you are required to strategize. You will have to use all your gear and all the available skills for a single encounter and then get ready to do it all again but now with new challenges. Normally I'm not one for games that are too challenging, but I will say that this actually made me feel more like Batman then a simple fistfight. I had to think critically and quickly while using all the tools at my disposal much the same way Batman does in the comics. The clip below shows the speed and eficiency that comes with being a professional crime fighter.

The biggest change in gameplay comes in the form of the Batmobile. It had been seen in Arkham Asylum, but nothing could really be done with it, and it certainly wasn't drivable. This time it is a major point throughout the story (and unfortunately that's not always a good thing). Fans had been begging to be able to use the Batmobile for years and I will say they definitely gave us plenty of chances to use the Batmobile.

One of my favorite cosmetic skins for the Batmobile comes from the original TV show. I absolutely love the classic look.

Driving around Gotham in a superpowered car is definitely a treat for any Batman fan. However, the problem comes in the form of Battle Mode. By holding down a trigger on the controller the Batmobile can essentially be turned into a tank with weapon systems that fire non-lethal rounds. Although this sounds entertaining, so many missions require you to use it as a tank that it becomes tiring by the time you get to the end. When in Battle Mode the car does not move as smoothly and the sections which require the tank form move at a slower pace. This is where the phrase “too much of a good thing” comes into play. I absolutely love driving around the city solving puzzles and doing side missions. I grit my teeth when I have to go through the twentieth tank section.

While we're on the topic, the side missions in this game are abundant and engaging. Almost every main villain from the rouges gallery is represented, from Penguin to Two Face. The villains that aren't in the main game are included in a downloadable content package which I highly recommend. I don't always endorse DLC for a game because it can often feel as though the content could have been included at launch and was excluded to get people to reach into their wallets a second time. I feel the experiences that were included here were worth every penny. There are also additional skins to be used with certain characters in the game and the Batmobile. Although purely cosmetic, it does add another layer of fun for people who might know Batman through different mediums.

One set of side missions allows Batman to team up with Nightwing, the original Robin.

The last major piece of the game that must be discussed is the story. During my recent replay, I finally figured out that this was the element that did not sit right in my brain. Now, it will be difficult to talk about this particular aspect without revealing spoilers, but I will do my best. The biggest issue with the story is trying to force a twist. A good plot twist in a story can really add to the enjoyment, and it was done very well in Arkham City (once again, no spoilers.) But this particular twist was not well handled. Essentially in an effort to prevent the twist from being spoiled, the marketing team blatantly lied about particular elements of the game. Honestly, I don't think the twist was needed. If it had been established from the get-go, the story would have carried the same emotional weight, just in a different way. Instead, the writing team decided to force in a twist that they beat you over the head with, so that by the time you get to the point it's not really a twist. I'm being intentionally vague because I still do enjoy the game and that's not to say that this story choice ruins the game entirely. But it does damper the experience ever so slightly.

Arkham Knight is the final mainline game in the Arkham series. However, it was recently revealed that the upcoming game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will take place in the same universe, much like how comic books can use the same characters but in different timelines. This will also be the final performance of Kevin Conroy as Batman due to his passing last year.

The Arkham series are still some of my favorite games of all time and I have genuinely enjoyed getting to replay them again and analyze them in a deeper manner. Although Arkham Knight might not be the finale that fans were expecting, I believe it is a very fitting swan song. Despite my issues with the story and some gameplay sections I will always recommend this and the other Arkham titles to anybody who likes Batman or just video games in general. I have a feeling this is not my last time replaying these titles. Pick up a controller, put on the cowl, and become The Dark Knight.

This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming.