When Batman: Arkham Shadow was first announced back in May, it was met with a bit of a divisive reception from fans. While a new Batman: Arkham game has been something fans have wanted for years now, Batman: Arkham Shadow's VR nature alienates anyone without a headset, and with it being Meta Quest 3-exclusive, it even excludes anyone without that specific piece of tech.
But all of Batman: Arkham Shadow's trailers have looked fairly impressive so far, from its story trailers that tease some new, lesser-seen villains, to its gameplay trailers that show how developer Camouflaj is translating Arkham's trademark Freeflow combat to VR. Batman: Arkham Shadow could very well be the return to form that the Arkham series needs after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and there's a chance its release could finally lead to one long-requested Batman: Arkham remaster.
Superman Could Succeed in Gaming By Following One Great Batman Venture
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Batman: Arkham Shadow Should Lead to an Arkham Origins Remaster
A Batman: Arkham Origins Remaster is Sorely Needed
Batman: Arkham Origins is still viewed as the black sheep of the series by many fans, and seemingly by Warner Bros. And DC. While Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City have received remasters with the Return to Arkham collection, and Batman: Arkham Knight has been ported to the Nintendo Switch alongside them with last year's Batman: Arkham Trilogy collection, Batman: Arkham Origins has remained stuck on the 7th generation consoles.
Though Batman: Arkham Origins was developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal and not Rocksteady, it's still a strong action-adventure game, and though it caught a lot of flak at the time for feeling too similar to Arkham City, that gameplay formula is a strength all these years later. There are some intriguing story elements in Arkham Origins, some engaging boss fights, and an asymmetrical multiplayer mode that now feels ahead of its time. All of these combine to make Batman: Arkham Origins a game worthy of a remaster.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Might Finally Be The Straw That Breaks The Camel's Back
While Batman: Arkham Knight and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League do have a few references to the events of Batman: Arkham Origins, they focus on telling their own standalone stories. The upcoming Batman: Arkham Shadow, however, seems to tie in directly with the events of Batman: Arkham Origins, acting as a direct sequel to the 2013 game.
In recent interviews, Camouflaj developers have discussed Batman: Arkham Shadow's clear connections to Origins, stating that it's an intentional decision to carry forward these early timeline versions of Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Dr. Jonathan Crane, and Harvey Dent, among other iconic Batman villains. It's also an intentional decision to bring back Roger Craig Smith as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Arkham Shadow, with the actor appearing in Arkham Origins as a younger, less experienced version of the Caped Crusader. With so many direct ties to Batman: Arkham Origins, it would make a lot of sense for a remaster of the 2013 game to release just before Batman: Arkham Shadow's October launch.
A Batman: Arkham Origins Remaster Can Sweeten The Deal With An Extra Inclusion
While a remaster of Batman: Arkham Origins' single-player campaign and asymmetrical multiplayer mode would be more than enough to get fans through the door, Warner Bros. Could sweeten the deal even further by including a remastered version of the Nintendo 3DS/PS Vita game Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate. It was met with middling reviews at the time, but Arkham Origins Blackgate is a solid 2.5D Metroidvania that adds some fun lore to the Arkhamverse.
Batman: Arkham Shadow
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 100%
- Released
- October 21, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Mild Blood, Language
- Developer(s)
- Camouflaj
- Publisher(s)
- Oculus
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Batman: Arkham
- PC Release Date
- October 21, 2024
Become Batman in this official new entry into the Arkham franchise.
It’s the Fourth of July, and Gotham City is under attack by a new threat: the mysterious Rat King and his cultish devotees. As widespread rioting engulfs the city, Batman races to prevent this so-called “Day of Wrath” before it all goes wrong.
Experience the World of Batman Like Never Before:
Immerse yourself in all the grit of Gotham City with the power of VR, and take down its most notorious criminals.
Hard-Hitting Arkham Combat
Realized exclusively for VR—choose from fan favorite gadgets and bold fighting styles reimagined from the beloved Arkham franchise.
Friends, Foes and Other Familiar Faces:
Meet Dr.’s Quinzel and Crane before they became Harley Quinn and Scarecrow, as well as other iconic characters including Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, and Ratcatcher.
- Platform(s)
- Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
- Genre(s)
- Action, Virtual Reality
