Summary
- The future of Batman video games is uncertain, but it is likely that the character will return in some capacity, and the next game should take inspiration from The Batman film.
- The Batman's armored suit, which allows him to withstand bullets, would be a good addition to a Batman video game, furthering the Batman power fantasy and enhancing gameplay.
- An armored suit in a Batman game could provide players with the ability to rush toward gun-toting enemies or retreat safely from failed stealth attempts, adding depth to the game and strengthening the in-game character.
The future of Batman video games remains uncertain. The character is dead in Gotham Knights and Rocksteady, the studio behind the Arkham series, has moved on to the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game. Still, it's probable that the character will return to gaming in some capacity, and when he does, there is one smaller detail of The Batman film that should inspire an important feature.
In the Batman Arkham series, there are a few different progression and upgrade systems on display, which allow players to make their version of Batman more powerful as the game progresses. The way that upgrades are handled differs in each game, with Arkham Asylum arguably placing a higher emphasis on upgrades due to its Metroidvania-eqsue structure. The Batman Arkham games feature cosmetics as well, although these don't generally impact the gameplay and are purely superficial. This is a missed opportunity, and taking inspiration from how Batman's suit works in The Batman could do wonders for the next game.
The Next Batman Game Should Feature an Armored Suit Similar to The Batman's
On the one hand, Batman's suits being purely cosmetic is something of a virtue of the Batman Arkham games, as it allows players to make use of all the character's gear and abilities while sporting whatever look they want; the suit of the 1960s Batman has wildly different capabilities than that of 2023 Arkham Knight Batman, after all. However, suits in Batman stories are crucial in many ways, more so than the costumes of other superheroes, and the next game should take note of this.
Why The Batman's Armored Suit Is a Good Fit for a Batman Game
Batman Arkham Knight received The Batman suit in a recent surprise update, showing how good it looks in this version of Gotham City. While the somewhat rugged, tough, mean-looking suit of Reeves's film has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to its aesthetic, its potential goes beyond the cosmetic side. In The Batman, the titular character at one point faces off against a couple of Falcone's henchmen, who unload their fully automatic rifles into him. Thanks to his advanced bullet-proof armor, though, he is able to withstand the barrage of bullets and continue striding toward them, ultimately incapacitating them.
This has become one of the most memorable scenes in the film, partially because it exemplifies just how terrifying Batman can be. Since it's a Batman origin story in some ways, The Batman wastes no time in showing how the character establishes himself as a threat to the villains of Gotham, and showing how he is ostensibly impervious to bullets is a good way to do that. In a Batman video game, a similar sort of durable suit could go a long way toward furthering the Batman power fantasy, as well as bolstering gameplay.
How Armor Could Work in a Batman Game
Of course, Batman has a version of armor in the Batman Arkham games. His suit is clearly durable and protects him from some degree of physical trauma (despite the Arkham series' focus on battle damage), and his Arkham Knight suit is perhaps the closest in appearance to an armored suit a la The Batman. However, these suits are still lacking one critical component: invulnerability. A suit that allows Batman to briefly withstand a barrage of bullets would be a useful tool for players, allowing them to either rush toward gun-toting enemies or safely retreat from a failed stealth attempt. This function would have to be limited, lest it break the game, so perhaps this could be some sort of ability on a long cooldown, or something that requires a valuable resource. If handled correctly, an armored suit has the potential to add a great deal of depth to a Batman game, while strengthening the in-game version of the character.
- Created by
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- First Film
- Batman: The Movie
- Latest Film
- The Batman
- Upcoming Films
- The Batman – Part II
- TV Show(s)
- Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Gotham
- Creation Year
- May 1939