The first Batman game I played, back when it came to PS+ nearly four years ago. I was initially put off by its art style and open world. At the time I was looking for realism, and I couldn't figure out why there were no civilians, and why the Batmobile bulldozed everything in its path. It turned me off.
Coming back to it now I really appreciate the sandbox nature of the world. In general I appreciate open world games more as little sandbox/dioramas than realistic, interactive creations. I love this game's art and presentation. I love how polished and weighted down the world feels. I love the mix of Tim Burton era gothic art style mixed with Nolan/Snyder's brutal neo-fascism. I don't think I've ever really appreciated how much Batman feels apart of his world more than I do in this. All the villains, all the characters, they all feel of a place and that they belong. Batman's brutal eccentricities and psychosis feel utterly at home in a game where you drive a tank and use its enormous rubber wheels to interrogate thugs. His wealthy psychopathy feels suited to this world. He is simply another character in a world full of characters. Why all the female ones are designed like porn stars, I don't know, but maybe that's genuinely how Bruce Wayne sees women.
The biggest obstacle for me in the Arkham games has always been getting a hold of the combat, especially the militia enemies with their guns. This was maybe my fourth attempt at playing through this game. I was maybe 1/5th done by the time I got the idea to start again last week. I found myself adapting to the rhythms of it for the first time, finally finding satisfaction in the game's weird groove. Even the stupid Batmobile stuff I eventually settled into. This pairs really well with Mad Max - another WB game that had annoying driving combat that had a steep tolerance curve. Both feel like odd timeless classics now, 8 years from release when they kind of don't really make games like this any more. We get the Ubisoftification of games with Gotham Knights instead.
A 3 star game that just feels better with age, imo.
Coming back to it now I really appreciate the sandbox nature of the world. In general I appreciate open world games more as little sandbox/dioramas than realistic, interactive creations. I love this game's art and presentation. I love how polished and weighted down the world feels. I love the mix of Tim Burton era gothic art style mixed with Nolan/Snyder's brutal neo-fascism. I don't think I've ever really appreciated how much Batman feels apart of his world more than I do in this. All the villains, all the characters, they all feel of a place and that they belong. Batman's brutal eccentricities and psychosis feel utterly at home in a game where you drive a tank and use its enormous rubber wheels to interrogate thugs. His wealthy psychopathy feels suited to this world. He is simply another character in a world full of characters. Why all the female ones are designed like porn stars, I don't know, but maybe that's genuinely how Bruce Wayne sees women.
The biggest obstacle for me in the Arkham games has always been getting a hold of the combat, especially the militia enemies with their guns. This was maybe my fourth attempt at playing through this game. I was maybe 1/5th done by the time I got the idea to start again last week. I found myself adapting to the rhythms of it for the first time, finally finding satisfaction in the game's weird groove. Even the stupid Batmobile stuff I eventually settled into. This pairs really well with Mad Max - another WB game that had annoying driving combat that had a steep tolerance curve. Both feel like odd timeless classics now, 8 years from release when they kind of don't really make games like this any more. We get the Ubisoftification of games with Gotham Knights instead.
A 3 star game that just feels better with age, imo.