Some stories set the bar for others to reach. One character in the comic book genre has done this a few times. Batman has been the one who has been the standard for many stories across all of media. Some of his comic book stories are the bar. His animated show in the earlier 90’s has established what superhero cartoons could be and should be. The Dark Knight arguably still sets the standard for superhero movies. Many movies need to clear that to claim that spot. Batman has also been the bar to video games. The Arkham series not only set the standard but pushed the superhero video game genre into different territory. All the Arkham games have their high praise and their followers. That story, in universe, has come to an end but the recent Batman: Arkham Shadow game has made it clear there’s still room to explore with this version of Batman. Although it is a VR exclusive game, the game itself has received high reviews. Possibly making it tempting to make another Arkham game for consoles. But how will that story look? What would it do?
Batman’s story in that Arkham-verse started inside Arkham Asylum. That saga also, effectively ended inside Arkham Asylum. The prison is a huge factor across the main three games. Obviously, it was the setting for the first. It expanded in Batman: Arkham City. And was revealed to be the spot where The Joker killed Jason Todd. So, a game where the Asylum rises to that level of power, could be interesting. And Batman: Arkham Origins has set up the potential. For one, and somewhat unrelated, Arkham Origins explored the beginnings of the Batman and The Joker rivalry, which is another major factor in the series of game. Why can’t a game do something similar with the titular asylum? A game could show how a prison, which is capable and made to house the most deranged, began. How that type of respect and responsibility began. Again, Arkham Origins set up the breadcrumbs. The prison that was used in that game, was Blackgate. After the events of the game proved that this prison cannot house Gotham’s most dangerous, it was revealed, in mid-credit dialogue, that Arkham Asylum should be reopened. And by extension given more resources to grow in power. A game could show off that process. But more interesting though, the main event the game could revolve around are prison transfers. At the end of Arkham Origins, some of the game’s villains are already housed in Blackgate. Since many of the villains were housed in Arkham Asylum in the first game, they obviously had to be moved from Blackgate to Arkham Asylum. Moving highly dangerous individuals could be a very sensitive, and opportunistic, situation for everyone involved. A situation Batman has a close eye on. That leaves an opening for many villains to get some payback or have their first shot at Batman within the Arkham universe.
The Arkham games included many villains throughout its run. Many of these villains were well portrayed. But there’s also some villains that were cut, most notably Prometheus. Prometheus was at least rumored to be in the story expansion pack for Batman: Arkham Knight but was ultimately cut. For a character that is dubbed the anti-Batman, seeing Prometheus in an Arkham game would have added depth to the franchise. Of course though, the games did bring in a lot of villains to the universe. No brainers like The Joker and The Penguin got some time. Even characters a little down the barrel of Batman’s list of villains were given a chance. Villains like Solomon Grundy, Anarky, and Mad Matter all got respected outings. That shows that these Arkham games do not shy away from reaching down the barrel, case in point having the Ratcatcher as the main villain for Batman: Arkham Shadow. These games go as far as their villain. So, this game needs to have that. And using the theme of going to a point in Batman’s career where players experience a first, the villain could be Ra’s al Ghul. He did have a large part in Batman: Arkham City and an expansion pack in Batman: Arkham Knight but with so much history and tension between the two, it makes sense. And since Ra’s al Ghul had a hand in getting Arkham City from idea to reality, he could be interested in the revival of Arkham Asylum. Having Ra’s al Ghul as the main villain adds so much to the table. Players could see the different styles of assassins. Watch the romantic flare between Batman and Talia al Ghul blossom. See why Batman trusts Nyssa al Ghul more than anyone else. Introduce Ubu. And perhaps include David Cain as one of the muscles. Bring back Lady Shiva and do her more justice. This also opens the door for Hugo Strange to come back as well. This could be the game that reveals the moment where he starts to develop a fascination for Batman. A lot of enemies and plotlines can come into just by prioritizing one villain above all. That would mean Batman needs help to overcome everything.
Batman: Arkham Origins brought in Robin to some degree. Then in Batman: Arkham City, Robin (Tim Drake) was not only in the campaign but was playable in a story expansion. On top of him being playable in bonus modes. Nightwing as well. Batman’s relationship with Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and Jason Todd was a huge stress point in Batman: Arkham Knight. Yet, there’s been little reference to how Batman began his partnership with them. A subtle reference in Batman: Arkham Shadow alluded to how he and Dick Grayson got started but not much more. This game could take a few steps forward in showing how a Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson) partnership began. Maybe the game starts with Grayson already dawning the Robin suit but still rather inexperience. From here, the game could borrow a play from God of War’s playbook and always have two playable characters are screen all the time. The Arkham games have done this and done it well. In Batman: Arkham Knight, in certain sections, the player could quickly change between characters with a tap of a button, even during a combo. This is an opportunity to allow that function to be in the entire game. Another path this game could go down on, is the path that led Jason Todd into the hands of The Joker. Jason Todd did die in Arkham Asylum by The Joker. After torturing him for a year, The Joker finally did him in. So maybe the game could skip Grayson and go right toward Jason. It could add some dramatic irony that Jason is helping Batman protect a prison he will ultimately ‘die’ in. Regardless of which Robin, the game could explore the beginnings of something that was seen and felt during the game. The partnership between two great fighters and a relationship between a father and son.
These games are masterpieces. Gave more reason for people to behind Batman and really set a standard for what superhero games should be. When a superhero game comes out, that game is immediately put up against the Arkham games to gauge how well that game is. There’s still a lot of room to explore in the Arkham-verse. And with interest for the universe still high, there needs to be another game that finds a home in consoles.
