Starting withBatman: Arkham Asylumin 2009, theBatman:Arkhamseries of games remains one of the most highly praised depictions ofthe dark knightand superheroes as a whole in video game history. The series spans over many different games, comics, and a straight-to-video movie, withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguebeing the next upcoming game in the series.
Even without considering theupcomingSuicide Squadgame, there are nine different games that make up the bones of the Arkhamverse proper. Some of these titles were less well received than others, but the ones that shined prove their worth for all to see.
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Considering how much story is spread throughout theBatmanArkhamverse’s games, the series is filled with many iconic and memorable moments that are still praised to this day. These moments vary from the epic, to funny, to heart-breaking, and all the way to horrifying. This variety is what has helped the series stay in the minds of many even now.
Interrupting Harley Quinn - Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham Citytakes place in a section of Gotham that has been closed off from the rest of the world while operating as a prison for Gotham’s worst criminals. After being thrown into the prison by Doctor Hugo Strange asBruce Wayne, Bruce investigates Arkham City as Batman. There he must deal with the criminal factions that have risen in a place of no order, emergency workers taken as hostages, and a dying Joker looking to have his last laugh.
Early in the game, Batman discovers thatHarley Quinnand some of Joker’s henchmen have taken the medical staff at the Church and Medical Center hostage. Instead of sneaking into the building through an alternate entrance, Batman enters through the front door. Upon seeing him, Harley Quinn begins to approach Batman via acrobatic flips.
Normally in this situation, players may expect a brawl to start with Harley and the nearby goons. Instead, starting combat with Harley will just cause Batman to easily throw her to the side, ending the altercation on a rather comedic note. This doesn’t end the conflict at hand, due to the henchmen still holding the hostages captive via firearms. Knowing that Batman won’t attack again, Harley fills Batman in on the situation with the Joker just slightly before leaving.
Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin Hallucinations - Batman: Arkham Asylum
As Batman travels through the various dangers presented by hisrogues' galleryinBatman: Arkham Asylum, some of the most horrifying events are caused by the Scarecrow and his fear gas. After inhaling it, players will begin to see hallucinations that plague Batman’s mind. While they occur multiple times throughout the game, each of these have a lasting impact on those who witness them for the first time.
Some of the highlights of the Scarecrow hallucinations include Batman regressing back to a child and witnessing the murder of his parents, finding his parents in Arkham Asylum’s morgue, and Scarecrow coming out of a body bag tojump scare unsuspecting players. However, there is one hallucination meant to invoke a specific fear in any player going through the game without knowing what to expect. This hallucination is the fake reset.
The fake reset hallucination breaks the fourth wall and makes players believe the game itself has reset. It will begin to playBatman: Arkham Asylum’s opening cutscene as if players need to play through the game all over again from the start. Sticking through the cutscene will reveal that it is instead a strange parody of the opening, with the Jokerdriving the Batmobilein order to imprison Batman in Arkham Asylum. It eventually ends with the Joker shooting Batman from a first-person perspective, giving players a fake game over. This game over has the additional tip of using the “middle stick” to dodge the Joker’s bullet.
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The Mr. Freeze Fight - Batman: Arkham City
Often considered to be one of the best boss fights in the entirety of the Arkhamverse is the battle withMr. FreezeinBatman: Arkham City. Unlike many of the bumbling mooks that can be found throughout the streets ofArkham City, Mr. Freeze learns and adapts to how players choose to fight him. This makes for a fight where players need to constantly change up their approach so they can’t be easily countered.
The fight takes place in Mr. Freeze’s lab, where Batman has access to floor grates, railings, and cover via the desks and shelves. As previously mentioned, even if players get off a couple of good hits via using one of these sneaky methods, Mr. Freeze will begin to adapt. He will begin to freeze over areas so that players can no longer use them making for a fight that never gets repetitive or stale.
The End - Batman: Arkham Knight
Still discussed today isthe ending toBatman: Arkham Knight, and what very well could be the end of Batman himself in the Arkhamverse. After his secret identity as Bruce Wayne is revealed to the world, Batman begins the Knightfall Protocol. He gives his goodbye to Commissioner Gordon and returns home to Wayne Manor, which explodes seemingly with both him and Alfred inside. Commissioner Gordon is left alone with the broken Bat Signal, but receives a text from Tim Drake revealing that Gordon is additionally preparing for Tim and Barbara’s wedding.
The full ending reveals that there is another hero under the Batman symbol still fighting crime throughoutGotham City. This new Batman is far more frightening in comparison, leaving it still a mystery if this is Bruce Wayne, a member of the Bat Family, or another person entirely. Even six years later the answer to that question has not been revealed, keeping it in the minds of manyBatman: Arkhamfans. While it is possible that the identity of this new Batman could be shown in the upcomingSuicide Squadgame, it is still just as likely to remain a mystery forever.
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