Summary
Batmanenjoys a more prolific videogame career than many superheroes, especially with theArkhamseries of games. Despite the Caped Crusader’s popularity in the medium, there are still many good reasons to giveBatmana new solo outing.
The Dark Knight’s history with videogames can be charted all the way back to 1986. Since then,he’s featured in countless DC titles, often with top billing. Undoubtedly, the most well known of these games are those in theArkhamseries. Whilst Spider-Man might be taking the videogame center-stage whilstSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leaguewaits in the wings, Rocksteady’s critically-beloved quadrilogy has cemented Batman’s position as a superstar among superheroes in the medium.
It’s Time For A New Batman Solo Game Outside The Arkham Series
It might seem obtuse, then, to suggest that a new Batman game is needed. The character has more than had his time in the spotlight. However, it will soon be ten years since 2015’sArkham Knight—and, outside a few Lego titles, the Caped Crusader has been on the bench for a while. He’llreturn as a villain inSuicide Squad, but the 84-year history of the character just begs for all his innumerable facets to be explored. In addition, James Gunn’s reboot of DC’s cinematic universe is as good a time as any to give Batman a new title removed from theArkhamtimeline.
A New Game Could Draw On A Different Era Of Batman
The different eras of Batman can bedefined by his archenemy, the Joker: The Golden Age (where the Joker is a mobster to whom Batman is a nuisance), The Silver Age (where the Joker is a goofy prankster), and The Modern Age (where the Joker is obsessed with the Dark Knight, actively going out of his way to test his adversary). The Modern Age is the most loosely defined, but it usually contains a lot of grit and a little deconstruction, as seen with Christopher Nolan’s trilogy. TheArkhamgames have the grit and Joker character of The Modern Age.
Though many good stories have come from this high-grit Modern Age, turning back to the cartoonishqualities of Silver Age Batmancould prove interesting. The stylings of Adam West and Burt Ward are more camp than complex, and embracing the silliness of Batman in a major AAA game could make for an amazing time. Just imagining gadgets like cryptographic sequencers or grapnel guns being replaced with shark-repellent batspray is a gleeful thought. A lively, colorful Gotham straight out of 1966 orBatman: The Brave and The Boldwould give players a superhero title like none other on the market.
Any New Solo Batman Game Should Ditch The Joker
Following the above, a shift in the era represented would go a long way toward putting a different antagonist in the driver’s seat. There’s a good reason forthe Joker being a videogame cliché; the Clown Prince of Crime’s modern dedication to chaos makes him the perfect antithesis to Batman. Furthermore, when done right, he never ceases to be a charismatic presence that balances out his rival’s stoicism. However, the clown is starting to wear out his welcome. In videogames alone he’s been a core foe in almost all Lego titles, inBatman: The Telltale Series, and especially in theArkhamseries. Fans are long overdue for an obscure character to be uplifted to fame and take the temporary mantle of public enemy number one.
Batman In A New Game Would Coincide Well With James Gunn’s New Universe
James Gunn has been given reign over the DC cinematic universe, with films for this reboot just around the corner and the director promising that some future games would connect to his new universe.His Batman film is still without a script, so it’s likely a long ways off. However, if a Batman solo game got off the ground in the near future, it would likely be able to neatly coincide.
Batman
Batman is one of the most popular and well-known superheroes of all time. Created in 1939 by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman has evolved over the decades into a cultural icon.As a child, Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered in front of him. Since that day, Bruce made it his mission to fight back against the criminal element in Gotham City. Taking on the appearance of what scares him most, Batman faces off against powerful villains like the Joker, Two-Face, Bane, and the Penguin.
