{"id":62641,"date":"2014-03-15T21:51:21","date_gmt":"2014-03-15T19:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/?p=62641"},"modified":"2025-07-02T00:48:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:48:56","slug":"batman-arkham-knight-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/batman-arkham-knight-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Batman Arkham Knight: The Dark Knight bids farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Arkham saga<\/strong> bids us\u00a0farewell with a unique installment: Batman <\/strong>accompanied by the best of allies, some super-charismatic villains, backed up by\u00a0all the\u00a0power of the new generation of consoles.<\/p>\n

Rocksteady, creator of Batman Arkham Asylum<\/a> and Batman\u00a0Arkham City<\/a> returns to the Dark Knight<\/strong> universe to finish what promises to be one of the best trilogies in videogame history. Arkham Knight won’t just\u00a0be a worthy continuation, it will also herald the arrival of Batman to the new generation of consoles, a visually stunning game with gameplay that will set the bar high for future open-world games.<\/p>\n

Rocksteady took three years working on this offering, a period in which Warner Bros decided to create a game in between, Batman Arkham Origins<\/a>, developed by its headquarters in Montreal. It could have been a disappointment for some, so they wisely opted for a prequel. Closing the saga was an honor left to those who could make it as great as it deserved to be.<\/p>\n

Gotham like you’ve never seen it before<\/h3>\n

Rocksteady promises a land area five times greater than that seen in Arkham City. The map will mainly focus on the center of Gotham, consisting of three islands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

However, it’s not just about\u00a0size but also about freedom. Sefton Hill, Game Director, explained to Game Informer<\/a> magazine: “We want to create the largest open world game in history. We want to make an open world that’s more real, vibrant, and dense<\/strong> than\u00a0has ever been seen before.”<\/p>\n

Too ambitious? Perhaps, but Rocksteady’s certainly got all the cards to make a winning move. For starters, the developers use an enhanced version of Unreal Engine which is fully designed for the new generation of consoles, PS4 and Xbox One, and higher-level PCs<\/strong>. This will mean a brutal level of detail in every alley, building, and weather effect you see in Gotham.<\/p>\n

To take a few examples: the buildings will be higher, there will be different and recognizable businesses around every corner and despite the city being half deserted, they will be full of life. We\u00a0know that trouble is never far away\u00a0in Arkham Knight;\u00a0there’s always someone who’s itching to\u00a0to make a killing and there are no shortage of Gotham rebel groups who love to take advantage of the chaos to steal or destroy urban amenities. So don’t be surprised (although you might be a bit alarmed) if you see riots of up to 50 people<\/strong>, something we\u00a0haven’t seen in the Arkham series to date.<\/p>\n

\"Gotham<\/p>\n

A year of…peace?<\/h3>\n

The action in Batman Arkham Knight takes place a year after the end of Batman Arkham City. The Joker, leader of the villains of Gotham, is dead and the city is peaceful. Since there’s little crime in the city, the Dark Knight has little to do, so he’s\u00a0dedicated the last twelve months to research<\/strong>;\u00a0designing new devices and suits to prepare for a possible threat…because\u00a0you never know what might happen.<\/p>\n

Good idea, Batman, good idea! Because it turns out that the remaining villains have again joined forces to wreak havoc on Gotham and try to kill Batman\u00a0again. The first to try is an old acquaintance, the Scarecrow<\/strong>, who starts a plan based on\u00a0chaos that will soon take over Gotham.<\/p>\n

The Scarecrow threatens to launch a fear toxin throughout the city. Faced with this disaster, the\u00a0authorities, led by Commissioner Gordon, order\u00a0the evacuation of the entire population<\/strong>, which means that six million people will leave Gotham. With a semi-abandoned city, the Scarecrow and company can do what they wish and, most importantly, they can indulge in their favorite pastime: a macabre game of cat and mouse with the ever-patient Batman.<\/p>\n

\"Batman<\/p>\n

A parade of old acquaintances<\/h3>\n

The Scarecrow isn’t\u00a0the only villain who has been dropped into the game. Other heavyweights like Penguin, Harley Quinn, Riddler, and Two-Face<\/strong> have been confirmed, but for now we don’t\u00a0know the role each of these bad guys will play\u00a0in this new Odyssey of the Dark Knight.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the good guys, you won’t be\u00a0be surprised if I tell you that Commissioner Gordon<\/strong> is on our side again, acting as an accomplice to our missions in Gotham. Also along for the ride is\u00a0Barbara, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter who, unbeknown to her father, has taken on the role of Oracle<\/strong>, our right hand at\u00a0headquarters, which will give us plenty of information like access points, enemies’ plans, and much more.<\/p>\n

But with the Joker dead, who will direct\u00a0all the chaos on the streets of Gotham?\u00a0Apparently this role falls to Scarecrow, but it looks like he is only acting on behalf of a new enemy hiding in the shadows. Who could it be? It’s none other than\u00a0the Knight of Arkham<\/strong> (hence the title of the game), an opponent specially created for the game and for which Rocksteady has collaborated with DC Comics, because, let’s be honest, creating\u00a0a new villain<\/strong> for Batman is no small thing. We can’t wait to find out more!<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The (almost) perfect hero<\/h3>\n

As I said, this year of “peace” has helped Batman develop as a hero. Thus, our Batman will have a new suit and improvements to his legendary weapons<\/strong>. Now you can use them all in the air, as well as having more support and better glide with the cape.<\/p>\n

His combat skills have also improved, although Rocksteady already had them right. The combat\u00a0system in the Arkham saga worked fine, so it wasn’t\u00a0worth making the veteran player dizzy with drastic changes.<\/p>\n

New developments in the fight sequences will go through new mechanics, like the ability to use environmental objects as improvised weapons or new combos, but there’s nothing really radical.<\/p>\n

\"Batman<\/p>\n

Batman’s long-awaited ally arrives<\/h3>\n

These new, but not radical powers hide\u00a0an ace up their sleeve: Batman’s ultimate ally. No, it’s not Robin, it’s the ever-faithful…Batmobile<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Batman’s car debuts in style in this third installment, presented as a veritable killing machine and the most detailed vehicle<\/strong> we’ve ever seen in a game.<\/p>\n

The Batmobile can drive, jump, accelerate, and make incredible turns on its own axis so you can move quickly through the city. In addition, it’s\u00a0bulletproof <\/strong>and provides the\u00a0perfect way to eliminate the occasional enemy, either by mowing them down or using the launchers.<\/p>\n

The best part is that your Batmobile is always available. Just press a button and the car arrives straight away, no matter where you are.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the Batmobile is presented as the ultimate weapon, Rocksteady ensures that you’ll have no shortage of reasons for wanting to use Batman on his own<\/strong>, because often you’ll prefer the lightness and freedom offered by the hero when he’s free\u00a0from his vehicle. The good thing is, in any case, the choice to use the Batmobile or Batman (either to fight or to move around Gotham) will be yours and yours alone.<\/p>\n

\"Presenting...the<\/p>\n

A new standard for the next generation?<\/h3>\n

As far as we can see, everything in Batman Arkham Knight looks superb and has a great finish worthy of the new generation of consoles. Rocksteady has taken the task of\u00a0bringing us a real PS4 and Xbox One game<\/strong> seriously;\u00a0it didn’t settle for a cross-gen title like some of the first games that have been released\u00a0for these consoles.<\/p>\n

Slated for release in autumn 2014, Batman Arkham Knight at least allows us\u00a0to forget the bad taste that Arkham Origins<\/a> left in our mouths: although\u00a0entertaining, this offering was far from the level of Rocksteady’s other 2 games in the series.<\/p>\n

Want to know more about Batman Arkham Knight? <\/strong><\/p>\n