In the world of creation, across the board I'm talking, there's one refrain I think we hear shouted from the rooftops more than any other in the gaming world- 'Diversity'! And no, I'm not talking about the colours splashed atop of character models, that's a whole over conversation for a whole other blog- I'm talking about the variety in the activities that are available to the player through which they have their 'good time'. Basically, if there is a game about shooting people, it helps to either have some more interesting and different backdrops for the action, different enemy types dotted about the ranks and essentially a mix up of challenge to keep things fresh. Sometimes it just means peppering every square inch of your game with Minigames until you reach the natural conclusion by your 8th mainline entry and just add Animal Crossing into your game; thank you 'Infinite Wealth'. And typically, the pursuit of gameplay diversity was seen as a good thing.
But there was one instance in which this pursuit, though well executed, was not looked upon as a positive, but a damning indictment who's sole inclusion forever damned the game it was attached sullying it's prospects of being a worthy conclusion to the franchise it fronted. One mechanic so reviled, so universally condemned, that to even mention it in public is to be backed up into a corner and beaten bloody as a heretic witch. Who's very utterance stirs the turgid sludge-waters around the Non-Euclidian temple, waking the dread-Priest from his slumber, shaking open the doors and flooding the unwaking terror of The Mountain, Cthulhu, upon our unready world. Yes, I dare to talk about the terror which was the Batmobile sections of 'Batman: Arkham Knight', because I am truly a damned soul undeserving of forgivingness in this cursed world I walk.
The crazy thing is, I remember when calls for 'The Batmobile' was all anyone could talk about whenever it came to discussing the future of the franchise. Back during the glory days of Arkham City, everyone wanted to give the sleek black car a spin around the wrecked streets of fallen Gotham- for bragging rights if nothing else. Yet those same people turned around and spat venom when told that these sections alone were the reason that Knight didn't quite land with the same impact the original game had so very long ago. (At least in their hearts.) And as someone who came by Arkham Knight much later than everyone else, for whatever reason, I never understood the hatred. I actually really liked the Batmobile and the way it added to the gameplay loop. I really appreciated the inclusion!
Now the complaints are usually two fold- namely that the car was used too much and otherwise that it handled terribly. I'll take the second one first with a simple- no it didn't. The Batmobile of Arkham Knight doesn't swerve around corners like a tiny sports car, it rumbles and drags it's ass like a mobile tank- because that's what it is. But you can't tell me you don't speed along in those car chases, mount the walls underside down from the power of the boost, and don't smile to yourself for the adrenaline of it all. As for solving puzzles with the Batmobile? Happens a handful of times at best. Sure, there are moments in the main story that necessitate the use of the hopping into the coolest fictional car around- but since when should that be a chore? It's a mobile fortress that you get to drag stuff around with or blow other things up with. That's a reward. Isn't it?
There is a claim that the reliance on creating vehicle sections lead to a direct reduction in the number of stealth based 'Predator sections' in Arkham Knight compared to previous games. As far as I am aware, this is one of those 'fan speculations become fact by way of repetition' arguments which has never been validated by a developer comment even once. As far as anyone knows the lack of Predator sections could have been a design decision in the face of the changing identity of what Arkham was, what with all the work being done on improving the flow of combat and next to nothing new really changing up the way that the Predator sections played out. Maybe it was a content balancing choice. Or maybe they're right and the fan favourite stealth was axed in favour of more badass car driving sections- either way it's a stamp of what Arkham Knight did differently to games around it.
But I'm not totally at a loss about people's gripes, I understand that there were a few combat heavy Bat tank scenes that dragged on, namely the one in front of the police station at the start of the narrative's third act. There's not a lot of variety to the combat options available in the tank, which is fine for quick bouts, but in a prolonged skirmish like that one it started to stand out. Not enough to sink all fun with the game, mind, but enough to sour the gimmick of driving the Bat's walking cannon machine. But did that ruin the badass nature of Batmobile takedown moments, slick 'boarding' combo moves, bursts of octane action? Did this moment ruin Arkham Knight? Not really in any significant way.
Yet there is one undeniable casualty of the Arkham Batmobile for which I cannot forgive. Back in Arkham Origins, the single best moment was the blade-versus-gauntlet showdown against Deathstroke that is so much better in your head- don't go back and play it, you'll just ruin the memory! His character was absent from the rest of the franchise- until Arkham Knight. Only... his fight was entirely a tank boss battle. I don't mean- a tank battle followed by a good old fashion brawl. I mean entirely tanks. Batman just one shots him the second he blasts out of his ruined vehicle to get up close and personal. That original fight was a flagship moment in the franchise and to replace that with a Batmobile fight was just... unforgivable. I would have rather they didn't bring Deathstroke into the game in the first place and get my hopes up for nothing.
Ultimately, the Batmobile of Arkham Knight seemed to serve as a natural extension of the 'Batman fantasy' that broadened up the scope of play, sprinkled variety into the Arkham concoction and became the strawman for everyone's dissatisfaction as a result. And to be honest, I think the problem might be more the player than the game. I think Arkham's problem was that it was so revolutionary, in control and style, when it launched that everyone soared it up to this legendary status, but by the time of Arkham Knight the trick had lost it's gleam and other titles had started to copy how Arkham felt to play. It wasn't special anymore and the Batmobile didn't revolutionise that formula, instead it just built on top of it. The Arkham franchise just ran out of steam, and bowed out just before it made a fool of itself. (Like the Assassin's Creed franchise now regularly does.) Maybe it's for the best we never got that future-based follow up... actually, with 'Suicide Squad' on the horizon I changed my mind, give us back our Arkham series, Rocksteady! We'll appreciate it this time, promise!
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