Batman Arkham Knight review

 

Batman Arkham Knight  review

I'm relieved to have completed Batman: Arkham Knight. It was the most difficult game in the series, but it was also the most gratifying. Arkham Knight, from Rocksteady Studios, is the best console gaming experience of 2015, thanks to the addition of new gadgets, characters, and the Batmobile.

When you re-enter Batman's shoes, you'll find the city of Gotham in a state of relative tranquility. Of course, nothing in Gotham is ever really tranquil. The deviously nasty Scarecrow (brilliantly voiced by John Noble) breaks the peace this time, unleashing a plan to dominate Gotham with his distinctive mix of fear gas.

Scarecrow sets free several of Gotham's most prominent villains, including the Riddler, Two-Face, the Penguin, and Poison Ivy, in order to wreak havoc in Batman's backyard. Each of the villains has a distinct storyline that Batman must navigate in order to thwart their heinous goals. All of these games can be played during or after the main storyline is completed.

The newly introduced Arkham Knight is the most prominent and intriguing villain. In their endeavor to defeat the Dark Knight, he becomes Scarecrow's number one partner. You'll gradually uncover his true identity over the course of the extended campaign. This initially feels like a treat, but you don't have to be the world's greatest detective to make an educated guess early on, and his identity is rather simple to discern by the end of the game.

Arkham Knight excels at something that many single-player games fail to do: making the gameplay as engaging as the plot. As Batman, you'll be able to employ practically all of the gadgets, moves, and tools he's used in past Arkham games. There are also new gadgets, which help to keep the slick and free-flowing battle as well as the Batmobile's highly tuned engine operating.

Soaring through Gotham's skyline, landing on a goon, and crunching the bones of their other henchman is the highlight of Arkham Knight for me. When you're playing as Batman himself, roaming the streets of Gotham City, the game is at its most enjoyable. After all these years, hand-to-hand combat has been refined, and the Caped Crusader even obtains a new batsuit around an hour into the game. This new armor helps him to move faster and strike harder than his previous protection. It looks fantastic and also serves to highlight how technically remarkable Arkham Knight is.

On the other hand, Batman's vehicle, the Batmobile, is my major gripe with the game. It's fantastic at first. You'll utilize the car (or jet engine with wheels) to solve environmental problems, slam into other cars, and even rip down doors and vents. The Batmobile also has a battle mode that turns it into a tank, complete with a machinegun and a 60mm cannon. Because all of the enemies' vehicles are drones, no one gets wounded when Batman destroys them.

I bought it as a cheap scapegoat, but wrecking opposing devastation machines is still fun. The novelty of it all wears off eventually, mainly to Rocksteady's misuse of the concept. Despite the fact that the Batmobile is exciting to use, especially in combat, I felt the game pushed it on you far too often.

Whether you're demolishing Gotham with the Batmobile (which is atypical for Batman, I don't know what you do in your spare time) or grappling off the sides of skyscrapers, Arkham Knight looks incredible. If you've recently bought an Xbox One or a PlayStation 4, this is the game you play to show off your new system.

From the continual showers dripping off Batman's cape as he flies through the air to the detail seen on Gotham's streets, I believe this title is the most beautiful console game ever released. I didn't expect a better-looking game to come out so soon after Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but here it is.

The aesthetics (much like Bloodborne) do, however, come at a cost. The load screens are excruciatingly long if you die in combat. After you've been defeated, a villain will taunt you, and the game will pause for around 30 seconds before continuing where you left off. When you're fighting a really difficult adversary or boss, and you're repeatedly dying while trying to figure out the villain's attack patterns, this is excruciatingly terrible. 

Despite a few small flaws, Batman: Arkham Knight is a must-have for any player who owns an Xbox One or PlayStation 4. Slow loading times and excessive use of the Batmobile may ruffle a few feathers, but the game is virtually perfect. Even still, if you're still on the fence about which game to play this summer, Arkham Knight is a clear victor.