Full Review of Batman™: Arkham Knight. Fine Conclusion to the Arkham Saga

Rocksteady is saying goodbye to the Arkham franchise introduced years ago with the most dangerous supervillains that Gotham has conjured teaming to take a final stand against the Dark Knight. The game delivers brilliantly and incorporates some stellar voice acting, setting the stage for the perfect ending to the Arkham series.

Graphics: 5.0

The graphics are what make this game truly stand out, and you feel a sudden rush of adrenaline as you watch an expanded Gotham City come alive. The Batmobile introduced in this version looks stunning, and racing it through the streets will give you a little tinge of greatness. The voice acting by some of the characters, especially Scarecrow, deserves an award, while the combat scenes are about as real as it gets.

Gameplay: 4.5

An expanded Gotham is now available for the player to explore within the entire boundary, and more importantly, the Batmobile is introduced in this finale. Scarecrow has assembled a large ensemble of supervillains all aiming to take Batman down one final time a year after the death of The Joker.

After Scarecrow threatens the city with a biological weapon, 6 million civilians are evacuated, leaving only criminals and Batman’s allies. Batman battles his old enemy, The Joker, even in the latter’s departed state. Ultimately, the battle to be won is in Batman’s own mind, and he triumphs over the new threat.

Previous gameplay options are available, such as weapons and combat tools, a new voice synthesizer and an upgraded Batarang. An uninterrupted combat streak lets you switch to one of Batman’s allies such as Robin or Catwoman. Experience points get you upgrades on health packs, gadgets and combat abilities. Side missions are also available and can be played at any point of the game. These include the 243 Riddler puzzles.

Controls: 4.0

The biggest disappointment for anyone who plays this game is obviously the fact that it is too cumbersome to control the Batmobile. Racing down an open street is sweet, and you can manage it easily with your joysticks. However, in closed spaces or on slow speeds, it instantly becomes a challenge on its own. The rest of the battles are quite fluid, and you can move from gliding down a building to a melee instantly.

Replay Value: 5.0

I’m a big fan of the Arkham storyline, and for this reason, alone I’d replay the game. However, there are plenty of missions to keep you engaged even though the plot is quite linear. Added modes of combat make the game truly interesting. The number of enemies always keeps things fresh and unpredictable. The downside is that there is a limited confrontation with arch-enemies such as the Arkham Knight.

Conclusion

Rocksteady has chosen a fine ending to the Arkham series. The Batmobile is an obvious let-down, but other gameplay elements still make this the best game in the Arkham franchise. The game truly impresses in almost all quarters, from the stunning visualization of Gotham to the numerous side missions that will keep you glued to your screen for hours. While you won’t get a hands-on battle with some of the more famous super-villains, the story remains riveting.