As a longtime fan of the Arkham series and someone who has spent countless hours mastering Batman’s combat mechanics, I must admit that my initial reaction to Batman: Arkham Shadow being a VR exclusive was less than enthusiastic. However, after getting hands-on with about 45 minutes of gameplay, I can confidently say that Camouflaj has managed to take the best aspects of Arkham Asylum and Ocarina of Time (yes, you read that right) and blend them into a VR experience that is as refreshing as Batman’s grappling hook.
At first, much like others, I felt a tinge of disappointment upon learning about Batman: Arkham Shadow. Ever since the release of Batman: Arkham Knight over nine years ago, I’ve been eagerly waiting for Rocksteady (or another studio) to produce another game in the style of the mainline Arkham games. So when I found out that the Batman: Arkham series was returning but would be VR-adapted, my spirits dropped. However, after playing Arkham Shadow, my initial feelings have swiftly transformed.
Just now, I got to play approximately 45 minutes of the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow”. This demo occurred at the start of the game and provided me with a general understanding of its primary gameplay elements, tools, and the design of its world. Although there are many unanswered questions for me, it’s evident that “Arkham: Shadow” faithfully embodies every significant aspect of an Arkham game.
What truly won me over with the game “Batman: Arkham Shadow” is its exceptional combat system. I initially thought that during the transition to VR, developer Camouflaj (creators of “Iron Man VR“) might have had to make sacrifices to accommodate Batman’s fighting style, as showcased in the Arkham series. However, quite contrary to my expectations, this assumption could not be more off-base. The combat mechanics of Batman, including his attacks, counters, and items, remain remarkably similar to the original Arkham games. The only change is that instead of using buttons, you now control Batman’s movements with your own hands.
Hand-to-hand combat is still combo-based and sees groups of enemies coming at you all at once. Rather than needing to walk right up to foes in order to attack them, throwing your hands with a punching motion sees you launching toward them across an arena. Attacks don’t just consist of hurling your fists in random directions, either, as you’ll need to complete certain attack patterns in order to deal damage. These beatdowns of baddies culminate in special moves you can use to end encounters with a flourishing bang.
The more time I spent with Batman: Arkham Shadow, the more enthralled I became with its combat. To some degree, this isn’t a huge surprise as combat is one of my favorite components of the Arkham franchise. What I’m so impressed by with Arkham Shadow, though, is that it really doesn’t feel like anything has been lost when adapting Batman’s fighting style to VR. Instead, these combat mechanics are likely more engaging than they ever have been and have me keen to see how they evolve over the course of the game.
In the same vein, Predator mode, skillfully integrated into the game Batman: Arkham Shadow, deserves special mention. For those who are new to this, these are the stealth segments where you need to blend with the shadows or swing from ceilings to catch unsuspecting armed goons off guard. In my demo experience, these Predator mode sequences were arguably the strongest evidence supporting why Arkham Shadow is an exceptional VR game. The thrill of using a grapple hook to traverse from gargoyle to gargoyle or swooping down with your cape unfurled to surprise enemies feels just as exhilarating from a first-person perspective as it does from a third-person one.
These mechanics that are specific to Predator mode in Arkham Shadow are also simple to use and smartly make use of the Meta Quest 3’s controller. Gliding with your cape forces you to spread your arms far apart, while choking out enemies makes you wrestle the controllers back and forth multiple times. The variety of actions on display across all of Arkham Shadow’s various gameplay stylings keeps the game feeling fresh without feeling complex or cumbersome.
Structurally, as per Camouflaj, Batman: Arkham Shadow is designed to closely resemble Arkham Asylum. In essence, this implies that the game leans more towards intricately detailed smaller locations rather than expansive open areas. While playing, I occasionally ventured off the main path and found optional puzzles and collectibles hidden within these spaces. Batman’s iconic Detective mode can be activated or deactivated whenever desired, serving as a useful resource for solving puzzles and examining the surroundings.
In the game Arkham Shadow, designed by Camouflaj, there are several key locations modeled after “dungeons,” similar in structure. Interestingly, team members behind the game revealed they took inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time when designing these areas. Although the early section I played didn’t showcase extensive interconnections or depth, it piqued my curiosity for what’s to come as the game grows and reveals more of its content.
Although I generally find Batman: Arkham Shadow quite appealing, there are certain aspects that make me hesitant. The narrative of the game, especially, remains somewhat unclear to me. I appreciate the concept of Arkham Shadow set after Arkham Origins, but I’m uncertain if Ratcatcher will prove to be a captivating main antagonist throughout. However, it is worth mentioning that Camouflaj has hinted that the story is packed with unexpected twists that dedicated Arkham fans might not anticipate. This piques my curiosity about how the studio intends to contribute uniquely to the Arkham universe.
Initially harboring reservations, I have become wholeheartedly convinced by Camouflaj’s work on Batman: Arkham Shadow. This title offers a genuine Arkham gameplay experience expertly tailored for VR, and if you’re fortunate enough to own Meta’s latest VR hardware, there’s little debate in my mind that Arkham Shadow is a must-have addition to your collection. However, whether or not it justifies the purchase of an entire Meta Quest 3 headset is still uncertain for me.
Batman: Arkham Shadow is set to launch exclusively on Meta Quest 3 in October 2024.
At a Meta-hosted event, I had the opportunity to test out Batman: Arkham Shadow. My travel expenses for this experience were covered by the game’s publisher.
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2024-08-27 16:11