In a surprising turn of events depicted in the game “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” Harley Quinn shot Batman, who is well-known from the Arkham series, right in the head. This left his renowned detective mind spilling out onto a park bench in Metropolis. Although Rocksteady attempted to rewrite this act cowardly in an additional animated scene following the game’s launch, it aligns with how Warner Bros. Games has portrayed Batman over the past decade. The upcoming game “LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight” seems to be attempting to gather some of these fragments left behind by WB, but one may question if this is enough or whether it’s even their responsibility to do so.
During Gamescom, Jonathan Smith, head of development at TT Games, didn’t explicitly refer to the Arkham games but hinted at their influence in the new LEGO game. The action depicted in the trailer featured a character wielding a bricky bat and engaging in combat reminiscent of the Arkham series, with elements such as counterattacks, stealth takedowns, a gadget that highlighted enemies similar to detective vision, and mobility using the Batmobile for gliding through the skies and street surfing.
The characteristics of Batman depicted in various media are quite fundamental to his character, but the particular portrayal resembled the Arkham series because those games accurately captured how Batman appears in video game form. This representation served as a model that may be followed – with some flexibility – in future video games for quite a while.
WB Has Dropped the Ball With Batman: Arkham
As a die-hard fan of the Arkham series, it’s been disappointing to see Warner Bros. not give the franchise the attention it deserves for quite some time now. The hiatus didn’t feel like a much-needed break after churning out four main games and several spin-offs in just under a decade – instead, it felt more like a void filled with barely anything new to keep us invested.
The two attempts at continuing the Batman saga in gaming form were lackluster at best. For instance, Gotham Knights seemed to miss the mark entirely, offering nothing close to the sophistication and style that made the Arkham games great.
On the other hand, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League boasted an impressive visual appeal and a witty script that had me laughing out loud at times. However, it didn’t take long to realize that the gameplay was plagued with repetitive tasks aimed at gathering loot, which felt like a stark contrast to Rocksteady Studios’ reputation for intricate mechanics.
In simpler terms, “Arkham Knight” was the game that perfectly realized this Batman vision nearly a decade ago, blending various aspects of Batman’s character, similar to what “Legacy” appears to be doing. On a gameplay level, it stood out with intense, combo-focused fight scenes and predator segments that subverted typical stealth genre dynamics, making it an exceptional game. However, it wasn’t just the mechanics that shone; Rocksteady also brought it all together with a gritty atmosphere, dedication to the story, and reverence for the original source material.
The three games developed by Rocksteady Studios (and to a degree, WB Games Montreal’s prequel) share a strong sense of unity, which is a big reason they are so well-regarded. These aren’t just great video games or exceptional Batman stories; they embody the essence of Batman from the tone to the gameplay mechanics. This unifying factor is what makes the Arkham series so endearing. The Spider-Man games by Insomniac Games are comparable in this aspect, as the character’s spirit permeates every part of these games. However, it’s important to note that Spider-Man, despite sharing a similar level of quality, is not Batman.
In simpler terms, “Legacy” appears to be trying to fill a gap left by the serious and dark Batman portrayals, as suggested by its humorous trailer. However, it won’t have the exact grim atmosphere of the Arkham games. Batman has had various tones throughout his history, including the comedic 1966 TV series starring Adam West, the lighthearted Lego Batman Movie, and the animated series from 1992. While recent live-action films have been somber, they don’t encompass all of Batman’s tones. In “Legacy”, Batman may show a more playful side, similar to how the LEGO games have adapted mature content for younger audiences. So while “Legacy” has its own interpretation of Batman’s tone, it won’t be identical to the Arkham series.
Instead of placing too much burden on a LEGO game to maintain the Arkham series’ essence, as Warner Bros. failed to effectively support or cultivate an environment for its growth, it would have been ideal for the games to persist in some form while coexisting with LEGO titles designed for younger audiences. However, since Legacy seems reminiscent of the Arkham games, it’s natural to associate those hopes with it.
LEGO Games Deserve to Evolve
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my enthusiasm for a LEGO Batman game that elevates its gameplay mechanics to an Arkham-esque level. It’s high time the LEGO series evolved beyond its familiar, sometimes overly simplistic formula, which often seems tailored more towards co-op play than providing a challenging single-player experience. The team’s previous masterpiece, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, set an impressive precedent by infusing more dynamic gameplay systems, and it seems that Legacy is building upon these advancements with a richer, more intricate gaming experience. This depth in gameplay happens to share many similarities with the Arkham games because Rocksteady has done such an outstanding job of defining what a Batman game should be.
When there’s no conventional Batman game available for beating up Two-Face’s minions or tracking down Penguin’s goons, it places a greater burden on games like “LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight“, which have distinct objectives, despite some similarities. This highlights a larger issue with WB Games: by ignoring the Arkham franchise for such a long time, the publisher has effectively placed Legacy in a situation where it seems like it must compensate for the absence of the Arkham games, and that’s not a desirable position to be in.
During the Gamescom presentation, Smith mentioned that Legacy would feature significant scenes from films, TV shows, comics, and video games, and the trailer suggestively displayed Arkham’s signature gel gadget. Despite sharing some gameplay resemblances, it appears that Arkham could play a prominent role in Legacy, with a more detailed unveiling anticipated in the future. However, it’s important to note that while there may be some common ground, Legacy is not intended to be a true Arkham game. Instead, only an authentic Arkham title can fulfill the demand for another Arkham experience, and sadly, it seems that we will have to wait several years for its arrival.
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2025-08-20 21:26