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Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight Arrives This Year

Now I don't feel quite so bad for skipping Origins.

Mar. 4 2014

Posted by: Alex

In This Episode:

Batman: Arkham Knight

178 Comments

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Lazyaza

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@joshwent said:

I love all of the Arkham games, so this is still pretty exciting to me, but I just can't understand people (Alex included, apparently) who dismissed Origins as more of the same, and yet are pumped by this, which looks like more of the same... with a car.

Origins was tedious and glitchy and unrefined. It added almost nothing new of interest gameplay or design wise and the story while having some high points lacked the "wow" moments of the previous games. This is what Rocksteady brings to this franchise; a unique sense of going the extra mile and doing more than most studios would do which is why this game deserves hype because of that high expectation. Its what separates the average game devs from the greatest of the great and Rocksteady is easily among the top 10.

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Terranova

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Edited By Terranova

Nice CG trailer but that's all it is, need to see how the actual game looks. Batman Arkham Origins was an ok game but was buggy, I'm guessing the bat mobile is going to be a main feature as it was shown a fair amount unless that was just for trailer purposes.

one to keep an eye on but wont get to excited until more of the actual game is known

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armaan8014

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What is Ratman?

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AlexanderSheen

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I honestly thought Arkham Origins was a much better game than Arkham City. The story was much more interesting than the jumbled mess in City., with some of the best boss fights in the series. I thought Origins gets way more shit than it deserves.

Looking forward to this though. However there is a lot of focus on Batman's car in the trailer, that has me worried.

Project Gotham City Racing

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diehappygames

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This trailer is a marvel of technical and artistic skill, but it's a little "uncanny valley" for me. The photo-realism is some of the best I've seen, but when it comes to the midshots on humans like Bruce and Harley, something just looks... weird.

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Nethlem

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Is it just me or do the characters look kind of young? At least Batman looks way younger compared to the other Arkham games, Twoface also looks really young.

But the new Batmobile design doesn't sit well with me, looks way too high for it's short size, making it look way too bulky.

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Charlee_CoCo

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@humanity: Harley is an ex-shrink. She was never a gymnast. You also have to keep in mind that the Arkham series is set in it's own universe. It is similar to it's mainstream counterpart in a number of ways but also very different. For instance they originally never planned to include Robin in the series at all. That was going to be one of the things that helped set it apart. That's why the character isn't mentioned in any capacity (dialogue, character bios, etc) in the first game when nearly every other Batman related character is. My point being that HQ doesn't need to look like the traditional Harley, because she isn't the traditional Harley.

Saying that the classic Harley wouldn't look out of place is like saying the Animated Series costumes, or Adam West Batman costume, etc, don't look out of place in the Arkham games when infact it's a very stark contrast when placed against the dirty world and characters that make up the series.

Also take note of the fact that almost nobody wears an actual costume in any of the games. Nobody is rocking their traditional spandex outfits. The majority of the villians are all wearing something that was either hobbled together, body armor, or a very specific type of outfit (nurse uniform, etc) instead of a proper costume. Even Batman himself falls into this. If you removed the horns and cape he'd look like some future solider with all that body armor he's got on. Not to mention everything in the Arkham-verse looks really dirty and grungy. Nearly has either got stains, frayed edges, tears, or scrapes on their clothing/armor.

Rocksteady seemed to go out of their way to design a world in which traditional elements (or looks) of comic books would seem out of place.

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Accolade

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Rocksteady needs to make a Batman movie.

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Humanity

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@charlee_coco: I think a leather outfit would work just fine. She's a gymnast of sorts and in videogames stretchy materials don't look nearly as out of place as they do in movies.

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viking_funeral

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Well, that looks nice.

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Xeirus

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The entire speak by his father makes no sense, his father was gunned down in a street, when did he had time to write up this thought provoking will??

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Charlee_CoCo

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Edited By Charlee_CoCo

@humanity:

Putting a Harley coat of paint on that design or something similar doesn’t work.

In the comics everybody basically wears the same thing, ie spandex. Everybody’s “super suit” is basically composed the same way. The problem with these (spandex) designs however is that when you put them in a more detailed environment they look weird and/or out of place, which is (part of the reason) why they’re constantly redesigned for movies, show, video games, etc.

The thing with HQ’s traditional design is that even when you “detail it up” it still doesn’t look good/right. It’s why games like Arkham and Injustice never use the design. There’s concept art for both Arkham and Injustice with a more detailed version of her jester outfit and it just doesn’t work, especially when contrasted against the rest of the game’s art/designs.

I will say this though. I don’t think Arkham or Injustice have gotten HQ right yet in terms of a redesign. There are some good ideas, and maybe some mixing and matching would do some good but the problem is that she’s just a difficult character to redesign.

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deactivated-64c89b592b282

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@joshwent said:

I love all of the Arkham games, so this is still pretty exciting to me, but I just can't understand people (Alex included, apparently) who dismissed Origins as more of the same, and yet are pumped by this, which looks like more of the same... with a car.

It's the car isn't it? Chicks dig the car.

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MysteriousBob

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I wish I skipped Origins, Christ that game was boring.

Also, I know brand recognition is important and all but does this really have to be called 'Arkham' anything?

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Lazyaza

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Here is why this game will be amazing: It's made by Rocksteady.
Here is why Origins was shit: It wasn't made by Rocksteady.

Best series of action adventure games made to date with still the single greatest melee combat ever. Nothing absolutely nothing compares as far as I'm concerned. And if this one is even more open world with vehicle gameplay fucking yeah it's going to be that much more amazing.

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AV_Gamer

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Edited By AV_Gamer

Origins was actually a good game in the series and I liked it better than Arkham City, story wise. Bane in Origins was actually a better characterization than the one in Dark Knight Rises. And Joker's characterization was the strongest in Origins as well as Batman's. People were too quick to disregard Origins before really playing it.

With that said, I'm always ready for another Batman game using the current engine or an improvement of it.

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avantegardener

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Wheezers. Got to be Hush I would guess.

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avantegardener

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Wheeezers.

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Humanity

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@charlee_coco: I think they could definitely make it work if they made it more like Catwoman's outfit in Arkham City - which I thought looked pretty good despite the plunging neckline.

This is a quick and dirty sort of mockup I think it looks alright

No Caption Provided

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bybeach

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Edited By bybeach

I'm excited!

edit-purty bad lady.

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rjaylee

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Edited By rjaylee

Wait, so is this a reboot or re-telling or something? Is thiseven in the Arkham canon of the other games?

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eugewtf

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Edited By eugewtf

another empty city?

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MiniPato

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This trailer is like a Civ 5 opening.

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Edited By ptys

I like how they've made the characters a little less chunky this time, more in line with the Nolah movies. The voice over in this trailer is a bit painful though, hope it's good!

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lead_dispencer

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I am so pumped for this! I love all things Batman both good and bad. I have yet to play Origins, I'll probably pick that up in the lull of summer. I hope Azreal and Hush come back since they hinted at them in the end of AC. Rumors are that Scarecrow is back as well! I loved all the Riddler challenges and hope he would become more of a main arc but oh well. Ra's could come back too if you know what I mean *wink wink*. The idea of having Red Hood makes me giddy but I dont think it will come true. Without Bane, Joker, Freeze, and some of the other well known names, this is a great time to get creative for Rocksteady. I am on board!!!

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xxNBxx

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@mc_hify: Yeah I know right? If I lived in that city I sure as heck would be out on the streets every night. What is the worst that could happen?

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TreeTrunk

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hell yeah can't wait!

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ahab88

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MC_Hify

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So another game devoid of civilians huh?

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Nightfang

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The movies should look like this.

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devitiffany

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Edited By devitiffany

I honestly thought Arkham Origins was a much better game than Arkham City. The story was much more interesting than the jumbled mess in City., with some of the best boss fights in the series. I thought Origins gets way more shit than it deserves.

Looking forward to this though. However there is a lot of focus on Batman's car in the trailer, that has me worried.

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csl316

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I kind of disappointed myself, since I wanted to see a "this trailer is all in-engine footage" stinger.

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korwin

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Good to see Bruce got himself some new wheels since the last set ended up at the bottom of Gotham harbour in Asylum.

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Spoonman671

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Edited By Spoonman671

@spoonman671 said:

Each sequel to Arkham Asylum further dilutes what was great about the original game. The open-world format really does a disservice to this series. But I guess Warner Bros. is entitled to wring as much money out of these games as they can while they can.

Cool trailer though.

I could not disagree more! The first game was way too confined. He's the Batman, after all! He should be gliding from building to building, not just slinking around an asylum like a common detective.

But the gliding is so unappealing! It's mechanically tedious and conceptually absurd. You rarely get enough air off of your grapple for your glide to be satisfying and frankly, it just looks ridiculous.

As far as confined spaces, the interior story missions are more claustrophobic in the open world games (Origins especially), meanwhile the city map is a big space with nothing terribly interesting to do. Rather than have these two extremes I'm constantly itching to get out of, I'd prefer more moderate variations that I can look forward to progressing towards. Also, the Metroid feel is almost entirely gone, which I considered the strongest part of the first game.

I can say that Arkham City made meaningful improvements to the combat. I think Origins took them too far and made the mechanics a little too complex for their own good.

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pumpkinheaddy

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Is this the game where they reveal that each Rocksteady game starred a different Batman, and then those three Batmans team up?

Wait, no... can it really be...

BATMANBATMANBATMAN.COM: THE VIDEO GAME?????

:0

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pumpkinheaddy

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Is this the game where they reveal that each Rocksteady game starred a different Batman, and then those three Batmans team up?

Wait, no... can it really be...

BATMANBATMANBATMAN.COM: THE VIDEO GAME?????????

:0

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devise22

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I liked Origins, but I'm glad to here this takes place after the events of Arkham City. It means no Joker. Also glad to hear Rocksteady come out and say this is the finale to this story and hopefully this series. Go out with a bang, give us the Batmobile, give us a great finale to the story and lets move on.

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Edited By KittyVonDoom

Not super fond of the Origins vision or Dark Knight movie vision of Batman, but I believe in Rocksteady and what they've done so far, and I guess after 2 amazing games they had to move away from B:TAS eventually :(

If they're letting you play as Harley, here's hoping for some Batgirl too :D

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OTTO14

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Can they just make a CG Batman movie?

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rayrayzr

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Edited By rayrayzr

So...the Burton bat mobile jumped the fence....and humped the Nolan bat mobile...and this was the baby...didn't know that is how it worked...but yeah...cool car...too bad all cgi...I would be stoked for a GTA Batman...Gotham, Tech and Autos...one can but dream...

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Charlee_CoCo

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Edited By Charlee_CoCo

@humanity: Her traditional outfit would look terrible in the Arkham verse. It wouldn't fit with the rest of the character designs or any of the art assets for that matter. She'd look like somebody cosplaying.

@elko84: This game takes place a year after Arkham City. Why would she be wearing the same outfit? None of the characters have the same designs/models between games, they always change them up a bit. Based on the last 3 games or history rather, you should expect her outfit to be different.

@lemonadepack: The guy in that pic looks more like Josh Brolin to me. Also according to Kevin Smith, the Affleck costume isn't armor(ed)

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Soulblitz

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Pretty damn great CG, and I really liked the trailer. Nice to see Rocksteady making the new Batman, and even better to see it just for PC and the new consoles.

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I was kinda hoping for a tonal or ascetic shift for the next Rocksteady game, but still pretty pumped as I loved both City and Origins.

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Edited By DjTonySnark

@shortbreadtom said:

The fact that Thomas Wayne's will doesn't make sense unless he knew he was going to die while Bruce was young bothers me way more than it should. What run of the mill will and testimony says shit like "my only regret is I won't see you become a great man"? Doesn't make any sense!

Thomas Wayne would probably have amended the Will later on. That's not too unheard of, particularly considering he would have plenty of time and resources to do so. Bring in one of the hundred lawyers he has on retainer and punch the will up every few years, easy.

Yeah, if you're one of the richest men in the city, I bet you keep your will in check.

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@elko84 said:

Harley Quinn does not look like Arkham City Harley. If this takes places after AC, the character models should be the same.

Well the game may take place at different times. Part of it could take place post Origins but pre-Asylum. Also as far I can tell, Penguin does not have the voice box which basically confirms my theory.

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Each sequel to Arkham Asylum further dilutes what was great about the original game. The open-world format really does a disservice to this series. But I guess Warner Bros. is entitled to wring as much money out of these games as they can while they can.

Cool trailer though.

I could not disagree more! The first game was way too confined. He's the Batman, after all! He should be gliding from building to building, not just slinking around an asylum like a common detective.

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Rattle618

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Edited By Rattle618

This is some next level cg, awesome!

Im glad that silver age batman crap is nowhere to be seen and they have decided to go with the dark knight movie aesthetic.

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Spoonman671

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Each sequel to Arkham Asylum further dilutes what was great about the original game. The open-world format really does a disservice to this series. But I guess Warner Bros. is entitled to wring as much money out of these games as they can while they can.

Cool trailer though.