Summary
Batman: Arkham Shadowmay be a VR exclusive, but it’s also the most enticing and exhilarating project that’s been announced for the Arkhamverse in the last decade, at least afterArkham Knight. Indeed,Shadowis finally a return to theBatman: Arkhamseries and a welcome one at that following Rocksteady’s latest pivot to a live-service shooter genre. There’s a lot to love aboutSuicide Squadfrom the perspective of the Arkhamverse, such as the (albeit rushed and unearned) debut of the Justice League, but it was always going to be controversial on a fundamental level due to it making such drastic shifts in gameplay and storytelling.
There are many waysKill the Justice Leaguedid nod to the seminal franchise that came before it and yet its similarities are also where certain narrative flaws and arguably egregious decisions are most apparent. Rocksteady didn’t create a bridge betweenArkham KnightandSuicide Squadin a way where its returning characters are all familiar, maybe besides Penguin and theArkhamverse’s Aaron Cash, for example. But the Arkhamverse, for all its astonishing world-building, has always been unable to shake a convention that’s held it back since its inception: the insistence that Joker not only be featured but also be a focal point or main antagonist. The hope is thatBatman: Arkham Shadowwill now defy this heritage.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Has One Shadow to Step Out from Most
There’s no doubt that Joker has been a sensational and valued part of the Arkhamverse with the entire franchise centering around him entirely from his debut inOriginsto his corporeal haunting of Bruce Wayne’s psyche inKnight. EvenArmature’sOrigins Blackgatecompanion pieceand Rocksteady’s VR title featured Joker, makingShadowincredibly unique if it’s able to center exclusively on Ratcatcher or any other villains aside from Joker.
Joker has had more than enough time being incessantly wrung out in the Arkhamverse and, while some could argue that he’s the backbone of the series and that without him it may not be quite the same, there are a whole lot ofBatman’s rogues’ gallerywho’ve waited patiently for a leading villain role, let alone a mere opportunity to play a larger role than an overlooked Easter egg.
That’s what Ratcatcher has been up until this point, and for Camouflaj to center on them now is a wonderful direction for the Arkhamverse to take. That is, if it can manage to fully concentrate on Ratcatcher and possibly others without bringing up the Joker in any capacity.
A Batman: Arkham Entry without Joker May Be a Pipe Dream
Unfortunately, one Easter egg inBatman: Arkham Shadow’s teaser trailer already points toward either Joker or his ethically compromised psychiatrist once again having some sort of relevance. A close-up of the rat Batman pursues in the teaser reveals a meticulously placed ID badge for Harleen Quinzel, who had recently become helplessly fond of Mr. J and felt naively seen by him inOrigins.
Harleen’s now drawn by a manipulative string of her own making and it’s possible she could already be wearing red, black, and white harlequin suits andpledging herself to a life of crime as Harley Quinn while hand-in-hand with Jokerduring the events ofShadow. Seeing the Arkhamverse’s Harley as a budding criminal might be entertaining, but doing so inShadowcould inevitably steal the attention away from Ratcatcher, particularly if Troy Baker was to return as Joker.
UnlikeKill the Justice League’s Harley, a post-OriginsHarley would be absolutely obsessed with Joker and make her being featured a guarantee that she would at least mention him. For now, untilBatman: Arkham Shadowis revealed at Summer Game Fest this June, the hope is that tucked-away villains like Ratcatcher truly do get to have the spotlight to themselves.
Batman: Arkham Origins
WHERE TO PLAY
Batman™: Arkham Origins is the next installment in the blockbuster Batman: Arkham videogame franchise. Developed by WB Games Montréal, the game features an expanded Gotham City and introduces an original prequel storyline set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, the first two critically acclaimed games of the franchise. Taking place before the rise of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals, the game showcases a young and unrefined Batman as he faces a defining moment in his early career as a crime fighter that sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.
