There’s been quite the evolution in Rocksteady Games’ Batman series and there’s a significant leap from Batman: Arkham Asylum to Arkham City. Marketing manager Guy Perkins spoke to IGN about the same and also mentioned how the developer wants to create “the ultimate Batman simulator”.
“We try to create that very cinematic story-telling experience through the game. Obviously Asylum was the starting point for that, but the intimate cat-and-mouse gameplay between the Joker and Batman really demanded it took place in the pressure cooker of the Asylum.
“So that had its place for that story, but then we took that into the open world to give players the next piece of the Batman armour as it were, which is the grappling gun and the ability to glide. The introduction of those pieces really required a bigger game world to support them, but then the big thing that was always missing for us was the Batmobile. It was always missing but wouldn’t have worked in Asylum or City, so to build an open-world around that was crucial.” There will still be plenty of story missions and side quests to entertain new players and veterans.
As for a Batman game where the The Joker is absent, Perkins stated that, “The death of the Joker at the end of Arkham City has created a different world for the criminals of Arkham Knight.
“He’s not there to disrupt the things they’re doing, so you have to imagine a world where he’s not there and not causing that chaos. They can get organised, work together and offer a more formidable challenge. He’s at the peak of his powers, but without his nemesis there to cock things up for everyone else then they get the chance to be a bit stronger, a bit braver and do things differently.”
Scarecrow is obviously the biggest challenge since, “He’s a great mirror for Batman, as they both use fear as a weapon of choice. There’s a dichotomy there. If people walk away thinking this is the ultimate Batman simulator, then our job is complete, we gave them Gotham City, we gave them Batman at the height of his powers and we gave them the Batmobile. I think those three elements come together to make a great game.”
Batman: Arkham City will be out in early 2015 for PS4, PC and Xbox One.
