Meta and developers Camouflaj have confirmed a variety of Batman: Arkham Shadow gameplay details alongside the debut of a new trailer. Announced earlier this year, the game’s VR platform and Meta Quest 3 exclusivity were met with skepticism from fans. The new trailer, announcements, and recent interview in Tech Radar with Camouflaj studio director, Ryan Payton point to a game that stays true to the Arkham franchise’s core design and mechanics.
What’s In the Arkham Shadow Gameplay Trailer?
The new Arkham Shadow gameplay trailer may quell some concerns about the game being a contiguous addition to the beloved series. Free-flowing, gadget-heavy combat, grappling hook traversal, gliding through the richly shadowed Gotham landscape, and stealth takedowns (all core elements of the preceding titles) feature prominently here. The recognizable detective vision also seems to play a role with highlighted objects and fingerprints pointing to the way to new exploration.
Familiar faces Harvey Dent and Dr. Harleen Quinzell both appear in their pre-villainous personas, as well as a younger Lt. Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth. Jonathan Crane is also present, a first-time incorporation of Scarecrow’s alter ego. The Ventriloquist briefly appears on screen, and we get a short interaction with the Ratcatcher. The most prominently showcased villain would be Lockup, aka Lyle Bolton, a character from Batman: The Animated Series.
The game’s primary antagonist is the newly minted baddie, The Rat King, a character wholly separate but possibly connected to the Ratcatcher. They’re not giving much away about the character, but the mention of a “rat cult” spreading through Gotham, and a menacing waveform attempting to incite rebellion point to a domestic terrorist agenda. The character is an invention of Camouflaj, created specifically for the game.
The trailer also pinpointed the game’s release window as October 2024.
Standing Gameplay Confirmed and More
Arkham Shadow has tried to carry over the essential Arkham experience, translating combat, traversal, and exploration mechanics into a hands-on, first-person experience. From early playtests it would appear that this effort has made the Arkham Shadow gameplay a highly physical experience that encourages standing. As a Meta Quest 3 exclusive, players will be untethered, allowing for a full range of movement as they punch, grab, and gadget their way through the scum of Gotham.
Arkham Shadow’s story takes place between Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum, with a younger Batman still discovering his limits. Voice acting for the character is provided by Origins’ Roger Craig Smith. Troy Baker (Harvey Dent), Tara Strong (Dr. Quinzell), Mark Rolson (James Gordon), and Martin Jarvis (Alfred Pennyworth) also lend their voice talents, among others.
Early reviews of the game from Gamescom have been positive, if not effusive, with the feel of gameplay being described as true to the series. The graphical quality is lower than its console predecessors, as necessitated by VR, but the stellar voice-acting lineup indicates a strong focus on story, which may be all the more enjoyable in the immersive format.
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