This week saw the release of the concluding chapter in the critically and commercially successful
Batman: Arkham video game franchise, titled
Batman: Arkham Knight. There was much hype surrounding the games release, as fans wondered if the final chapter of the series could possibly measure up to the quality of its prestigious predecessors. Now that the game is out, fans finally get a chance to not only decide if the game is worthy of the name
Arkham, but also which entry in the series outdid the rest.
BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM
Descend into the core of the criminally insane as The Joker launches his most diabolical plot ever. The inmates of Arkham Asylum have been set free — and it's up to Batman, to bring order to the chaos and take back the asylum.
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Face off against Gotham's greatest villains including The Joker, Harley Quinn, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc.
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Become the Invisible Predator with Batman's takedowns and unique vantage point system to move without being seen or utilize the unique FreeFlow combat system to chain together unlimited combos and battle with huge groups of The Joker's henchmen.
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Choose multiple takedown methods, including swooping from the sky and smashing through walls, and use the predator camera get a closer look at the action.
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Explore every inch of Arkham Asylum and roam freely on the infamous island, presented for the first time ever in its gritty and realistic entirety.
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Experience what it's like to be Batman using explosive gel aerosol, the Batclaw, sonar resonator and the line launcher.
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
...The Sprawling mega-prison in the heart of GOTHAM CITY, home to its most violent thugs and infamous super-villains.
With the lives of innocent civilians at stake, only one man can save them and bring justice to the streets: BATMAN.
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Become the Dark Knight in a genuinely authentic Batman experience with advanced, compelling gameplay on every level, epic super-villain encounters and unexpected glimpses into Batman's tortured psychology.
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Play as Catwoman with her own storyline in the main game which is seamlessly interwoven with Batman's story arc.
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Experience advanced freeflow combat as Batman's melee abilities ratchet up to match that of AI enemies.
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Put new gadgets, and new functionality for existing gadgets to work that expand the range of Batman's abilities.
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Encounter numerous characters from the Batman universe, including Catwoman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Hugo Strange, Victor Zsasz, Calendar Man, The Joker, The Riddler and others.
BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS
BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS 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, unrefined Batman as he faces the defining moment of his early career and sets his path to becoming the Dark Knight.
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Prowl the street of Gotham City
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Take on your friends in an all-new multiplayer mode
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Expand your arsenal
BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS BLACKGATE
Taking place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous criminals, villains and assassins, players will meet many important characters for the first time. The game showcases a young, raw, 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. As the story unfolds, witness identities being formed and key relationships being forged.
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Become the Batman - Uncover the sinister plots inside Blackgate Prison. Use stealth, Bat gadgets or brute force to take down your rivals.
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Investigate the Scene - Employ Batman's unprecedented detective skills to scrub a crime scene clean with an all-new environment analysis system.
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Continue the Story - See what happens after the events of the Arkham Origins console game, told in an innovative 2D presentation and comic-style cut scenes.
BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT
In the explosive finale to the ARKHAM series, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city he is sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to unite an impressive roster of super villains, including Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to destroy The Dark Knight forever. BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT introduces Rocksteady's uniquely designed version of the Batmobile, which is drivable for the first time in the franchise. The addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the BATMAN: ARKHAM series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. Be The Batman.
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For PlayStation owners, BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT offers the exclusive Scarecrow Nightmare Pack, in which Gotham falls victim to Scarecrow's fear toxin, transforming the famous city into a twisted, hellish nightmare. Tear through the city in the all-new Batmobile and face off against a towering vision of Scarecrow and his undead army as they spread terror on the streets.
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The Batmobile: Gamers have demanded it, and BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT delivers. The all new Batmobile sits at the heart of the gameplay experience and augments Batman's abilities in every respect.
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Next-Gen Gotham City: Harnessing the power of the next generation of games systems, the entirety of Gotham City has been created in immense scale and with intimate detail offering players a truly legendary next-gen game world.
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The Epic Conclusion to a Legendary Trilogy: Rocksteady Studios returns to the helm of the multi-award winning franchise. Scarecrow is back to wreak his revenge against Batman joined by a completely new and original character, the Arkham Knight.
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Be The Batman: Batman, the Batmobile, the entirety of Gotham City. BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT is the complete and ultimate Batman offering.
Poll: What is the best game in the Batman: Arkham franchise? To vote, click the still image below!
While I'm sure there will be some differing opinions as to what the best of the series is, I think we can all agree that the series has had an amazing run. But, all good things must eventually come to an end.