A Small Love Letter to Batman: Arkham Knight

The End

To consider the end of something, you must first understand it's beginning. The Batman: Arkham series has solidified itself as a cornerstone both in the gaming market, as well as within the hearts of fans. For good reason indeed, considering it's imaginative gameplay, competent writing and rock solid development and presentation. 

However, this doesn't mean that it's a series without flaw or controversy, having divided fans with the previous release of Arkham Origins, as well as leaving some people wanting in it's series finale of Arkham Knight. 

Does Gotham Really Need a Hero?

Though we can understand, to some extent, the more scathing criticisms of Arkham Knight, certainly in terms of it's predictable story pacing and the over reliance on the new vehicle mechanics that were introduced , we also believe that the game's greatest strength has been somewhat overlooked and overshadowed by issues of presentation and structure. This seems the perfect gaming equivalent of the old saying, "don't judge a book by it's cover" and taking your judgements simply as matters of the flesh, not taking into account the entirety of what makes something in particular unique or beautiful.

Vulnerability

What makes this game great is, simply, it's exploration into the vulnerabilities of Batman himself. As the game progresses we experience Batman descending deeper into a state of delirium, slowly losing grip and bending the reality that exists around him, making both Batman, as well as the player, question what actions and reactions may, or may not, be real in the first place. 

This state that our protagonist finds himself in causes a monumental sense of awareness, leaving us with a questioning undertone to all that we do, asking ourselves whether we're suitable to hold the mantle of The Dark Knight at all. Or, is Batman himself the cause for the death and destruction we see in such abundance around us. 

Instead, we see a different hero, a hero that pulls away from the archetypes that have been instilled in all of us since childhood that our heroes are endlessly stoic, effortlessly strong and consider mercy before cruelty. The Batman of Arkham Knight is older, has fought in endless battles and wears the scars of his past both without and within. This man seems weary to don the black cowl and has begun to see a dark connection between himself and his nemesis the Joker, both under the influence of the Joker virus, as well as a dawning awareness that his actions are perhaps simply the other side to Joker's ever spinning coin. On one side an immovable object, the other, an unstoppable force, begging the question as to whether his actions cause more harm than good.

We see throughout the game, in multiple scenarios, a Batman that succumbs to more base instincts, that fails against forces of evil and has moments of quiet reflection and deep vulnerability as aspects of his life are seemingly falling apart around him.

Within these creative ventures lies the great strength of Arkham Knight. Presenting to us a very "human" Batman, as well as the question as to whether heroes are truly capable saviours of us and our societies, or are they simply people, flawed and fraught with chaos, simply acting out a different kind of madness, opposing the insanity of their supposedly evil counterparts. 

The writing and character building is what makes Arkham Knight a truly spectacular game. For all of it's flaws it carries a truly powerful message with it. That nobody is capable of escaping their trauma, of both the body and the mind. 

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