Batman: Arkham Asylum laid the foundation for what is now a very beloved series of games. Although the Arkham series has shifted in and out of dormant phases, no one can deny the iconic status of the original trilogy. More in contention, however, is the status of a recent round of rumors regarding Batman: Arkham Asylum.
Rumors have begun to circulate that Rocksteady may have plans to develop a remake of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Of course, this has been closely followed by speculation that the rest of the trilogy may receive some well-deserved attention. One former Rocksteady developer attempted to shoot down these claims, but the nature of leaks means this situation is very much still up in the air. If plans to remake Batman: Arkham Asylum really do come to fruition, there is a very clear direction for developers to take.
A Potential Batman: Arkham Asylum Remake Would Have an Obvious Area to Improve In
Batman: Arkham Asylum Left a Huge Legacy to Live Up to
Batman: Arkham Asylum may have started the Arkhamverse, but the games that followed actually broke away from it quite a bit. Although plenty of plot threads were continued in Arkham City and Arkham Knight, various gameplay features were altered and improved upon. Considering the positive slant of these changes throughout the series, it's only fair to reflect on Arkham Asylum through a similar lens.
Despite its acclaim and the legacy of its successors, Arkham Asylum did have its fair share of problems. If anything, some of Batman: Arkham Asylum's biggest issues have become more apparent over time thanks to subsequent games resolving them. Among the potential obstacles for developers to overcome, the movement of Batman himself should no doubt be at the top of the list.
How to Fix Batman's Movement in a Potential Arkham Asylum Remake
A great number of the benefits brought on by Arkham City and Arkham Knight are merely rooted in a radically different approach to level design. Where Arkham City and Arkham Knight experimented with their own variations of an open world, Arkham Asylum is much more self-contained. This contrast is well justified within the story of each game, with each major conflict being something that could have only taken place in the setting of their game.
However, this approach is also responsible for certain aspects of Arkham Asylum not aging so well. Arkham Knight arguably introduced the best movement mechanics in the series, and certainly made the biggest strides to improve what came before it. Of course, no one is asking for any potential remakes to carry over Batman: Arkham Knight's tank boss battles. After all, the solution was much simpler than that. However, implementing better movement is a no-brainer if Rocksteady really wants to bring Batman: Arkham Asylum to a more modern audience.
In a bit of a saving grace, developers do have multiple routes they can take on this. Making Batman: Arkham Asylum's level design less linear could help the most, but that would happen to be the least likely approach given its ambition. Alternatively, the remake could toy with a button mapping that is closer to the new releases, but this seems like more of a band-aid solution. A more thorough redux of Batman's movement is still possible, and it is certainly in order.
Unfortunately, the clunky aspects of Arkham Asylum aren't solely a result of its age, although it is a product of its time. Instead, some of these issues were simply a matter of technological and time constraints, both of which are surely much less of a consideration now. Likewise, this means that there are plenty of things developers can do to shore up concerns, and to build a real popular coalition.
As it stands, Batman is not only difficult to control in Batman: Arkham Asylum, but limited to where he can navigate as well. Cracking just a few of these doors open would go a long way toward building faith in this topic. Given the trajectory of the franchise since the release of Batman: Arkham Knight, a well-respected remake of Arkham Asylum could be exactly what the series needs right now.
- Released
- August 25, 2009
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Franchise
- Batman
WHERE TO PLAY
Return to Arkham and experience two of the most critically acclaimed titles of the last generation - Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, with fully remastered and updated visuals. Batman: Return to Arkham includes the comprehensive versions of both games and includes all previously released additional content.
Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them into the depths of Arkham Asylum –Gotham City’s high security psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Use Batman’s legendary gadgetry, strike from the shadows, and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious super villains.
Batman: Arkham City sends players soaring into Arkham City - a heavily fortified sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City. Batman Arkham City introduces a brand-new story that draws together an all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as new and enhanced gameplay features.
