Gameplay of any kind has been highly anticipated ever since Batman: Arkham Shadow was announced as a Meta Quest 3-exclusive entry in the coveted Arkhamverse. Indeed, the announcement teaser was purely cinematic and brief, though it did reveal Ratcatcher as a primary figure and a slew of other exciting Easter eggs to comb for. Camouflaj and Meta then released a story trailer revealing that Roger Craig Smith is reprising his role as Batman from Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate.

This second trailer was also wholly cinematic, but thankfully it was shared that gameplay would finally be unveiled at Gamescom. Now, Batman: Arkham Shadow’s gameplay trailer has arrived at Gamescom Opening Night Live with a plethora of Easter eggs alongside a sweeping view of how Camouflaj has managed to adapt the Arkham games’ formula on flatscreen platforms to VR/MR on Meta Quest 3. Likewise, this gameplay trailer has its own subtle insights about what direction the story may be headed as well as which actors are playing which characters.

Batman: Arkham Shadow’s Gameplay Trailer is a 3-Hit Combo of Nostalgia

Batman: Arkham Shadow’s trailer packs a lot into its two-minute runtime and all of it looks to be faithfully adapting the tried-and-true Arkham formula that Rocksteady, WB Games Montreal, and Armature have all employed, fostered, and iterated on in their respective Arkhamverse installments. Camouflaj’s approach is obviously fairly unique seeing as how it’s exclusive to Meta Quest 3, but Batman’s POV via VR is an exciting lens to view this gameplay through.

Indeed, the trailer showcases what appears to be Freeflow combat, or at least Camouflaj’s adaptation of it, with a mixture of hard-hitting punches and an inventory of gadgets. Moreover, predator stealth encounters are shared with a look at a takedown from a gargoyle as well as a corner takedown. Interestingly, it appears as if players will be working with Jim Gordon as well as District Attorney Harvey Dent, who is played by Troy Baker.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is Peppering in Some New with Some Old

Batman: Arkham Shadow reprises a type of gel launcher inspired by Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate in a more compact, one-handed device that seems to have the same implementation—it fires its gel wad and is detonated remotely thereafter, allowing players to fire it at the ground amid a group of enemies and detonate it to knock them all down.

Detective Mode allows players to see hidden graffiti scrawled by the Rat King’s devout followers and a shelving unit players must move out of the way to reach their objective, insinuating that there will be a lot to discover in any given environment. At least one boss fight is confirmed in Batman: Arkham Shadow against Lyle Bolton’s Lock-Up, and while side-step dashes will be employed it is also revealed that Batman: Arkham Origins’ shock gloves will be reprised, tying up yet another loose thread from one of Shadow’s predecessors in the continuity.

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