Batman: Arkham VR

Batman: Arkham VR is a virtual reality adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is a part of the Batman: Arkham series and the first installment to use virtual reality headsets, allowing players to experience the game world from Batman's perspective. Arkham VR was released worldwide on October 11, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and on April 25, 2017, for Microsoft Windows for VR headsets (HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Valve Index VR).

Batman: Arkham VR
Developer(s)Rocksteady Studios
Publisher(s)Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Director(s)
Producer(s)
  • Daniel Bailie
  • Nathan Burlow
Designer(s)Ian Ball
Programmer(s)Ben Wyatt
Artist(s)David Hego
Writer(s)
  • Martin Lancaster
  • Craig Owens
Composer(s)
SeriesBatman: Arkham
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release
  • PlayStation 4
  • October 11, 2016
  • Microsoft Windows
  • April 25, 2017
Genre(s)Adventure, virtual reality
Mode(s)Single-player

Written by Ian Ball and Martin Lancaster, Arkham VR is based on the franchise's long-running comic book mythos. The game's storyline takes place between 2011's Batman: Arkham City and 2015's Batman: Arkham Knight, and follows Batman as he investigates the disappearance of his allies Nightwing and Robin.

The game is presented from a first-person perspective, with a primary focus on using Batman's skills and gadgets to explore the immediate environment and solve puzzles.

Gameplay

Batman: Arkham VR is an adventure game played from a first-person perspective using PlayStation VR, HTC Vive,[1] or Oculus Rift[1] virtual reality headsets and associated controllers to see through the eyes of the playable character, Batman.[2] The player can look around the environment freely[3] and interact with reachable items, and access three gadgets from Batman's utility belt: the throwable batarang, the grapnel gun — a grappling hook,[4] and the forensic scanner, which can be used to examine evidence and recreate crime scenes.[5][2] The player is able to teleport to preset locations around the current environment (with movement sometimes represented by use of the grapnel gun) but the character cannot walk freely.[2]

Unlike previous Arkham games, Arkham VR features no combat and instead focuses on solving puzzles to find clues that will advance the mystery.[4] Arkham VR features optional tasks, including 30 challenges from the supervillain Riddler who adds various puzzles and concealed items to locate after the game has been completed,[3][4] target practice with the batarang, and viewing profiles and models for the series' various characters on the Batcomputer.[5]

Synopsis

Characters

Arkham VR features an ensemble cast of characters from the history of Batman comics. The main character is Batman (Kevin Conroy)[3]—a superhero trained to the peak of human physical and mental perfection and an expert in martial arts. He is supported by his allies, Robin (Tom Austen), Nightwing, and his loyal butler Alfred Pennyworth (Hugh Fraser). Batman's crusade against crime brings him into conflict with the weapon-dealing Penguin (Ian Redford), the mutated Killer Croc (Steven Blum), and the Riddler (Wally Wingert).[6] Batman's nemesis, the psychopathic Joker (Mark Hamill),[3] appears following his death during the events of Arkham City,[7] after succumbing to a fatal disease caused by his previous consumption of the Titan formula, an unstable steroid serum which turns men into maddened monsters.[8][9] Arkham VR also features reporter Vicki Vale (Jules de Jongh), Batman's parents Thomas (Kevin Conroy) and Martha Wayne (Andrea Deck), and their killer Joe Chill (Glenn Wrage).[6]

Plot

Billionaire Bruce Wayne is woken by an alarm clock from a nightmare about his parents' murder at the hands of Joe Chill. He is informed by his butler Alfred that there is an urgent situation that requires his attention. Activating a secret entrance to the Batcave beneath his manor, Wayne puts on his Batsuit and gadgets to become Batman. In the Batcave, Alfred informs Batman that both Robin and Nightwing have disappeared and he has been unable to contact them. Batman activates Nightwing's tracker and locates him in Central Gotham. Heading out in the Batmobile, Batman arrives to find Nightwing dead in an alley. His investigation reveals that despite his nearly unrivaled training and skills, Nightwing was defeated in single combat and had his neck snapped. His investigation further reveals that one of Penguin's henchmen witnessed the murder before fleeing.

Batman travels in the Batwing to confront Penguin in his Iceberg lounge club. He interrogates the Penguin and learns that the witness was blown up by a mysterious assailant before he could reveal the killer's identity. Batman next infiltrates the Gotham morgue to examine the victims of the explosion, and is able to piece together shrapnel from the explosive to identify it as belonging to a demolitions company working on a sewer project beneath Founders Island. By focusing his search in this area, Batman is able to make radio contact with Robin who warns that he is being held to lure Batman into a trap.

As Batman moves through the sewers, he hears intercom announcements from the Joker. Batman finds Robin in a cage. While attempting to free him, Batman himself is captured. Robin notes Joker-styled graffiti on the cage, believing that their captor is emulating the Joker. Batman and Robin attempt to escape, but they are attacked by Killer Croc. They use the electrified cages to stave off his attacks. After Robin escapes his cage, he is crushed against Batman's cage by Croc before being eaten.

The screen flashes and Batman's cage suddenly transforms into an elevator descending into the depths of Arkham Asylum. As Batman explores the facility he comes across a series of inmate cells, interacting with each one before the last reveals a captive Joker. As Batman turns to leave, he finds himself locked alone inside the Joker's cell. The room begins to change, displaying scrawled accusations of "killer" and "HA" on the walls, as it is revealed that it was Batman who murdered Nightwing, blew up the witness, and lured Robin into the trap to get him killed. He committed these actions under the influence of the Joker, who has infiltrated Batman's body and mind through a transfusion of his infected blood; prior to his death in Arkham City. As Batman looks into a mirror and sees the Joker as his reflection, his nemesis announces that the dynamic duo are together at last.

The game is presented as a dream or hallucination caused by the Joker's blood where the sound of an alarm clock can be periodically heard, as can Alfred trying to wake up Batman and Wayne listening to voicemail messages from the deceased Joker.

Development

In June 2016 at E3 2016, it was announced that Rocksteady was developing Batman: Arkham VR for the PlayStation VR, which was released in October 2016. The game has players "utilize [Batman's] legendary gadgets to unravel a plot that threatens the lives of his closest allies."[10] Following a five-month period of exclusivity for the PlayStation 4,[3] the game was released for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive on April 25, 2017.[1] Rocksteady teased the plot for Arkham VR in the Arkham Knight downloadable content "Crime Fighter Challenge Pack #6", which allowed players to explore the Wayne manor and interact with a piano to reveal a hidden wall containing references to a murder, shrapnel, and the Penguin.[11] The game was built using Unreal Engine 4.[12]

Reception

Batman: Arkham VR received "mixed or average" reviews from critics for the PlayStation 4 version of the game, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[13]

Zero Punctuation's Ben Croshaw called the PSVR version "incredible garbage" and "a half hour CD-ROM virtual tour from mid to late 90s",[14] later nominating it as one of the worst games of 2016.[15] The Official UK PlayStation Magazine listed it as the seventh best PSVR game.[16]

The Game Critics Awards awarded the game as Best VR Game.[17] The National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers awarded the game in the category Direction in Virtual Reality.[18] At IGN's Best of E3 2016 Awards the game won in the categories Best Puzzle Game and Best VR Experience.[19] At the Italian Video Game Awards the game won in the category Most Innovative Game.[20] At the Develop Awards the game won in the categories Best Sound Design and Best Visual Design.[21]

In Europe, it was the biggest selling PSVR game of 2017.[22][23]

References
  1. Sirani, Jordan (April 3, 2017). "BATMAN: ARKHAM VR COMING TO VIVE AND OCULUS RIFT". IGN. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  2. Phipps, Brett (October 5, 2017). "Batman Arkham VR review". TrustedReviews. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  3. Totilo, Stephen (October 5, 2016). "Batman Arkham VR: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  4. Kohler, Chris (October 5, 2017). "Batman: Arkham VR Is Smart, Scary, And (Very) Short". Wired. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  5. Stapleton, Dan (October 6, 2017). "Batman: Arkham VR Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  6. Rocksteady Studios (October 11, 2016). Batman: Arkham VR (PS4). Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Credits (Approx 4m 55s). Level/area: Endgame.
  7. Cork, Jeff (March 14, 2014). "Five Reasons Batman: Arkham Knight Has Us Excited". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  8. Narcisse, Evan (October 21, 2011). "The Surprising Stories That Connect Batman: Arkham City to Arkham Asylum". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  9. Bradford, Matt (February 9, 2012). "Rocksteady dissects Batman: Arkham City's controversial ending". GamesRadar. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  10. Pereira, Chris (June 13, 2016). "Batman Arkham VR Announced for PS4". Game Spot. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  11. Totilo, Stephen (October 18, 2016). "Rocksteady Hid One Hell Of An Arkham VR Easter Egg In Arkham Knight". Kotaku. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  12. "Rocksteady moves to Unreal Engine 4 for Batman Arkham VR". MCV/Develop. June 17, 2016.
  13. "Batman: Arkham VR (PlayStation 4)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  14. "Zero Punctuation : PlayStation VR". The Escapist.
  15. "Zero Punctuation : Top Five Games of 2016". The Escapist.
  16. PS VR Hall of Fame, Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Issue 136, June 2017, Future Publishing, page 108
  17. "Game Critics Awards". www.gamecriticsawards.com. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  18. "2016 Awards | NAVGTR". Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  19. Best of E3 2016 Awards - IGN, retrieved January 5, 2020
  20. Bernardini, Edy (March 16, 2017). "Drago d'Oro 2017: ecco tutti i vincitori". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  21. "2017 Winners | Develop Awards". Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  22. "What were PlayStation Store's biggest-selling games of 2017?". January 5, 2018.
  23. "Batman: Arkham VR". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
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