There’s a tendency for VR games to be seen as gimmicks – forgettable spin-offs of more established franchises. Indeed, a last ditch effort Batman Arkham VR it was just that – little more than a vaguely interactive movie. However, this is not the case. Arkham Shadow is an ambitious feature-length jaunt (expect 10 to 15 hours of gameplay) with a satisfyingly layered and convoluted story. It has time and space to flesh out its world, giving players a chance to spend as much time outside the Batsuit as in it, with Batman undercover at Blackgate Prison in his “Matches Malone” persona for most of the game.
It boasts a large cast of allies and enemies to encounter (some of which, given Shadows positioning as a prequel, has yet to take its place in Batman’s rogues gallery) and even features some star power in the voice acting – Roger Craig Smith returns to sing Bruce Wayne/Batman with the menace of a gravelly voice, while Elijah Wood takes over as pre-scarecrow Jonathan Crane. There is nothing unusual about that.
All of this is supported by robust gameplay mechanics that really make you feel like you’re Batman like never before. Camouflaj masterfully adapted each pillar of what created the conventional Arkham great games – stealth, combat, investigation – into an immersive first-person VR experience.
Little touches like activating detective mode – a visual filter that highlights clues in the environment – by lifting the controller to the side of your head soon make you feel like you’re actually wearing the infamous cover, while stealth gameplay is a real pleasure. Sneaking in the shadows to take out the Rat King’s henchmen, sneaking out of a vent to snarl, or picking them up so they flop helplessly from a perch, it’s easy to feel like Batman has cultivated that true urban legend.
When stealth is out of the question, close combat creates the same amazing state of flow as the original Arkham games. You’ll be straight-up pummeling enemies one-on-one, switching between uppercuts, jabs, jabs, two-fisted punches and more to break through defenses, then seamlessly weave your way into blocks and counters in real-time as you juggle groups of enemies.
Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj
Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj
An alert on the side of your field of vision indicates incoming shots – swing your arm to the side and you’ll catch an off-screen attack, instantly drawing attention to the next enemy while swinging your arm without pulling the Quest controller’s trigger. cloak for a deflected blow. All the while you’re building up a charge for devastating finishers that land with punishing gravity. Doing it all with your fists instead of tapping buttons on a controller makes you feel like an unstoppable badass.
Throw in the ability to start an encounter with a brutal sliding kick or the popular Batarang, or disorient enemies with smoke bombs, and it’s enough to make you think you could take on a dozen masked attackers in real life. You can’t, so don’t try, but the fights here offer so much effort that it feels like a workout – the body combat class that the game engages so often, delivering a gaming experience that’s only possible in VR.
Practically unbeatable
That’s magic Arkham Shadow— brilliantly balances console and PC gamers with immersive elements unique to VR. While there are already plenty of other great games in VR –Asgard’s Wrath II, The Room VR, and of course Beat Sabreto name a few – they all preach to the converted, comparison couple who have already gotten on board with VR gaming. Arguably the most popular superhero in the world, however, Batman brings an ever-elusive crossover appeal. With the promise of an untold story in one of its most popular environments, it has the potential to attract new players and bring them into the VR ecosystem.
Sure, Camouflaj is pretty much just playing the hits here and remixing the best bits of the Rocksteady original Arkham games for VR – there are even a number of collectibles that the rat cultists have placed around Gotham in the same way that Riddler Trophies were in the earlier games, often requiring solving a puzzle or acquiring a new piece of bat-tech to achieve. However, there is a comfort in that familiarity that makes it easier for gamers to transition to VR.