Batman: Arkham Knight is superior to Batman: Arkham City (2011).

I know that’s hard to swallow, but bear with me here. The introduction of the Batmobile to the Arkham series is something I’d wanted ever since Arkham Asylum (2009). By the time Arkham Knight rolled around, I had played Arkham City, was unimpressed, and forced myself to complete the uninspired Arkham Origins (2013). Neither of those games provided the same feeling as when Arkham Knight was released — coincidentally, I assume — on my birthday in June, 2015.

While the Batmobile’s tank mode is overused, the movement and freedom that the vehicle provides is unmatched by any other entry in the series. The tank mode itself is used as a way of taking down multiple enemies as well as chasing down enemy vehicles. There are, however, drawn-out tank missions that require the player to take out enemy drones while defusing a bomb or defending a character. Even though the inspiration is there, these sections tend to border on monotonous. Arkham City avoids tedium by making the open world manageable, but there was only one way that gamers could explore all of Gotham City with any sense of purpose: the Batmobile. We saw the opposite side of this in Arkham Origins with the implementation of a clunky fast-travel system.

The speed at which the Batmobile hurls through Gotham is something that’s sorely lacking from other Arkham games. Watching criminals turn tail when the Batmobile approaches not only makes me chuckle, but it really gives me a sense of power. Switching from driving mode to tank mode is a quick button push, giving players a sense of preparedness that only the Caped Crusader can provide. Every change between the game’s many modes feels seamless, particularly between combat modes.

Arkham Knight’s combat is easily the best and most diverse of the series, incrementally increasing the difficulty to a point where battling upwards of 20-30 enemies at once is normal. Players can use more moves in combat, and the gadget combat is further developed. Though it might seem cumbersome, gadget implementation often comes in handy against enemies wielding stun sticks and is so smooth it feels as natural as Batman does to stealth.

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Stealth in Arkham Knight is the game at its best. Taking out enemies one, sometimes two at a time has never felt so satisfying. Arkham City is responsible for introducing new mechanics like dual takedowns, but Arkham Knight makes them feel less forced. The game gives players numerous options to take down enemies, like stunning them by rigging their gear or a classic knockout punch. Upon discovering groups of enemies stationed on the rooftops of Gotham, players choose which approach they think would be best for each situation. Loud and fast or slow and stealthy, neither style of play is ever punished, even if one might be suggested.    

What has always set Batman apart from other heroes doesn’t have anything to do with the caped crusader himself. His villains are all phenomenal representations of the exact opposite side of every characteristic Batman has. Riddler is ostentatious with his intelligence, belittling anyone who doesn’t share his deranged intellect. Meanwhile, foes like the Penguin are self-centered and focused on their quests for riches and power, leaving a trail of collateral damage. Every enemy tests the Dark Knight in a different way, both mentally and physically.

In Arkham Knight, every new villain interaction is exciting. Villains in Arkham City felt like names on an overstuffed checklist. Arkham Origins makes the mistake of trying to cram eight villains into one game. Each one, even the supposed main villain of the game, are immediately outshined when the Joker arrives. He is the Batman villain, and having him act as a ghostly sidekick in Arkham Knight — after his demise in Arkham City — is one of the best twists I’ve seen in the character’s history.

Many were turned off by Arkham Knight’s rocky PC launch, but at the end of the day, Arkham Knight is an unfairly ignored gem. It’s a fantastic culmination of a developer’s dedication to the craft of game design and love of DC superheroes. Rocksteady Studios set the bar for what a superhero game should be, and it has time and again surpassed even its own high expectations. Arkham Knight is no exception.

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