Batman: Return to Arkham
Release Date: October 18, 2016
Action, TPP, sandbox, DC Comics, Batman, detective, comics, superheroes, beat 'em up, package, remaster/remake, action adventure, singleplayer
OpenCritic
A compilation of two remastered versions of action-adventure games from the Batman: Arkham series with all DLC packs. The refreshed versions were created by Virtuos, a company which previously created other remastered games. Batman: Return to Arkham consists of two games: Batman: Arkham Asylum from 2009 and Batman: Arkham City from 2011. The first title takes place in a mental facility taken over by Joker and other villains.
Batman: Return to Arkham for PS4 and XONE is a compilation of two remastered versions of action-adventure games from the Batman: Arkham series developed by Rocksteady. Both titles were popular among players and they received many critic awards. They also had great impact on the shape of other titles in the genre. The refreshed versions were created by Virtuos, a company which completed many similar projects, including the collection Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster and Heavy Rain for PlayStation 4.
The collection contains:
Batman: Arkham Asylum from 2009 is the first installment of the series. The action of the game takes place in Arkham mental facility where the most dangerous criminals of Gotham are locked. After capturing Joker, Batman transports him to his cell. However, once he arrives, it all proves to be part of criminal’s plan and Batman must face the villains in the facility (among them Victor Zsasz, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy). The game introduced for the first time to the player a unique and very fluent melee combat system in which players are building long combos and use various gadgets.
Batman: Arkham City from 2011 improved the formula of the original game. The story of the game takes place a few months after the events shown in first game. Old Gotham slums were surrounded with a wall behind which the most dangerous criminals were put. Batman is afraid that soon the situation can get out of control and he is trying to stop the criminals before it is too late. The gameplay mechanics combine action game features with beat’em up games. During the game player can freely explore part of Gotham, complete many side quests and solve riddles.
Technical aspects
Both titles available in Batman: Return to Arkham collection for PS4 and XONE aren’t just simple ports for new gaming platforms. The titles use Unreal Engine 4. The change to new engine equals many improvements to graphics. Three-dimensional models and light effects were changed. New textures were added. As for the gameplay, developers did not change too much. However, it is worth noting that Batman: Return to Arkham contains all available DLCs for both titles.
Last updated on June 29, 2016
Videos and Screens
[1:28] Batman: Return to Arkham launch trailer
[5:16] Batman: Return to Arkham PS3 & PS4 comparison
VideoGamer: 7 / 10 by Tom Orry
Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are two superb action games that are essential for Batman fans. The ports in Return to Arkham have good intentions but fall short of the greatness required.
The Outerhaven Productions: 4.5 / 5 by Karl Smart
Perfection in remastering. Batman: Return to Arkham is something that I was hoping for since they announced Batman: Arkham Knight on the PS4. I wanted to go back to the beginning of the series without having to go back to finding my PS3 and setting it up. It's good to see that instead of going the cheap code upgrade route that a lot of PS3 remasters have gone through (I'm looking at you Resident Evil), Rocksteady decided to take the care to get the game engine upgraded and used to its potential. This is right up there with Bioshock: The Collection in terms of how to do a remastered game for this generation.
Digital Chumps: 7.8 / 10 by Nathaniel Stevens
Batman: Return to Arkham is a good collection that has considerable upgrades in a lot of areas, especially with DLC and other nice value add-ons. It does fall short a bit with graphical issues and frame rate, but nothing that would detour you from playing both games again on the PS4. The two original games are still some of the best adventures out there and worth any sort of graphical trouble, especially for those who have never tried them.
GAMERS Score
Average score from 290 votes. 57 players anticipated the game.
11
GAMES
in Batman: Arkham Game Series
Game Series
Batman: Arkham Series
Based on the DC Comics license, an action game series starring the Bat-Man. The series is overseen by UK-based Rocksteady Studios, which since 2010 has been owned by Warner Bros. Games. Nevertheless, over the years, such development teams as NetherRealm Studios, WB Games Montreal, Armature Studio, Turbine Entertainment and Camouflaj have also had their fingers in the series.
11 video games
Batman: Return to Arkham Summary
Platforms:
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Age restrictions: 18+
Batman: Return to Arkham delayed
The launch of Batman: Return to Arkham has been postponed indefinitely a month before the initially planned release date.
video games
June 28, 2016