Next Batman Game Idea - Open up side characters

[Krantos]

So, I picked up Arkham City and DLC on the Steam sale, and have been mostly enjoying it. I say mostly because, early in my play-through, I came to an unsettling realization: Batman is, well... kind of a boring protagonist.

See, I was having a decent time playing the Dark Knight, then the game let me take the reigns of Catwoman instead. Unfortunately for Batman, Catwoman is much more fun to control. Trademark catsuit and cleavage aside, Catwoman is much more interesting. She legitimately enjoys what she's doing and seems to be having as much fun as the player. Sure, it makes her seem kind of psychotic, but there's comical side to that. Having her trade verbal barbs with Ivy was much more enjoyable than listening to Batman Growl at everything and everyone.

Then the game takes control away without warning and plops us back into the big stompy boots of Batman for the rest of the game. QQ

Then I heard you can play as Robin in Harley Quinn's revenge. Having read the Robin comics as a child, I was rather excited to get the chance to control Tim Drake (even though the game cast him as a brooding emo, which does not match his character in the comics, nor even his backstory). Then I find out the Robin segments are nothing but corridor fests and combat sequences. QQ

This made me think. I would totally buy a (Rocksteady) Batman game where you can play the campaign as Catwoman and/or Robin. I really hope for the next game, if they make it, Rocksteady opens the side characters up and let you do more with them. Hell, I'd even buy it if Batman wasn't a playable character. Make the story ABOUT Catwoman or Robin. I'd buy that in a second.

My question: Would anyone else buy that? Or do most people think more fondly of the Dark Knight than I do?

 

[GiantRaven]

I would definitely be happy with a large ensemble of bat-characters. I've always enjoyed Batman comics the most when they take advantage of the wide range of characters that there are.

Catwoman and Robin wouldn't be my first picks for characters though. Bring on Batgirl and Nightwing.

 

[Ordinaryundone]

I was rather excited to get the chance to control Tim Drake (even though the game cast him as a brooding emo, which does not match his character in the comics, nor even his backstory).

Say what? Robin wasn't brooding or "emo" in Arkham City at all. Seriously, wearing a hood =/= dark and angry. Its just a costume.

Anyway, it's a fun idea, but I don't think it could carry an entire game. Mostly because the grand majority of the Batman Rogue's gallery only have any sort of personal beef or interaction with Batman himself. Playing as Robin or Catwoman would just feel like, well, a sidestory. Completely unimportant. Like you were just killing time until Batman could show up and the real story could start. That was my biggest issue with the Robin DLC, actually, was that despite Robin being playable he was completely tertiary to the plot. I would have honestly preferred a playable Batman and just more Robin presence in the game outside of 1 cutscene.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Sure I'd try it. I'd want to make sure they don't cock it up though. Trying to juggle multiple characters and stories at the same time can ruin a game if not done properly. It'd still be interesting though.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

Yeah that would be pretty fun if the next Batman game let you take control of other characters more often. There could be a level set a few hours before Batman arrives on scene where you play as the Riddler with a Jetpack and have to place the trophies...

 

[TheDrunkNinja]

I would definitely be happy with a large ensemble of bat-characters. I've always enjoyed Batman comics the most when they take advantage of the wide range of characters that there are.

Catwoman and Robin wouldn't be my first picks for characters though. Bring on Batgirl and Nightwing.

How about all four of them? If developers don't think that the market wouldn't accept any one of those characters to hold up an entire 30-40 hour Gotham trek, why not have them all as protagonists? Maybe a major plot point of the game has to do with Batman's disappearance, and his supporting characters all have their own respective sections of Gotham to explore looking for clues or interrogating different criminals, where one hero finds a lead in their search area that another hero checks into in their district.

Batman has two full games in his utility belt to call his own at this point, he can be benched to let the side characters have their own game.

 

[malestrithe]

The rumors around the next Batman Arkham game wants to shoehorn the greater DC universe into it. It also wants to take it into the past so it will not need to acknowledge the ending. I'd say forget the past and tell a new story in the present.

I would Arkham City as the arena and the Suicide Squad as the foil.

Seeing a golden opportunity to remove Gotham's Criminal Element once and for all, Amanda Waller smuggles the Suicide Squad into Arkham City. Normally, they try to hide their presence, but this time it's part of the plan to make as much noise as possible, to attract other DC Heroes into the city. Although Batman tries to stop them, each one gets caught thanks to specially selected traps and villains. Batman does the rescue mission and uncovers the existence of Task Force X at the same time,

 

[Andy Shandy]

Well I'd definitely like to have Batman's allies involved a lot more in the main story of the next game. Having Robin in for the one cutscene alone just seemed daft to me.

 

[bojackx]

Well I'd definitely like to have Batman's allies involved a lot more in the main story of the next game. Having Robin in for the one cutscene alone just seemed daft to me.

I think it was just so people wouldn't ask what Robin was doing the entire time Batman was off thwarting evil plans and whatnot.

I actually liked both Batman and Catwoman's parts about the same. I didn't really care that Batman didn't really show emotion or really seem worried about any of it, I would have thought valiant heroes aren't the kind of people to show weakness anyway.

The rumours are saying it's going to be a prequel (it makes sense to those who've played Arkham City). Hopefully that means more Scarecrow bits and a fight with Croc which would redeem the encounter with him in Arkham Asylum.

 

[Goofguy]

I thought the part where Batman pays his respects to his parents was a pretty emotional scene.

And besides, when does Batman ever have fun doling out justice to all those bad guys? The juxtaposition in the attitudes of Batman and Catwoman was great for changing up the game.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Eh, I quite enjoyed playing as Cats and Rob, but playing as Batman was more fun.

I hate the decision to make the next game a prequel though, WHEN THEY PRETTY MUCH LAID DOWN THE FOUNDATIONS OF A SEQUEL RIGHT THERE.