Several years back, superhero games were always tied to superhero movies, and they existed to capitalize on the hype of the film that had just come out. Gameplay wasn't always its biggest strength, as it was just there to milk more from the movies' success. However, everything changed when Rocksteady released Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009.
The shift that Arkham Asylum brought proved that a superhero video game can be successful without tying into a superhero movie. This standard is the reason why we have AAA modern superhero games that are well-received and loved.
The Free-Flow Combat System
Unlike previous games, Batman: Arkham Asylum was not movie-tied. The main difference is the gameplay, specifically, its fluid fight mechanics. The fluidity comes from the simplicity of the combat. It's just a plain fist fight, but you can chain combos and switch targets mid-combat, which happens smoothly when you try to deflect incoming attacks from different enemies.
It has a rhythm to it as you link together punches, blocks, and flashy takedowns. It really succeeds in making you feel like you are this unstoppable force of vengeance. Additionally, the impact of Batman’s hits is satisfying, especially when you chain punches. When mobs hit you, they're just punches from a normal man; it is close to nothing. Batman is known not to kill his opponents, but with the strength of his hits in Arkham Asylum, he might as well just finish them off.
Insomniac’s 2018 Spider-Man nailed the foundation that Arkham Asylum laid. It got the fluid, basic fist fight that Arkham Asylum has. All it needs to do is add Spider-Man’s signature moves, including aerial combat and web-slinging action. Though there are similarities, playing as Spider-Man does not feel like playing as Batman. Spider-Man is faster, more nimble, and has more agility and versatility in fights. From Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy up through Gotham Knights, newer caped adventures tried copying that fast-paced flow, though results ranged from solid to so-so.
Predator Encounters and Stealth Design
The stealth design in Batman: Arkham Asylum is also different from other stealth games during its time. Stealth has this stigma where you sneak because it is easier and less risky by not having unnecessary fights. Whenever Batman sneaks his way through, it is not because he is afraid of the guards. He carefully plans a way to his target and uses stealth to avoid enemies from having to take precautionary actions. He scans the area to read the layout and uses his vast array of gadgets, adding them up with his careful planning to succeed in stealth sections. Indeed, enemies are afraid of Batman, in comics and now in games. When Batman is on the hunt, enemies become more shaky and agitated with the fact that Batman is upon them.
Spider-Man took the takedown bits too and has stealth elements similar to the Arkham games. Spider-Man is also a hunter, and although he may not have the gadgets, he does have his webs to snag and silence guards. Just like Batman, Spider-Man can be a menace within the shadows.
Open-World Design and Traversal
With the Arkham Asylum sequel, Batman: Arkham City, the formula is more established and has now expanded into a bigger world. As his playground became larger, Batman had to move around even more, but instead of just running through the city, Batman uses his grapple hook to latch onto ledges and buildings, and he can use his cape to glide through the area. As the combat has rhythm, so does the quick grappling and slow gliding. For some reason, just moving around is fun, and what makes Arkham City a step better than Arkham Asylum.
Spider-Man got the same DNA, but more fleshed out and more personalized for him. He doesn’t use grappling hooks; of course, he uses his webs to swing around New York. He can glide too, but with the addition of having the ability to climb and walk on walls, up a building, and do aerial tricks as a high-school teenager would. Spiderman also nailed it, and it is fun to traverse the city. Just as Arkham City did, if you are to make a large, fun playground, you have to make moving around fun as well.
Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy
The Arkham games do not rely on a superhero movie to be a successful superhero game. It is a solid take on Batman; it's like Rocksteady made its own comic book series that players can roleplay in. They also laid the cornerstone for future superhero and other AAA games. Combat rhythm, movement systems, sneaky gameplay sequences, or unlocking powers that make you feel like one specific icon, all of it because Rocksteady dared to do something different. The success of Spider-Man proved that Arkham games do not have to be copied one-to-one to be another successful superhero game, but rather a blueprint that can be personalized and improved into another title.
In a way, Batman: Arkham Asylum walked, so Spider-Man could run. Whether you played the Arkham games or not, there is something within a superhero game that probably came from the Arkham entries themselves. That is why the Arkham games are still regarded as one of the best superhero series of all time.
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