VR games tend to be dismissed as gimmicks – forgettable spin-offs of more famous franchises. Indeed, the last attempt at Batman Arkham VR That's exactly what it is—nothing more than a vaguely interactive movie. That's not the case here though. Arkham Darkness is an ambitiously long outing (expect 10 to 15 hours of gameplay) with a satisfyingly layered and twisted story. It has the time and space to explore its world, giving players the opportunity to spend as much time outside the Batsuit as in it, with Batman undercover in Blackgate Prison in his “Matches Malone” persona. for most of the game.
It boasts a large variety of allies and enemies to confront (some of which, granted Dark considered a prequel, has yet to find its place in Batman's rogues gallery) and even has a bit of star power in the voice acting—Roger Craig Smith returns to voice Bruce Wayne /Batman with his gravelly voice menace, while Elijah Wood takes on the role of Jonathan Crane before the Scarecrow. There's nothing gimmicky about this.
It's all backed by powerful gameplay mechanics that really make you feel as if you're Batman, like never before. Camouflaj has masterfully adapted every pillar of what constitutes tradition Arkham great gameplay—stealth, combat, investigation—into a rich, first-person VR experience.
Small touches, such as activating Detective Mode—a visual filter that highlights clues in the environment—by raising the controller to the side of your head, will soon make you feel like you're actually wearing the infamous hood, while the stealth game is a real treat. Sneak in the shadows and take out the Rat King's minions, sneak out of the vents to take down a grunt or lift them high to dangle helplessly from a perch, it's easy to feel like the urban legend that Batman cultivated himself.
When stealth isn't an option, melee combat creates a great flow state just like the original Arkham game. You will directly take down enemies one-on-one, switching between upper attacks, jabs, pushes, double-handed smashes, etc. to overcome defenses, then seamlessly interweave into blocks and counters Real-time attacks as you juggle groups of enemies.
Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj
Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj
A warning on the edge of your vision indicates incoming hits—flap an arm to the side and you'll block the attack off-screen, immediately drawing your attention to the next enemy , while sweeping your arm without squeezing the Quest controller's triggers will give you a cloak for a deflected attack. Meanwhile, you're accumulating charges for devastating finishers that land with strong gravity. The fact that you do it all with your own fist instead of pressing buttons on a controller makes you feel like an unstoppable badass.
Add to that the ability to initiate an encounter with a brutal gliding kick or a well-aimed Batarang, or disorient enemies with smoke bombs, and it's enough to make you think you're real. the possibility of facing off against dozens of masked attackers in real life. You can't, so don't try, but the fights here provide just enough effort that they feel like a workout—a class in physical combat that the game throws in regularly, making for a more enjoyable experience. Play experience only possible in VR.
Virtually unbeatable
That's the magic of Arkham Darkness—it perfectly balances the experience console and PC gamers expect with immersive elements unique to VR. Although there are already many other great VR games—Wrath of Asgard II, VR Room, and of course Defeat Saberjust to name a few—they are all preaching to the converted, compared to the few who have started playing virtual reality games. However, Batman, arguably the world's most famous superhero, offers an elusive appeal. With the promise of an untold story in one of his most popular settings, this has the potential to attract new players, bringing them into the VR ecosystem.
Sure, to some extent, Camouflaj is just playing the hits here, remixing the best parts of Rocksteady's original Arkham game for VR—there's even a series of collectibles to hunt for, scattered around Gotham by Rat cultists in a similar manner to Riddler Trophies in previous games, which often required solving a puzzles or get a new bit of Bat-tech to get to grips with. However, there's comfort in that familiarity, making it easier for players to make the VR transition.