After a brief interlude and a stint at Warner Montreal, the Arkham series is preparing for the release of its conclusion this fall. Batman Arkham Knight will be the third episode in the saga and the end of a story that began with Arkham Asylum.
While Rocksteady Studios' two previous episodes made the most of the PS3 and Xbox 360, Arkham Knight will be a next-gen exclusive planned for PS4 and Xbox One. Since the studio had already demonstrated its technical expertise on the previous generation, we approached this new installment with high hopes. Suffice it to say that, even in an alpha version that has not yet revealed everything, the game has already impressed us. The gameplay once again seems to have received passionate attention, and the addition of an armored, indestructible Batmobile makes an already high-tension first encounter even more electrifying!
Gotham City, a beautiful city at night
The story of Batman Arkham Knight takes place one year after the events of Batman Arkham City. If you have not finished the adventure, now is the time, because a major event occurs and explains this sequel. The villain of the piece will be Scarecrow, a criminal threatening Gotham City with a chemical bomb. The city is therefore evacuated, and the only people left in the streets are members of the gangs under his control. We see Penguin and Two-Face in the opening cinematic. While chaos reigns in the streets, the camera rises toward the heights of a building and, without any transition, the game begins with Batman perched above Gotham. From his vantage point, the draw distance is simply phenomenal, and your eyes are almost overwhelmed by such a profusion of lighting effects—especially since it is raining and reflections are everywhere you look. We should note that, for this alpha version, Rocksteady told us it was using an enhanced version of Unreal Engine 3, with numerous physics effects and highly advanced lighting management.
You might think the engine is showing its age, but after three years of development and thanks to the power of the PS4 and Xbox One, Batman Arkham Knight already seems capable of delivering a serious graphical slap. Admittedly, the frame rate—the number of images per second—was unstable in this alpha version, slowdowns were frequent, and aliasing was very noticeable. However, after speaking with the studio, we received confirmation that these elements were specific to the alpha version, so the day's demonstration could be as stable as possible. Rarely has the term "demonstration" been more appropriate than during this session, which literally dazzled us. We have already mentioned the draw distance, which is absolutely unprecedented: no fog obscures the horizon, and the buildings in the background suffer no loss of detail. Details are everywhere on the façades, from pennants snapping in the wind and rain to complex, almost tortured architecture and, above all, omnipresent lighting effects that bathe the game in a uniquely gothic atmosphere. It is quite simple: the perpetually wet ground reflects the entire environment, along with countless neon lights and other illuminated signs. It brings to mind the now-legendary presentation of Watch_Dogs at E3 2012, and makes us think that perhaps, even if next-gen consoles are not monsters capable of competing with SLI-equipped PCs packed with powerful graphics cards, the result is still extremely impressive.
When you arrive in town, the thugs cross the street!
With an ambition that may seem almost excessive—perhaps too ambitious given these incredibly detailed city views and the areas for improvement mentioned above—we will not yet pass definitive technical judgment on Batman Arkham Knight, since the team still has many months to finalize it. But with two games as solid as Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, Rocksteady has already proven its technical mastery. So let us remain confident. Where Batman Arkham Knight was already winning unanimous approval, and where it looks set to become a gaming bombshell, is in its gameplay and breathtaking presentation. It is worth noting that no transition interrupts the passage between playable sequences and cutscenes, while no loading time ever suspends the flight of the dark, masked avenger. A gliding sequence launches the demonstration in an almost euphoric fashion. After his first leap from the city's heights, Batman continues flying as he spreads his wings. Without breaking stride, he gains altitude and takes us on a tour of Gotham's various districts at dizzying speed. Then comes the time to answer a few calls for help and see what the vigilante can do.
Once again, the fluidity of the movement is impressive as Batman stylishly lands on an electrical cable. A closer view of the street reveals that disorder is everywhere. Groups of thugs seem busy destroying anything that resembles street furniture and are even attacking passing cars. Batman spots a victim being beaten and dives into the fray. The series' now-famous—and often copied—formula answers the call: Batman chains together punches and kicks against enemies trying to attack him, or violently hurls them to the ground. The choreography of the brawl remains just as effective, especially since it once again unfolds beneath the dynamic lighting of an exceptionally detailed setting. During the demonstration, Batman also searches for an agent of the Riddler. After a brief fight and a spectacular arrival through a glass roof, our vigilante obtains the clues needed to discover the location of an additional challenge. This leads to a completely frantic car race in which the driver must handle the improbable trajectories of his Batmobile—which can drive along walls if necessary—while activating doors and walkways to avoid falling.
I fear nothing and no one in the Batmobile
The Batmobile certainly makes a thunderous entrance into Gotham City. The city is said to be five times larger than the one in Arkham City, and despite Batman's gliding flights, it offers a different perspective on the streets. Different and, above all, almost invulnerable. Rocksteady has worked extensively on this major addition, which provides an absolutely thrilling sense of power. With a simple call, Batman summons the Batmobile, a vehicle that knows how to make an entrance on screen with a little jump, a drift, and even the destruction of obstacles when necessary. The vehicle appears indestructible, and the frantic pursuit that follows reveals its formidable weaponry. Cars collide at full speed through a maze of streets where almost everything seems destructible. The sequence takes on the feel of a Battlefield-style battle, with particles and debris flying in every direction. Intense action, Hollywood spectacle—the nonstop staging never gives the viewer a moment to breathe. Great stuff.
[caption id="attachment_59" align="alignright" width="300"]
Batman Arkham Knight[/caption]
Even better, Batman can eject from his destructively designed Batmobile at any time and resume his flight toward the tops of the buildings. Verticality has also received a next-gen makeover, with skyscraper-like buildings reminiscent of 1950s Manhattan. Batman glides, dives toward the ground, and calls his vehicle again. The camera pulls away from the action, and we watch open-mouthed as the vehicle arrives in a different, spectacular, and above all highly credible way each time. It does not appear out of nowhere; you genuinely feel that it has been following the caped man's trail. Behind the wheel, Batman can speed through the streets and destroy almost every piece of scenery in his path. Rocksteady's objective is clear: to give us every weapon we need to embody the absolute power of a superhero. Suffice it to say that what we saw has already thoroughly convinced us! This superhero will also be able to surprise his enemies with the addition of a new move, the
Fear Takedown. In stealth mode, Batman takes down an enemy with a single strike. The action then switches to slow motion, and you simply target your next panicking victim to trigger another fatal blow and chain several takedowns together.
Finally, Batman would be nothing without his headquarters. Although we did not discover the Batcave, the vigilante can reach the heights of the Clock Tower that stands at the center of the city to access Oracle's headquarters. Commissioner Gordon's daughter will no longer be merely a voice in your earpiece; she will appear as a character in this episode. It is a small detail that demonstrates the care lavished on the game and its
fan service elements. Rocksteady's passion for the project was almost contagious, and the session concluded enthusiastically with the arrival of a new character, presumably the mysterious Arkham Knight himself. A futuristic, armed version of Batman who did not seem to have his best interests at heart—in fact, quite the opposite. This original character was created entirely by the studio, with the cooperation and blessing of DC Comics, to make his arrival official in the Gotham universe that Rocksteady has been portraying so brilliantly for several years.
Our Impressions
We will of course have to get our hands on the controller before judging the gameplay quality more thoroughly, but the good intentions were already overflowing from the screen. The choice of Unreal Engine 3 may come as a surprise, but it is explained by the game's development time, which began more than three years ago. Besides, that would mean forgetting that we had never seen Unreal Engine 3 looking so polished, with destructible environments and dazzling lighting effects. Exploring the heights of the city, diving fearlessly into the void, and leaping into the Batmobile as it performs a spectacular drift—the game delivers one thrilling moment after another, and the presentation was a genuine demonstration of efficiency. Whether in its direction or its enhanced gameplay, this new installment seems to follow in the footsteps of the previous two episodes. Moreover, despite the size of Gotham City, Batman Arkham Knight will not neglect enclosed environments, and Batman will also have to operate in more traditional levels. This entire aspect of the game remains unseen, even though the presentation was already packed with content, including the hero's gliding flights, choreographed fights, and, of course, Batmobile sequences. Fall is still a long way off, but Batman Arkham Knight has already set a date for a release we are now eagerly awaiting.
Once again, the fluidity of the movement is impressive as Batman stylishly lands on an electrical cable. A closer view of the street reveals that disorder is everywhere. Groups of thugs seem busy destroying anything that resembles street furniture and are even attacking passing cars. Batman spots a victim being beaten and dives into the fray. The series' now-famous—and often copied—formula answers the call: Batman chains together punches and kicks against enemies trying to attack him, or violently hurls them to the ground. The choreography of the brawl remains just as effective, especially since it once again unfolds beneath the dynamic lighting of an exceptionally detailed setting. During the demonstration, Batman also searches for an agent of the Riddler. After a brief fight and a spectacular arrival through a glass roof, our vigilante obtains the clues needed to discover the location of an additional challenge. This leads to a completely frantic car race in which the driver must handle the improbable trajectories of his Batmobile—which can drive along walls if necessary—while activating doors and walkways to avoid falling.
I fear nothing and no one in the Batmobile
The Batmobile certainly makes a thunderous entrance into Gotham City. The city is said to be five times larger than the one in Arkham City, and despite Batman's gliding flights, it offers a different perspective on the streets. Different and, above all, almost invulnerable. Rocksteady has worked extensively on this major addition, which provides an absolutely thrilling sense of power. With a simple call, Batman summons the Batmobile, a vehicle that knows how to make an entrance on screen with a little jump, a drift, and even the destruction of obstacles when necessary. The vehicle appears indestructible, and the frantic pursuit that follows reveals its formidable weaponry. Cars collide at full speed through a maze of streets where almost everything seems destructible. The sequence takes on the feel of a Battlefield-style battle, with particles and debris flying in every direction. Intense action, Hollywood spectacle—the nonstop staging never gives the viewer a moment to breathe. Great stuff.
[caption id="attachment_59" align="alignright" width="300"]
Batman Arkham Knight[/caption]
Even better, Batman can eject from his destructively designed Batmobile at any time and resume his flight toward the tops of the buildings. Verticality has also received a next-gen makeover, with skyscraper-like buildings reminiscent of 1950s Manhattan. Batman glides, dives toward the ground, and calls his vehicle again. The camera pulls away from the action, and we watch open-mouthed as the vehicle arrives in a different, spectacular, and above all highly credible way each time. It does not appear out of nowhere; you genuinely feel that it has been following the caped man's trail. Behind the wheel, Batman can speed through the streets and destroy almost every piece of scenery in his path. Rocksteady's objective is clear: to give us every weapon we need to embody the absolute power of a superhero. Suffice it to say that what we saw has already thoroughly convinced us! This superhero will also be able to surprise his enemies with the addition of a new move, the Fear Takedown. In stealth mode, Batman takes down an enemy with a single strike. The action then switches to slow motion, and you simply target your next panicking victim to trigger another fatal blow and chain several takedowns together.
Finally, Batman would be nothing without his headquarters. Although we did not discover the Batcave, the vigilante can reach the heights of the Clock Tower that stands at the center of the city to access Oracle's headquarters. Commissioner Gordon's daughter will no longer be merely a voice in your earpiece; she will appear as a character in this episode. It is a small detail that demonstrates the care lavished on the game and its fan service elements. Rocksteady's passion for the project was almost contagious, and the session concluded enthusiastically with the arrival of a new character, presumably the mysterious Arkham Knight himself. A futuristic, armed version of Batman who did not seem to have his best interests at heart—in fact, quite the opposite. This original character was created entirely by the studio, with the cooperation and blessing of DC Comics, to make his arrival official in the Gotham universe that Rocksteady has been portraying so brilliantly for several years.
Our Impressions
We will of course have to get our hands on the controller before judging the gameplay quality more thoroughly, but the good intentions were already overflowing from the screen. The choice of Unreal Engine 3 may come as a surprise, but it is explained by the game's development time, which began more than three years ago. Besides, that would mean forgetting that we had never seen Unreal Engine 3 looking so polished, with destructible environments and dazzling lighting effects. Exploring the heights of the city, diving fearlessly into the void, and leaping into the Batmobile as it performs a spectacular drift—the game delivers one thrilling moment after another, and the presentation was a genuine demonstration of efficiency. Whether in its direction or its enhanced gameplay, this new installment seems to follow in the footsteps of the previous two episodes. Moreover, despite the size of Gotham City, Batman Arkham Knight will not neglect enclosed environments, and Batman will also have to operate in more traditional levels. This entire aspect of the game remains unseen, even though the presentation was already packed with content, including the hero's gliding flights, choreographed fights, and, of course, Batmobile sequences. Fall is still a long way off, but Batman Arkham Knight has already set a date for a release we are now eagerly awaiting. 
