Yeah, given everything, that's my random title prediction.
We're on the brink of finally learning more about this secret bat-project. Many credible sources are suggesting that there'll be a full reveal during Sony's State of Play livestream tomorrow.
But what we know thusfar...
WB Games Montréal, developers of prequel Batman: Arkham Origins, have been working on a new Batman game for the past five years.
One year, developers from the studio tweeted pictures from their office Christmas party; everybody was wearing owl masks and t-shirts emblazoned with a Talon-esque logo.
During yesterday's Batman Day celebrations, they posted a video showing cryptic symbols pertaining to the Court of Owls and potentially Ra's al Ghul, which was immediately followed by an apparent confirmation message from writer Scott Snyder (who then quickly deleted his tweet).
Over the past couple days, Roger Craig Smith (Batman in Arkham Origins) has dropped obvious hints that he's completed voice work for a soon-to-be-announced WB Games Montréal project.
Various other rumours have come and gone, including that the next Arkham game would star Damian Wayne taking up the bat-mantle, or that it would feature the entire Bat Family as playable characters. Many of these haven't been verified, and are pure speculation at this point. It's also worth remembering that Arkham Origins ended on a cliffhanger showing Deathstroke being recruited into the Suicide Squad by Amanda Waller, and that the PS Vita (later PS3) companion game Arkham Origins Blackgate further reinforced the Squad's involvement in the whole affair.
So, with all that in mind, anybody wanna start making some predictions of their own?
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@Kidfried I share your dream (and thanks for asking for my thoughts, by the way).
Arkham Origins already featured a slightly more comic-esque, exaggerated design for Batman and a handful of other characters, so I'm hoping WB Montréal have been given a bit more freedom to expand on that, seeing as the core Arkham series is finished... heck, despite my long-shot stab at a title, I'm kinda hoping it isn't called Batman: Arkham Something. It can feature exactly the same gameplay, I don't care, just make it unique. Maybe even cel-shaded.
For my money, though? I've got my fingers tightly crossed for that rumour about the entire Bat Family. Obviously make Batman the star, but allow us travel back to the Batcave so that we can switch over to Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl at the very least (I'd also love to play as Red Hood and Batwoman).
Wouldn't mind vehicles coming back, just as long as they don't make them combat-intensive. The Batmobile is a tool, used for fast travel, mobile analysis and brief chases. Don't force me to shoot things, but let me PIT them, or disable them with an EMP whilst performing handbrake turns and smashing through cardboard boxes in an alleyway.
You're probably right, though; setting ourselves up for a disappointment. I'm just happy to have a new bat-game, if I'm honest. I think he's been away one year too long.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger Interesting thoughts, though I'm not counting on Suicide Squad. I think they were setting up something with it for sure, but between all dev troubles, I think any plan they had at the end of Arkham Origins must have fallen through by now.
Especially with the spectacular failing of the Suicide Squad movie, I don't think it's as hot right now anymore. Focusing on The Court of Owls completely, a comic from a time in which Batman was great on all accounts (popularity peak, Arkham Asylum was out, succesful movies, great comics), might just restore faith in the series more than anything.
Also, I feel like we don't need vehicles at all by the way. Flying through Gotham is where the magic of Batman is at. Flying through Gotham makes you feel like the Batman, driving less so. And I think what is so great about Arkham Asylum/City/Origins (the detective parts and boss fights in Origins were a stroke of genius, by the way) that they really add a lot of stuff to make you feel like you really are the Batman.
And even though the Batmobile is of course very much canon, it won't make you feel like you're the Bat. But I know many people love that car more than I do, so that's probably just me!
@Kidfried No, I get where you're coming from with the Batmobile. I think making it a tank was a mistake and has definitely turned people well off the idea, so it's unlikely to make a comeback anyway.
Because I think you're right, I think the long development cycle on this one means it's undergone a lot of changes. Perhaps likewise, at one time, it did star Damian Wayne? And then things happened to the wider DC brand and they're feeling like they need to restore some faith in Batman's core. If we were underway with the DC Cinematic Universe as planned, we'd be about to see our first trailer for the Batfleck standalone film, and the need for a consistent Bruce Wayne wouldn't be so immediate. So I agree; let's have gliding, let's have 3D crime scene reconstructions, let's have fear and stealth as much as punch-ups and explosions.
Maybe the Batmobile could be fast-travel, though? You climb in back at the Batcave, pick a street and it "drops you off" there after a brief loading screen. Then you summon it when you wanna return. Then they'd just have to swap the model out for the Redbird, Batcycle, etc. when using other characters, without having to worry about handling and whatnot.
Obviously I have difficulty letting go! The various cinematic Batmobiles, coupled with Photo Mode, were my favourite part of the Arkham Knight DLC.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger It's fine to like the Batmobile. For me it just never felt right driving it, but that could be due to its tank form like you said, instead of being a sleek mobile which Batman uses to get from his cave into the action as fast as possible.
Anyway, I'm not really a person you'd describe as 'fast' or 'slick', friends describe me as 'hiding in the shadows, and taking them out one by one, so I favor a different kind of Batman I guess.
@Kidfried Yeah, did you mean "friends" or "victims"...?!
But you're right, that kind of Batman is far easier to emulate via gameplay than a more sleek, cinematic incarnation. Otherwise we might be looking at Uncharted: Bat's Fortune and I doubt that'd sell, given how effective the previous Arkham games were at letting you be Batman.
I've been listening to the soundtrack from Arkham Origins whilst typing. If they don't bring back Christopher Drake, whatever the game may be, I'm gonna effin' riot.
Hype!!
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger Haha, that soundtrack is pretty good indeed.
It could be another prequel, by the way. The story of the Court of Owls could easily fit in with a young Batman. The story also started the New 52 timeline quite effectively, so a young Batman would fit quite well.
Also, Arkham Origins had quite a number ofCourt of Owls reference in there.
@Kidfried That it did. Thanks for the reminder; I doubt Roger Craig Smith would've tweeted what he tweeted if he were playing "Random Goon #47" so I'm pretty confident he'll be Batman. I really do think we're looking at a direct sequel to Arkham Origins, then.
Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, we'll know! Must set a reminder for the livestream. I wasn't gonna bother when it was just The Last of Us, Part II.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@RogerRoger I'm super stoked for both games actually. But it might just be the season. Fall gets me all giddy for video games. Too bad these last few weeks I had to work so much...
@Kidfried I'm sure you'll make up for lost time (particularly with tomorrow's livestream). Fingers crossed that you're impressed by The Last of Us, and that it lives up to the hype for everybody.
@KratosMD So it is. I really need to watch the last season of that show!
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
@KratosMD Oh, nice. Yea, I kind of missed out on that show, but Court of Owls in Gotham? That's very awesome. Maybe one day I'll catch up, thanks for the tip!
anyway as for me a Court of Owls story would be great, i loved the original comics and i think it could make a great game plus if it's successful maybe we would get "A Death in the Family" "Knightfall" and "Killing Joke" stories that would then help lead into the Rocksteady Trilogy of games by setting up Oracle and Red Hood
"I pity you. You just don't get it at all...there's not a thing I don't cherish!"
"Now! This is it! Now is the time to choose! Die and be free of pain or live and fight your sorrow! Now is the time to shape your stories! Your fate is in your hands!
@Areus That would be awesome; especially since they're about to re-release a remastered edition of Batman Beyond on Blu-Ray.
@JoeBlogs If other games, such as Spider-Man, can give us inhabited cities, then I see no reason for yet another contrived "but Gotham is empty now" scenario. We need to be Batman on patrol, intervening in real-time muggings and burglaries.
Oddly enough, Arkham Origins was the only game to offer this, with its "Crime in Progress" mechanic of randomised, optional events scattered about the map.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
I love the Batman games/lore but I'm not familiar with the "Court of Owls" stuff. Can any of you fine folks point me to a good wiki or something to brush up on the story? Thanks!
I've only recently read the TP of the Court of Owls so would be cool if some of this comes to fruition. I doubt we will see anything in State of Play, but will be tumescent if it makes a showing.
I see Scott Snyder was teasing something yesterday on twitter. Was swiftly deleted though.
Life is more fun when you help people succeed, instead of wishing them to fail.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
You can feel something is brewing though. Hope it's not bloomin card game for mobile phones or something. Unless WB Montreal and Co are trolling everyone.
Life is more fun when you help people succeed, instead of wishing them to fail.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Batman not being on the Xbox stream either makes me think that they're just gonna rock up and announce it whenever they want to. Kinda like how Jedi Fallen Order has had most of its PR during general day-to-day Star Wars events; the Bat is big enough to stand alone.
"We want different things, Crosshair. That doesn't mean that we have to be enemies."
Forums
Topic: Batman: Arkham Legacy / Untitled Court of Owls Game
Posts 1 to 20 of 25
This topic has been archived, no further posts can be added.