A new graphics comparison video releases for Batman: Return to Arkham showing a side-by-side look at the original versions of Rocksteady's games with the remasters.
Following loads of speculation for the release of an HD collection for Rocksteady Studios' first two Batman games with a box art leak and multiple online listings from retailers, the anthology known as Batman: Return to Arkham was officially confirmed by publisher Warner Bros. Interactive last week. Now, in order to show the graphical differences between the original titles and their remasters, a new video has been produced with a side-by-side comparison of the 2009 and 2011 Arkham titles on PC and Batman: Return to Arkham on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
In the clip, all of the visuals for the originals' PC gameplay have had their settings pushed to the max so as to give the graphics remastered with Unreal Engine 4 in Batman: Return to Arkham a solid baseline for comparison. Bearing this in mind, with many fans considering the PC versions of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City to be almost technically flawless, it's debatable as to whether or not the titles' new look for PS4 and Xbox One is actually an improvement.
As seen in the footage below, it's inarguable that Batman: Return to Arkham has definitely made some remarkable changes to the originals' visuals. For instance, the remasters provide a major bump in terms of texture resolution, color saturation, and overall asset quality. However, these features don't necessarily mean that the graphical enhancements make for a better product.
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While the resolution for the first two Arkham titles on PC is decidedly less clear than Batman: Return to Arkham, the lighting in the former games is much better, as it not only gives the Gotham environments the perfect shade of darkness, but also provides players with more illumination on actual characters. Not to mention, the grit shown in the graphics for the original titles fits the tone of the releases better than the more polished Batman: Return to Arkham, which ultimately lends further credence to the argument of the remasters being unnecessary. However, the smoother frame rate in the "enhanced" versions will definitely be a plus for many fans.
In any event, since Batman: Return to Arkham has yet to receive a public release, it's best to reserve judgment until a true hands-on comparison can be done. Plus, it's highly possible that there are some gamers who only own a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One and have yet to play either Arkham Asylum or Arkham City. Taking this into consideration, at least those fans will finally get to experience two of the top games of the last generation along with every single bit of their DLC.
What do you think about the graphics comparison video for Batman: Return to Arkham? Do you believe that the original games look better or are you a fan of the way the remastered version looks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Batman: Return to Arkham is set to release for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on July 26, 2016.
Source: Batman Arkham Videos