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Sony's decision to be the last presenter at E3 2015 Press Conference day zero has led many to speculate as to whether or not the Japanese company took the slot due to their offerings being so slim this year that the only chance of standing out would be to have the last word. Fortunately, Sony has silenced such critics by delivering a beautiful bounty of huge surprises and stand out titles, such as the long-awaited The Last Guardian and The Taken King expansion for Destiny. And while Batman: Arkham Knight is neither an exclusive nor extended content for the PlayStation 4, most anything Batman-related is going to get gamers riled up.
After an already jam-packed demonstration, Sony has now given the gaming audience a tease for Batman: Arkham Knight with a brief glimpse into one of the unique PlayStation 4 Scarecrow Nightmare Mission DLCs. With many fans wondering exactly what the first exclusive content would contain, it's evident that Rocksteady Studios is intent on putting players directly in the middle of a nightmare of Scarecrow's design.
The gameplay trailer begins by playing Frank Sinatra's "Under My Skin", as Jim Gordon then narrates over footage of the Joker being cremated after his death in Arkham City, with the Commissioner introducing the explanation of Batman's demise, saying, "This is how it happened. This is how the Batman died." After a shot of the bleak Gotham City landscape and more speculation from Gordon about how the Dark Knight's death has affected everyone, the camera swoops down into the streets, as gamers take first-person control of Officer Owens, a beat cop who simply wants to take his break in a diner to enjoy a cup of joe. Almost as soon as the player steps into the restaurant, someone informs Owens of a smoking patron that is bothering the other customers.
Fulfilling his duty, the officer steps over to talk to the smoker who is wearing a black jacket with the hood up, and is immediately accosted by the hoodlum, as it's quickly revealed to be the Scarecrow. A short scuffle leaves Owens injected with Dr. Crane's Fear Toxin, which causes the world around him to burn away into a hellish nightmare. Players are given the go-ahead to blast away with their pistols in a scene reminiscent of a first-person shooter, but ultimately, the Scarecrow takes control of the situation as Owens succumbs to terror.
While we've known for some time that the Scarecrow Nightmare Mission DLC is a PS4 timed exclusive, there has been little to go on as far as what would actually be contained within the gameplay. Since most fans speculated that the new content would involve additional adventures centered around the Dark Knight, it's interesting to see something completely different.
Batman: Arkham Knight is set for release on June 23 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
