The Batman: Arkham titles are some of the most revered superhero games of all time. Sporting dynamic storytelling, potent portrayals of iconic characters, and intuitive gameplay amid an engrossing world, they have given casual fans and DC diehards the ultimate Batman gaming experience. However, nearly all of these strengths come from a TV show.
Specifically, the Arkham games take several elements from Batman: The Animated Series, a similarly esteemed chapter in the Dark Knight's history. That inspiration partly stems from writer Paul Dini returning to craft the games, but it emphasizes how impactful and respected the show is within the Batman fandom. Why wouldn't developer Rocksteady want to recapture that essence?
7 Voice Actors
The most apparent similarity between the show and games is the return of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and the Joker, respectively. They debuted as these characters in the animated series and went on to reprise those roles in several other DC projects. To many fans, these two are the definitive voices for the Caped Crusader and the Clown Prince of Crime.
That sentiment also applies to certain supporting players. Arkham Asylum brings back Arleen Sorkin, the original voice for Harley Quinn and the one who inspired the character. In addition, Arkham Origins has Robert Costanzo briefly return as Harvey Bullock. Sadly, these guys only stick around for one entry each, but they're no less fitting for these comic icons.
6 Voice Replacements
Although the developers can't get everyone from the old show back, they compensate with respectable replacements. For several prominent villains, the actors are seemingly doing impressions of their TV predecessors. Tasia Valenza replicates Diane Pershing's sultry whisper as Poison Ivy. Troy Baker imitates Richard Moll's raspy growl as Two-Face. Maurice LaMarche captures Michael Ansara's cold, throat-based delivery as Mr. Freeze. That's just to name a few examples.
These performances all achieve a similar tone and nuance to those that came before. Granted, this limits the chance to put one's own stamp on a character. However, it's difficult to deny how well these vocal personas fit these fictional figures.
5 Classical Aesthetic
The Gotham of the animated show is different from the usual city. Art Deco architecture and gothic motifs permeate the setting, nodding to the hero's 1930s roots. It creates an atmosphere where a figure like him thrives.
This is why Rocksteady clearly take notes when designing the Arkham urban sandbox. The Gotham of these games is a modernized metropolis in some sections, but more striking are the older parts of the city. These areas harken back to the artistic aesthetic of yesteryear with ancient buildings, monorails, and imposing statues. That design philosophy is especially apparent in Arkham Asylum, which is a veritable gothic nightmare. Such style is part of what makes these games so visually striking. All that's missing is the red sky.
4 Music
Taking cues from the 1989 Tim Burton film, the animated series had a score composed of classic orchestral pieces. Haunting strings and triumphant trumpets pepper every track, further emphasizing the setting's theatricality and film noire influence.
The Arkham titles don't outright copy those elements, but they do achieve a similarly evocative atmosphere. More prevalent than the orchestra is the moody chorus. The animated series occasionally used such vocals in pivotal adventures like Mask of the Phantasm, and the games are equally operatic as a result. The only exception is Arkham Origins, which employs electronic music and faster-paced percussions. These are appropriate for a younger Dark Knight yet ultimately not as memorable.
3 Everything About Mr. Freeze
The voice isn't the only aspect of the icy villain carried over. The games also bring his tragic backstory, which the animated series introduced. After his wife is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Victor Fries puts her in suspended animation and does anything to find a cure.This leads to his cryogenics accident, rendering him unable to survive outside subzero temperatures. The developers maintain that foundation for the character.
Arkham Origins takes it one step further. The Cold, Cold Heart DLC--depicting the Dark Knight's first clash with Freeze--plucks its plot straight from the animated episode, "Heart of Ice." The characters even repeat entire lines of dialogue verbatim, and who can blame them? That episode is among the series' most poignant and helped solidify its revered reputation.
2 Mad Love
With Harley Quinn obviously comes her origin. No, not the recent rendition where she jumps into a vat of chemicals to copy the Joker. Rather, the Arkham games stick to her initial backstory, no doubt stemming from creator Paul Dini being involved.
Fans learn just how much the character owes to him during the Arkham Asylum patient interviews. The taped conversations between her and the Joker are directly from "Mad Love," a comic written by Dini and later adapted for an animated episode. The actors even deliver the lines the same way.
Unfortunately, Arkham Origins somewhat retcons this with her rushed introduction at the eleventh hour, but no one says these interviews couldn't have occurred later. After all, Harley's fallen for this clown's routine multiple times before.
1 Costumes
As a treat for fans, the Arkham games include a host of alternate costumes from hero's comic, movie, and TV career. Among these are skins from Batman: The Animated Series, complete with a cell-shaded texture to emulate the cartoonish look. The only other TV series represented here is the iconically campy '60s show. The developers clearly think the animated entry is just as essential to the character's legacy.
They further demonstrate that by going beyond the Caped Crusader. The games also include animated skins for Robin, Nightwing, and Catwoman. As if that wasn't enough, they throw in the futuristic suit from Batman Beyond, the sequel show. The sole omission is Nightwing's mullet. That's a travesty considering how ridiculous his hair is in Arkham Knight. Haircut aside, these games have plenty to love for '90s fans.