Here we are again, taking a look at the critical reaction to the latest game releases. Up today is Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Knight, the final entry in the Batman: Arkham series. Following the success of the previous titles, a lot is expected of Arkham Knight, particularly as it marks the franchise’s first entry on current-gen consoles.
Our review will be appearing next week, but from what we’ve seen so far things are looking very positive for the Warner Bros. published title, which releases on the 23rd of June for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and Linux.
Critics have certainly responded very positively to the title, with more or less unanimous appreciation of the refined mechanics taken from the previous entries.
IGN – 9.2/10
“If this is in fact the last Rocksteady-developed Batman game, the series will end on a high note. Arkham Knight is the biggest Batman game yet, not just in map size, but in the wide range of different types of gameplay, and its collection of characters. The addition of tank combat thematically clashes with everything Batman stands for, but it is fun, and having access to the Batmobile for the first time gives us a new world of possibilities for interacting with Gotham City. Arkham Knight is an outstanding game on almost every level.”
Polygon – 10/10
“Rocksteady has said this is its last Batman game and I’m praying to the New Gods that they’re on the level. After Arkham Knight, trying to find more meat on the Batman bone would define futility. After Arkham Knight, Batman has been perfected — and the end result is the best game of this console generation.”
Game Informer – 9.5/10
“At the end of it all, Batman: Arkham Knight delivers a great sense of closure for this series. Rocksteady leaves a few plot threads dangling to tease and taunt us, but the grim tale that started all the way back in Arkham Asylum is done. I walked away from Arkham Knight shocked, satisfied, and in dire need of someone to discuss the story with. Rocksteady built a special experience that dazzles with its cleverness, intelligence, and ability to shift from kick-ass Batman moments to emotional gut punches to scenes stripped straight from some of Batman’s greatest comic book stories. Lock yourself away, avoid social media and friends, and finish this game. You won’t want this one spoiled for you.”
Gamespot – 7/10
“Many individual elements are so carefully constructed, and presented with such flair, that appreciation is the only reasonable reaction. Yet most of these elements–excellent acting, wonderful animations, moody soundtrack–are ones that Batman: Arkham City also excelled in, making Arkham Knight’s missteps all the more noticeable. Rather than escape the pull of the games that spawned it, The Bat’s newest adventure refines the fundamentals; it is a safe but satisfying return to the world’s most tormented megalopolis.”
GamesRadar – 4/5
“Arkham Knight offers an unparalleled interactive superhero experience that’s as rich as any fan could hope for – this is one of the best open worlds I have ever had the pleasure of exploring, and one of the nicest-looking games on PS4. Without overcomplicating the Batmobile’s purpose in Arkham Knight and a slightly less disappointing campaign, this would’ve been close to a perfect sign-off for Rocksteady’s Caped Crusader.”
God Is A Geek – 10/10
“If Aslyum showed us what was possible, and City was a good sequel that didn’t quite reach the same levels, then Knight is the crowning glory. It’s exciting, beautiful, haunting, dramatic, and compelling. It leaves you breathless, begging for more. This is the best game I’ve played this year so far, and it gets the mind racing as to what Rocksteady can do next. Occasional difficulty spikes near the end require a little patience, and although it’s often optional, there are lots of Batmobile combat encounters which you’ll either love or loathe. But if you give yourself to it, and if you love the characters, it’ll blow you away. And, Christ… I never thought I’d say this, but Arkham Asylum has just been bettered.”
Videogamer – 10/10
“It’s epic; it’s grand; it’s addictive; it’s ridiculously good-looking and it’s going to be remembered for a long time to come. A masterpiece.”
Lieutenant Fatman
Looking good, think I’ll wait for the Goty edition or wait for a price cut.. maybe, not sure if I’m strong enough to resist. We’ll see.
homerjnick
My Shopto.net order has just changed to “processing”…COME ON…send it out today and I’ll get it tomorrow!!!!
DividSmythe
I was only mildly excited about this beforehand now bubbling over the top to play this now. I was always going to keep my preorder anyway.
Tarbun84
I am truly sick of GameSpot and their bizarre reviews. I have always checked TSA and GameSpot reviews for games I am interested in and am losing faith very quickly in the later (don’t worry, the guys here do a consistently great job and have never led me wrong). I obviously have not played the game yet, but from other descriptions can’t fathom how it could be a 7!
Dominic Leighton
They really seem to have played a different game to everyone else – not that seven is an especially bad score – but when everyone else is saying it’s the best game in the Arkham series that doesn’t remotely match up.
MrYd
A 7 would be about right for the previous games. Too much extra crap to do that just gets tedious, somewhat wonky combat, and dubious DLC practices.
Are any improvements (apart from extra PS4 shininess) enough to compensate for that and being yet another sequel?
It’s certainly something I’ll pick up eventually, when it’s cheap, and 7/10 is a good score. The 9s and 10s it’s getting seem somewhat more suspect to me.
On the other hand, maybe it really is the best thing ever and fixed everything that was wrong with the previous games.
fillip2k
Super Duper excited to play it, but Polygon calling it the best game of this console gen…
Sounds a little hyperbolic… Maybe the best game so far…
tactical20
It’s my first day one purchase for a looooooong time. Had £25 in my Amazon account for some reason too, so only cost me £15! Shame I’m gonna be at Glastonbury, so will have to wait ages to play it!
spurs78
Simply games shipped my copy early this morning like they always do so hopefully be playing tomorrow. I fully recommend them over shopto.net who i always used for along time but there prices have risen alot. Simply are like shopto used to be, deliver early and good prices.
NicholasHeathfield
I quite like the Arkham series, but something about the frame rate combined with frantic camera movement and grey-on-black visuals always gives me a headache. Oh well.
beeje13
Have you seen the PS4 gameplay footage of Arkham Knight? Looks really fluid thanks to subltle motion blur I think.
stonyk
First ever pre-ordered game before knowing reviews. Thats what happens when you made excellent games previously. I am tempted to pre-order Fallout 4 too but two pre-orders in a year perhaps too much.
beeje13
What Gamespot are saying is that it’s more of the same, but better. That’s more than good enough for me!