Attention Batfans, Jana here,
I’m a bonafide Batfan from way back when Wonder Woman and Batgirl were on my knickers. This includes all things batty. Not like regular animal bats, because that would just be weird, or at the very least, awkward. If you call your pad the Batcave and you’re a Batman fan, all is well, if you call it the Batcave because it’s full of real bats, you might need to spend some time in Arkham Asylum. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe…er…well usually.
So if you’re a batty for Batman (I know, horrible pun, but I had to) then that means you play any video game that comes out featuring The Dark Knight. I’d like to say get ready for your happy dance, but it would be really early for that one. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment just gave us a June 2, 2015 release date for ‘Batman: Arkham Knight‘. Originally we were going to get this awesomeness this fall but WB in their pockets of wisdom wanted to give Rocksteady, the developer, more time to finish the company’s final installment in its trilogy. Of course, that trilogy consists of ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum, ‘Batman: Arkham City‘ and our third ‘Batman: Arkham Knight‘.
Warner Bros. can pretend the new release date is due to developing a finer product, but if you look at the competition it would have if it released now, you can see that it was a money-maker of a move, as well. This month brings us ‘Destiny‘ a new installment of ‘Call of Duty‘ and another ‘Assassin’s Creed‘. The thing that would have been brilliant is coming out the same year that signifies the cowled superheroe’s 75th anniversary, which this is.
If you like your Batman in Lego form, don’t spazz, ‘Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham‘ is still on tap to debut this fall.’Arkham Asylum‘ dropped in 2009 and ‘Arkham City‘ launched in 2011, ‘Arkham Knight‘ will take place a year after the last game with Batman facing off against villains like the Scarecrow, Two Face, the Riddler and, my favorite, Harley Quinn. It will enable players to speed through Gotham City in the Batmobile.
The games have gone darker and more ominous to draw in some older players whereas the colorful, cartoonish Lego Batman appeals more to family with kids. If you live in this household, you will see that I play both. I have a console system and it’s an amazing contraption for allowing me to live out all my Bat-fantasies on a big screen. Developing a game for two age groups is smart business, but this family buys both, so, Warner Bros., if you’re listening, we would be the perfect family to give some initial reviews!
Looks like PS3 is being pushed out of the way, as was expected, but ‘Arkham Knight‘ will only be available for Sony’s PlayStation4, Microsoft’s Xbox One and PC.
If you’re a true collector of all things bat-winged, you’ll want to snag a copy of the two collectors editions that will be released. The ‘Batman: Arkham Knight‘ Limited Edition will include an 80-page custom art book showcasing the concept art from the game, a steelbook case with the game, a DC Comics ‘Batman: Arkham Knight #0 comic book, exclusive character skins and a Batman memorial statue. That one’s going to run you around $100.
If you fancy yourself a real Batfreak there is a $200 option available called ‘Batman: Arkham Knight Batmobile Edition‘ which is the same as the previous collector pack, but replaces the Batman memorial statue with a transforming Batmobile statue.
Whether you like your Batman in tights and punching baddies so hard that words describing the sound flew onto the screen, or you prefer your particular caped crusader sporting a set of always pinging Bat-nipples, or a 40-pack a day smoker’s voice like Nolan’s movie version, there is a Batman for everyone’s taste. Me? I love them all!
PS4
XBOX ONE