The Rats might lurk in the shadows but Batman is no stranger to the dark.
If you haven’t gotten into VR gaming yet, we have a Batman: Arkham Shadow review that might just be the push you need to finally invest in the headset. The new Batman game has been developed by Camouflaj exclusively for the Meta Quest 3 and 3S, and it packs quite a punch—both figuratively and literally.
The game was just released on October 21, 2024, and it has quickly shown us that the failure of the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game has not marked the end of games from the DC universe. With an interesting storyline and unique gameplay, Batman: Arkham Shadow is well worth a gamer’s time.
Image: Batman: Arkham Shadow gameplay trailer
Presenting a Batman: Arkham Shadow Review—Yes, He Really Is Back
The Batman VR game does not appear to be set in the same timeline, or at least the same time period, as the Suicide Squad game that came out earlier, so we don’t have to worry about reviving a dead Batman. The Meta Quest 3 Batman game falls somewhere in between the timelines established with the Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum titles, marking an early point in Batman’s legacy.
In this game, we still have Batman moonlighting as a superhero, but his daytime activities are also directed at fighting crime under a different guise. The VR format opens a whole new avenue of gameplay considering you have to physically fight the bad guys instead of clicking on some buttons, so for those who don’t mind a little activity, this game is quite well designed.
Image: Batman: Arkham Shadow | Become The Knight trailer
What’s the Story Behind the Batman VR Game
The wicked never rest and this time, it’s the Rats gang that’s causing Batman to lose some sleep. Gotham City is plagued by minions of the gang who have set their sights on the legal system as their main target. Public servants are falling prey to the machinations of the gang and its leader the Rat King.
Matters get particularly personal as the gang kidnaps a familiar face, Harvey Dent, sending Batman on a killing spree as he takes down the bad guys to get closer to their leader. Due to the many real-world consequences of going on a rampage, our hero is forced to lay low for a while, but Batman never stops working.
The most interesting aspect of the Batman VR game is the alternative daytime routine that Batman is forced to adopt, “daylighting” as a convict at the Blackgate Penitentiary to continue on the trail of the Rat King. Much of the story—and the combat and gameplay—take place at Blackgame, as we work to find the Rat King before his upcoming “Day of Wrath” ruins Gotham.
Batman: Arkham Shadow Gameplay—There’s a lot of Glitchy Action to Look Forward To
Until technology allows us to enter games like the characters virtually do in Sword Art Online, this is as close as you can get to becoming Batman. Of the many interesting features of Arkham Shadow, the most engaging one is the ability to don your headset like Batman dons his mask and use your controllers to physically act out what you want Batman to do in the game. The technology has its flaws but the Batman VR game gives you a more hands-on experience at gaming.
The gameplay allows you to experience the game from a first-person perspective as you play Batman at night and then dress up as his daytime character Matches Malone when you explore the prison to find the worst of what Gotham has to offer. The central aspect of the game obviously revolves around the many combat scenes you encounter as you get closer to getting to the heart of the Rat King’s plans.
There are various types of armed enemy mobs you encounter along the way, and you have to fight them by actually swinging your arms and landing the punches. The VR game doesn’t process Batman’s movements as smoothly as you’d like and there are a few glitches and delays that you can expect to encounter, but nothing that permanently ruins your gaming experience.
There are many interesting combat aspects that take a moment to get the hang of when you’re trying to stagger an enemy, but who doesn’t like mastering a good cape swing? There are many moments in the game where stealth is key, and switching between timing your attacks from these locations and staying down when their guns make for an impossible fight, are also key aspects of Batman: Arkham Shadow’s gameplay.
Considering this is a Batman game, you aren’t equipped with any inherent special abilities like Spiderman would be, but you do get to carry around an arsenal of gadgets like explosives and smoke bombs to refine your attacks. Using the Batarang may take some work initially, but the trial-and-error learning stage can be just as fun for you as the people watching you play.
Image: Look for clues through the Detective mode
Other Arkham Shadow Features That You Don’t Want to Miss Out On
A Batman: Arkham Shadow review wouldn’t be complete without addressing some of the other elements in the game. While combat is a core aspect of the Arkham Shadow gameplay, you also get to put your wits to the test with some in-game puzzles. These aren’t as complex as they could have been, but they still create enough breathing room throughout the game. Instead of moving between mobs and boss fights one after the other, you will often have to uncover and traverse the path in between.
Crime scene investigations are also a part of the experience, allowing you to use Detective Vision to uncover and arrange clues to see the bigger picture. You use grapple hooks to get to higher ground and glide back down using your cape. For hardcore fans of the Arkham games or Batman in general, there are a few Easter eggs to be found, like discovering the phone numbers of various characters to call them in-game.
The Batman game is the best use of the Meta Quest 3 tech we’ve seen so far, and it’s also a commendable addition to the Arkham game franchise. While there are a few glitches and hiccups you might encounter along the way, the frequent checkpoints ensure you don’t get frustrated with having to replay large sections of the game.
Price of the Batman: Arkham Shadow Game
Final thoughts to wrap up this Batman: Arkham Shadow review? The game is a stunning, engaging experience that is well worth the $49.99 price tag. If you don’t already own the Meta Quest 3S or Meta Quest 3, purchase of either headset will let you have the game for free.
The 128GB base model of the Meta Quest 3S starts at $299 while the Meta Quest 3 starts at $499. If you were waiting for a reason to take the leap and buy the VR headset, considering this your sign that now might be a good time.
