Batman: Arkham Knight (Xbox One) Review
Released: 2015
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Platform: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC
Batman: Arkham Knight is the epic conclusion to Rocksteadys Arkham trilogy, delivering a massive open-world Gotham City, refined combat, and the introduction of the Batmobile. While the gameplay is excellent, the overuse of the Batmobile and a predictable story twist hold it back from perfection.
What Works
Incredible Gotham City
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The open-world Gotham is beautifully designed, filled with neon lights, rain-soaked streets, and detail.
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The best-looking Arkham game, running at steady 30 FPS with cinematic visuals.
Classic Arkham Combat, Better Than Ever
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Smooth, impactful hand-to-hand combat with new dual takedowns and enemy types.
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Stealth gameplay remains fun, with new gadgets and fear takedowns.
Excellent Villains & Side Missions
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Scarecrow as the main villain is menacing, with hallucinatory horror moments.
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Side missions featuring classic villains (Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler, etc.) add variety.
Batmobile Fun (At First)
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Driving the Batmobile through Gotham feels amazing at first, with fluid controls and destruction physics.
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Useful in puzzles and high-speed chases.
Engaging Story With a Dark Tone
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Explores Batmans psyche and fear, with great Joker hallucination sequences.
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Some emotional moments and strong performances from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.
What Doesnt Work
Too Much Batmobile Combat
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The Batmobile is overused in forced tank battles, making some sections repetitive.
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Gotham feels empty because many encounters force you into a vehicle fight instead of hand-to-hand combat.
Predictable Arkham Knight Twist
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The identity of the Arkham Knight is too obvious, especially for Batman fans.
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Would have benefited from a more original antagonist.
Some Side Missions Feel Repetitive
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Riddler trophies are excessive, requiring too much time for 100% completion.
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Some villain side missions feel copy-pasted (like stopping bank robberies multiple times).
Final Verdict
🟢 Final Score: 9/10
Batman: Arkham Knight is a visually stunning and thrilling conclusion to the Arkham series, with top-tier combat, an immersive Gotham, and strong storytelling. However, an overreliance on Batmobile combat and a predictable villain twist hold it back slightly.
Pros:
Stunning, open-world Gotham City
Best combat system in the Arkham series
Strong story with psychological depth
Great villain performances (Scarecrow, Joker)
Cons:
Too much Batmobile combat
Arkham Knights identity is too predictable
Some repetitive side missions
Recommendation: If you love Batman, open-world games, or action-packed combat, Arkham Knight is a must-play. Just be prepared for a lot of Batmobile sections!
