“Batman: Arkham Shadow” proves that the VR game is not just a gimmick

There is a tendency for VR games to be seen as gimmicks; forgettable spin-offs of more famous franchises. Indeed, the last attempt to Batman Arkham VR it was exactly that – little more than a vaguely interactive movie. That’s not the case here though –Arkham Shadow it’s an ambitious, long-running outing (expect 10-15 hours of gameplay) with a fully layered and twisty narrative. He has time and space to clear his world, giving players the opportunity to spend time outside the Batsuit as in it, with Batman undercover in Blackgate Prison in his persona “Matches Malone” for the most part of the game.

It boasts an expansive cast of allies and enemies to encounter (some of which, given The shadow placed as a prequel, they have yet to take their place in Batman’s rogues gallery), and even some star power in the voice acting – Roger Craig Smith returns to voice Bruce Wayne / Batman with menace gravel voice, while Elijah Wood takes on the role of a pre-Scarecrow Jonathan Crane. There is nothing funny about it.

It’s all backed up by robust game mechanics that really make you feel like Batman, like never before. Camouflaj masterfully adapted each pillar of what made the conventional Arkham fantastic games – stealth, combat, investigations – in an immersive first-person VR experience.

Small touches, like activating Detective Mode – a visual filter that highlights clues in the environment – by lifting a controller to the side of your head, soon make you feel like you’re actually wearing the infamous hood , while the stealth game is a real treat. Skulking through the shadows and taking out the Rat King’s henchmen, blasted by an air vent to let out a grunt or lifted high to dangle helplessly from a perch, it’s easy to feel like the very urban legend that Batman farms for himself.

When stealth isn’t an option, melee combat creates the same wonderful flow state as the original Arkham games You’ll straight-up smash enemies one-on-one, switching between uppercuts, jabs, thrusts, twin-fisted slams and more to break through defenses, then seamlessly weave in real-time blocks and counters as you juggle groups of enemies.

Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj

Courtesy of Meta/Camouflaj

An alert on the side of your vision indicates incoming shots – swipe an arm to the side and you’ll intercept the attack off-screen, instantly drawing your attention to the next enemy while sweeping your arm without squeezing the triggers of the Quest controller brings your attention. hood for a deflection shot. All the while, you’re building up charge for devastating finishers that land with punishing gravity. Doing everything with your fists, rather than tapping buttons on a controller, makes you feel like an unstoppable badass.

Throw in the ability to start a fight with a brutal glide-kick or a well-aimed Batarang, or disorient enemies with smoke bombs, and it’s enough to make you think you could actually take on a dozen masked assailants in real life. You can’t, so don’t try, but the fights here offer enough effort that it feels like a workout – a body combat class that the game puts every so often, making for a gaming experience that’s only possible in VR.

Practically unbeatable

It’s the magic of Arkham Shadow– brilliantly balances the experience console and PC gamers expect with the immersive elements that are unique to VR. While there are already many other great games in VR –Asgard’s Wrath II, The Room VR, and of course Beat SaberTo name just a few – they are all preached to the converted, the comparative few who have already come on board with virtual reality games. Batman, arguably the world’s most famous superhero, also carries that ever-changing crossover appeal. With the promise of an untold story in one of its most popular settings, this has the potential to attract new players, bringing it into the VR ecosystem.

Of course, to some extent, Camouflaj is just playing the hits here, remixing the best pieces of Rocksteady’s original. Arkham games for VR – there are also a lot of collectibles to hunt down, scattered around Gotham by the Rat Cultists in the same way that the Riddler Trophies were in the previous games, which often require solving a puzzle or acquiring a new piece of Bat-tech to get there. . However, there is comfort in that familiarity, making it easier for players to make the VR transition.