Batman: Arkham Shadow is the newest video game venture into the world of the brooding and vengeful vigilante Batman. The game has received numerous awards and recognition, specifically for it being the second Batman-related video game to take the character into the ever-growing and exciting technology of Virtual Reality (VR). Developer Camouflaji has taken home three wins for Batman, with Arkham Shadow most recently winning the award for Immersive Reality Game of the Year at the 28th Annual  D.I.C.E. Awards. As a casual enjoyer of The Dark Knight and his previous games, I thought I would try this one out to see if the awards and accolades were well deserved. 

When I first bought this game, I had never been the biggest VR enthusiast and would usually only explore the realm of games and services available to me in small doses. Somewhat expectedly, my first 20 minutes of playing Arkham Shadow ended abruptly after the feeling of nausea and motion sickness set in. The disconnect between standing mostly stationary in the real world to full on sprinting and climbing in the VR world was not pleasant at first, but after subsequent attempts, I was able to familiarize myself with the feeling and push past it. I’m fortunate I was able to because Arkham Shadow allows for such fluid and satisfying gameplay once I got the grips of it. I felt fast and powerful with each strike while still following a learning curve that made it easy to learn and fun to master. The game also allows for a variety of customizable settings to make both combat and basic movement throughout the game tailored to one’s preferences, helping to ensure a specialized experience for each player.

Even more enjoyable, the game is one of the most vivid and visually stunning VR games I’ve played. The models are incredibly realistic, but more stunning is the scenery and locations that surrounded me while playing. The weather effects, specifically the rain, look phenomenal especially in the dark and dreary setting of Gotham. The lighting also helps add to the gothic tone, making the world feel understandably seedy and corrupt. I never once felt as though I wasn’t absolutely immersed in the world this game crafted for me, and it helped further motivate me to return to this game time after time.

But where Arkham Shadow surprisingly stood out to me was in the narrative aspects and plot that  intertwined to create a really satisfying story. Going into this game, I was expecting the main standout to be the gameplay and the immersive environment, but I was shocked to actually see that the story of the game was one of the strongest and most resonating factors for me. 

The main plot sees Batman having to defend Gotham City from a new cult of terroristic fanatics known as The Rats while working to uncover the identity of The Rats’ anonymous and occult leader: The Rat King. All of this is portrayed magnificently by the talented and seasoned voice actors. Roger Craig Smith delivers a intimidating and powerful performance as Batman, fiercely embodying the caped crusader’s vengeful anger. The other performers are no slouches either, with renowned Troy Baker returning to portray the altruistic District Attorney Harvey Dent and the wise and mentoring voice of Martin Jarvis returning as Alfred Pennyworth.

Overall, I enjoyed Arkham Shadow for its immersive and satisfying combat combined with a surprisingly gripping and impactful story.  This game will certainly not be for everyone, considering it requires a cumbersome and expensive headset. Despite this, I still consider it to be an excellent experience more than worthy of the accolades with which it has been showered.