WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for the Batman: Arkham series.
The Batman: Arkham games, over the course of four titles, have been lauded as some of the best superhero games ever made, transcending the genre to be considered outstanding achievements in both storytelling and gameplay.
The Rogues Gallery within the Batman mythos is used to full effect over the course of the games with, of course, The Joker wreaking the most havoc. The Dark Knight’s confrontations with these enemies, as well as some of his allies, have made for some unforgettable moments in the Arkham series. Here, in no particular order, are five of the most memorable.
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Death of The Joker (Batman: Arkham City)
Though this list is in no particular order, it would be difficult to argue that Joker’s death in Batman: Arkham City is not the most defining scene in the franchise. Suffering with horrific side effects from the Titan formula he took in the previous game, Joker is slowly marching toward death’s door throughout the course of Arkham City.
In the game’s climatic final moments, Batman struggles with the decision of whether or not to give his archenemy the cure for this disease, knowing that Gotham would be better off with Joker dead. Ultimately, the vial containing the cure is dropped and smashes, sealing Joker’s fate. After Batman declares he would have saved him, the Clown Prince of Crime stretches one last sadistic smile across his face as his life ends. The shot of Batman carrying Joker’s lifeless body – mirroring the Cain and Abel painting shown at the start of the game – was instantly iconic.
Finding Bane (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
Despite being one of Batman’s most interesting villains, Bane gets relatively short thrift in adaptations of the comics. While Joker and Scarecrow get most of the attention from the Arkham games, the introduction of Bane in the first installment was shocking. After saving Jim Gordon from Harley Quinn, he and Batman find themselves in a small, misty room, and a cutscene begins.
Batman, looking visibly stunned for one of a handful of times throughout all four games, looks upon an emaciated Bane strung up by wires and machinery. He is not the hulking brute fans are so accustomed to, and the reveal is excellent. Then Joker intervenes. He pumps Bane full of the Titan formula, returning him to his freakish size, triggering a boss fight. It’s one of the less consequential boss battles in the game, but its introduction was brilliant.
Opening Diner Scene (Batman: Arkham Knight)
For all its flaws (the Batmobile), Arkham Knight had some mesmerizing cutscenes and none were more enveloping than the one which opened the game. Starting out from a first-person perspective as a character referred to as Officer Owens, the player finds themselves in a Gotham diner on Halloween night.
All seems relatively calm until a patron asks Owens if he can deal with another customer who is smoking in the corner. As Officer Owens approaches the hooded patron in question, they turn to reveal a demonic face, providing the game’s first jumpscare. The diner then descends into a fiery hellscape as Owens opens fire on other creatures in the diner. Scarecrow then fills the screen, taking credit for the massacre, explaining how his fear toxin caused it. It dawns on the player that Owens just gunned down innocent people, setting a sombre tone for the game.
Defeating Joker (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Despite being dead, Joker still haunts Batman through the events of Arkham Knight. Having infected Batman with his tainted blood, Joker begins to dominate Bruce Wayne’s deteriorating psyche in the latter stages of the game, culminating in a toxin-induced trip. Joker fiendishly dances through Bruce’s mind, slaughtering his enemies, utterly convinced that he’s finally conquered the Batman.
However, Joker has exposed himself to Scarecrow’s toxin and his deepest fear – being forgotten – is cast into full display. Batman utters the iconic line, “I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman,” and locks the memory of Joker away forever. Having the player take control of Joker inside Batman’s mind is an ingenious move and produces one of the most powerful scenes in the Arkham series.
Arguing With Alfred (Batman: Arkham Origins)
Though it’s seen by many as the weakest game in the series, Batman: Arkham Origins provided fans with one of the most defining Batman scenes in recent memory when his butler and closest confidant, Alfred, confronts him about taking on the various assassins hired to kill him.
“When the mugger or the thief stops to think twice; that is fear,” Bruce snarls. “That is what I am. That is why they hired assassins, because I am the reason criminals breathe easier when the sun rises. So no, Alfred, I am NOT in over my head. Tonight will not be my end. But it will be theirs.” It’s a perfect encapsulation of how a younger Bruce Wayne would stop at nothing to protect the citizens of Gotham, and how Alfred is only trying to protect Bruce from himself.
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