Batman: Return to Arkham
- October 17, 2016
- Virtuos
Excellent package and upgrade to a truly incredible franchise.
Batman: Return to Arkham is a thrilling open-world, single-player game, remastered for PS4 and Xbox One. This collection includes Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, both with improved graphics and accompanying DLC. Immerse yourself in the dark, action-packed Batman universe, re-experiencing these classic entries with a modern twist.
Playstation 4
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are fantastic games with great stories and fun gameplay, making them a must-play for Batman fans.
- The remaster features improved graphics and sound, with notable enhancements like rain effects and better textures, providing a fresh experience for returning players.
- This collection includes all DLC content, making it a great value for newcomers and fans looking to relive the classic games.
- The remaster suffers from frame rate drops and occasional graphical glitches, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some character models look off or less appealing compared to the originals, which may disappoint long-time fans.
- The lighting changes in the remaster can make environments feel overly bright, losing some of the original atmosphere and mood.
- graphics28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics in the remastered version of the game are generally praised for their excellent quality, with notable improvements in textures and colors that enhance character designs, such as Batman's cape and Catwoman's suit. However, some users have pointed out inconsistencies, including occasional glitches and certain character models that appear less polished, leading to mixed feelings about the overall graphical fidelity compared to modern standards. While the visuals are a significant upgrade from the original, expectations for a complete overhaul akin to newer titles like Arkham Knight were not fully met.
“The one area where this remaster really shines is in the graphical department; Batman's cape looks textured and strong, Joker's suit appears weathered, and Catwoman's signature catsuit is shiny and sleek.”
“Excellent, I played this video game on PS3, but this remaster makes me want to return to Arkham. The graphics have a little but notable difference, with better textures and colors like a standard game on PS4.”
“The updated graphics are incredible, and everything about this game is clean.”
“The visuals were extremely dark; in fact, we can all agree they looked like they were going to be worse than the PS3 version.”
“The graphics are noticeably sharpened, and all of the content from both is included, but there isn't anything additional beyond that.”
“I am happy to have these on my current generation (PS4), but the game was very poorly optimized in my experience and the graphics aren't as good as they could have been.”
- story11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story in the Batman Arkham series is widely praised for its depth and engaging narrative, making it a standout feature for fans of the franchise. Players appreciate the well-written plot, strong voice acting, and the thrill of iconic confrontations with villains like Mr. Freeze and Penguin. Overall, the combination of a compelling storyline and enjoyable gameplay makes it a must-play for Batman enthusiasts.
“If you're a fan of Batman and you didn't play the Arkham games on PS3/360, they're definitely worth your time. This collection is a fantastic jumping point for players who may want to catch up on the story before playing Arkham Knight.”
“The story is terrific, the voice acting is top-notch, and the gameplay is stellar.”
“I liked it; I really enjoyed the Arkham series. The graphics were amazing and the story was fantastic for both games. I really recommend it to any Batman fan.”
“Had to completely restart the game story on one occasion.”
“And for those that haven't played it before, I hope you can get half as much enjoyment out of it as I did with its moderate challenge level and well-written story.”
“...arkham everyone talking about this game. This game is awesome; it has great graphics, good background story, even bad...”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, complemented by a fantastic story and impressive graphics. While some players find it challenging, this difficulty adds to the enjoyment, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the franchise. Overall, the remastered versions maintain the quality of the original games, offering great value for players.
“The story is terrific, the voice acting is top-notch, and the gameplay is stellar.”
“The game has updated graphics with the same great gameplay!”
“Batman: Return to Arkham isn't the greatest ever remaster, but the price offers excellent value and the gameplay of both Asylum and City still hold up.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The optimization of the games has received mixed reviews, with initial experiences highlighting significant frame stuttering and choppy performance, particularly in certain areas like the sewers. However, post-patch improvements have resolved many performance issues, leading to a smoother experience, though some users still feel the graphics could be better. Overall, while the games can be enjoyable, their optimization at launch was notably lacking.
“After the patches, the game runs flawlessly with no jerks in performance. The controls remain the same, and they added rain that wasn't there before, which makes Batman's cape show the rain running off of it.”
“The optimization updates have significantly improved the game's performance, making it smoother and more enjoyable to play.”
“I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization; the game now loads faster and runs without any lag, enhancing the overall experience.”
“Both games feel choppy and the frame stuttering is noticeable almost right away.”
“There are parts in the asylum, especially in the sewers and throughout the various corridors, where the stuttering is constant and it becomes distracting the longer it goes on.”
“I am happy to have these on my current generation (PS4), but the game was very poorly optimized in my experience and the graphics aren't as good as they could have been.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the game visually appealing and enjoyable, but report experiencing some bugs, including crashes and graphical glitches, which detract from its stability. Despite these issues, the nostalgia factor and love for the game remain strong among players.
“The game looks and runs great.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
“The performance is smooth, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“I had one crash and a few graphical glitches.”
“There's some interesting glitches that keep this from being 5/5 though.”
“Buggy but overall love this game enough due to the nostalgia; it’s a classic. I can only hope the Arkham series makes future installments.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by vibrant and detailed environments, which some players find overly bright, potentially detracting from the overall mood. However, many appreciate the colorful aesthetic, suggesting that while the brightness may be polarizing, it does not significantly diminish the game's immersive quality.
“The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
“The game's atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between brightness and detail, creating an engaging and immersive experience.”
“Even the IGN review comments on this... the extreme brightness of the environment kills the atmosphere and mood.”
“Some may be bothered by the brighter environments, but it's not enough to ruin the atmosphere.”
Critic Reviews
Batman Return to Arkham Xbox One Review
Excellent package and upgrade to a truly incredible franchise.
100%Batman: Return to Arkham Review
It’s been great revisiting two wonderful games, but the framerate drops and lighting changes take away much of the charm of playing them.
80%Batman: Return to Arkham Review
Batman: Return to Arkham isn't the greatest ever remaster, but the price offers excellent value and the gameplay of both Asylum and City still hold up. Couple two of the greatest superhero games of all time with their DLC, and you get a lot of bang for your buck here.
70%
