Review embargoes have lifted for reviewers who got their hands on Batman: Arkham Knight early.
Rocksteady's third and final game in its Batman: Arkham trilogy is positioned as the studio's magnum opus on all things Batman, adding the Batmobile, a huge open world, next-generation visuals, deadly new enemies and more to its already winning formula. It also promises the grand finale of the story these games have been telling since Batman: Arkham Asylum was released in 2009.
The first two games, Asylum and Arkham City were award-winning fan favorites that sold zillions of copies and finally offered a conclusive definition of what a superhero video game can and should be. So how does Arkham Knight stack up? Is it the Batman we deserve?
There are a very limited number of early reviews up, with most media outlets not receiving copies until the game releases — a fact that's causing more than a little flap — but here are the most prominent reviews. The consensus seems to be that the game is Rocksteady's crowning achievement in the series, but several critics had complaints about it forcing you to use the Batmobile.
Game Informer fell in love with its story, scoring it 9.5 out of 10: "Rocksteady built a special experience that dazzles with its cleverness, intelligence, and ability to shift from kick-ass Batman moments to emotional gut punches to scenes stripped straight from some of Batman's greatest comic book stories. Lock yourself away, avoid social media and friends, and finish this game. You won't want this one spoiled for you."
IGN gives it a 9.2 out of 10, saying, "The addition of tank combat thematically clashes with everything Batman stands for, but it is fun, and having access to the Batmobile for the first time gives us a new world of possibilities for interacting with Gotham City. Arkham Knight is an outstanding game on almost every level."
GameSpot was less enthused with a 7 out of 10: "Rather than escape the pull of the games that spawned it, The Bat's newest adventure refines the fundamentals; it is a safe but satisfying return to the world's most tormented megalopolis."
Polygon, on the other hand, gave the game a perfect 10 out of 10. "After Arkham Knight, trying to find more meat on the Batman bone would define futility. After Arkham Knight, Batman has been perfected — and the end result is the best game of this console generation."
GamesRadar loved it for the most part, offering 4 stars out of 5. "An ambitious and successful end to Rocksteady's trilogy, with a standard-setting open world you must experience. A superior main story and less Batmobile combat would've made a huge difference."
VideoGamer.com was breathless with its perfect 10 out of 10: "Batman: Arkham Knight is not only the best Batman game ever made, but a game that will be remembered as exemplary... It's epic; it's grand; it's addictive; it's ridiculously good-looking and it's going to be remembered for a long time to come. A masterpiece."
Games Magazine UK gave it 9 out of 10, saying, "Batman struggles during Arkham Knight, and Rocksteady has masterfully and knowingly deconstructed the man behind the mask with such aplomb, even Alan Moore might give a begrudging nod of approval. This is the best superhero fantasy we've ever enacted, and we're so sad it's over."
God Is A Geek was over-the-top in love, with a 10 out of 10: "...Knight is the crowning glory [of the series]. It's exciting, beautiful, haunting, dramatic, and compelling. It leaves you breathless, begging for more. This is the best game I've played this year so far, and it gets the mind racing as to what Rocksteady can do next."
AusGamers gave it another 10 out of 10, saying, "It's challenging and engaging, expansive and enticing. Its game world is wholly realised and gorgeous to look at, but above all else, it tells such an incredible story in so many new and unique ways, it's impossible to ignore."
The Toronto Sun was impressed, if not completely bowled-over at 4.5 stars out of 5: "Batman: Arkham Knight is a game that shows what can happen when a talented development studio is completely invested in a fictional universe and has mastered the technology to bring it to life. We've become the Batman before, but never quite like this."
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