Batman: Arkham Shadow Review

The latest entry in the Arkhamverse, Batman: Arkham Shadow, has come out for the Meta Quest 3, providing fans with an immersive Batman experience with all the superhero action and stealth that other Arkham games are known for.

Batman: Arkham Shadow is the latest installment in the critically acclaimed Arkhamverse series, offering a gripping narrative with surprising twists and turns. Set between Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, the game follows Batman's investigation into the mysterious Rat King cult that has wreaked havoc upon Gotham City.

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As players delve deeper into the storyline, they uncover several key revelations that reshape the established lore of the Arkhamverse. Here are the most significant narrative twists from Batman: Arkham Shadow:

9 Leslie Thompkins Joins The Arkhamverse

Leslie Is A Mother Figure To Bruce

A close friend of the Wayne family, Leslie Thompkins plays a pivotal role in Bruce's life, serving as his surrogate mother following the tragic loss of his parents. Batman: Arkham Shadow marks her first appearance in the Arkhamverse, revealing that she was present on that fateful night, witnessing a young Bruce kneeling beside the slain Thomas and Martha Wayne.

Throughout the game, Leslie's presence is felt both in the present and through flashbacks. She aids Batman in his quest to uncover the Rat King's identity while simultaneously providing emotional support. These interactions highlight the deep bond between them, making her a welcome addition to the Arkhamverse tapestry.

8 Matches Malone

Batman's Disguise Skills Are Put To The Test

In his relentless pursuit of the truth behind the Rat King, Batman finds himself venturing into the treacherous depths of Blackgate Prison. To navigate this dangerous realm, he masterfully employs his renowned disguise abilities, seamlessly transforming into a hardened Gothamite criminal named Irving 'Matches' Malone.

Donning this alias marks a significant first for the Batman: Arkham series, despite Bruce Wayne's penchant for using disguises throughout the comics and other adaptations. It showcases Batman's adaptability and showcases Roger Craig Smith's vocal prowess as he effortlessly portrays distinct personas throughout the game.

7 Oracle's Origins

Barbara Gordon's Journey To Becoming Oracle Begins

Set chronologically between Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham Shadow features a teenage Barbara Gordon eager to contribute to Gotham's well-being. As in Arkham Origins, she possesses exceptional computer skills, enabling her to breach any system or database.

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Her invaluable assistance in Batman and Alfred's investigation into the Rat King earns her the codename Oracle for the first time. Initially hesitant, Batman later proudly addresses her by this moniker. In most iterations of the DC universe, Barbara Gordon's trajectory begins with Batgirl and later transitions to Oracle. However, Arkham Shadow presents an alternate origin story, establishing Oracle as her primary calling from the outset.

6 Two-Face's Painful Past

Harvey Dent's Childhood Trauma Is Explored

Having graced the screens in previous Arkham games, Two-Face takes center stage in Batman: Arkham Shadow, revealing untold aspects of his tormented history. Flashbacks to their youth depict Harvey as an inseparable sibling-like friend to Bruce Wayne, a bond that leads Bruce to uncover the dark secret of Harvey's abusive father.

Batman: Arkham Shadow confirms that Harvey endured relentless beatings, further disclosing that the Dissociative Identity Disorder that manifests as Two-Face is rooted in his family lineage. Harvey's father exhibited a Jekyll and Hyde personality, alternating between a cheerful and supportive demeanor and a sinister one, governed by a coin flip in determining his cruel actions. This revelation adds a poignant layer to Two-Face's character, deepening his tragic backstory.

5 Lock-Up's Fanatical Devotion

A Cautionary Tale On Toxic Fandom

Among the notable secondary antagonists in Batman: Arkham Shadow is Warden Lyle Bolton of Blackgate Prison, relentlessly driven by his warped sense of justice for Gotham City. His extreme methods involve torturing, maiming, or even eliminating anyone who violates the law, regardless of the severity of their offense.

Lyle Bolton's alter ego, Lock-Up, from Batman: The Animated Series, is also present in the game. This incarnation of Lock-Up is depicted as a deranged fanatic of Batman, idolizing him to an unsettling degree. He attempts to sway Batman toward adopting lethal tactics, but their opposing viewpoints ultimately lead to a clash between them.

4 The Shadow Surfaces

Batman Battles His Inner Darkness

Drawing inspiration from the Batman: Ego comic storyline, Batman: Arkham Shadow introduces a darker entity within Batman, known only as the Shadow. Throughout the narrative, Batman grapples with maintaining his resolve and succumbing to his rage, nearly abandoning his