Batman: Return to Arkham

Ah, the Arkham Games. Anybody knowledgeable in the universe of superhero games knows Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. They are two of the best Batman games ever released - possibly in the entire DC universe. It would be pleasing to an enthusiast to know that these two games are being redelivered with all their DLC's in a single package - Batman: Return to Arkham. Better yet, they've had a makeover.

The games have been critically acclaimed as excellent throughout - mastering the action-adventure gameplay mechanics and delivering everything one could expect from a Batman experience. We already know there's not much to debunk from these past two masterpieces, but it's interesting to understand how these two games stand in their new form.

Shining Like a Dark Knight

Let's remember the positives of the Arkham games. They have phenomenally written stories, immersive worlds of the Arkham slums, and fiercely engaging combat. Everything about Arkham Asylum and Arkham City was just done right. Much so that developers Rocksteady thought it might be beneficial to keep the games relevant by giving them a fresh coat of paint for modern consoles.

It's important to note that nothing of the game has fundamentally changed apart from the graphics - and some visual additions like skins. They are still the same two games with an engine upgrade, and revisiting the two may seem to do it a little less justice than one would have hoped. The engine certainly enhances the models and details of the characters and Arkham's gloomy environment. However, that sharp touch may add just a bit too much color - detracting from what needs to be a misty environment. In places, models look very blocky, and Batman himself occasionally looks more like the comical Adam West version. Not the gangster persona of Christian Bale we want.

The most frustrating part of the upgrade is the game still does not reach 60fps. You feel that seems something you would want to accomplish on capable consoles. It does sound a bit pedantic to look at such detail, but there's not much left to criticize if you've already got two magnificent games on the table.

Stick With What You Know

Bringing these superior games back into the fray is positive as more people need to play them. Especially true if you've never played them before, which transmits the main point across. If you own the games already, you are probably better off simply sticking with the originals. They were developed around their intended consoles and make the best of them.

The upgrade seems to point out more graphical and visual flaws than improve upon them - something you really don't want from what is already excellent gameplay. If you haven't played the Arkham games before, Return to Arkham is worth the investment. Only considering the whole series is wrapped into one. You also won't be making necessary comparisons then like I have.

Pros

• Details Arkham nicely with improved particle and lighting effects
• Both games, all DLC's and extras included in one offering
• Games are still amazing

Cons

• Visual 'improvements' detract more than they do enhance
• Nothing much changed other than graphics
• Not being 60fps makes no point of having it on modern consoles