Batman: Arkham VR Reviews
We’ve seen the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne play out in numerous ways but none of them so visceral as to put you into that world directly. It’s a surreal experience to be Bruce at that moment.
It's really short and you won't get much replay value, but being Batman even for one a night, and in a more passive role, is still pretty cool.
In Arkham VR, you are Batman like never before, thanks to Rocksteady’s convincing virtual reality and an involving story full of satisfying moments.
How much would you pay to be Batman for an hour? If your answer sits somewhere in the region of £15.99/$19.99, then Batman: Arkham VR is a virtual no-brainer. With the exception of the finicky motion tracking and brief running time, this is an exceptional short story that eloquently demonstrates many of the advantages of virtual reality. But perhaps the most impressive thing here is that, in transforming you into the Dark Knight, it illuminates both the pros and cons of being a masked vigilante. And while the former interactions will make you feel downright awesome, it's when the Caped Crusader slowly begins to unravel that it comes into its own.
The best thing you'll play on PS VR at launch
Batman Arkham VR is the first experiment of Rocksteady in the field of virtual reality, a successful attempt to get closer to this technology and to explore its expressive possibilities. The experience is really short, but the game has many other qualities. The graphics are among the best in the launch line-up of PlayStation VR, and the game shows excellent gameplay ideas, and a dynamic storytelling stitched around the player's movements.
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It’s a perfect showcase for the potential of VR to deliver powerful experience, even if it is criminally lacking in content. Rocksteady’s previous Arkham games let you understand what it might be like to be the Dark Knight, this really makes you feel like you are Batman.
Though Rocksteady Studios' Batman: Arkham series has already allowed us to feel how great it is to fight as Batman, Batman: Arkham VR literally puts you inside the cowl for the first time. It's so many dreams come true.
Arkham VR is short and pretty simple. However, for a shade over 30 bucks, it's probably still worth it, particularly if you need an impressive looking and accessible title with which to impress your friends.
Arkham VR is a limited game but a robust experience, with only some replay value through collectable Riddler trophies dotted around subsequent playthroughs. Like many other VR games it serves well as a showcase for the possibilities of virtual reality, but doesn't offer players an experience with any real depth.
Arkham VR is simply a must-buy for any Batman fan picking up PSVR. Rocksteady has proven itself time and again as the perfect creator of Batman games, and extending its brilliance into VR with such aplomb should be applauded.
Batman: Arkham VR offers some fun puzzles and use of tools, but its lack of action scenes and short running time keep the game from really making you feel like Batman.
Batman Arkham VR is one hell of an experience. It’s definitely one of my favourite VR launch titles due to the fact that it takes a set of well-known characters and lets you engage with them.
This is the best use of PlayStation VR that I’ve seen currently available. The other, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, won’t be available for a bit. Their common denominator is an easy one – who wouldn’t want to be an actual part of a lifelong love? Batman: Arkham VR is a must-have for any Bat-fan with a PS VR system.
Many of the games releasing for PSVR at launch appear to be more proof of concept experiences than complete games. As I’ve mentioned, interactivity outside of the Batcave is minimal, and I’ve spent way too much time grappling to difficult vantage points than actually fighting crime. It’s like I’m more of a passenger watching the world turn right in front of eyes. More interactions would be an improvement, as well as at least doubling the length of the game. There are Riddler trophies to collect, a staple of the series if you wish to replay certain chapters of the game once completed.
When Arkham VR works, I am Batman breathing in the ambience of Gotham City. When it fails, I am a human being in my basement struggling to convince suspicious technology to behave correctly. This creates a curious dichotomy, one that actively embraces virtual reality's capability to magically transform the world while also bearing the burden of hardware in its infancy. Whether or not Arkham VR can find balance may come down to a set of personal preferences and, to a certain extent, luck.
A life-changing experience for every Batman fan
This franchise may do well in a full VR game but they do need to add gameplay and repercussions. Also for those that are affected by VR motion sickness, this game (for me anyway) didn’t give me any issues. Rock Steady Studios may have been thinking about this ahead of time and this may be why when presented with travel options like the Batwing or Bat Mobile, the scene goes dark and you are miraculously at your destination. This is a bit disappointing, because who would not want to VR in the driver’s seat of the Batmobile or the Batwing? I mean really? However in the end, the Batman: Arkham VR experience is worth it more for the very hard core fans because it’s such a short romp and others may feel a little robbed.
Batman: Arkham VR is a jump forward in gaming.
More than a tech-demo, it’s an experience that every VR owner should try.