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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

AFTER BATMAN: ARKHAM - ROCKSTEADY'S NEXT VIDEO GAME SERIES SHOULD BE . . .


It's the end of an era. The Batman: Arkham games have come to a satisfying and awesome conclusion. Considering that the game has only been out for a month I will not spoil what happens in it, but suffice it to say that it's Batman at his most Batmaniest.

You don't get to do this in the game (unfortunately)

So if Rocksteady is not going to produce anymore Arkham games then what should they do next? Other than include some more cool shit on the Season Pass or more DLCs. I mean those things are obvious and a good way to keep people interested in the game and the universe it created. I'd prefer Rocksteady tackle a new hero and build a new awesome world around them. So who's next? Let's speculate:

 SUPERMAN

WHY IT SHOULD BE DONE - The most obvious choice by far. Other than Injustice: Gods Among Us Superman has yet to star in a really cool, fun, exciting video game. He's the most recognized superhero in the entire world yet he can't get a cool video game? I mean come on! How much fun would it be to fly around Metropolis or punch a hole in a mountain? Now, granted, probably the main issue with Superman is that he's got crazy powers and the game would either need to tone them down or have every threat he faces be a huge robot or something. However, there are ways around it. The game could open with Kryptonite being blasted into the air. There could be a red sun generator that's slowly taking out his powers (done once very well on an episode of Superman: the Animated Series). 

PREMISE - Other than my other suggestions, I think a cool idea (and a way to tone down Superman's powers) is to have him trapped in the Phantom Zone. It happened a few times on Smallville where Clark would end up in the Phantom Zone and have to find a way to escape. That would be a fun, maybe even scary game to play. You could take on (or even team up) with Zod, Jax Ur, and other scary villains like that. Maybe even throw in Darkseid, Brainiac, or Doomsday. 

CASTING CHOICES - You know what, Rocksteady? Let's keep the nostalgia going. Cast Tim Daly as Superman, Dana Delany as Lois Lane, and Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor. If Darkseid should make an appearance then definitely throw in Michael Ironside. In my mind, he's just as iconic as Darkseid as Kevin Conroy is as Batman. And yes, that's the biggest compliment I can give to a voice actor. 

GREEN ARROW

WHY IT SHOULD BE DONE - Yeah big shocker here! JJ wants an Arrow video game! Well duh! I don't play very many video games but I would die for a quality Green Arrow video game. This would probably be easier to pull off than Superman. Since Oliver is a human like Bruce the game wouldn't need a lot of limitations. But it would be cool to use different kinds of bows and practice archery. The game could incorporate long range "sniper" like missions, close combat fighting like in the Arkham games, or . . . 

PREMISE - David Goyer (writer of Man of Steel, the Blade films, and co-writer of the Dark Knight Trilogy) wrote a script where Green Arrow is framed for a crime he didn't commit and has to escape from a SuperMax prison with some super-villains' help. That would be an awesome game. It still has that "Escape From" tone like the Arkham games, but there's the added bonus of having to figure out who framed Arrow and restore his reputation. 

CASTING CHOICES - Again, no need to reinvent the wheel here. Stephen Amell as Green Arrow, Katie Cassidy as Black Canary, Manu Bennett as Deathstroke, and Colton Haynes as Arsenal. And since Arrow will need some computer hacking stuff done (who doesn't nowadays) Emily Bett Rickards as Felicity Smoak.

THE FLASH 

WHY IT SHOULD BE DONE - Ok so like my Superman suggestion this one would be tough to pull off. However, if done right, it could be a really unique and fun game. All the fun of racing games mixed in with awesome fighting sequences. The Flash is definitely getting a lot of attention these days with the CW TV show, a rumored appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and an already cast lead in Ezra Miller. Now would be a good time to capitalize on that and make a bad ass video game.

BASIC PREMISE - If we're sticking with the "Escape from" idea then it should definitely be the Speed Force. Barry gets trapped in the Speed Force by the Reverse Flash and has to fight other speedsters, monsters, and other crazy stuff. However, if that's too trippy, then maybe the game could just be a "Revenge of the Rogues" type thing where all the Flash's rogues team up and take over the city and you have to take them out one by one. Yeah, that's pretty much the idea behind Batman: Arkham Knight but it's not like there's a lot of ideas in terms of a video game plot! So sue me! 

CASTING CHOICES - Not a tough one at all! We already have a great cast so let's utilize them: Grant Gustin as the Flash, Candice Patton as Iris West, Tom Cavanagh as Reverse Flash, and Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold. 

WONDER WOMAN 

WHY IT SHOULD HAPPEN -Ok here me out. This game would be freaking EPIC! I mean that! Diana is an amazon and daughter of Zeus. The game could incorporate elements of Greek and/or Roman mythology mixed in with some DC Comics mythology (as the comics have been doing for the past few years). Plus fighting, flying, and basically kicking ass as Wonder Woman would be a great way to spread the news of her new movie coming out in 2017. Plus you can never have enough strong, female characters for young women (and young men) to look up to. Showing a strong, independent female hero in a successful video game would definitely get people interested. 

PREMISE - Something simple like the island of Themyscira has been attacked by the Titans and it's up to Wonder Woman and her invisible jet to save the day! 

What the hell is she doing in there? 

Seriously though, the game would be similar to the Lord of the Rings games where you have to fight monsters, demons, and eventually the gods themselves to save your family and the world. Plus having the game take place on Themyscira would be a similar approach to Arkham Asylum but different because there's no technology. Just you, the lasso, a sword, and Wonder Woman's fists of justice! 

CASTING CHOICES - Once more with the nostalgia: Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman, John Rhys-Davies as Lord Hades, and Susan Sullivan as Queen Hippolyta.

Sure there are a ton of characters that I didn't name that would make awesome video games. DC is full of amazing heroes and villains. Any one of them could star in a bad ass, fun, challenging video game. These four are some of my favorites. If Rocksteady announced a game based on one or more of these characters I would lose my mind. Let's hope they're reading this! But for now, I'm gonna go play Batman: Arkham Knight and scream, "Damn this game is hard!" 

Till Next Time!


JJ - the Comic Junkie! 



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