Batmanhas become one of the most iconic heroes of the modern age, and his many excellent video game adaptations are partially to thank for that success. But with HBO’sThe Penguin, a spin-off ofThe Batman, showing success, the nextBatmangame might not need to be about the hero.
The Penguin has long been one of Batman’s more unusual villains and is often left out of the fun when it comes to more serious adaptations of the story. For that reason, it was a bit of a surprise to see him pop up in Matt Reeves’The Batmanas a gritty crime lord expertly played by Colin Farrel. His appearance in the movie was so well received that HBO has premieredThe Penguin, a show following Oswald Cobb as he becomes a key player in Gotham’s underworld. Though it has been reported that Batman himself won’t appear in the series, fans are hoping to seeother Batman characters inThe Penguin. The fact that the studio believes in the show enough to leave Batman out might be a signal that a Batman story, or even aBatmangame, doesn’t need to star Bruce Wayne.
A Batman Game Could Still Work Without the Hero
It’s safe to say thatBatmangames aren’t going anywhere any time soon, especially withBatman: Arkham Shadowofficially continuing theArkhamseries this coming October. The hero will always be the star of his franchise, but part of what captures fans in his stories are the excellent, nuanced villains that he faces. Gotham is full of rogues, villains, and anti-heroes that could shine in a game of their own, andThe Penguinproves that there is an audience for this type of story.
Games with morally gray characters are nothing new, and no series expounds on that moral gray area better thanBatmanwith characters like Mr. Freeze, whose ultimate goal is to cure his wife’s fatal Illness, or Poison Ivy, who harms humans in order to try and save the planet. These types of characters would offer not only a deep introspective story but also create dynamic gameplay opportunities that fans aren’t used to. With so manyBatman villains who have never appeared in live-action movies, new fans might just be introduced to old favorites for the first time.
Batman Games Should Still Try to Improve a Winning Formula
TheArkhamgames, as well as otherBatmantitles, will probably always be enjoyable for players and successful for developers, but nothing grows by staying the same. Focusing on new characters who haven’t been explored in video games would offer players a new experience in a familiar world. Batman’s action-packed fights have their place, but not all players enjoy the same type of content. Characters like Catwoman with her burglary or Clayface with his ability to transform could offer stealth-based gameplay that Batman isn’t able to. Deadshot could offer a focus on ranged combat with sniper options, altering the way players would do battle. There are a whole host ofunderrated Batman villainswho could allow fans to see Gotham through new eyes. By taking a series that fans are familiar with and incorporating new elements, developers can ensure that the series doesn’t become stale by repeating old habits.
The Case for Cross-Promotion
Games could also work wonders for studios who want to highlight new projects and characters.The Penguinis shaping up to be a great show on its own merits, but there’s no hiding that it raises awareness of Matt Reeves’Batmanuniverse, which will be continuing inThe Batman Part 2. It’s still unknownwho the villain inThe Batman Part 2will be, but one way of teasing that reveal would be by creating new games for new villains within that world. A prequel for the next movie could introduce new versions of familiar villains, hype players up for their big-screen debut, and ensure fans are interested in the film.
Both movie and game studios have a tendency to play it safe, which is why Batman is usually the star ofBatmanproperties, but shows likeThe Penguinand films likeJokershow that villains can still provide stories that fans will be drawn to.Batman’s rogues gallery features villains that are disturbing, comical, heartbreaking, satirical, and everything in between, and it’s time that someone examines them in more detail. Perhaps the games industry is the perfect place to showcase what Batman’s villains could do in the spotlight.
