Batman: Arkham Shadow [Meta Quest 3] | REVIEW

I thought Batman Arkham VR was really cool when it launched on PlayStation VR back in 2016, but there’s no denying that it didn’t actually FEEL like an Arkham title. It felt more like a detective experience, and that’s fine – especially since Batman is the ‘world’s greatest detective’ – but given how beloved the gameplay formula of the series is, it was hard not to want more.

It’s what makes Batman: Arkham Shadow feel so damn special. The team at Camouflaj have managed to adapt the action, the storytelling, and the immersive world design of the Arkham series perfectly for VR, all whilst making players truly feel like they really are the Caped Crusader. Believe me, if you’re a fan of Batman, you will NOT want to miss out on this.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Batman: Arkham Shadow tells an early story in Batman’s career, with it closer to Batman Arkham Origins than any other title in the series. The crux of the tale revolves around bringing down the Rat Catcher, who has been targeting political figures and reaping chaos across Gotham City. However, this isn’t done as Batman alone – players also have to leave the cowl behind in the Bat Cave and play out events from the perspective of Bruce Wayne, bringing with it the emotional weight of duality as the story unravels from both perspectives.

I really don’t want to give too much away, especially when it comes to the characters you encounter throughout the narrative, but just know that it lives up to the high standards set in previous entries in the series. The voice acting and writing help bring a wonderful cinematic edge to the experience that’s made all the more immersive in VR, whilst the twists-and-turns that play out (as well as references to other Arkham titles) will leave long-time Batman fans giddy with glee. It’s rich in lore and offers plenty of backstory through in-game items, with the storytelling and cinematic presentation standing out as some of the game’s greatest strengths.

So, we know that Batman: Arkham Shadow captures the excellent storytelling of the Arkham series, but most importantly, how does the gameplay hold up?

Well, the combat system is simply outstanding, with the iconic free-flow mechanics perfectly reworked into a first-person perspective whilst utilising motion controls effectively. Players are able to target individual opponents and lunge towards them with punches, all whilst hitting a variety of shots from multiple angles that help build up combos. You’re then able to counter incoming hits by raising your palm towards the direction of the attack, with an on-screen indicator pointing you in the right direction. Players will mash out quick-hitting combos to deal damage to downed foes, whilst additional manoeuvres can be triggered to nail that knock out-shot. It feels fluid and impactful, with it capturing the combat of the Arkham series in an intuitive and satisfying manner that feels perfectly befitting of VR. Honestly, I was blown away by just how good it felt, but be warned: it’ll give you a good work out, especially in those tougher encounters against multiple foes.

“Batman: Arkham Shadow is simply superb, with it capturing the action, the storytelling, and the world design of the Arkham series perfectly.”

Oh, and it’s also worth bearing in mind that you’ll need a decent bit of space around you when playing. Raising your fists and hitting at multiple directions saw me wandering all over my living room, and there were a few times when I nearly punched a wall when trying to counter attacks coming from the sides. It’s par for the course, especially for those experienced with VR gaming, but Batman: Arkham Shadow feels like it especially needs a decent playing space to be fully enjoyed.

Batman’s ‘Detective Mode’ is also cleverly implemented to make puzzling moments all the more immersive. Whilst it does mostly boil down to identifying clues in the environment and using them as a means to progress, it adds a satisfying element of detective work to the experience that feels befitting of Batman. And, of course, it can also be used in combat when sneaking across locales, allowing players to track enemies and execute some swift stealth takedowns. It can be just as important to take the silent approach in Batman: Arkham Shadow, but hey, what else would you expect?

Whilst Batman: Arkham Shadow manages to re-create the action, exploration, and storytelling of the Arkham series in an effective and enjoyable manner, it also deserves a lot of credit for the moments of immersion that it brings that are unique to the experience. Grabbing your cape and lifting your arms to glide between gaps, using your array of gadgets to get around or interact with the world, physically removing vent covers, exerting your strength whilst physically interrogating enemies… whilst these are things you’d have done in the series in the past, the way they are presented here feels so distinct and immersive that it’s hard not to find yourself completely pulled into the experience when performing them. Again, I’m making a point not to spoil some of the more standout moments of these actions here, but believe me, Batman: Arkham Shadow is packed to the brim with so many incredibly immersive moments that it’s easy to believe that you REALLY are Batman when playing. It can be emotional, it can be visceral, and it can be jaw-dropping, but one things for sure: it’s made all the more impressive thanks to VR.

Check out some screenshots down below:

We’ve reviewed Batman: Arkham Shadow a little later than release, so I was lucky to avoid some of the earlier reported bugs during my playthrough. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t perfect – I had to reinstall the game at first because it kept locking up on the opening loading screen and I did suffer one soft lock – but the overall gameplay experience saw minimal issues outside of that. The latest update also brought with it more localised languages, a character model viewer, and an additional challenge map to play through, so the technical fixes have been complemented by some extras that make the experience all the more fleshed out. But hey, coming in at around thirteen hours to beat (and longer if you want to find everything), it’s a pretty meaty game anyway.

It makes it all the more impressive that it has come as a freebie for recent purchases of the Meta Quest 3|3S. Honestly? It feels nuts that it’s been packaged in for free, with this arguably the platform’s best (and most anticipated) release. Players are in for a treat though, whilst there are plenty of comfort settings in place to ensure those new to VR will be able to deal with the physical nature of the game.

Listen, if we didn’t have a word count limit for our reviews, I could easily wax lyrical about Batman: Arkham Shadow for an extra thousand words or so. I’m a Batman fan, I’m an Arkham fan, and I’m a VR fan, and Camouflaj have brought the three together perfectly to make for a sublime experience that delivered everything I wanted and more. That’s so much more I could talk about (I haven’t even mentioned how gorgeous Gotham looks, the satisfying challenge maps, or the brilliant boss encounters), so you’ll just have to believe me when I say this is one of the best VR games I’ve ever played.

Developer: Camouflaj
Publisher: Oculus Publishing
Platform(s): Meta Quest 3 (Reviewed)
Website: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/batman-arkham-shadow/3551691271620960/