Earlier today we reported that the PS3 version Batman: Arkham Origins will be receiving exclusive DLC. More information has been revealed, detailing the content that is derived directly from the early 1990s Grant/Dixon/O’Neil storyline, “Knightfall.”
Included in the DLC are challenge maps, but I’ll get to that in a minute. What is REALLY interesting about this DLC is this:
This throwback costume remembers the days of “WHAM! POW! ZAP!” from the 1960s Bill Dozier television series starring Adam West as the Caped Crusader. But you already knew that. What’s interesting is the response (or lack thereof) senior producer Ben Mattes gave when asked if West would lend his voice for the game. He completely avoided answering the question, saying only that the team was “really excited about” the costume DLC. Holy unsolved mystery, Batman!
Now, back to “Knightfall.”
Here’s what we know:
- The above image is the Azrael Batman costume included with the “Knightfall” DLC.
- This DLC will be exclusive to the PS3 (for a time, at least. Eventually, the DLC may go multi-platform for a small fee).
- According to Arkham Origins senior producer Ben Mattes, the “Knightfall” DLC will include challenge maps “specific to the ‘Knightfall’ storyline” and “appropriately themed characters and enemies.”
Appropriately themed characters and enemies? Guess you know what that means…
It’s SPECULATION TIME!
BACKGROUND:
Now, anyone not familiar with the “Knightfall” saga needs to know a few things. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD (although, the Knightfall saga has been out for 20 years and is a HUGE story, the most recent printing of which includes three volumes of over 200 full-color pages each).
First, Bane comes to Gotham City to challenge Batman. He sees Batman as the ultimate challenge to be overcome, and stages a breakout for all of Arkham Asylum’s maximum-security inmates (Joker, Two-Face, etc.). Batman spends the next six days working nonstop to recapture them until Bane finally confronts him at Wayne Manor and breaks his spine on his knee.
In the Batman universe, by this time Dick Grayson had become Nightwing, Jason Todd was killed, and Tim Drake had become the new Robin. Also, Batman has a hunchback mechanical genius named Harold living in his cave, who builds and upgrades and maintains all Batman’s gadgetry.
While Batman recovers, he enlists the aid of Jean-Paul Valley of the Sacred Order of St. Dumas (pronounced “DU-MAH”). Valley dons the mantle of the Bat and defeats Bane, but his training as Azrael takes over and he becomes an extremely violent, unstable loose cannon traipsing around Gotham City. Robin and Nightwing team up to put him down, but can’t do it alone. By this time, Bruce Wayne has recovered and defeats Valley to reclaim his mantle.
NOW FOR THE ANALYSIS:
Many different characters appear in this storyline. Let’s go through some of the big ones:
Joker, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Victor Zsasz, Firefly, Cavalier, Ventriloquist, Lady Shiva, Metalhead, Catwoman, Black Mask.
Now, Joker, Bane and Black Mask have already been confirmed for Arkham Origins. Catwoman has been confirmed for Arkham Origins: Blackgate for 3DS and PS Vita.
Lady Shiva is a world-class assassin in the Batman universe, who trained Bruce Wayne in the “Knightfall” saga after he recovered from his paraplegia. Could she be another assassin featured in the main storyline of the game? I sure hope so. It’s a chance for Batman to face off against a foe that isn’t trying to shoot him or cut him up with swords. Shiva likes using her bare hands.
Victor Zsasz is NOT an assassin for hire, but according to his backstory established in the Arkham universe, he lost all his money gambling at Penguin’s casino. Black Mask’s bounty could be an easy way for him to make some quick cash. Then again, Zsasz has no interest in money because he thinks nothing and no one matters.
Firefly is mainly a corporate saboteur, using his masterful knowledge of pyrotechnics to commit acts of industrial sabotage so that the people who hire him can collect the insurance money. I could totally see Firefly getting involved in the hunt for Batman as an assassin.
Cavalier is just an ex-stuntman-turned-vigilante who ends up swordfighting Batman and loses his life when he charges a group of police officers. Cavalier MIGHT be a decent choice, but only if the story fits to allow him to be a part of it. I only see him as a minor character or side mission at most, though.
Metalhead is just a crazed killer. In the “Knightfall” saga, he was tracked down by Batman to Black Mask’s family crypt. So we might even see some of Metalhead just because Black Mask is the main villain. From what I understand, though, “Knightfall” is the first and last appearance of this character in the DC Universe, so we may not see him at all.
So, that’s it. These are potential characters we could see appear in the game as a result of the Arkham Origins “Knightfall” DLC. Hope this specu-nalysis didn’t hurt your brain TOO much!
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Source: Joystiq