Post Arkham: The future of superhero games

[volsung]

Post Arkham: The future of superhero games

I remember some good comic book inspired games in the 90s, some of them on arcade machines (like that 4 or 6 player X-Men game!) and some on the Super NES. But then the 2000's brought as a LOT of garbage. Like that Spiderman action game based on the movie. Ugh, never finished it.

When Arkham Asylum came, it completely redefined the superhero and comic book based action games, proving once and for all these games CAN be good. The series are an example of good writing, good flow, excellent graphics, excellent combat, and ground breaking visual design and technique. No more simple movie tie-ins.

The highly successful Arkham series, however, might either come to an end with Origin or sprout a plethora of spin offs. So I wonder what will we see in the future in terms of good super hero games? Hopefully something in the vein of the Arkham series? What other franchises would you like to see?

As an X-Men fan, I'd like to see some of that. Maybe a mission driven third person action game where we can choose one out of 6 or so X-Men, depending on the mission at hand. Or a tactical approach to X-Men where we command a whole squad! Now that would be interesting. Something similar to X-Com with illustrated, comic-book style story transitions. As for the roster, I'd like a mix of the first (golden era -- Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Jean-Grey, Archangel) and second generations (Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Banshee, Nightcrawler, minus Sunfire for lack of charisma and Thunderbird because, well, he's dead). Maybe add Havok and Lorna Dane. OR the New X-Men roster.

I read somewhere a suggestion about a Daredevil game that would essentially be an Arkham clone. So meh.

What do you think?

 

[Glaroug.531]

I have some great memories of playing 4 player Ninja Turtles game at the arcade. The was excellent!!! I no spider man game has even come close to the Spiderman 2 movie "web" travel, which was pretty cool condsidering movie lisense games are an almost 100% guarantee of nasty. Your X-Men idea sounds fun for sure. Outside of X-Men, I can't think of a great concept that would work in a video game. Doubt there is need of another Spiderman />/> , hmm.... it would be great for hard as balls ninja game featuring the Ninja Turtles. I'd be down with that. Absolutely.

PIZZA!!!!!!!

Or a Jonah Hex game.

*whispers into the wind* more than any type of game I'd like for a great western to come to the PC


EDIT: With all the depth, atmosphere, variety, freshness, "cool factor" and fun a great modern X-Men game would bring, it better not have any DLC character nonsense.

 

[volsung]

If they do what they did to the Ninja Turtles in that last movie, then please no! But yes, TMNT are another of my childhood obsessions.

I suppose a modern 3D beat'em up like Batman AA, with story and character progression, would be pretty awesome. How would they handle us choosing different turtles though? I guess each could have their own personal paths and then also share some larger areas.

Could this also be the return of local co-op?

 

[Glaroug.531]

Yes, the choosing of the Turtles. Local Co-op, cool, buuut woundn't want it built around multiplayer, however, multiplayer was a huge boost in the fun factor of the arcade game. Ah, I'll just leave those hard decisions to the imaginary developers

 

[volsung]

If they make a ninja turtles game it should probably be retro and look like an 80's movie. That would be pretty awesome! And it should use a soundtrack full of glam rock and hair metal.

 

[cmdr_silverbolt]

Yes, for X-Men. I would lose my head over an Asylum/Arkham style X-Men game. I think your idea about a tactical action game is great, but I'd really like to see a game where you can play different factions as well, like Starjammers or X-factor, or freaking X-force.

It might also be cool to play as the villains, and side with Sinister and his Marauders or something, haha! So, to whom do we send this petition

As for TMNT, it would be totally gnarly to play a Batman-esque TMNT game.

 

[Demut]

I don’t know of any interesting Western superheroes that don’t feel cliché at this point so I don’t really care. Except maybe the lot from “The Boys” but it’s actually more the plot than the superheroes that won me over.

 

[FoggyFishburne]

Most superhero games still suck to this day. For every Batman Arkham Asylum there's 50 shitty ones like Thor, Green Lantern and Watchmen: The End is Nigh. So I wouldn't say the industry has taken any drastic steps to improve the overall quality of superhero tied games. And I would add, I don't think people should get their hopes up. Only way for the majority of those games to improve in quality is by not buying them anymore. Vote with your wallet. When the developers finally realize that they can't be so lazy and shit out underwhelming game after another and actually have to put some effort into their games, like Rocksteady does, then you can start supporting them again. Right now, boycotting is the only way for them to get the fucking hint.

 

[volsung]

Superheroes that are not cliche? Is that even possible? They are a staple of the Western world and they are as ridiculous as it gets. And we like it! It's fun. Who can actually take a mentally unstable millionaire who wears fancy body armor and drives expensive cars seriously? Not with his tacky raspy voice and his dramatic entrances. In real life, he would have already been shot multiple times with a stationary machine gun or whatever criminals have these days.

X-Men are cool because under their tacky surface there are subthemes of racism and discrimination, which could be played right and serve as foundation for an excellent narrative.

And I agree. I'd love to play the "villains". Magneto is one of my favorite characters.

 

[Blothulfur]

I prefer the old British superheroes such as the Derisive Duo: Professor Profanity and his feisty sidekick the Foulmouthed Fox, battling crime with crude language and rude gestures.

I remember their adventure in Transylvania. Driving through the Carpathians at night their car (the Mockerymobile) is pounced upon by Dracula himself, who with supernatural dexterity clings to the bonnet and cackles evilly as he prepares to strike.

"Quickly Fox, show him your cross." The Professor says.

With a nod and a wink the Foulmouthed Fox rolls down her window and sticks her head out. "Get off my fucking car you bastard cape wearing shithead! I've just had it bloody profiled you selfish tit." She exclaims with vigour.

In the wake of the shocked vampires retreat, the Professor shrugs and mutters. "Erm I meant the cross around your neck, but good enough I suppose."

So heroic.

 

[Garrison72]

Outside of Batman, I don't have any interest in comic book characters. But I see enormous potential for them in the games industry, especially with xmen. What I would personally like to see is a flawed ascent from pleb to ubermensch, not in an idealized way, rather have the hero struggling with forced anonymity, isolation, compulsion, violence - basically a serious and very intimate take on becoming a superhero. And I wouldn't liscense a character from a comic book, I'd make him unique to the game. I'd start the game out with you having a normal job, a wife, maybe a family. For the first 30-40 minutes it's your character and his mundane existence. Here the story telling and character interaction would have to be really good to maintain the gamer's interest. When the event occurs that will form your new identity and bring you newfound powers, then everything explodes into a new narrative. Gameplay mechanics and combat fall into your lap, you have to live in a secret safehouse or stay on the move. It goes from normalville to a nightmare in minutes. You have to avoid the law and enemies alike because you're a vigilante, possibly spurned by the public and hunted by cops. That's the superhero game I want.

 

[Blothulfur]

Fuck yeah! Maybe choose to become a villain or hero though?

 

[Demut]

Who can actually take a mentally unstable millionaire who wears fancy body armor and drives expensive cars seriously?

No one in their right mind but that’s my point. Superheroes don’t have to be designed in that fashion. Alas, there are very few examples of them being done differently.

 

[username_3588181]

Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are both terrific games. Batman is without a doubt my favorite.
However the next super hero game, that I’d like to see made is a continuation of the “Freedom Force” franchise.

It’s not exactly in the same genre as AA or AC, but it's still awesome (especially if you have the patience to search the internet for custom skins/meshes and other mods). Maybe the success of other super hero games will push Irrational Games to consider making a sequel .

 

[Glaroug.531]

I've always wondered why there is no Marvel vs DC game.You'd think they would have made one years ago. Just a simple fighting game of super coolness.

 

[volsung]

How about the super heroes of the first age? Flash Gordon, the Phantom, Mandrake?

A game where you create your own hero/villain was one of my first thoughts, it seems like more than one person would like it . In CDPR's best style, it could have dynamic narrative with lots of introspection and character building through attitudes and dialogue. The way we treat others could determine what missions we have available, and ultimately what we become. Does not have to be super hero though, could be about vigilantes. If we choose a techy approach, we can design gadgets and whatnot. The physical approach takes us to the gym or the dojo. The smart approach gives us a silver tongue. And the stealthy approach makes us a shadow. And the weapons approach converts us into marksmen. And there's all the in-betweens!

And Marvel vs. DC:

Logan Wayne:

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Never really played the Arkham Asylum. Is it available anywhere DRM free? It's not on GOG for some reason.

 

[soldiergeralt]

it's too bad no matter how nice your graphics are, super heroes always end up looking ridiculous. oh and bat vision or whatever its called. talk about lazy game design.

 

[volsung]

Never really played the Arkham Asylum. Is it available anywhere DRM free? It's not on GOG for some reason.

It's very unlikely that it will be on GOG or anywhere else DRM-free anytime soon. It's a AAA game from 2009, which is fairly recent for GOG standards. In fact, my major gripe with both Batman Arkham games is they are filled to the brim with DRM. Never had any technical issues but the whole activation + online patches + CD check is incredibly annoying.

The games themselves are truly excellent. It is a shame some people will probably never play them.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

I got an impression that GOG aren't focused on old games exclusively anymore, so a game from 2009 should be perfectly good for GOG standards However if it's released by some DRM obsessed company, then surely it won't end up on GOG.