The Troubling Cosmetics of Batman: Arkham Knight Exposed

Article Key Points

While it's great that Rocksteady chose to include a skin of The Batman's Batman in the game Arkham Knight, it fails to address the pressing requirement for additional skins for the Bat Family companions.

Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Batgirl, and Red Hood, despite being playable in the game, have considerably limited or underwhelming choices when it comes to their costumes, in contrast to Batman. It is a glaring oversight to not offer them a wider range of alternative skins.

Although the possibility of additional skins being created for the Bat Family seems unlikely, fans eagerly anticipating a return to Arkham Knight and the prospect of another game centered around Batman will undoubtedly be exhilarated by the introduction of a new skin.

The Arkham franchise, particularly Batman: Arkham Knight, is undeniably one of the most influential superhero games. Any future DC game will inevitably be compared to it in terms of gameplay, story, and visuals, and rightfully so. It is evident that many fans are disheartened with the direction Rocksteady and Warner Bros. Games have taken with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, further solidifying Rocksteady's struggle to escape the shadow of the Batman it created.

This is further emphasized by the recent news that Rocksteady will be releasing a collection of Switch ports for its Arkham trilogy. Interestingly, this collection will supposedly include a skin featuring The Batman's Batman, which was leaked prematurely and subsequently removed.

The suit, formerly donned by Robert Pattinson, appears flawless in its Arkham Knight rendition. Nevertheless, even though it is a remarkable enhancement to a game that is almost a decade old, Arkham Knight has neglected to include suits for the playable Bat Family allies for far too long.

Batman Arkham Knight’s ‘The Batman’ Skin

The inclusion of Batman's suit in Arkham Knight is a great addition, but it's not just Batman who needs more diverse skins after all these years. Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Batgirl, and Red Hood are all playable characters in the game's challenges, but their costumes are limited and somewhat unimpressive.

For example, there isn't a widely popular skin available for Robin, and Nightwing only has a few alternate options. While the demand for these skins may be lower now compared to when Arkham Knight was first released, it seems like an oversight not to include one or two suits for the rest of the Bat Family, especially considering that additional suits like Zur-En-Arrh or The Batman's have been added years later.

The Bat Family Has a Limited Selection of Suits Compared to Batman

These characters are in dire need of skins, surpassing even Batman in their desperation for alternate appearances. This is particularly crucial as they play significant roles in the story alongside Batman. Therefore, providing different outfits for these characters becomes equally imperative and enhances the overall immersion, similar to dressing Batman in various attires.

There is little chance that new skins will be created for characters like Nightwing or Batgirl, but not having a Catwoman skin from The Batman feels like a missed opportunity. Nonetheless, fans who have been wanting to go back to Arkham Knight and are excited about another Batman-led game will likely be thrilled with this new skin.

If it is indeed included in the Arkham Trilogy on Switch along with other suits, it would be a fun reason to purchase the ports or any other edition of Arkham Knight. However, for now, The Batman suit is not yet available in the game, and fans should not get their hopes up for any unseen skins for Bat Family characters in the Arkham games going forward.

The third installment in the Arkham series from Rocksteady, Batman: Arkham Knight, puts players in control of Batman as he comes face-to-face with a formidable and mysterious new adversary known as The Arkham Knight. This time, players will navigate through an expansive open world, encountering various iconic villains from Batman's Rogues Gallery, all while striving to prevent the villain from seizing control of Gotham City.

Franchise: Batman

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

Release Date: June 23, 2015

Developers: Rocksteady Studios

Publishers: Warner Bros. Interactive

Genre: Action

ESRB Rating: M for Mature - Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence

Average Gameplay Time: 17 Hours

X|S Enhanced: No

Xbox Series File Size: 47 GB (as of May 2023)

Metascore: 87

PS Plus Availability: Extra & Premium

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the recent addition of Robert Pattinson's The Batman suit to Batman: Arkham Knight. While I appreciate the nod to the latest Batman movie, I can't help but feel disappointed that Rocksteady has neglected to add more skins for the other members of the Bat Family.

Robin, Nightwing, Catwoman, Batgirl, and Red Hood are all playable characters in Arkham Knight, but their costume options are severely limited compared to Batman's. This is a glaring oversight, especially considering how popular these characters are. I would love to see more skins for the Bat Family, especially ones that are inspired by the comics and movies.

On the other hand, I understand that Rocksteady is a small studio and that they have limited resources. Perhaps they simply didn't have the time or money to create more skins for the Bat Family. Whatever the reason, I hope that Rocksteady will consider adding more skins for the Bat Family in the future. It would be a great way to show fans that they care about all of the characters in the Batman universe, not just Batman himself.