Unleashing Robin's Untapped Potential: Rocksteady's Arkham Franchise Should've Seized the Opportunity

Highlights

Batman's visual development in the Arkham games was significant, with his suit evolving from basic to elite, but Robin's costume remained largely unchanged.

Robin's depiction in Arkham City showcased him as a mature individual within the dark Arkham world, yet his appearance was not expanded upon in later games. The limited diversity in Robin's visual presentations throughout the Arkham series, along with an inconsistency in the downloadable content, highlights a noticeable neglect and indifference towards the character when compared to Batman.

The visual development of Batman in the Rocksteady and WB Games Montreal’s Arkham universe is not surprising considering he was the main character in his self-titled games. He started with a basic suit in Arkham Asylum, then upgraded to a more padded but still vulnerable suit in Arkham City, and finally obtained an elite suit in Arkham Knight. However, in the prequel game Arkham Origins, Batman wore a bulky suit which he later abandoned.

While Batman's personality and behavior may not have evolved much throughout the games, his default suits have. There are also numerous cosmetic suit skins for players to choose from, although some have awkwardly implemented capes that clip through Batman's arms and body during gliding. However, it's important to note that Batman isn't the only playable character in the franchise. Robin, one of his prominent sidekicks, was not given much attention in terms of costume development.

Arkham City’s Robin Design was Great, But Never Truly Improved Upon

Rocksteady introduced a new version of Robin in Arkham City, diverging from the traditional colorful depiction of the Boy Wonder. Tim Drake, donning muted red, yellow, and black armor and a cape with a constantly raised hood, presented a unique and edgier look. The hood concealed Tim's shaved head, which became the defining characteristic of his reimagined appearance, despite not being visible in-game when his hood was down.

Gone were the cherubic acrobat tights and swirling bangs, emphasizing Robin's transition into an adult within the dark and somber Arkham universe. Equipped with a retractable staff, ballistic shield, zip-kick grapnel line, and shurikens as his distinctive gadgets, Robin's presentation was exceptional. Unfortunately, this design did not undergo further development to showcase Tim's progression between games.

Robin was Failed by His Aesthetic Appearances in the Arkham Franchise

Arkham Origins served as a prequel to Arkham Asylum and followed the events of Arkham City. It introduced Dick Grayson's Robin in the multiplayer mode, allowing players to immerse themselves in the captivating partnership of Batman and Robin. While the multiplayer mode, unfortunately, ceased to exist, Dick's Robin was distinguishably portrayed with dark hair and predominantly red armor.

In a rather peculiar and visually unappealing manner, Tim's Robin made an unexpected appearance in Arkham Knight, sporting an almost identical appearance. However, due to Rocksteady's decision to adopt a hyperrealistic approach to graphical fidelity in Arkham Knight, the character models began to exhibit signs of wear and aging, an effect that the more stylized approach of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City managed to avoid.

Tim’s shaved head is constantly visible, unlike in Arkham City where it can be concealed by a hood. It is disappointing that Robin did not receive a significant makeover like Batman. Therefore, the Robin aesthetic in Arkham Knight is a disappointing downgrade compared to Arkham City, considering that Rocksteady had the resources to be more creative with its redesign. The biggest flaw in the development of Tim’s Robin is that he appears with the same look in both the base game and the Matter of Family DLC in Arkham Knight. Since this DLC is a prequel set before the events of Arkham Asylum, it is illogical for Tim to look identical to his Arkham Knight appearance, especially considering how he looked in Arkham City. This inconsistency, along with the limited availability of Robin skins in Arkham Knight, highlights a significant oversight with Tim’s character. It is unfortunate that he has not received the same level of care and attention as Batman in Rocksteady’s Arkham games.