Game review: Arkham Knight rounds off Rocksteady’s acclaimed trilogy with more gadgets, heroes and villains than ever

Batman: Arkham Knight

Xbox One, PlayStation4, PC

Five stars

Rocksteady Studios proved with 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum that a video game inspired by superhero mythology could be an impeccably cerebral affair, not just another name-association money grab.

The company affirmed that with the 2011 follow-up, ­Batman: Arkham City, by increasing the Dark Knight's wingspan in a larger landscape and with more fluid movement.

In Rocksteady's final take on the Caped Crusader, Batman: Arkham Knight, the developer has again expanded its virtual Gotham, adding into the mix a driveable Batmobile and raising the stakes for billionaire superhero Bruce Wayne.

As a character ominously notes at the beginning of the ­adventure, this one is all about “how the Batman died”.

Following years of peace and quiet from Gotham's super- ­villain population after the Joker perished at the end of Arkham City, mind-bending baddy Scarecrow has returned on Halloween night to threaten Gotham with a citywide chemical attack, forcing a mandatory evacuation of citizens – other than the rioters, maniacs and militia members who stayed ­behind.

That militia is reporting to Scarecrow’s cohort, a masked Batman lookalike calling himself the Arkham Knight, who has a very mysterious – and very personal – vendetta against Batman. The Scarecrow is also coordinating chaos with other members of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, including repeat offenders The Riddler, Two-Face and The Penguin, plus newcomers to the games such as Man-Bat and Firefly.

In response, Batman is bringing more superfriends to the fight. Rocksteady has smartly woven such allies as Alfred, Oracle, Robin, Catwoman and Nightwing into a plot that features more twists and turns than a roller-coaster at an amusement park.

The Dark Knight is also equipped with a range of new gadgets, including a voice modulator and weapon disrupter. Oh, and then there is that tanklike Batmobile, too.

While much has been made of the introduction of the first interactive Batmobile in the Arkham series, it's hardly the game's most enthralling feature. In fact, it might be the least interesting. At first, remotely calling on it while gliding through the air to battle Arkham Knight's army is a thrilling addition. After taking out a few dozen drones, it becomes a bit of a monotonous chore.

As with the previous Arkham games – including 2013's ­Batman: Arkham Origins, which was developed by Warner Bros. Montreal rather than of Rocksteady – Arkham Knight is at its best when Batman must systematically alternate between solving crimes, zipping around and punching thugs. Batman's more interconnected missions make for a richer experience overall.

It’s evident when charging through Gotham in the ­Batmobile and soaring through the air in the Batsuit that Rocksteady has been building to this moment.

Arkham Knight is an epic and satisfying conclusion to a groundbreaking series that proved a pop-culture icon could be thrillingly brought to life in a virtual world. Superman should be jealous.

* AP