Sunday, 8 Sep 2024

Arkham Knight’s Rogue’s Gallery

Batman’s adversaries are just as integral to his story as he is. Throughout the years, he has faced a wide range of foes, each with their own unique characteristics and quirks. In the Arkham series, Rocksteady Studios has taken these iconic villains and given them their own twist. Let’s take a closer look at how some of these familiar faces have evolved since we last encountered them in Arkham City.

Elevating the Characters

David Hego, the game’s art director, understands the challenge of reinventing returning characters. He says, “We tried to add something to the characters, so you’re still excited about them even after meeting them for the third time. How can we make these guys exciting, even after seeing them again? Every time, we make them look better and better, but at the same time, how can we improve the story behind them?”

Penguin

In the Arkhamverse, Penguin is far from the refined, suave mastermind seen in early comics and the Adam West show. While not as repulsive as Danny DeVito’s portrayal in Batman Returns, this version of Penguin is still a thuggish and repugnant figure.

According to lead character artist Albert Feliu, “In Arkham City, he’s a collector. He works out of a museum and he looks like he’s in the mafia.” In Arkham Knight, the game’s setting has shifted to Halloween, allowing for a change in the Penguin’s wardrobe. “This time, we went for an autumnal mafia look,” Feliu explains. “We took the coat off, and the concept of Penguin was more of a dirty dude. Obviously, his shirt is rolled up and sweaty, and he has food stains on it. But still, he’s really powerful. He’s got a golden chain, as well. We had to be a bit crazy with this character, and working with his design. And we shaved his head. He’s proper filthy, you know. It makes you want to punch him even more.”

Two-Face

With Two-Face, the challenge was to find a way to differentiate him from his appearance in Arkham City. Feliu states, “We thought he was a really strong character already. Okay, that was Arkham City; what can we do to make him look different, right? We just rolled up his sleeves and made him look really next-gen. We took some references of really filthy, burnt flesh – which is what we do most of the time, which is quite cool – and tried to make him look as badass as we could.”

Ultimately, Rocksteady was satisfied with Two-Face’s core design and decided not to make any drastic changes. Feliu admits, “He was already a really strong character, so we tried to push it and keep going that way. We didn’t want to change it that much.”

The Riddler

The Riddler has always been a mysterious figure, much like the puzzles he scatters throughout Gotham City. In Arkham City, he was not prominently featured. However, this time around, players will see him throughout the game as a fully realized character who evolves over time.

Feliu explains, “It’s something we try to put in the characters. If you had to work overtime, for example, you would start the night with your jumper on and everything, and as the time went by you’d probably take your jumper off, open your shirt, take your tie off, have a coffee. The Riddler is a character who has a cool framework, and we didn’t want to change it too much – we like his shirts with question marks and silly glasses and greasy hair.”

Conclusion

Rocksteady Studios has taken on the challenge of reimagining classic Batman villains for the Arkham series. Through innovative design choices and attention to detail, they have brought a fresh look and feel to these iconic characters. As players embark on their journey in Arkham Knight, they can look forward to encountering a new and exciting iteration of these beloved rogues.

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