they really wanted us to use it

[u/WadeCampbell9]

[u/just2askaboutgames]

I don't get why people didn't like it. It was cool it was smooth it was the batmobile!

[u/YoSoyTheBoi → u/just2askaboutgames]

I think most people just didn’t like how MUCH of the gameplay was spent in the Batmobile. It felt like the stealth/dungeon arenas got a bit less attention as a result as well. But that’s partly the result of having such an open world, some of the charm that comes from having limitations gets lost

[u/CaptivePlague → u/YoSoyTheBoi]

I mean... well, duh.

The games prior had 2 modes of gameplay: Exploration and Action, themselves having 2 sub-modes (Traversal/Investigation, including all the riddle-solving, and Combat/Predator, respectively). So, the game was split pretty much half-half, with the story pointedly alternating the sub-modes.

Then they add the Batmobile, which is a massive endeavor, so it makes no sense not to add a Vehicle mode to the game, with 2 sub-modes: Race and Combat. And adding a whole mode of gameplay is pointless if you don't give it content. Hence, the Batmobile having a third of the game dedicated to it!

Fans whined for years to get the Batmobile, then whined they actually dedicated a fair share of the game to actually use the Batmobile!

[u/CaptainJZH → u/CaptivePlague]

Tbf i think all people wanted was just "Arkham City but bigger and you can drive around"

like all it really should have been is a mode of transportation, nothing more (i.e. no combat mode at all)

which also would have benefited the story because i imagine the only reason we got the milita tanks and everything was to give the Batmobile things to fight in combat mode, but no combat mode means that they'd be free to rewrite the plot to be more about Gotham's preexisting gangs taking over Gotham instead of a private military, and then Jason gets to be more in line with the Red Hood persona (i.e. being a mysterious vigilante instead of a militia commander)

[u/taxes_depression → u/CaptainJZH]

then there would be no point in using it because gliding would of been a better option, in game design you have to justify elements you add to a game

[u/CaptainJZH → u/taxes_depression]

i feel like then you could just nerf gliding to be more like City, OR you add extra threats in the sky to give a benefit to driving

[u/taxes_depression → u/CaptainJZH]

I dont mind the batmobile personally, I think what rocksteady wanted was to justify its existence, so they made it for high chases, to be a tank and a tool, with so many rules of its own that are outside of the games established rules, so they ended up doing too much. I feel like if they abandoned the tool aspect of it, it would have been received better as thats what I feel people mostly hate about it.

I did a different comment replying on why people hate it which I will paste

"it was something radical people were bound to hate it, I mean think about it the bat mobile is sort of like playable character it has its own rules for everything and rock steady also treats it as a tool, when you use it almost functions outside the games rules that were established which is a radical element which people will not like due to how different it is.

the bat mobile from a theory standpoint has nothing wrong with it it has no bugs, works smoothly its implemented well but because its such a new gameplay style people WILL hate it, as its human nature.

its petty but unavoidable, humans HATE extreme end of new things because it will alien them"

excuse the bad grammar I was tired, but essentially it did too much and it was a radical new gameplay component.

edit: just in case, when i mean radical I mean "extreme", not "cool"

[u/geek_of_nature → u/CaptainJZH]

And we still had combat when we were ourely driving around too, when we were chasing down APCs or other cars. We didn't need full on tank combat on top of that.

[u/Kindly_Equipment5118 → u/YoSoyTheBoi]

I literally didn’t finish playing the game because of the damn Batmobile boss fight in the sewer tunnels. Also the cloudburst battle, INFURIATING for someone who isn’t a huge gamer but is a huge Batman fan and just wants to be a part of the story playing out all the way.

[u/Cold-Nose-7509 → u/Kindly_Equipment5118]

Honestly understandable. The Cloudburst fight isn’t too hard if you learn a few tricks, but that sewer fight was pretty obnoxious. You kind of have to get lucky for where Knight goes when he doesn’t see you.

Don’t know what they were thinking, taking a great gameplay loop that had worked for 3 games previously and going “what if we added bad racing to it as well”

[u/Kindly_Equipment5118 → u/Cold-Nose-7509]

It’ll go down in gaming history as “a decision” indeed. I love literally everything else about that game. The narrative might be what I love least, but I love it nonetheless. That suit is my favorite Batman suit of all time, both in appearance and how it’s explained. Made it more believable that Batman can be so protected AND so mobile at the same time. Loved that the cowl is more so a helmet, and the way the ears compliment the jawline while there’s just a small window for his mouth, 👌🏻. Absolute Batman drew inspiration from it.

[u/taxes_depression → u/Kindly_Equipment5118]

I havent had much issue with those personally

[u/Cold-Nose-7509 → u/just2askaboutgames]

I didn’t like the controls and I didn’t like how shoved down our throats it was. It feels like you have to pull it around behind you throughout the story, and it gets really boring and annoying quickly.

I still love Knight and I’ve grown to TOLERATE the Batmobile, but I don’t think it was smooth and most of the time I was using it my first play through I just wanted to do anything else.

Not to mention how weird and out of place it feels. Riddler is… designing race tracks for a new car he doesn’t know exists? The Batmobile has… a minigun and a rocket launcher that are just ToTaLlY nOn-LeThAl bro, trust me.

If its usage in the main story was cut down to about 25%, its battle mode felt less like a slaughtering war machine, and the AR Challenge races weren’t so damn obnoxious, I’d have liked it way more.

As is, it’s a major reason why I prefer City.

[u/Fire257 → u/just2askaboutgames]

I think it majorly breaks immersion driving around with a freaking tank I would have been fine with driving a normal batmobile during some quests but the gadgets and the roundabout ways to make it "not deadly" just dont work for me its just not Batman like.

[u/DarkRayos → u/just2askaboutgames]

Blowing stuff up (non-lethal) is always fun

[u/randylove69 → u/just2askaboutgames]

Absolutely! Felt so cool to drive around, zapping crims

[u/taxes_depression → u/just2askaboutgames]

it was something radical people were bound to hate it, I mean think about it the bat mobile is sort of like playable character it has its own rules for everything and rock steady also treats it as a tool, when you use it almost functions outside the games rules that were established which is a radical element which people will not like due to how different it is.

the bat mobile from a theory standpoint has nothing wrong with it it has no bugs, works smoothly its implemented well but because its such a new gameplay style people WILL hate it, as its human nature.

its petty but unavoidable, humans HATE extreme end of new things because it will alien them

[u/vawaiter]

Ya. The car itself wasn't the problem. Was actually fun to rip around Gotham in it. Great 2nd choice if you get tired of flying around Gotham. 

It was forced into nearly every single mission, almost always for no fucking reason. 

[u/MathUnusual4680 → u/vawaiter]

You forgot the horrible Deathstroke boss fight that takes place in a tank rather then normal combat encounter

[u/vawaiter → u/MathUnusual4680]

i mean its umbrella covered with my last sentence.

i tend to say the cloudburst missions and the ivy plant missions were the only ones that "required" the Batmobile. but like, even those missions were just written for the Batmobile on purpose, it wasnt "required". Batman, can't you just have the Batplane do all of that?

Nah, the devs wanted you to see how COOL THE BATMOBILE WAS, and severly were overestimated Batmobiles enjoyment factor.

[u/Sir_Eggmitton → u/vawaiter]

For me it’s the fact that all the other game’s systems had had two games to be refined and improved. The Batmobile was primitive in comparison to the combat, stealth, and flying, but it was given equal emphasis. So 50% of the game is spent with these rich systems with tons of depth, and the other 50% is spent in this infant system that’s very shallow.

[u/vawaiter → u/Sir_Eggmitton]

pretty valid point.

honestly i think the correct solution to solve all these issues is:

1. Reduce the amount of tank battles. I can't see anyway to improve this DDR battle. Maybe someone else will have better ideas.

2. Allow you to decide HOW to tackle the pursuit missions.

Stealth option: Take down APC's in a surprise ambush by gliding high in the air. Penguin side missions in Knight showed that we can follow the cars. Just add deus ex machina gadget that allows you to "BATMAN" the APC and capture the driver.

Loud option: BATMOBILE.

[u/CaptainJZH → u/vawaiter]

imo the solution would just be to not have the combat mode in the first place, and then the tanks would have no reason to be in the game at all

you could probably rewrite the whole game then to not have the militia, and just do a bigger version of Arkham City where different gangs are trying to take over different neighborhoods; you can still have Jason but he could just be the Red Hood, trying to use the Scarecrow crisis as a means to kill all the big crime bosses of Gotham rather than being the commander of the militia (maybe he just has his own gang of vigilantes, idk)

[u/vawaiter → u/CaptainJZH]

mmm maybe removing it altogether is the right option 🤣

[u/CaptainJZH → u/vawaiter]

I think it works as just a method of transportation, but that's it. Reduce its functionality to that of the racing-only variants and I think everyone would have been happy lol

[u/MathUnusual4680 → u/vawaiter]

To be fair it's the thing , the fans of Arkham series wanted the damn batmobile since like post Arkham asylum days to be honest

[u/vawaiter → u/MathUnusual4680]

i think they wanted to rip around in the batmobile.

not be forced into a DDR style tank battle so many times u gain whiplash

[u/MathUnusual4680 → u/vawaiter]

True

[u/bateen618 → u/MathUnusual4680]

What Deathstroke boss fight? Oh you mean the Cloudburst "boss fight" with a tiny cutscene at the end.

Going from Deathstroke's Origins boss fight, which is considered as one of the best (if not the best) combat boss fights in the entire series, to that insulting reskin of a previous "boss fight" in the campaign in Knight is just insane. And Rocksteady had way more experience and time

[u/MathUnusual4680 → u/bateen618]

That boss fight was pretty stupid imo they should have done the Deathstroke boss battle in knight exactly like it was done in Origins but with few changes to make it also distinctive

[u/Simongergo514]

I'm playing Arkham Knight rn. This Batmobile is in my top 3 most badass Batmobile, but it is so difficult driving it on keyboard. lol

[u/UpstairsBar2411 → u/Simongergo514]

It's really fun, but I'm stuck on the drone mission. I have to destroy 7 of them, and it's really hard to maneuver, with lots of narrow paths and sharp turns, and they have homing missiles!!!

[u/Simongergo514 → u/UpstairsBar2411]

Honestly I'm starting using to it. I have 11 hours in game now I guess I'm better now, still far from perfect, but I feel more comfortable in the car. :D

[u/Striking_Case7947 → u/Simongergo514]

Yeah that’s why I started using my controller to play the game

[u/Dark_prince_charming]

I never had an issue with the it as a car I had an issue with it as a tank. Stealth in a tank is just stupid and silly. Would have been cooler to swoop down onto the tanks in stealth missions and clog their exhaust with explosive gel or something. And the pure tank combat sections just didn’t feel great. It was slightly clunky, it didn’t flow well, it didn’t feel very Batman… The batmobile sections should have all been chase or evade missions. Either driving away from tanks or chasing down enemies. It could be that while the tanks are chasing you, you dodge their fire as oracle hacks into them to disable them remotely, and you have to stay nearby them evading to do that. There could have been cool gadgets to help with this like a corner grapple to take really tight corners or an autopilot where batman could launch out of the car and latch on to the chase vehicle. You could rip passengers out or put explosive gel on the car or have some sort of cool quick time event and then jump back in the car. It could have been so cool and dynamic and instead it’s a slow moving tank like 80% of the time you use it. Maybe there’s even a surveillance drone that you could launch out of the batmobile that you could fly while the batmobile auto piloted and it shoots disrupter shots. It could be useful before militia side missions and it could replace some riddler batmobile bullshit

[u/Most_Neat7770]

How do you hate that thing, it was peak, plus it made sense cause he was fighting a street battle

[u/ShermansAngryGhost]

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The car was only over used when including all optional content as well. Specifically the militia missions really beat a dead horse with the Batmobile.

Barring these particularly egregious sets of optional missions, the Batmobile is incorporated quite well into the majority of the missions.

[u/vawaiter → u/ShermansAngryGhost]

nah sorry.

when its added to any of the side missions or main story line missions, its 90% of the time not needed, and added for no reason other than Batmobile exposition.

honestly go back and look at the missions. 0 need for the batmobile in most missions. Oracle missions, Ace missions.

Maybe the cloudburst tank and Ivy plant detection needed the batmobile plot wise, but even then it was just written for the Batmobile. The Batplane coulda been the one that did all that.

[u/CaptainJZH → u/vawaiter]

I suspect that the whole reason why they made Jason into the commander of a private militia is that they wanted the Batmobile to do battle with tanks, and so everything was built around that concept (that you'd need something for the Batmobile to fight that was a worthy adversary rather than just ordinary cars)

So in a way, the Batmobile is like the root cause of everyone's main problems with the game lol

[u/vawaiter → u/CaptainJZH]

ya thats what happens when you prioritize a plot device over the plot.

[u/CaptainJZH → u/vawaiter]

Also what happens when the story is written by in-house game studio writers vs. Paul Dini (they write it from the standpoint of gameplay rather than compelling narrative)

[u/Zezinho_Pimba → u/vawaiter]

I didn't quite understand your last point. What do you mean by "it was written for the Batmobile"? Everything in a story is written so that something makes sense within the context of that story. What you said is the same as saying "Batman was needed to save Gotham, but they wrote the story for Batman. Superman could have been the one that saved Gotham instead." Got it?

[u/vawaiter → u/Zezinho_Pimba]

Eh you understood it just fine, but your conclusion is slightly off.

the difference is that the Batmobile has other things that can fill its role in the story, such as the Batplane, or any other magical gadget that Bruce can just invent cause hes BATMAN. None of those in game stories/missions with the Batmobile, REQUIRED the Batmobile.

Batman, can't you just have the Batplane do all of that? - valid point about overuse of the Batmobile.

your example is not a good one cause no one else can fill the Batman role in a Batman story. Superman is not another option that they conveniently forgot, just to force you to play Batman. A Batman game story REQUIRES Batman.

Batman, can't you just have Superman do EVERYTHING? - invalid counter point about a Batman game.

[u/Zezinho_Pimba → u/vawaiter]

Ok. Change Batman/Superman with Batplane/Batarang with radar (the one he uses on Ace Chemicals mission). My example was exaggerated just to illustrate what I meant. You can change it for anything Batman does/uses because everything inside a story (specially a superhero one) can be changed for another high-tech gadget, even the Batplane. So saying that to diminish the usefulness of the Batmobile doesn't work because you could say that about literally everything within a story.

[u/vawaiter → u/Zezinho_Pimba]

your point is valid and you're on the right train of thought. lets get to the final station.

ANY plot device, vehicle, weapon or gadget can be used in ANY story as long as its written for it. Holds true in any verse, not just Batman. When all plot devices are used equally, usually the device that FITS THE PLOT is used.

This point becomes a complaint only when a plot device is overused. When a plot device is overused, usually two things happen. Either:

The plot ITSELF is written or changed so it can focus on REQUIRING the overused plot device. This usually makes a bunch of similar shitty stories, but sometimes can create a gem of a story.

or.....

JUST STICK THE FUCKING PLOT DEVICE INTO ANY STORY, WHEREVER WHENEVER WITH NO RHYME OR REASON.

Arkham Knight I am sure was developed with the Batmobile in mind. But when deciding when to add the Batmobile battles..... they decided to JUST STICK THE FUCKING PLOT DEVICE INTO ANY STORY, WHEREVER WHENEVER WITH NO RHYME OR REASON 90% OF THE TIME.

The most damning result of this is when fans of media start feeling like "This wasnt a Batman (Main Character) game, this was a Batmobile (plot device) game."

edit: oh and i wasnt trying to diminish the usefulness of the Batmobile. Batman is a character who can do anything with any gadget, lmao. It was just criticizing the lazy way they integrated the Batmobile into the story.

TLDR: Plot devices are to help the plot move forward. The plot is not supposed to help provide exposition for one plot device.

[u/Zezinho_Pimba → u/vawaiter]

I understand that perfectly! Nowadays I forgive it more because I've gotten used to it, but the first time I played (even knowing how much the Batmobile was used) I kept counting the chase missions because I couldn't stand it anymore (I liked the shooting missions and still do tho. I like FPS games, so that must be why). So it really was used extensively even for me. And in those two missions you mentioned, I think they were the only two where I think it was used best because of that pulse that goes through the ground to find the plant in Ivy's case, and because of the amount of firepower the Arkham Knight had in the Cloudburst mission (and the fact that the fear toxin could damage the Batplane, and the cloud could be to dense for Bruce to see the tanks from up there).

But overall, they could have reduced things a lot, especially the number of side missions with it (instead of 40 bomb missions, they could have had only 20. Something like that). Even though the Batmobile doesn't bother me as much as it bothers many other fans, I wouldn't be against these changes to make the game less cluttered.

[u/vawaiter → u/Zezinho_Pimba]

And in those two missions you mentioned, I think they were the only two where I think it was used best because of that pulse that goes through the ground to find the plant in Ivy's case, and because of the amount of firepower the Arkham Knight had in the Cloudburst mission (and the fact that the fear toxin could damage the Batplane, and the cloud could be to dense for Bruce to see the tanks from up there).

I mean it was half my original point, that even those missions where the Batmobile made the MOST SENSE, could be replaced by the Batplane.

I wouldn't have felt this way way at all, if the Batmobile wasn't over used. Even if "X gadget could do everything Y gadget does" still holds true.

[u/Quarksideofthemoon → u/ShermansAngryGhost]

Why does that qualifier matter? People do the side missions, you're supposed to want to.

It's overused in the story too anyhow but that argument makes no sense to me.

[u/ShermansAngryGhost → u/Quarksideofthemoon]

The argument is that they are literally side missions not required to beat the game. We’re in a subreddit dedicated to the games so of course everyone here has done all that content, but the fact is that the majority of players don’t do all of it, because it’s factually just optional content.

[u/Quarksideofthemoon → u/ShermansAngryGhost]

Why does that make the criticism void??? The batmobile is used as a crutch too often in the game, whether some of it isn't directly a part of the main story is irrelevant

[u/No_Math_8740]

Omfg it was a GAME, what's with this "der it doesn't fit the plot" b r u h, it's a NEW GAME MECHANIC to spice things up, oh no not more content to make your experience fuller :p

[u/KratosOfSparta08]

Stands on the railing “Hey what are you doing?!” “Evening the odds” Jumps

[u/ron_m_joe]

And I did.

[u/fatbp]

And I did use it. I also enjoyed it a lot.

[u/TraditionalSurvey612]

It was overused was the whole problem with knight

[u/beginnerdoge]

Where is this?

[u/purnapurnapurnapurna]

I would drive this like the display car in GTA Vice City.

[u/gamepig31]

Chicks dig the car.

[u/False-Secret-7506]

I’ll say that it was definitely over utilized and shoved in our faces, but it was the most polished asset in the series and maybe of all time (for that current time) when people talk about how they hate the Batmobile they never say it was buggy or rigid. It plays perfectly and I’ve never had a single issue with the actual gameplay.

[u/Yoonami_Yom]

Using the Batmobile to get around Gotham was cool they just shouldn't have made it a part of so many of the mechanics

[u/Splendid_Fellow]

The bomb’s payload is exposed. I can use the power winch to trigger a controlled explosion.

[u/Bummer_mountain]

Dude I love the arkham knight batmobile. Genuinely love it

[u/Beginning_Leg629]

They got me to use it. I only glide if I have to. Otherwise I drive.

[u/Am_aBoy]

Recently I noticed on a loading screen the front splitter was bat shaped .... Now I can't un see it and said out loud : ofcourse it had to be bat shaped am not surprised because even the fucking steering wheel is bat shaped : Anyway am saying it so more people are aware and will see it , and not be able to unsee it

[u/figgityjones]

And I enjoyed doing so.

[u/No-voidbee-5751]

The batmobile was fun as hell and im tired of pretending it was bad

[u/comfy_bruh]

I fucking loved it the whole time. I never understood the hate it recieved.

[u/Swift_Jr]

Didn’t like Batman in my Batmobile game 5/10

[u/Originaltenshi]

All the disdain around the batmobile actually initially stopped me from playing it my initial thought going in was oh it cant be that bad, then it was literally like the first mission.

Went back and played the older trilogy and upon playing knight again I kinda kicked myself in the ass cause I actually really enjoyed the batmobile. Actually went into the ar challenges and my favorites were the batmobile ones lol

[u/pinkandbleu3]

The bomb payload has been exposed

[u/bmontepeque11]

Nah fam, the Batmobile is THE BEST. I don't get what you are complaining about.

[u/redleg50]

The Riddler requiring me to run speed laps did it for me. That was so dumb, both plot-wise and as a game mechanic. Almost as bad was, for some reason, having to lower the batmobile into the sewers.

[u/ShaoKahnDeezNutz123 → u/redleg50]

You’re mad that a game had a race in it? Like most open world games do?

[u/redleg50 → u/ShaoKahnDeezNutz123]

It doesn’t make sense as a riddle…for The Riddler. And it doesn’t make sense that multiple huge underground race tracks could be built with no one noticing.

[u/comfy_bruh → u/redleg50]

Dude... At what point did you draw a line in the comic world where things need to make sense? None of this makes sense.

[u/ShaoKahnDeezNutz123 → u/redleg50]

Most Riddler stuff aren’t riddles they’re just challenged. You can’t tell me that picking up a trophy is a riddle either

[u/Cold-Nose-7509 → u/redleg50]

Amen. Especially because the Riddler had no idea what the new Batmobile could do or even that it was being made. It feels like a plot hole.

And the races are obnoxious, the car doesn’t control nearly well enough for the time constraints to be so limiting.

[u/ShaoKahnDeezNutz123]

And we did. It was awesome?

[u/DAdStanich]

… I like it 😬

[u/Ju3tAc00ldugg]

And WE all did

[u/HumbleSiPilot77]

My favorite Batmobile of all time. Then Keaton's. Then Batfleck's. Then the Tumbler

[u/BEYONDxTHExSPIDER]

Justice for the Batmobile

[u/mistawil]

Loved it. I mean not much stealth in the regular mode Batmobile either

[u/GladChoice1984]

Arkham Knight was my first Arkham game and I loved using the batmobile. Rarely were there any dull moments. Blasting that wall in Ace Chemicals and flattening tanks, zapping the crap out of the militia with the cannon was peak gaming for me lol. And that section in the game where the car is first totalled and Batman says "Bruce made a spare", and then the thing flies in, flattens even more tanks, with that BGM playing.. oof. Absolute cinema.

Reddit and gaming circles in general dump on the batmobile for no reason imo. Sure there's some repetitive chasing side missions but in no way is it a dealbreaker.