Batman: Arkham has "run its course"

Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 could not be set in Arkham at all, if comments made by the game's senior gameplay programmer, Paul Denning should be taken seriously.

Speaking in a retrospective on the original game in PC Zone magazine, Denning said the Gotham prison had probably "run its course" and other areas in the city would be "ideal" for gameplay.

"I think you're probably right in that it's almost run its course," he replied, when asked if there were other areas of Gotham developer Rocksteady would like to explore.

"We did pick a selection of buildings that we thought would fit the [original] game well," he added. "You could quite easily point out that there are various things that you wouldn't usually find in an asylum especially on an island that's supposedly self-contained.

[Mr Logic]

I thought that was pretty obvious from the trailer. I'm just wondering what they're going to call it.

[NecrumSlavery]

Well as the batman symbol chips away you can tell it'll have a new subtitle, like Gotham or something.

My best guess is you will travel to diferent areas of Gotham, I think there will be some driving/flying/boating/etc, but I assume the map system will be much like Metroid Prime, where you watch a video of Batman heading to the next area via video while background loading. Batman won't be a sandbox game(I Hope), but with a Map like Metroid/Parasite Eve. I assume the game will feature a small bit of Arkham, but mostly museums, the zoo, iceberg cold storage, and of course you know there will be an epic fight at Wayne Tower. These are some things I'm predicting.

I'm excited for the next game. Arkham Asylum is one of the best games of 2009 let alone his generation, and I see big things for the next installment.

Oh and PS Rocksteady, I don't care how crucial it is to have co-op, you ensure that if you add Robin as a playable character that you do not gay him up. He's the biggest problem with Batman and I want you to earn more awards next year.

[Mr Logic]

Oh obviously. IMO Arkham Asylum 2 would be the stupidest thing. I also don't want them to make an open world. I would rather have it more linear and story based.

[sinncross]

Of course Arkham has run its course.

Who really wants to play in the exact same environment and locations in the game's sequel...

[SilentNegotiator]

"Batman: Not Arkham Asylum"

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

I lol'd.

: )

[Eiffel]

Why does no one think this is too early? As soon as I saw the trailer my first reaction was.

"Well they beat Left 4 Dead 2 in speed that's for sure"

[krouse93]

Well Because Left For Dead Had a community this game has no community only leader boards.

[zafeiriou]

it has something to do with the fact that Left4Dead only had 4 levels and could be easily expanded before a sequel whereas Batman: Arkham Asylum is quite complete and difficult to expand on.

[Razmossis]

Well, considering it's only a CG Trailer, there's a chance that it'll still take the best part of a year to come out.

But consider this;
-They are using the Unreal Engine - which is meant to be pretty easy to work with.
-It seems they've really got the hang of developing on both consoles.
-They really have a GREAT base to work from with the first game.

Really all they have to do is write and record a new story - which shouldn't be too difficult since there is 70 years of Batman to pick and mix from!
Then actually build the game - again shouldn't take too long, great base, Unreal Engine

Throw in a few new ideas/mechanics and there's really no reason that this speedy release still can't be great!

I just hope it's like a good 15hrs long

[Tony P]

It is really quick, yes. If they can pull off the an equal or better experience though, more power to them.

[Eiffel]

Amazing I have five disagrees despite my question was completely neutral.

[MajestieBeast]

I seem to agree with eifel on this i think its to fast like 5months after release they announce the second game.

[TheIneffableBob]

It's more like 3 1/2 months.

[LtSkittles]

It is early,but a sequel was going to be announced anyways what with the ending, and all. I don't see a problem. RockSteady know what they're doing, and that's good.

[dirthurts]

They tone down the muscles just a bit on the ol batman. He was way too build in the game for my tastes. He's agile, and you don't get that big and stay agile.

[CobraKai]

But it's Unreal, I don't think that is possible. Even the Joker ended up hulking out

[Knightofelemia]

I wonder if it will be free roaming like Prototype and Infamous

[CobraKai]

It'll take place in a building and surrounding areas, Die Hard style. At the end they mentioned 2-face robbing a bank. If there is one thing I doubt, it'll be sandbox.

[LtSkittles]

That's what Paul Denning said. "I think sandbox games that do that well are so hard to realise," Denning told PC Zone." I think it'll take place right after, won't be sandbox, and will possibly take place in the surrounding buildings.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

It looked like Joker had turned the city itself into a prison.

That would be fun!

[LtSkittles]

This is what I was thinking as well.

[Pozzle]

As much as I loved exploring Arkham Asylum, the idea of exploring Gotham this time around is so much more exciting.

[JayX666]

the super villian(s) that grab the titan at the end of the game, uses that to bust everyone out of arkham, hence everyone cheesing it over too gotham. just my two cents.

[redsquad]

Setting a sequal in Arkham would be dumb, frankly. I doubt anyone expected a second game to be so limited considering the vast canvas the universe offers.