Info about Batman™: Arkham Knight:

Official game description:
Batman™: Arkham Knight brings the award-winning Arkham trilogy from Rocksteady Studios to its epic conclusion. Developed exclusively for New-Gen platforms, Batman: Arkham Knight introduces Rocksteady's uniquely designed version of the Batmobile. The highly anticipated addition of this legendary vehicle, combined with the acclaimed gameplay of the Arkham series, offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. In this explosive finale, Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city that he is sworn to protect, as Scarecrow returns to unite the super criminals of Gotham and destroy the Batman forever.
Product Features:
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*   “Be The Batman” – Live the complete Batman experience as the Dark Knight enters the concluding chapter of Rocksteady’s Arkham trilogy. Players will become The World’s Greatest Detective like never before with the introduction of the Batmobile and enhancements to signature features such as FreeFlow Combat, stealth, forensics and navigation.  
*   Introducing the Batmobile – The Batmobile is brought to life with a completely new and original design featuring a distinct visual appearance and a full range of on-board high-tech gadgetry. Designed to be fully drivable throughout the game world and capable of transformation from high speed pursuit mode to military grade battle mode, this legendary vehicle sits at the heart of the game’s design and allows players to tear through the streets at incredible speeds in pursuit of Gotham City’s most dangerous villains. This iconic vehicle also augments Batman’s abilities in every respect, from navigation and forensics to combat and puzzle solving creating a genuine and seamless sense of the union of man and machine.  
*   The Epic Conclusion to Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy – Batman: Arkham Knight brings all-out war to Gotham City. The hit-and-run skirmishes of Batman: Arkham Asylum, which escalated into the devastating conspiracy against the inmates in Batman: Arkham City, culminates in the ultimate showdown for the future of Gotham. At the mercy of Scarecrow, the fate of the city hangs in the balance as he is joined by the Arkham Knight, a completely new and original character in the Batman universe, as well as a huge roster of other infamous villains including Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Two-Face and the Riddler.  
*   Explore the entirety of Gotham City – For the first time, players have the opportunity to explore all of Gotham City in a completely open and free-roaming game world. More than five times that of Batman: Arkham City, Gotham City has been brought to life with the same level of intimate, hand-crafted attention to detail for which the Arkham games are known.  
*   Most Wanted Side Missions – Players can fully immerse themselves in the chaos that is erupting in the streets of Gotham. Encounters with high-profile criminal masterminds are guaranteed while also offering gamers the opportunity to focus on and takedown individual villains or pursue the core narrative path.  
*   New Combat and Gadget Features – Gamers have at their disposal more combat moves and high-tech gadgetry than ever before. The new ‘gadgets while gliding’ ability allows Batman to deploy gadgets such as batarangs, the grapnel gun or the line launcher mid-glide while Batman’s utility belt is once again upgraded to include all new gadgets that expand his range of forensic investigation, stealth incursion and combat skills.

Release date: Jun 23, 2015

Categories: Action Adventure, Open-World Exploration, Stealth Gameplay, Gadget-based Gameplay, Combat, Story-driven Gameplay, Vehicle Combat, Character Progression

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 30; verdict: Mixed Monetization Perception; summary: The analysis of user reviews for Batman: Arkham Knight reveals a mixed sentiment regarding the game's DLC and Season Pass. While many users appreciate the additional content and find it engaging, there are significant concerns about the value and pricing of the DLC and Season Pass. Some users feel that the Season Pass is overpriced and not worth the full price, suggesting that it should be purchased on discount. Additionally, there are mentions of 'pay to win' DLC, which could indicate frustration with certain monetization practices. Overall, the monetization strategy, particularly around DLC and Season Pass, is a notable point of contention among users.
- Mods: score 30; verdict: Enhanced by Mods; summary: The game is generally well-received, with many users recommending the installation of community patches and cosmetic mods to enhance the experience. The community patch is frequently mentioned for its additional skins and quality-of-life improvements, suggesting that while the game is playable without it, the patch significantly enhances the experience. Cosmetic mods are also popular, indicating a desire for more customization options. Overall, the modding community is praised for its contributions, which are seen as easy to install and satisfying.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The user feedback highlights significant issues with the game's complexity, hidden mechanics, and navigation. Players frequently need to refer to external guides due to poor in-game guidance and numerous bugs, leading to a frustrating experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game generally runs well on Linux with Proton, with users reporting good performance and compatibility. Some users mention the need for tweaks like using DXVK to improve stability, but overall the experience is positive.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience with the game reveals several key themes. Performance issues, particularly with maintaining a stable frame rate, are a significant concern for many users. Controller support is another major issue, with users describing it as horrendous and difficult to use. The game's frame rate cap at 30fps is also a notable technical barrier. Additionally, there are UI/UX issues that affect the overall gaming experience. Despite these issues, some users have reported positive performance on the Steam Deck, indicating that the game can run well on this hardware with the right settings.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across different hardware cohorts, with higher VRAM configurations experiencing smoother gameplay and better visuals. Lower VRAM setups may encounter some performance issues but are still largely playable.
  - Sample size: 174 (1% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 108 reports): The game runs well on mid to high-end hardware, with some minor FPS drops on lower-end systems.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 31 reports): The game performs excellently on higher VRAM configurations, with stable frame rates and high visual fidelity.
  - Caveats: 174 of 17578 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. Many reviews mention that the game is worth buying even at full price, but it is often recommended to wait for a sale to get it at a discounted rate. The frequent mentions of the game being worth it at various price points suggest that the community considers a fair base-game price range to be between $5 and $20.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 70.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides a range of playtime metrics. The first quote suggests a significant investment of time to reach the final cutscene, implying a lengthy game completion time. The second quote indicates that the main story can be completed in a shorter time frame, but additional content like side missions can extend playtime. The third quote highlights the memorable experience of the game, suggesting that even a few hours can be impactful. The fourth quote mentions 'decent hours' of gameplay, indicating a substantial time investment for various activities including gliding, punching, and Batmobile sections.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game becomes fun after players master the Batmobile controls and complete the main story, reducing the repetitive missions.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Mastering the batmobile controls and completing the main story
  - Time to anchor: 22h 0m
  - Friction: Learning curve for Batmobile controls; Repetitive Batmobile missions; Forced usage of the Batmobile disrupting pacing
  - Unlock drivers: Mastering Batmobile controls; Completing the main story
  - Conditions: Playing without the repetitive Batmobile missions; Focusing on non-Batmobile gameplay aspects
- Player Archetypes:
  - Completionist Achiever (buy)
    - Motivation: To fully complete and experience every aspect of the game.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and meticulous, aiming to complete all achievements and explore all content.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: achievement hunter; Batman fan
    - Reference games: Batman: Arkham Asylum; Batman: Arkham City
  - Story-First Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: To experience a compelling and well-crafted story.
    - Playstyle: Focused on main story missions, avoiding repetitive or tedious side content.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: story enthusiast
    - Reference games: Batman: Arkham Asylum; Batman: Arkham City
  - Franchise Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience the full emotional and narrative depth of the Batman universe.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and engaged, focusing on the overall experience and connection to the franchise.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Batman fan; Arkham series fan
    - Reference games: Batman: Arkham Asylum; Batman: Arkham City; Spider-Man


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Batmobile adds fun gameplay (weight 0.57): The addition of the Batmobile is seen as a cool and enjoyable feature, adding a new dimension to gameplay. Players find it fun to use, well-integrated, and exciting, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- Fluid and satisfying combat (weight 0.54): The combat system is highlighted as one of the best in its genre, characterized by its fluidity, responsiveness, and satisfying mechanics. Players appreciate the smooth and engaging combat, which is considered a standout feature.
- Engaging and well-written story (weight 0.52): The story is praised for being engaging, well-written, and emotionally deep. It keeps players hooked with its gripping narrative, strong character moments, and satisfying conclusion.
- Impressive graphics and visuals (weight 0.52): The game is widely praised for its exceptional graphics, which are described as visually stunning, timeless, and impressive even after a decade. The visual quality, atmosphere, and detailed design contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic appeal.
- Overall high-quality game (weight 0.45): The game is frequently described as great, amazing, and magnificent, with excellent storytelling, gameplay, and soundtrack. It is highly recommended and considered a masterpiece by many reviewers.
- Detailed and immersive Gotham City (weight 0.4): Gotham City is praised for its detailed and immersive environment, which is visually stunning and atmospheric. The city's design and ambiance contribute significantly to the game's overall appeal.
- Plenty of side missions (weight 0.15): The game offers a variety of side missions, adding to its replayability and content richness. Players appreciate the abundance of interesting and engaging side missions.
- Best in the Arkham series (weight 0.14): Many reviewers consider this game to be the best in the Batman Arkham series, citing its superior gameplay, story, and the addition of the Batmobile as key factors.
- Immersive and cinematic experience (weight 0.14): The game provides an immersive and cinematic experience, enhanced by strong voice acting, an atmospheric setting, and an immersive soundtrack.

Common complaints:
- Overuse of the Batmobile (weight 0.46): Players frequently mention that the Batmobile is used too often, particularly in combat and tank battles, making these sections feel repetitive and overemphasized.
- Tedious Riddler puzzles (weight 0.35): The Riddler puzzles and challenges are often seen as tedious, frustrating, and not well-designed, adding unnecessary difficulty and annoyance.
- Poor Batmobile controls (weight 0.28): The controls for the Batmobile are often described as clunky, outdated, and not enjoyable, making the driving and combat segments less fun.
- Disappointing boss fights (weight 0.21): Boss fights are criticized for being poorly designed, rushed, and overall disappointing, lacking the epic feel expected in such a game.
- Repetitive missions (weight 0.18): Some missions and side quests are repetitive and boring, making the gameplay feel monotonous at times.
- Technical issues (weight 0.16): The game has various technical issues and bugs, particularly noted in the initial PC port, which had performance and optimization problems.
- Forced 100% completion (weight 0.15): Players are required to complete 100% of the game, including collecting all Riddler trophies and purchasing DLCs, to access the true ending, which can be tedious and time-consuming.
- Inconsistent gameplay systems (weight 0.08): The game's systems can sometimes be inconsistent, leading to conflicts and difficulties, especially for players sensitive to rigid design.
- Underutilized Scarecrow character (weight 0.07): Scarecrow is seen as an underutilized and weak antagonist, with his story and character not living up to expectations.
- DLC content issues (weight 0.07): The DLCs are criticized for being overpriced and lacking substantial content, making them not worth the investment.

Gameplay feedback:
- Excellent combat system (weight 0.21): The combat system is widely praised for being fluid, responsive, and satisfying. It is noted for being easy to learn but challenging to master, making it engaging and fun.
- Open-world exploration (weight 0.19): The game features an open-world structure with various activities and exploration opportunities. Players appreciate the open-world content and the atmosphere it provides.
- Batmobile usage (weight 0.17): The Batmobile is well-integrated into the game, although its usage is limited to specific scripted situations. Players have mixed feelings about its control and usage.
- Use of gadgets (weight 0.17): Gadgets are well-integrated into the combat system and gameplay. Players appreciate the variety of gadgets and their use in combat.
- Effective stealth sections (weight 0.14): The stealth sections are praised for offering multiple ways to approach enemies. Players find the stealth gameplay to be great and engaging.
- Character development and variety (weight 0.13): The game features character development and a variety of characters. Players appreciate the narrative depth and character customization.
- Variety of puzzles (weight 0.11): The game offers a variety of puzzles and challenges, including Riddler's puzzles and collectibles. Players enjoy the puzzle-solving aspects.
- Diverse enemies (weight 0.09): The game offers a variety of enemy types and bosses, providing diversity in attacks and challenges.
- Variety of side missions (weight 0.08): The game includes a variety of side missions, although only major main and side missions grant noteworthy amounts of XP.
- Technical improvements (weight 0.06): The game features technical improvements, including improved controls and new equipment.
- Riddler trophies (weight 0.06): Players have mixed feelings about collecting Riddler trophies and the fact that the Riddler was not killed.
- Level guidance system (weight 0.06): The game includes a level guidance system that helps players with leveling up.

Performance notes:
- Technical issues and bugs (weight 0.25): The game suffers from various technical issues and bugs that affect the overall gameplay experience.
- Great optimization (weight 0.23): The game is generally well-optimized and runs smoothly on various hardware configurations.
- Initial PC port performance (weight 0.1): The initial release of the game on PC had performance issues, but these have improved over time.
- High system requirements (weight 0.09): The game has demanding PC requirements and high resource usage on max settings, which may be a barrier for some players.
- FPS cap issue (weight 0.09): There is a noted issue with the game's framerate being capped at 90 FPS, which has been a point of contention among players.
- Runs well on Steam Deck (weight 0.05): The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, with players reporting high FPS even at max settings.
- Occasional frame rate drops (weight 0.05): Some players experience occasional frame rate drops, which can affect the gameplay experience.
- Performance issues with specific hardware (weight 0.04): There are performance issues reported with AMD GPUs and notebooks, indicating hardware-specific problems.
- Language patch crashes (weight 0.02): There are issues with language patches causing the game to crash, affecting players who need these patches.
- Controller technical issues (weight 0.02): Some players have reported technical issues when using a controller, which can impact gameplay.
- Game does not boot (weight 0.02): There are reports of the game not booting up every time, which can be frustrating for players.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Batman and action fans (weight 0.32): The game is highly recommended for fans of Batman, the Arkham series, and action games in general. It is praised for its open world and batmobile handling, making it a must-play for enthusiasts of these genres.
- Masterpiece of superhero games (weight 0.16): The game is regarded as one of the best superhero games available, offering a highly enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.
- Worth the price (weight 0.13): Players feel that the game is worth both the time and money invested, making it a valuable purchase.
- Perfect conclusion to the trilogy (weight 0.1): The game is seen as a perfect conclusion to the Arkham trilogy, making it a worthwhile experience for those who have played the series.
- Highly recommended despite flaws (weight 0.09): Many players recommend the game highly, even though it has some flaws and shortcomings. The overall experience is considered worthwhile.
- Recommend playing the trilogy (weight 0.07): Players recommend playing through the entire Arkham trilogy, preferably in chronological order, for the best experience.
- Check out the mods (weight 0.04): Some players suggest using mods to enhance the gameplay experience, such as maxing out perk points.
- Customizable and replayable (weight 0.03): The game offers customization options and replayability, adding to its overall value and enjoyment.
- Well-balanced game (weight 0.03): The game is praised for its well-balanced gameplay, offering a satisfying experience.
- Recommend getting the season pass (weight 0.02): Players recommend getting the season pass for additional content and value.
- Not recommended for vehicle avoiders (weight 0.02): The game may not be suitable for those who prefer to avoid vehicles in games, as it includes driving mechanics.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.22): Players are frustrated primarily due to the overuse and poor handling of the Batmobile, which is seen as repetitive and clunky. Additionally, the game's difficulty, particularly with Riddler puzzles and stealth mechanics, along with performance issues and bugs, contribute to this frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Players are excited about the game's immersive atmosphere, detailed environment, and engaging combat mechanics. The integration of the Batmobile, despite some criticisms, also adds to the thrill, along with the game's high replayability and mods.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players find satisfaction in the game's fluid combat mechanics, engaging story, and high-quality graphics. The overall polished gameplay and the enjoyable experience of completing side missions and exploring Gotham City contribute to this feeling.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's combat system, story, and overall gameplay experience. The variety of content, including side missions and the Batmobile mechanics, along with the game's atmosphere and graphics, enhance the enjoyment.
- Admiration (weight 0.09): Players admire the game's technical excellence, narrative depth, and atmospheric design. The detailed open world, character development, and faithful adaptation of the Batman universe contribute to this admiration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players feel disappointed due to the overuse of the Batmobile, which is seen as repetitive and detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the story and boss fights are criticized for being lackluster and rushed.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Players feel nostalgic while revisiting the game after many years, reflecting on its lasting quality and impact. Comparisons to previous games in the series and the end of an era also evoke this sentiment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's graphics, story, and character development. The atmospheric design, refined combat system, and overall quality of the game contribute to this appreciation.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's combat system, story, and overall gameplay experience. The positive aspects of the game, such as its graphics, mechanics, and content, fuel this enthusiasm.
- Excited (weight 0.02): Players are excited about the engaging combat mechanics and stealth sections. The variety in gameplay and high replayability also contribute to this excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the improved graphics and cinematic experience. The enjoyable gameplay and the opportunity to rediscover the game also bring happiness.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game due to its great graphics, successful gameplay, and sufficient story. The overall enjoyment of various aspects of the game fuels this love.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the quality of the game, including scary moments and jump scares. The positive experience with the game's performance also contributes to this surprise.
- Immersed (weight 0.01): Players feel immersed in the game's setting and atmosphere. The story and psychological depth of the game world enhance this immersion.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players feel bored due to the repetitive nature of some missions and the Batmobile combat. The open world, while detailed, can also contribute to this boredom.
- Pleasure (weight 0.01): Players derive pleasure from the overall game experience, atmosphere, characters, and level of 'Batman-ness.' The gameplay process and soundtrack also contribute to this enjoyment.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players feel frustrated due to specific requirements like collecting a large number of Riddler trophies to see the final cutscene. Overuse of the Batmobile and game-breaking bugs also contribute to this frustration.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players express anger due to technical issues and poor guidance in the game. Bugs causing loss of progress and game design flaws preventing completion of riddles are major sources of this anger.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players feel awe due to the game's visuals, particularly the detailed and immersive atmosphere. The rainy streets of Gotham and the overall visual quality contribute to this sense of awe.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players have mixed feelings due to the combination of enjoyable story elements and the overuse of the Batmobile. While there is overall enjoyment, repetitive content and specific criticisms create a complex emotional response.}