Games that works like "Batman Arkham"

[liveunderwater]

Bayonetta 2. Sure, DMC all of it, is that a bad thing? Linear levels but plenty of extra exploration for goodies. Personally my absolute favorite combat system.

 

[PowerGod]

I don't know why no one spoke about Darksiders Warmastered Edition, maybe it's unknown to most people (for me too until now that I'm playing it !!)...

IT IS AWESOME !!! (Added to the first post list !!)

I think that it could easily be the precursor to Batman Arkham Asylum !! Naturally the setting is different, but the gameplay is essentially the same !!
It contains:
- A Metroid style world that unlocks new areas when you get new abilities
- A complex combat system full of combos and counters
- A complete list of what you'll need to find to max out everything (you can find area maps in some treasures, and also the locations of other treasures !!!)

It lacks only one thing, the stealth part... but it is really not needed in a game where you are almost a God

 

[blimpsgo180]

I'll stick with PC games, anyway I have seen a Bayonetta gameplay (just some minutes here and there), and seems to me very different from what I search, it seems like just a beat'em up with a lot o cinematics... I have not seen an open world (or something near) to explore, and no stealth sessions, also you need to manually jump, so I see it like a very different game from Batman Arkham.

Metal Gear Rising seems more like it.

Just to explain better, how I see Batman Arkham is the combination of 3 main games with an added story:

1) The free roaming game, where you can go where you want, and you must use your abilities to enter in particular places, or find secrets. (A world where you can actually finish the things to do, even after the end of the game)

2) A precise timed beat'em up, with a counter attack. (This is the best combat system I ever used... easy to learn, hard to master, and very cinematic while not becoming boring to see)

3) A stealth assault game, where you can be easy one-hit killed

I can see an infinite number of stories/characters that can be in a game like this. It's the most similar thing to an interactive movie to me.

Thinking outside the box a little, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker meets all three criteria. It's definitely the most open-worldy Zelda game I've played (though I haven't played Breath of the Wild). The combat is has a timing aspect to it and a counter attack. Finally, there are a couple big stealth segments. It's probably my second favorite Zelda, number one being Ocarina of Time.

I don't know why no one spoke about Darksiders Warmastered Edition, maybe it's unknown to most people (for me too until now that I'm playing it !!)...

IT IS AWESOME !!! (Added to the first post list !!)

I think that it could easily be the precursor to Batman Arkham Asylum !! Naturally the setting is different, but the gameplay is essentially the same !!
It contains:
- A Metroid style world that unlocks new areas when you get new abilities
- A complex combat system full of combos and counters
- A complete list of what you'll need to find to max out everything (you can find area maps in some treasures, and also the locations of other treasures !!!)

It lacks only one thing, the stealth part... but it is really not needed in a game where you are almost a God

Yeah, Darksiders is great. I got about three-quarters of the way through then stopped playing. I should really finish. They made a Darksiders 2 as well! I thought this was a good interview.

 

[PowerGod]

Just to confirm that MAD MAX is exactly like Batman Arkham !! Same engine I suppose, and exactly same combat system and gameplay !!

The only differences are that there is no stealth at all, the combat is more difficult (when you do counters, the enemies doesn't wait for you to finish like with Batman) and 80% of the game you need to drive (it's fun anyway, all the gadgets are in the car and you can use them while driving !!).

 

[kaprikawn]

Shadow of Mordor is a great game, and I can see why people compare it to the Arkham games, but I don't agree. Its combat is a lot more forgiving and as a result a lot less satisfying.

In Batman, you press a button, you're locked into what you pressed until the animation is finished. In Shadow of Mordor, if you see a yellow button prompt, you hit it and perform a counter, no matter what animation you're in at the time. Arkham takes a lot more skill and timing. Shadow of Mordor compensates for the easier time by throwing many more enemies at you, but it isn't the same. The only thing that SoM has over the Arkham games is the nemesis system which is admittedly awesome. But for me there's little to compare the Arkham games, I even like Arkham Oranges, and played Knight at launch on PC without any issues.

 

[PowerGod]

I can add to the list Styx: Master of Shadows, but only for the stealth sessions of Batman.

It is a more arcade-like experience than for example a game like Thief, even if both games are very similar, the controls are more simple and direct, especially during combat sessions, that, like in Batman stealth sessions, are better to be evaded or it will be very easy to die.

The sense of verticality of the game is great, and the levels, even if re-used more than once, are really well designed... every time I take a path, and with difficult I go forward, I find out some possible alternative passages I could have used MORE easily !!

Also, even if the "gadgets" are more fantasy-like than technological, there are still ways to make traps or distract enemies in a LOT of ways... both using the environment or just by combining your skills.

One of the gameplay thing I like the most, is that "jump" is not just a "Super Mario jump", because that single key react in different ways depending on your distance from the objects... if you jump in front of a crate, Styx will climb that crate, and if you keep pressed it, he will just grab the upper part of the crate in a dangling stance without climbing it... so it is very difficult to over-jump obstacles falling down to death, and it is a very appreciated feature considering the ways you'll need to move to not be seen.

PS: I have both the "Mordor" games, but I still have to find the time to play them.

 

[PowerGod]

Shadow of Mordor is a great game, and I can see why people compare it to the Arkham games, but I don't agree. Its combat is a lot more forgiving and as a result a lot less satisfying.

In Batman, you press a button, you're locked into what you pressed until the animation is finished. In Shadow of Mordor, if you see a yellow button prompt, you hit it and perform a counter, no matter what animation you're in at the time. Arkham takes a lot more skill and timing. Shadow of Mordor compensates for the easier time by throwing many more enemies at you, but it isn't the same. The only thing that SoM has over the Arkham games is the nemesis system which is admittedly awesome. But for me there's little to compare the Arkham games, I even like Arkham Oranges, and played Knight at launch on PC without any issues.

I started playing "Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor", and I can confirm that it is like Barman Arkham, and it means AWESOME !!

It is more open than Batman Arkham because there are no "stealth-sessions" but you can use that when you want.
The combat system is exactly the same, but the protagonist could be comparable to Cat Woman as speed, she was the only one in Arkham City that didn't need counters, because she was so fast that was able to attack always as first... the result are easier combat sessions while on melee.
I like the fact that you can interrupt a finishing move to counterattack, and if you stop it too fast, the enemy will still be alive, but at least you also ! (You can't do anyway a triple-counter like Batman)
Here there are many archers and sharp shooters than can make difficult the combat, if not killed before, and also there are a lot of mini-bosses and those big horse panthers around.
There are no interaction with wall/floor elements while hitting enemies, so the only spectacular things are the moves, but are nice, with a good flow.

After having played the Batman Arkham serie, this game seems cheaper, from the graphic to the moves, but it has actually has a lot of things that the Batman games didn't have, like a more complex upgrade system, more similar to an RPG, and more missions.

This game has everything I like from the Batman Arkman playability, so it really deserve the first place in my list.

 

[PowerGod]

I really need to add some information about Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, because them makes it a really unique game and take really you deep into the game !!

It has a ranking system for the enemies !!
Not only you can get experience by killing things, but them too can become powerful, either by killing each others, or by do some others quests like recruiting !! (Or killing you... because in this game you are a cursed-phantom, so you just resurrect after death.)
Also, the physical aspect of every orc is pretty much unique, and the nick-name most of the time has something to do with their aspect or skills.
And here we go even deeper !! Every orc has weaknesses, strong points, particular skills and "fears" !!
You can't beat with stealth attacks someone that is immune to them, but maybe you can make him run away from the group using his fear for animals, and then attack him one on one !!

I hated my first experience with this system !! But because it got me so much... so I loved it !!

I was used with the combat system because of Batman, so I went pretty much far into the game, killing everyone and fount it easy, but I wasn't following the main quest as I should have done, because only here the caste system is explained...
so, the game were becoming more and more difficult, and the number of enemies became more and more massive, with sharp-shooters and mini-bosses shouting at you here and there... and those last ones, were the greatness !!
I ignored those mini-bosses like them were random enemies... but the first time I killed three of them, I was overwhelmed by all the other troops, and one unknown little orc in the end killed me by pure luck... there was a view of him telling to me: "You suck so bad !! I will be promoted for this !!"... and still I ignored this...
Until one day, passing through a fort, HE shouted at me "HA HA HA !!! What we have here !! Didn't you like the last time I killed you ?!"... and actually I remembered his face !!
So I went straight to him, destroying all his army, and when finally we were one on one, I wasn't able to hit him... direct attacks were countered... I wasn't able to get to his back... he was immune to arrows too... I died... with his face laughing in front of me "HA HA HA !! I will make a carpet out of your skin !!"...
I evaded him for some time doing other missions and killing other mini-bosses that were more prone to receive damage from my combat-style...
But one day, during a mission, an entire army and 3 mini-bosses spotted me... and one of them was HIM... I was pretty confident, because of my new skills... and attacked... but I was a fool... the combined skills of those three made me hard to beat even one of them... so, I started running away... and then... a random orc of the army killed me with an arrow... shouting at me "EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT I KILLED YOU !! HA HA HA !!"... and he became chief and more powerful...but not only him !! Even those three mini-bosses that survived the battle became more powerful !!
So I started to really hate this enemy-upgrade system... and I started really to hate "HIM" the first one who killed me... that was becoming more and more powerful...
My main quest became to kill HIM... I wanted SOOO MUCH to kill HIM !! I hated HIM !! Never happened before to me to actually hate a game character !! This game made this thing so well !!
I tried different times to beat him without success... seeing HIM becoming more and more stronger...
Then, I took a break... and started to use the "intel" system, to force enemies into giving information about the bosses... their strong points and their weaknesses... and using these information I was able to beat a lot of bosses... until I felt ready for HIM...
HE had fear for those big panthers, so I got one and went to HIM !! When HE saw me laughed "YOU DIDN'T HAD ENOUGH ?! HA HA HA"... and after that "I HATE THOSE ANIMALS !!!" and was locked in fear !!
I destroyed the whole army leaving HIM watching in fear, but in the mean time they killed my animal... in the end there were only me and HIM !! But I had more tricks than the last time... and found a way to evade HIS counters and counterattack in powerful ways... but HE was really hard to beat and required a lot of time and attention to not become exposed... and in the end, when I dealt the last hit of my super final combo, seeing HIS head flying away from the body, I was so DAMN proud that I can't explain !!!
And I also got more experience because "vengeance" !!
HE wasn't even a "quest" boss, just a random orc that got the luck to kill me the first time...

This is what the game has that I didn't found in other games before.

EDIT:
Oh, and for the "Lord of the Rings" purists, don't mind my terms, I call "orcs" all of them for simplicity.

 

[PowerGod]

Because I just want more of these games, I added more info on the first page about the "parameters" required do be defined a "Batman Arkham"-like game.

 

[PowerGod]

After almost have finished the main campaign of "Middle-Earth: Shadow of War", I must classify it after "Mad Max", for a simple reason, the battles are too many... I never thought possible to become bored by the fighting sessions in this type of games, but "Shadow of War" was able to obtain that...

After 50+ hours of playtime, when I was thinking to be at the end of the game, I found out that the actual epilogue is just a collection of battles, the same already done before, to reach that point... after 2 of them I had a look at a walkthrough, to find out that I still have to do more then 10 more...
Now, looking at STEAM statistics, I know why the percentage of people that actually finished the game is so low...

The developers announced anyway the release for a big update at half of june, with many improvements.

Important info:
I was lucky starting to play in these days, because I didn't knew that not long ago the game contained "micro-transactions" to buy upgrades... but now this system has been disabled, and is integrated in the game itself so you can use "game money" to get those things.
In the next patch, all the remaining graphical parts of that system will be removed or integrated better to the standalone game.


EDIT:

About the ending, what everyone calls "The True Ending" on YouTube, is actually what I got after finishing the third act of the Epilogue, but all the walkthroug tells that is should be after the forth act !!
Also, the 100% completion of the game happened just after the third act !!
So, I suppose that at some point in time, the developers had moved the ending before the fourth act, and made that last act, that is composed only with a lot of battles without story, as an optional after the ending !!

Epilogue "Shadow Wars" -> Act 1 -> Act 2 -> Act 3 -> True Ending (100% Completion) -> Act 4 (Only battles, Made Optional)

 

[PowerGod]

Ok, I returned active with the quest of finding other games with the same Batman Arkham playability, and I found some new info.

First of all the type of combat system has a nane, and is called "Free-Flow Combat System".
Thanks to the name now I can find a lot of lists online with people asking for similar games.

These games should have a similar combat system to the one of Batman Arkham, still I don't know how the rest of the game is comparable, but it's a start:

• Assassin's Creed 3 (and maybe even the sequels ?)
• Captain America: Super Soldier
• Sleeping Dogs

(Also someone spoke about FF7, but I'm not so convinced...)

 

[levi]

FF7 has basic tarted up menu systems for combat. I think anyone who suggested that is trolling you.

 

[PowerGod]

FF7 has basic tarted up menu systems for combat. I think anyone who suggested that is trolling you.

What do you mean with "tarted up menu systems" ?
I have seen some videos of the combat sessions, but as far as I struggle to understand if it really is similar to the Batman one, I don't see menus at all during combat

Battle System Guide and Combat Tips - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Guide - IGN

This FF7 Remake Combat Tips guide includes everything you need to know to master the real time combat ATB system and the flow of freely controlling and

www.ign.com

EDIT:
Oh, now I see what you mean, those selections happens really fast

 

[levi]

Ah, you're talking about the remake. I wasn't aware they'd apparently completely changed the combat system, although it's not clear to me exactly how far they've gone other than implementing cinematics into the fights, which were completely absent before. It's also not clear how that apparently free flowing combat system works, I can see they still take place in an empty arena with just the current fight's baddies and your party present, but I'm not sure how that lock on system works. Can you change your lock on to a different baddie without having to back out first, or are you locked on till he dies if you don't back out. In the original more menu based system you selected which baddie to attack each turn, then selected your weapon for each character in turn, which was the traditional JRPG way of working, just with 3D rendered visuals.

 

[PowerGod]

So I started playing "Sleeping Dogs" and indeed shares a lot of things with Batman Arkham.

First of all it is really well made, the city could be the most believable I ever seen in a game, and the animations are good.
The only thing I don't like a lot are vehicles, I feel them difficult to use.

The combat system is REALLY similar to the Batman Arkham, but is both more complex and less automatic... the incredible animations you get with a click on Batman, in this game must be obtained with a combinations of buttons, pressed with the right timing and at the right distance... the difficulty is very high in comparison... still there are environmental KO and you can use guns (with bullet-time !!) during melee encounters.

The world is "Open" but just to go around, since you can only do missions that are present on the map.
Because you are an Undercover COP, there are both police missions and underworld missions, and there are 2 separate experience levels for police and thug missions.

I suppose it is missing the "Stealth" part, but I'm just at the beginning.

For the rest it really feels like a good movie, and I'm enjoying it a lot.
I'll add it to the list of very similar games.

 

[kuru]

 

[PowerGod]

I'll keep an eye on that, from the videos is not so clear how combat works.

On another note, I'm pretty confident that Hogwarts Legacy could be a game to be put at the top of the list, but I still didn't try it.