The Batman: Arkham series is a triumph of superhero video game craftsmanship. The series ushered in a new era of superb comic book video games that do justice to the source material. It managed to combine stellar combat with quality storytelling, and above all, the series showed great focus towards making players really feel like they're Batman. The games took inspiration from almost every corner of Batman's long history, with some of the greatest Batman stories influencing the games in a handful of ways.
Perhaps one of the most iconic Batman stories through the years has been Batman: The Animated Series, which brought the caped crusader into the world of animation like never before. The series modernized Batman and his assortment of supporting characters, and in many ways it's responsible for giving fans the Batman that many of them know and love today. Even after it ended in 1995, the series continued to influence Batman storytelling, and that same influence can be found all throughout the Batman: Arkham series.
The Sounds Of Gotham City
One of the most iconic aspects of Batman: The Animated Series is the show's voice acting. Kevin Conroy's Batman and Mark Hamill's Joker are largely considered to be the definitive portrayals of each character. and their respective performances are a big reason why the series was so successful. The Batman: Arkham series recognized that success, and brought both actors in to reprise their roles. Conroy and Hamill showed their expertise by giving some of the best performances of their careers, making each Batman: Arkham game sound like an interactive episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
Making A Statement
Between all of its crime noir storytelling and gothic imagery, Batman: The Animated Series provided some truly quotable moments. One of the most iconic quotes from the show is one that's been so irrevocably tied to Batman ever since, "I am vengeance, I am the night, I am Batman!" This quote has remained one of Kevin Conroy's most famous Batman lines, and it was so iconic that it made it into the Batman: Arkham series. Commercials for Arkham Knight used the tagline, "Be Vengeance. Be the night. Be Batman," and the quote is used in a climactic scene between Batman and the Joker in the same game.
The Origins Of Harley Quinn
In addition to its remarkable voice acting and quotable moments, Batman: The Animated Series is responsible for introducing whole new characters to the world of Batman and DC. Harley Quinn was one such character, and ever since her introduction, she's become one of the most recognizable characters in comics. Her origins as Joker's psychiatrist worked their way into the Batman: Arkham games in the form of interview tapes that players could unlock in Arkham Asylum. These recordings took lines straight from the Batman: The Animated Series episode that introduced Harley, showing how her character in-game was motivated by the same desires as the show.
Batman: The Animated Series and the Batman: Arkham games are some of the most universally beloved pieces of Batman media to be produced through the character's long history. The show revolutionized what a superhero cartoon can be, and the games flipped the idea of a superhero game on its head. With how influential the show was, it makes sense that it had such a strong effect on the game. Without the success of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill's performances, or the strong storytelling of the show, the Batman: Arkham games would probably look very different.
The Batman: Arkham series is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.