Batman, as a character, is as popular in games as he is in any other media. Batman has a stellar pantheon of games that have taken inspiration from their predecessors, and subsequently influenced the Batman games that have followed them. It is difficult to discuss Batman’s influence in games without also mentioning Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise, which blossomed into its own Arkhamverse canon. However, before the Arkhamverse was conceived, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu was prominent as an action-packed beat-’em-up.
Released after the single-player Batman: Vengeance, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu is another extension of the DC Animated Universe with its inspired visual aesthetic and reprised voice actors. The game is structured with several levels within each chapter, where players advance through waves of enemies and must reach intermittent goals before a timer expires. Bosses appear at the end of each chapter, and Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl are all playable in single-player or co-op. If any game deserves a modern remake with updated controls, it is Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu.
A Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu Remake Could Overhaul Combat
Because of how timeless and nostalgic the DC Animated Universe is, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu would not need a remaster to improve its graphical fidelity. Its visuals could be updated or upscaled to meet the modern standards of current-gen, but that would not be representative of the cartoon animation that it is inspired by.
Instead, if Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu received a wholesale remake, it could be refurbished with new control schemes and an overhaul on combat, which are two features that a Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu remake could arguably improve on the most. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu’s combat is not necessarily bad, but each character’s attacks are limited in a way that a modern remake could elaborate upon.
Moreover, accessibility features demonstrative of current-gen games would be a great addition. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu only allowed for single-player or two-player co-op, but a remake could allow for four-player co-op for each Bat Family character to be playable at once.
Further, even more alternate costumes could be added, and more concept art or Trophy Room unlocks could be made available through requisite token coins purchased with XP points in-game. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu was also admittedly difficult, with Hard and Dark Knight modes requiring players’ utmost skill to complete. The game had a supplementary challenge mode that could also be improved with new modifiers or goals in mind if Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu ever received a remake.
Gotham Knights Can Behave Like a Spiritual Successor to Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
.png?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu is an inspired Batman game, and its influence may be evident in one of this year’s most anticipated AAA titles. Indeed, WB Games Montreal’s Gotham Knights has a lot of Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu in its DNA.
Having single-player or two-player co-op makes each game a fantastic exploration of the dynamic duo trope in the DC mythology. Gotham Knights’ own playable protagonists are represented in Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, except for Red Hood.
Of course, Gotham Knights is an action-RPG and not a linear beat-’em-up, but it still expresses a common atmosphere with shared protagonists. Rather, it would be unrealistic and undesired for Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu to be remade into a game comparable to Gotham Knights. It is interesting to see how much Batman games have evolved in nearly ten years, and Gotham Knights certainly seems like an amalgam of several in terms of its gameplay design.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu may never receive a port, remaster, or remake, and may be better left to its place in Batman game history. However, if remade, it could revive fans’ nostalgia with better combat and a renewed love for the DC Animated Universe.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu released in 2003 for Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PS2, and Xbox.