Summary
Despite being synonymous with Batman in comics, movies, and television, the iconicBatmobilehas not had a massive presence in video games like his famous gadgets or martial arts skills. The Batmobile has seen many variations and updates over the years as the character has evolved with the times, from armored muscle cars to high-tech tanks that could crush Bane.
Fortunately, there are games out there for enthusiasts of the Batmobile, with different styles of gameplay mixed with signature designs that help them stand out from each other. Even in games where the Batmobile is only a small portion of the experience, it still adds to the overall immersion by making the player feel like The Dark Knight.
Using footage fromThe New Batman Adventuresfor cutscenes,Batman: Gotham City Racerallowed players to take control of the sleeker Batmobile in an oft-forgotten title by UbiSoft. Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl,and the many famous Batman villainsalso have their respective vehicles that can race through the streets of Gotham City.
Unfortunately, aside from the novelty of seeing the available vehicles,Batman: Gotham City Raceris almost universally panned for its poor controls and unappealing visuals. Even the Batmobile feels too unresponsive and floaty in response to player inputs, making the constant turns through Gotham frustrating.
There are several versions ofBatman Returnsdeveloped by different companies for various systems, resulting in multiple gameplay styles for the Batmobile. In the MS-DOS version, which combines action andpoint-and-click adventure elements, the Batmobile serves as a hub for Batman to receive updates and fast travel to different locations in the city.
InBatman Returnsfor the Sega CD, the Batmobile sections feature intense third-person shoot-‘em-up levels interspersed with areas where players control Batman on foot. Konami’s version for the NES is also a shoot-‘em-up but adopts a 2D side-scrolling format reminiscent ofGradius, showcasing a diverse range of gameplay for the Batmobile in 1992.
In many ways,Batman & Robinon the original PlayStation reflects the movie it is based on: a poorly made project designed only to sell toys. However, to give credit where it is due, it was also an ambitious title as players had to use detective work to figure out where to go and at what time. It’s not much, but it’s still more Dark Knight Detective work than most games.
When it comes to the massive neon-lit Batmobile,Batman & Robinalso deserves credit for implementing thefirst open-world Gotham Cityto explore. Batman has to go to specific locations throughout Gotham to start the next level in the story using the Batmobile, which is clunky but for a PS1 title, it was ahead of its time.
Batman Vengeanceis another game based onThe New Batman Adventures, but is designed to feel like an extended episode ofthe beloved animated series. Most of the game is spent playing Batman, fighting villains and their thugs in a third-person action-adventure, with the Batmobile only being playable on certain levels.
The Batmobile is far from complicated; it has the player chasing cars and shooting at them, dodging other vehicles, and using a grapple to make sharp turns via quick-time events. While they go on for a little too long, they are still considered a vast improvement overBatman: Gotham City Racer.
Many famous cars have raced their way intoRocket Leagueas DLC, from the Ecto-1 of theGhostbustersuniverse to James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. There have also been multiple Batmobiles based on the original Tim Burton Batman movies, Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy,the DC Extended Universe, and Matt Reeves’The Batman.
The Batmobiles are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, which means that it is still the same Rocket League experience that thousands of players fell in love with. It is a soccer game with cars, leading to as many tense moments as hilarious ones, as cars compete online to score points.
Traveller’s Tales has tackled many famous franchises in LEGO form and Batman is one that helped them revolutionize their games with new mechanics with each entry.LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroeswas not only their first game to feature voice actors, but Traveller’s Tales also fully embracedan open-world superhero titleafter the popularity ofBatman: Arkham City.
Characters like Superman were introduced inLEGO Batman 2, so most players will opt for him to get around the LEGO version of Gotham, but the Batmobile and other unlockable vehicles are still a viable option. They are fast with tight controls and would lay the foundation for most vehicle sections in other LEGO games.
In Christopher Nolan’sBatman Begins, the Tumbler set a new standard for Batmobiles for many versions afterward, with many portraying the Batmobile as an armored personnel carrier. This would also be the case for theBatman Beginsvideo game, which featured multiple gameplay mechanics that would eventually become part of the highly-regardedBatman: Arkhamseries.
The ten Tumbler missions throughoutBatman Beginsare linear chases and races, but they are action-packed and take full advantage of the tank-like design as Batman drives through the city. Smashing through criminal cars in slow-motion is a delight with impressive animationsfor a PS2 movie-licensed gameand runs smoothly for a game moving so fast.
After three games where the Batmobile was a static object,Batman: Arkham Knightwas when fans finally got their hands on a new advanced prototype Batmobile to traverse with. Gotham City was at its biggest and was filled with military vehicles, so Batman was given a Batmobile that could transform into a turret-clad tank that can drive, smash, and shoot through the open world.
WhileBatman: Arkham Knightwas criticized for overusing the Batmobile in the main story, that doesn’t diminish how satisfying it is to use in the open world, races, time trials, and combat challenges. It can even be used to solve various puzzles, havingas many gadgets as Batman does. Additionally, DLC has allowed for Batmobile skins based on Batmobiles from various movies.
