Analytic Dreamz: Notorious Mass Effect - "BATMAN: ARKHAM SHADOW - SALES & REVIEW ROUND-UP"

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠Analytic Dreamz dives into "Batman: Arkham Shadow," released on October 21, 2024, as a sequel to Arkham Origins. Set in Gotham's Blackgate Penitentiary during a Fourth of July crisis, the game features The Rat King as the main antagonist leading a chaos-spreading cult. Experience classic Arkham combat adapted for VR, with gesture-based attacks, stealth, and detective mode through Metroidvania-style exploration. Unique gameplay includes switching between Batman and Bruce Wayne's undercover persona, Matches Malone, in a first-person perspective. The voice cast includes Roger Craig Smith as Batman, alongside Troy Baker, Elijah Wood, and Tara Strong. Exclusively on Meta Quest 3 & 3S, developed by Camouflaj with Rocksteady's support, it's free with Quest 3/3S until April 30, 2025. Despite some launch bugs, it's celebrated for its VR immersion, selling over a million copies by February 2025, and receiving an 87/100 on Metacritic. However, exclusivity and technical issues have sparked controversy. Analytic Dreamz discusses the game's impact on the VR market, potential future titles, and whether it sets a new standard for VR gaming. Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Time to get into the most popular superhero on the planet Earth if Spider-Man and Superman didn't exist. But you know, that's what's the point because all the Batman fans are completely irate about that statement that I just gave to y'all. Because for the most part, this specific segment is for y'all as far as Batman fans. So I had to get that joke out of the way because Spider-Man is my personal favorite superhero of all time. But for this particular segment, we're getting into a game that wasn't a disappointment. as far as Batman Arkham, which is titled, Arkham Shadow. So if you don't know the Arkham series, especially with Rocksteady, and then being the developers, they are basically world-renowned

for making the entire Arkham series, which basically shape the entire perception of what Batman is seen as, as far as in the video game landscape. Now, of course, this is different than the other VR games, due to the fact that it's a VR game. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you can only play this game on a meta quest three. So for the most part, okay, the meta quest three and quest three S. So this particular game came out October 21st, 2024. Why are we talking about it technically a year after? Well, not in general, but as far as the number, the year change, we're talking about it in 2025 when it

released in 2024 because Arkham shadow not only was it critically acclaimed but also surprisingly enough VR fandom where the VR supporters went out and bought this game as not only did this game sell over a hundred no not only did this game sell over one million copies is basically one of the more popular VR games on the market because if you don't know one of the more popular games in the VR market is Half Life Elix. I think this is I say Alex or have you. I think it's Elix. Anyways, so it's being compared to that and basically that sold around two million copies by December 2020.

So now months after release as far as Arkham Shadow reaching one million compared to the bar set by Half Life Elix, you can already tell that of course it's a significant accomplishment not only on the quality side. but also on the sales side. So with that being said, this is a sequel to Batman Arkham origin set six months later. And of course, the setting is Blackgate penitentiary, Gotham City during a 4th of July crisis.

Now, the main villain, I know what y'all wondering. It's the main villain Joker? Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's not Joker because you know, that's a reoccurring villain. Let's just say that for the Arkham series. This time is none other than the Rat King, which is leading a cult

to spread chaos so 6-9 is back at it again that's a joke for all my hip-hop fans out there but anyways so this is the classic arkham style free flow combat adapted for vr obviously you see in a gameplay right here analytic dreams video on spotify to see the video along with the audio but with it being vr there's going to be a lot of first-person perspectives with physical interactions and basically alternating between batman and bruce wayne ends up being as impactful as if people ever played this game it's like Batman tell tell one of the most classic Batman stories I've ever played and Batman's been around for a while right tell tell really told one of the most phenomenal stories when it came to Batman but anyways back to this game so with this being a VR game and of course coming out on the meta quest

there's going to be technical issues especially because VR at this day I believe it's more of the starting point before what is going to be. As far as the conclusion or the apex of what this could get tours or get to, I think the movie Ready Player 1 could be a reality

in a foreseeable future. But obviously, right now, we're not there yet. Now, shamest plug, of course, at the end of this episode, I'm going to put out a sandbox VR vlog with me and my friend Lil Uchi basically showcasing the lens that VR has been taken to,

especially by independent companies and things like that. So VR in general has been evolving to the point where it's getting smoother as far as the frame rate, and it's not taking you out of, or it's not taking you out of the setting as much as the old technology. It's really immersing you into the world with you actually believing you're in there. because if you don't know, with consoles throughout the history of time, if you look at the Nintendo 64, if you look at the Super, Super Sega Genesis or something like that,

let me see if I could find it. Super Sega console. Because, you know, this came out a while ago. Let's see, release date. We've got to find a release date. This is insane. So the Super Sega console came out in 1983, ladies and gentlemen, in Japan, Australia, and several European territories.

So in 2024, look at that footage, and then look at the footage we have now with the PS5, the Xbox, S, and X, and of course, PC. That compared to the Super Sega console is a big difference as far as graphical, as far as graphics-wise, and the overall quality as far as the content that you're receiving as a gamer.

That is the same type of comparison I would make to what we have now. compared to what we're going to have in the future. Because if you watch Ready Player 1, I do believe that's a possibility. That's not like some flying cars and things of that nature. I do believe at some point we're going to have a whole setup

where you're going to have a little like a 3D, I forget how you do a motile directional treadmill, right? And then you're going to have something like a harness helmet and you're going to be able to be completely immersed into the world. We're not anywhere near that type of technology yet. But right now we're making the steps and the leaps towards that type of product getting out to the masses. So that's why I say that this particular game is definitely pushing the boundaries as far as a phenomenal game that immerses you into the world via VR, which a lot of, and I mean a lot of game, like 80% of games missed the mark as far as immersing you completely into the world. So it's really one of the more standout games we've received.

And of course, with this, there's a lot of iconic. voices in this throughout this game as Troy Baker is two-face in this game. Elijah Wood is scarecrow. Tara Strong is Harley Quinn. And of course, Roger Craig Smith is Batman, you know, rest and peace to Kevin Conroy. So with that being said, some of the main things you want to know about this particular game besides being VR and, you know, set six months after Batman Arkham Origins. Some of the other things to keep in mind is very successful on the show.

charts of course and with that being said people are wanting it to come to the PSVR 2 and the PCVR ports citing matters restrictive ecosystem being the case for why they want this game to come to those platforms so they wanted to expand which only tells you that it's very popular as currently marvel rivals is one of the most popular games on the planet and Nintendo switch fans can't wait till they get their hands on this game because apparently a Nintendo switch port is coming to the fans soon. So anyways, as far as VR, as far as this overall game being phenomenal, I think the story is the main thing that's going to get you and captivate into this world as Batman's in general has a lot of different storylines to go with that are just classic.

So the way that they took a very, and I mean a very unique approach with having the main villain being the Rat King and still coming out with a phenomenal story, I think is credit to Rocksteady for making this type of game. not only had they made classics on console, but they're now starting to make classics in the VR lane, which is insane. So as far as the MetaQuest 3, I'm probably wondering,

how much does that cost? Well, I'm not going to lie to you. I feel like Kendrick right now, because it's going to cost you a Benjamin and a Jackson like your Joe. So with that being said, this MetaQuest 3S bundle offer, the original price is $399, but it's now $349.

99 and this includes Arkham shadow and of course with that being said it's a hefty price so if you have the disposable income then I would say this is a game you should probably

purchase for the VR but it is a hefty price and if you don't have it I wouldn't get it I ain't gonna lie I think a rule of thumb is if you can't afford it twice probably shouldn't be purchasing it so with that being said future Arkhamverse VR titles

the post credit scene I don't want to spoil that but let's just say there's a hint at a sequel coming let's just put it like that so yeah it's basically it so with the VR game and overall Batman Arkham Shadow being

intensely exciting and very immersive and the review scores being all over the place as far as just not all over the place I mean there's many high scores for this game. IGN gave this an 8 out of 10.

Metro UK gave this a 9 out of 10. Open critic gave it an 86 out of 100. Metacritic gave it an 85 out of 100. Eurogamer gave it a 4 out of 5. Tech Radar gave it a 4.5 out of 5. GameSpot gave it a 9 out of... Well, no, it gave it a suggesting an 8 or 9 out of 10. How you suggest the 8 or 9?

How that worked? Anyways, and then, yeah, those are the notable. gaming corporations uh so with that being said the main thing i would say is if you have the disposable uh income i would definitely purchase this game and the vr and enjoy it for yourself as what it looks to be like or what it looks like to be batman and the arkham universe so that be said click my link to my bio let me know one of my social medias what do you think about badman arkham shadow VR that's now out on the MetaQuest 3 and Quest 3S and at the end of the day

has Rocksteady cemented themselves as one of the greatest developing studios of all time