Here’s why I think The Riddler is the best part of the first two Batman Arkham games.
The Batman Arkham series of video games were my first real dive into the deeper mythology surrounding Batman.
I had seen the first two Christopher Nolan directed films when I started playing Arkham Asylum, but I had never picked up a comic book about The Bat.
One of the things I enjoy the most about the Arkham games is The Riddler’s Challenge.
This challenge consists of finding objects and solving puzzles that are hidden in the game world, with the help of cryptic clues provided by The Riddler.
And the clues and solutions to these riddles was always about some part of the larger Batman mythos.
These riddles are probably very easy to solve for a Scholar Of The Bat. But for someone as uninitiated as I was at the time, these riddles served as a nice little treat.
Not only did the riddles expand my Batman horizons, I also felt quite clever when I managed to work out the answers.
I actually think that this version of The Riddler may be one of the better ones we have ever had.
The 60s television version played by Frank Gorshin is fun, but he feels a bit too much like The Joker for my tastes.
And Jim Carrey’s Riddler in Batman Forever is… well… very Jim Carrey.
While The Riddler is my favorite part of the Arkham games, I do feel like the final showdown with him in Arkham City was a bit weak.
Instead of solving puzzles, our first and final face-to-face with Edward Nigma is yet another sneaking mission.
And with his “guards” following a litteral rail path, at that.
Still, it does feel good to leave The Riddler’s domain in favor of slipping into Batman’s area of expertise.
But I do wish there could have been some riddle aspect to that final takedown. Like a Batman-themed crossword or something.
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I hear you about feeling that satisfaction of figuring out a difficult clue. I do wish there was a little more to them that tied into the main story though as I get wrapped up in the story and stop feeling the urge to complete them all.
Yeah, I can see that.
To me all the Riddler stuff felt like a separate story that just happened to take place at the same time as the main story.
But I have heard a lot of other people dislike those missions, so I don’t know if I’m the weird one here 😛