2005's Batman Begins video game tie-in of the same name is a mostly forgettable licensed game, but playing Batman: Arkham Knight recently made me recall some of its gameplay and color it in a prescient light. Batman Begins may not have executed on its mechanics as well as any of the recent Batman games, but it had the right ideas – ideas that Arkham would later perfect.
Many of these mechanics were not invented by Batman Begins or the Arkham series, but they feel very similar when placed side by side.
Stealth movement
In both Begins and Arkham, stealth is important and as frequent as the normal fistfight. Both Batmen crouch in a similar position and both are able to move in that crouched position without losing much momentum.
Stealth takedowns
As I referenced above, Batman did not invent the one-button stealth takedown, but they feel and look very similar in these two games. In the crouched position, moving behind an enemy opens a prompt, and a flashy takedown animation occurs. Some of the animations are even similar between the two games.
Inciting fear and watching enemy heartbeats
Begins' big innovation in 2005 was the way Batman could change the temperament of his opponents by scaring the crap out of them. You did this by sticking to the ceilings and making things explode or mysteriously move while you stayed out of sight. If your opponents got too scared, they would start acting erratically or drop their guns. Arkham would do this again much later, and even track the heart-rate of your enemies as an indicator of their current level of fear in the same way.
Scarecrow toxin affecting your perception
Batman struggling with Scarecrow's fear toxin is an important part of the Arkham series, and on a few occasions, Begins would similarly change the players' perception when they were affected by the gas. You also get a chance to see how the enemies perceive Batman while affected by the gas, something we would see again later with Arkham.
Take out the guns first
Batman isn't a super human, and guns will kill him. This is the case in every Batman story, and Begins is no different. In both Begins and Arkham, your radar specifically identifies which enemies have guns and who left theirs at home. Going after the guns first is a requirement for survival.
Counters
Counters aren't as big a part of Begins as they are in the Arkham games, but it's an option in combat and always a good tactic.
The final takedown is a flashy one
When you take on a group of enemies in Arkham, you always know you've cleared the room when the camera zooms in, slows down, and focuses on the final gruesome takedown. Begins doesn't have the same level of flash, but the camera does take up a new position to highlight your accomplishment for the final blow.
For more surprising similarities, head to page two.