The War of Dark Knights

Anyone remember "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions"? It was this video game where you played as four Spider-Men from different realities. It was really neat, so neat it got a crappy sequel and was the inspiration for the event "Spiderverse". And while it would be easy to pitch a better-more fleshed out sequel-to that game, it's kind of pointless when most Spider-Men are the same. Maybe they're different people, but they all do the same thing. That's why today I wanted to Pitch a similar concept with four drastically different versions of everyone's favorite Dark Knight. This is "Batman: Arkham Realities".

Obviously, I'd like Rocksteady games to come back and make this game. Sure they were finished with Batman, but the appeal of making four different play styles with an off-the-wall story could get them back on. I chose these four Batman because they all come from very different universes, all fight in very different styles-which means playstyles-and are all different people. I chose four because it's not too little and not too much. The four Batmen are Bruce Wayne from the Arkham video games, Thomas Wayne from the Flashpoint universe, Terry McGinnis from the alternate future of "Batman Beyond", and Kal-El/Bruce Wayne from the Elseworld's story "Batman: Speeding Bullets". If you're disappointed the 1960's Adam West Batman wasn't part of this I felt his passing would have hindered the game. I'd feel bad getting an imitator. Besides I'd rather he get a free arcade style beat-em-up with Batman and Robin from the 60's show added to the game.

Anyway, the story goes that the Bat Demon God Barbatos-a real character-fears a prophecy that four Batmen from specific universes will stop his plans of Multiversal conquest. He sends his Dark Knights-corrupted versions of Bruce Wayne-to each universe to kill those Batmen. Overhearing this plan is Bat-Mite, Batman's biggest fan from the 5th Dimension. He acts as the guide to the Batmen and a way each Batman can communicate throughout dimensions.

Arkham

At the end of "Batman: Arkham Knight", the world knows who Batman is, Bruce fakes his death, and uses Scarecrow's fear toxin on the criminals of Gotham to make them think The Batman still protects the streets, even though he has retired. When we see Bruce he is living in a large cabin in the forest beyond Gotham with Alfred. He is convinced by Bat-Mite to come out of retirement and help stop The Dark Knights. His gameplay is exactly like it was in the other games, with the exception being his gadgets. Before every level, the player can select three out of eight gadgets to bring on the mission. These gadgets can be used for puzzle solving or finding alternate routes or just for different ways of fighting. Maybe the gadgets can be upgraded over time. The only Dark Knight he'd battle would be The Batman Who Laughs, a Batman who went mad from Joker Venom. He controls an army of corrupt Robins and wields power-enhancing playing cards. He uses the likes of Harley Quinn, his lead Robin-Jason Todd, a revived Scarecrow, Ra's al Ghul, and a revived Joker to lead Batman down a dark path. By the end of the journey Bruce Wayne learns to forgive himself and-due to plot-The Joker is revived as a sane man. This allows Bruce and Joker to start over as new men. He is voiced by Kevin Conroy.

Flashpoint

Thomas Wayne exists in a world caught between a war between the Atlanteans and The Amazonians, and where his son his dead and his wife is The Joker. It is in his world where The Drowned (a female Bruce Wayne who has Atlantean powers) and The Merciless (a version of Bruce Wayne who became a corrupted God of War) invade their respective kingdoms. Thomas' gameplay is gun-based. A lot of rolling and dodging and shooting. Each level would start with him with handguns, but he'll have to get more ammo and use different guns in each level. These Dark Knights sick the likes of the serial killer Plastic Man, the pirate Deathstroke, Aquaman the war tyrant, Wonder Woman the warrior queen, and a battle-equip Martha/Joker on him. By the end, this Batman would have a last conversation with his adult son, giving him closure and the courage to fight this war head-on. He is voiced by Bruce Greenwood.

Beyond

In this alternate future, Terry McGinnis is trying to balance his upcoming marriage to his girlfriend Dana with his responsibilities as Batman. Still guided by the old Bruce Wayne, Terry has to protect his fiance and his family from the likes of The Dark Knights, The Dawnbreaker (a teenaged Bruce Wayne who became a corrupt Green Lantern) and The Murder Machine (a version of Bruce who fused with Cyborg and formed an artificial intelligence). This Batman fights like a character out of "Devil May Cry" or "God of War". His cybernetic suit gives him enhanced strength and speed, he can fly, fire discs and Batarangs, his systems can also hack technology. Between levels, the player can use gained experience points to upgrade different parts of Terry's suit like strength, speed, defense, projectile weapons, and hacking technology. The pros and cons of this Batman depend on the player. Along with Dawnbreaker and Murder Machine this Batman will fight the future version of Mr. Freeze, Shriek, Spellbinder, Big Time, and even Tim Drake/Joker. By the end he and Dana sit down and talk about his career as Batman and what it means for their future. He is voiced by Will Friedle.

Speeding Bullets

In this alternate universe, Kal-El's spaceship landed in Gotham City and he was raised by the Wayne Family as Bruce Wayne. After the death of his parents and the emergence of his powers he swore vengeance and became Batman. His world is invaded by The Red Death (a version of Bruce Wayne who possessed The Flash's body using The Speed Force) and The Devastator (a version of Bruce Wayne who transformed himself with a Doomsday-like monster to stop a corrupt Superman). This Batman has the powers of Superman, meaning he has a button for various heat vision attacks and a button for breath-based attacks. Certain enemies can only be defeated by different powers, it's more over-the-top action than Batman Beyond. The main gameplay component is sunlight. By using his heat vision or super breath or regenerating health Batman will use up energy from a meter. When the meter goes to zero he can't use his powers or regenerate health, by finding small amounts of sunlight he can gain energy back. In order to stop the world from becoming populated by Doomsday monsters he'll have to fight Professor Bane (Bane + Emil Hamilton), Lex "Joker" Luthor, Batzarro, and Killer Nat (Killer Croc + Parasite). By the end he'll cure the world and realize the people of Earth need to see him as a symbol of hope and not fear, so he becomes Superman. He is voiced by George Newbern.

Those are just some of my ideas regarding multiversal Batmen and how a video game featuring them could work! Hope you liked it!

Thanks for reading!