Arkham City: The Futility of Batman

This is a sort of sequel to a video I did on Batman: Arkham Asylum if you want to watch that one first. No pressure: • Arkham Asylum: The Nat...
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Footage Used:
"'Batman Arkham City", ALL Arkham City Stories (HD demonstration)" - • "Batman Arkham City", ...
"Batman: Return to Arkham - Arkham City Walkthrough (PS4)" - • Batman: Return to Arkh...
"Batman Arkham City - Pay Your Respects Achievement" -
• Batman Arkham City - P...
Music Used:
From Arkham City - "Call Him Off" "It Was the Joker" "It's Not Even Breakfast" "You Should Have Listened to My Warning" "Main Theme"
From Batman Begins - "Barbastella"

[@LoneSilverBullet]

"Do you want to know something funny? Even after everything you've done, I would have saved you." *Joker laughs through dying coughs* "That actually is...pretty funny...."

[@elijahgemmill2000]

Even though he can't win... It's better than just giving up.

[@yudanyshidrogo6340]

Źodo

[@yudanyshidrogo6340]

Źkzhx

[@theonlybilge]

It's interesting that Brain Joker says that Batman killed him.

[@thecollinhill]

This video blew me away. I'm a massive Batman fan, and you touched on the heart of what makes him so great: The eternal internal and physical battle between chaos and order that surrounds and consumes him. A central theme to the character is to "Never give up", and this video nailed that perfectly. Bravo.

[@StoryStreet]

Thank you so much!

[@The_Story_Of_Us]

The importance of Joker goes beyond just an antithesis. Joker is the worst criminal there will ever be. The one most resistant to Batman’s mission. The reason Batman doesn’t kill from a rational standpoint (barring his emotional need to keep blood off his hands due to his parents murder) is that choosing to keep criminals alive means they have a chance for repentance, for redemption. We see this in Mister Freeze, he’s done deplorable things, he’s a villain for sure, but at the end of City, he’s done. Batman found Nora for him, saved him from Penguin and even after Freeze attacked him, Batman’s final words to him are (and I’m paraphrasing) “Leave Gotham and quit this life. You’re better than this.”, and in Knight, we see him changed. He isn’t the bad guy anymore, he even chooses to not let his fear for Nora’s safety drive him to attack Batman again. Freeze is indeed reformed. But Freeze is probably the easiest of the rogues gallery to rehabilitate. Joker is the toughest and if Batman’s philosophy proves wrong in Joker’s case, that some people are beyond saving, then the whole mission is called into question. If Batman can’t save Joker or lock him up forever, why not let him die? Why not others? Is his whole life a delusion? Joker gets himself killed before this question can ever be answered. Batman is forever left with this uncertainty. Without him, Batman has lost a guiding star in a sense, a goal to strive towards. He’s left fighting his war on crime as... habitual. It’s just what he does, reason loses its footing in his life. In Harley Quinn’s Revenge, he actually sounds depressed and tired, like he’s just going through the motions without passion or drive, without conviction. Which is why in Arkham Knight, what’s at stake is his very identity, in every sense of the word.

[@platinumwolf526]

That was a beautiful thought process

[@sovietelmo3000]

Damn B, that shit was deep

[@nadream_nadr34m]

Very well put together. I wanted to add that in a weird way in Arkham Knight Batman seems revitalized, like this was just what he was looking for, the perfect ending of his more emotional side. While not literally killing off his emotions, he can leave bruce wayne in the past and in a way allow all the allies and adversaries of bruce wayne fizzle out, while he can continue his war on crime, more so than before. He seems invigorated, much more in contrast to the Harley Quinn DLC. If we can ignore the Jason Todd story line, then it's pretty interesting the way Batman starts talking to everyone after his identity is revealed, or even before! It's like he's so done and happy it'll finally be over and I can't really pick one, but I think it's either he's happy he can stop being bruce wayne and only be batman, or content with everything he has accomplished thus far.

[@LoverOfManyArts]

What "deplorable things" has Mr Freeze done?

[@nadream_nadr34m]

@@LoverOfManyArts killed, kidnapped, performed armed robbery? In the name of LoVe sure but not within the law.

[@sammyruntz]

I loved Arkham City so much when I was younger, I think I spent an entire summer completely absorbed in it. Thank you for looking into the themes and breaking it down.

[@icecold1805]

10:40 I think the fear Batman expresses in Arkham Knight shows that... perhaps... Joker was right. I mean, he "claims" he was gonna give the cure to the Joker but... before the stab, he is listing all the reasons he ain't gonna. And then Joker stabs him and the cure... "drops". Perhaps it did drop, I won't argue a stab must hurt a lot, but perhaps this was the escape Batman had been looking for. Like taking care of someone you just want them to die but ain't willing to kill so you take a huge sigh of relief when the person trips on the stairs and dies... after all, you didn't do it. You didn't push them. It's their fault. I mean I guess you could have been there to stop them but it ain't your fault... is it?. That question is the whole fear of Batman in Arkham Knight. Was he actually gonna give Joker the cure? did the cure fall off his hand because of the stab?.

[@YungM.D.]

Good video, except one thing: Batman initially wanted to save Talia first because of emotional stakes. It was Alfred that stopped him from doing so until he stopped Protocol 10, reminding him of his less emotional duty to more people. So in a way, it was the logical side of his mission that caused this, resulting in further emotional turmoil.

[@Spongebrain97]

Tbh Batman's impact on me at an early age is why Im against the death penalty. In Arkham City protocol 10 is literally about killing huge populations of criminals. Ra's al Ghul says "the world will not miss them, why should you". Yet Batman is still determined to stop him. Earlier Alfred even disobeys Batman's instructions on not first helping to save Talia before stopping Protocol 10. "Batman MUST save Gotham. Deep down you know Im right".

[@theepsilongunslinger3089]

I will admit, I do think there are some people in this world who will never turn from their evil ways but i still do believe in redemption

[@dhruvbharija172]

Bruh Batman is not against killing by law He is against vigilantism murders And you even think that R3PISTS shouldn't be hanged to death!!??

[@JackMorgan06]

@@dhruvbharija172no he’s against killing, like any logical person. you shouldn’t kill someone unless there is absolutely no other option

[@JackMorgan06]

@@Ian-hj4ythopefully

[@jerQCote]

If nothing we do matters, all that matters is what we do.

[@theepsilongunslinger3089]

Batman impacted me since I was a kid. I've been pretty much obsessed since. Because of it I've learned to never give up, never quit, and always do the right thing no matter what the consequences

[@thebeast345]

Amazing video! This channel is criminally underrated!

[@StoryStreet]

Thank you so much! That means a lot.

[@thebeast345]

I’m a huge Batman fan and I’ve completed every Arkham game, and when I saw your Batman Arkham video essays, I was amazed. Then i scrolled through your channel and saw a video essay on one of my favourite episodes from my #1 favourite show (Brooklyn 99 the Box) and I IMMEDIATELY subscribed

[@mattyice9535]

If nothing he does matters, then all that matters is what he chooses to do.

[@Xehanort10]

That's a line from Angel isn't it?

[@mattyice9535]

@@Xehanort10 it is indeed. Felt applicable.

[@michaelkaduck1915]

This is a great analysis of my favorite Batman story. It's actually what motivated me to play the game again and finally beat it. One other point regarding Batman's inner conflict between emotion and reason is right when Protocol 10 starts. Batman is struggling to be able to motivate himself to stop the killing of the inmates after all that they've done. Talia is someone he loves and Joker has taken her with him. You can feel he is desperate to leave, to save the one chance he had for peace in a fight he cannot win. But he still chooses the better option after Oracle and Alfred plead with him to stop the bombing. "Don't do this, Alfred!" "Batman must save Gotham. I'm sorry sir, but deep down, you know I'm right."

[@Nassit-Gnuoy]

I beat this game like 9 or 10 times when it came out. This is honestly my personal favorite video game of all time.

[@adolfogarzachaires394]

Batman can be everyone, it can be you, it can be your neighbour, hell, it can even be the most looking bad guy, Batmancan be anyone who overcomes his own fear and use it to fight evil, Batman is inevitable, he'll be a thing in the future, justice will be a thing in the future

[@adolfogarzachaires394]

@Radical Larry as you wish

[@Noname-ut1ye]

That is it. Bruce Wayne as one man can never win but Batman can. Bruce can die but Batman won't because someone else will pick up the mantle like Dick Grayson or Terry McGinnis. Just like how if a police officer dies, another will take his place. Batman is a symbol of justice and justice cannot be stopped.

[@Noname-ut1ye]

@Radical Larry I disagree with you on that.

[@Noname-ut1ye]

If the will of the individual wronged is strong enough, they can get justice for themselves like Bruce.

[@bradwoods371]

@Radical Larry yes. Justice and fairness are unfortunately just made up concepts

[@tomc-d5071]

I’m so glad this came up in my recommended, love it man!

[@issacdunham6257]

This is honestly one of the best channels I've found on KZbin and I've only watched two of your video. Your analysis of the Batman games almost feels therapeutic in nature. Keep up the good work my guy

[@Xehanort10]

8:03 At one point he was even going to save Talia from Joker rather than stop Protocol 10 showing that he's torn between saving his love and stopping Strange.

[@ClownPuncher139]

Add another reason Arkham City will always be my favorite game. Fantastic video!

[@Drumgobonk08]

The man myth and legend 😮

[@johnearhart1181]

Im so glad someone finally made a video about this. Its these takeaways from arkham city that actually make me love arkham knight so much despite its many flaws. I always viewed arkham knight as the game where batman is forced to confront his failings from arkham city and why i love that jason todd was a villain in that game. Jason todd was batmans ultimate failure. And if you pay attention to the game batman is not infected by the joker blood anymore the hallucinations are induced by the fear toxin. Joker is batmans biggest fear. He fears that he could become the thing he set out to stop. He fears becoming a remorseless killing machine. He fears tge fact that he cant save everyone. That is why i think arkham knight is a better story than most give it credit for. I do think rocksteady could have told it aittle better though maybe just a little longer in the writers room.

[@sizar9003]

Great video. So much interesting thoughts. I like watch videos like this because it's complete my own thoughts

[@buffyoda3420]

I would have called this "Arkham City: The Claustrophobia of Time". The game as a whole, despite having a way larger map than Asylum, still feels claustrophobic. The fact that, from the very beginning, you are trapped inside a city-sized prison is pretty creepy. Time also plays a massive role in this game, with the countdown to Protocol Ten echoing through your comms every hour. Plus, it's only a matter of TIME in this game until the Titan disease in Batman's blood gets the better of him. The whole campaign feels like a ticking time bomb until Batman's life is turned to ashes - had he not confronted Hugo Strange in Wonder Tower at the end of the game, he would have been responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians (even if they are criminals). So yeah. The Claustrophobia of Time.

[@AgentUltimate7]

I think that the fact that all sidequest are "urgent" story wise (Riddler hostages for example) and many times when you are traversing the city there's someone to save added up to this. You can really feel the pressure of being Batman, he always having too much on his plate.

[@JUG1TO]

How the hell don’t you have more subs. So far all of the videos you have done have been phenomenal

[@RakuraiNetwork]

What an incredible video, dude. I just finished Arkham City a few days ago. My appreciation has just skyrocketed 😁

[@sunsetman22]

I love how this game is basically Escape from New York but with Batman

[@BasketCase420]

At first glance I was really triggered by the title but this is actually really good..

[@morihol8951]

Arkham city is the best game! Period.

[@paperchasindude6578]

Fax

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Facts

[@LoverOfManyArts]

No

[@tyleroutland1248]

Batman Arkham city my 2nd favorite Arkham game and my favorite rocksteady game

[@KINGTAZER117]

Great vid, and I hope you get that tuba

[@AgentUltimate7]

One thing that all Arkham games do well is showing how hard is to be Batman, especially during City and Knight I felt how is to have too many lives to save and too many problems to solve, and still Batman has the fortitude to face it all.

[@Llow_em]

this is good

[@StoryStreet]

Thank you!

[@coltonbates629]

1/12 of the comments section right here lmao Worded perfectly

[@blackbatman3152]

The Long Defeat

[@yallTweakin]

New sub here, did you get your tuba? And what did you need it for? Also you make amazing content, extremely underrated content creator! I came across your “rise” trilogy vids and now im just checkin your content

[@johnwells5414]

I’m not one to wait in a big line for a movie or a game…. But October 18th 2011, I waited out in the cold, in the long line to get this game. It was more than worth it

[@friggyk]

*GREAT ESSAY, did you make one Arkham knight yet I can remember ???*

[@blackbatman3152]

The Long Defeaf

[@FrankyTheTurtle1]

Commenting just so this channel gets more recognition

[@slyboy7714]

My favourite game of all time

[@ObaREX]

This is why Batman is such a good character to explore. People always talk about how they can't relate to his no-killing rule or how it limits his storytelling. That they prefer more "morally gray" characters like the Punisher. But fuck those people! Batman is morally gray BECAUSE of his no-kill rule. BECAUSE he's fighting a losing battle! His struggle brings up more moral questions than the easy "just fucking shoot them" tactic so-called anti-heroes use.

[@baki484]

If he kills enemies his parents death to him will be senseless. But to him their death needs to mean something. Unfortunately people see him as nothing more than an angry guy in a rubber suit.

[@isaaclemmen6500]

It always annoys me when people call Batman a power fantasy. Although he is an aristocratic bastard who accomplished very powerful feats while maintaining a double life, he is a tortured figure who dedicates himself to an impossible and the later aspect is more important.

[@andrewduvall7031]

LOL you could’ve said jokers influence 😂😂

[@Awaseme]

If he loved talia so much why didn't he carry her out?

[@Atom.Storm.]

Batman wasn't ready to give up. That was Bruce, not Batman. Batman was the one who kept going.

[@ZgermanGuy.]

Not the murder of his parents is the greatest tragedy in batmans story but as we see In batman of future Or just logically thinking about it as you did His mission fails The only way to actually win the war on crime or atleast lessening its effect to a degree that it becomes an anomly is to Adress the socio economic situation of this world But because batman Wants to be the one in control because his ego won't allow it the only solution is the costume

[@3amrace]

At this point I have played Arkham city 14 times and asylum 3 times is there something wrong here?

[@theawesomeduo54]

Hugo gives them weapons so they can kill each other and not his men, fueling protocol 10 it doesn't matter who dies because he plans to wipe out as many as he can regardless. But he is egotistical most definitely.

[@Mistashiba]

this is why arkham city is the best of the four, was not a fan of knight at all lmao

[@schwift2681]

Say what you will about arkham origin, but it definetely has the best batman fit

[@christofthedead]

Someone motivated by emotions to a more reasonable conclusion? Who would have thunk it. It's almost like the trope that emotions are feminine chaos which is bad, while reason is masculine order which is good doesn't accurately represent reality and served another function. Might be time to put down the Jung.

[@rosebonnie7444]

6:16, 8:10