The Destruction of the Batman Arkham Universe Breaks My Heart...

[@johnny718bravo]

This was a miserable game made by miserable people. Old Rocksteady would never let this monstrosity see the light of day. And they wonder why WB is in debt.

[@budgiecat9039]

​​​@chandllerburse737 that doesn't mean anything. Scripts and game plans change all the time. Look up the development cycle for Final Fantasy Versus XIII and how it morphed into FF XV, changing story plot, game engine, game platforms, and directors or the 12 year development cycle for Nioh and how it started off as a joint game and movie project using the late Akira Kurosawa's Oni script, to be directed by his son, which was all scrapped when Koei merged with Tecmo, and went through three different developer studios. Or how a canceled Justice League game by Double Helix for all its assets morphed into the Green Lantern movie game..

[@harleybtasfan90s]

​@chandllerburse737🦞🦞🦞

[@normansmith9009]

@chandllerburse737well, now we know he left to make his own company. He couldn’t take WB shit anymore

[@silentghost751]

An insider article says Sefton Hill is to blame mostly.

[@annoyingguy9939]

I feel like in a weird sense, Harley would actually mourn Batman if he died or at least try to help him in an attempt to try and be better.

[@silentghost751]

Pre SS wouldn’t, since she was obsessed with Joker. Post SS would because she “got over” the Joker, so she’d understand his help from Joker. Seems like she’d be happy that Batman “killed” Joker now as well.

[@Harleyxjokerforever]

They couldn't have know Kevin Conroy would pass after making this game but the Rockstedy was built off the back of the Arkham games. Deciding to kill the character off like this is most brain dead choice i EVER heard of.

[@42Mrgreenman]

True, if they were going to kill them though, it would have been cool if the deaths of the JL were all according to Batman's contingencies and that was the focus of the story, but no, they only made a passing reference to them (and even messed them up, saying Batman had no contingency for himself when he states that the JL would serve that roll in the animated series and in the comics he had Failsafe)...and in the game you basically just shoot them all to death...

[@_MANDOWN_]

Arkham Batman retired and lived the rest of his days with Alfred and Selina dont care what anyone says. It's a silly head cannon but far better than whatever ssktjl was.

[@henrygambles3652]

Nah I prefer that!

[@wildcardproductions6010]

I think he actually did the exact opposite. He became Batman full-time and used the Scarecrow toxin to make criminals see him as a straight up demon😅

[@henrygambles3652]

@@wildcardproductions6010 I’d prefer that! Just anything over him being disrespected and as badly as he was!

[@Nfshotpursuitking]

Ah so the Arkham Knight 100% ending after that damn mansion was blown up. I'm here for it

[@williamedwards4151]

The Arkham games made me a Batman fan. No lie. Not the movies, not even Christian Bale. I liked them...but I wasn't a FAN. The game made me a fan. Stepping into his armored boots and actually *being* Batman changed my perspective on him. He really is just a guy, with a bunch of gadgets and he topples TITANS. And it's all fairly believable, like, his plans make sense, his skills make sense. You can *almost* picture someone like him existing for real. Probably the same reason I love Iron Man so much. There's something almost poetic about a normal human guy going toe-to-toe with literal gods, with just his wits and the tools he has available.

[@OtterloopB]

​@@hermitcard4494 There's no need to talk down to this person by calling them a kid. You became a fan at an earlier date, whereas this person became a fan at a later date. Why do you feel the need to invalidate them based upon what made them a fan? As long as they respect Bruce and aren't some woketard interested in character shipping and ruining the legacy of the character, does it really matter whether the comics or the games turned them into a legit Batfan? I'm all for gatekeeping, but I'm not gonna look down my nose at others if their gateway moment into Batman differed from own my gateway moment.

[@Shadow666_]

​​@@hermitcard4494Yeah, kids like you need to stop acting like they're the center of the universe. Calling yourself an "ancient legend" and an "alpha chad" for having read a picture book is corny af If you're so "ancient" then you should be old enough to know you cant buy an identity at a comic book shop.

[@Aaron-my9zy]

@@hermitcard4494 Oof, look who's talking. Many batman fans became batman fans cuz of the Arkham games, just like how many became fans cuz of the animated series. So? Who cares? You're both fans of batman, why does it matter HOW you became fans? I became a fan cuz of the animated series, yet that doesn't give me the right to be mean and bully someone who became a fan at a later date. The guy was just voicing their opinion on something they loved, not trying to be the center of attention, which is what you're doing. So basically... Stop being an edgy dumbass, it doesn't make you look cool.

[@tristanskywalker1998]

​@hermitcard4494 Not sure why you're being such an asshole. Dude was literally just explaining why the Arkham games made him love Batman.

[@budgiecat9039]

​@chandllerburse737Some people were Batman fans from the 1940's serial movies where Batman drove a white car! 😂

[@niccoloproia3678]

When i saw the moment between Harley and Ivy i thought "WTF is happening right now?". In Arkham Asylum Poison Ivy literally has to beg Harley to let her escape because she wasn't on Joker's party list and in Arkham Knight (in the Harley Quinn's DLC) Harley went to free Poison Ivy from Blackgate because Scarecrow asked her to do so and Penguin planned how to do it. So they tried to push this romance that never worked in the comics in this game NOW that Poison Ivy is a child. Simply disgusting

[@endorathewitchwriter1712]

disrespecting their own lore really annoyed me. Harley referring to Joker as her ex?? They were together until he died and then she went on a whole revenge thing because of his death!! And yes, none of that crap they are trying to say happened with Ivy happened in the game. :eyeroll:

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

​@@Harls1992same!

[@MrAugust1702]

​@@Harls1992 Dr jax: yea that's what I hate about on roblox and suicide squad, I'm sick of tired of them together. I would rather have my beloved poison ivy back! You don't know how long im heartbroken and I pray that they will divorce and break up with each other 🙏

[@henrygambles3652]

@@Harls1992 DC has made me wish Harley Quinn as a character is retired for a while!

[@xoler2167]

Glad to see Paul Dini get the recognition he deserves. Rocksteady started to decline with Arkham Knight with his absence (but still had good moments) and the rest of the staff leaving was the nail in the coffin

[@thedeepfriar745]

Geoff Johns, who’s written for years for DC Comics collaborated on the story alongside Rocksteady’s writers

[@oriongear2499]

@@thedeepfriar745 Arkham Knight or SS: KTJL?

[@ClassicHarleyQuinn]

It's left me fuming. The disrespect to all the characters is unbelievable.

[@henrygambles3652]

And it’s disrespectful to Kevin Conroy! I’d admired Batman because of his willpower, his ability to overcome the odds and do the right thing despite everything, to achieve the seemingly impossible! Fuck these degenerate developers,

[@KrakenZzz123]

They were clones though. Leaked upcoming story content is coming.

[@henrygambles3652]

You know it’s bad when people wish it was a different main character or set of characters you were following! Someone suggested an idea I actually like and would have preferred for this game:”What if instead of the Suicide Squad trying to kill the League Instead it’s the Bat family trying to subdue and cure them using Batman’s contingencies?”

[@budgiecat9039]

​@@KrakenZzz123 haha yeah right sounds like some revisionist history damage control DLC BS 😂

[@KrakenZzz123]

@@budgiecat9039 nah, content was already made well before the backlash. This isn’t dmg control. They are releasing new story every month like a comic book release. This has been the plan…

[@Belle75468]

All they had to do was NOT ser this in Arkham verse. Plus, if boomerang tried to piss on flashes corpse, then they should've made Harley piss on Diana's (Wonder Woman) corpse

[@harleybtasfan90s]

Amen!

[@jefftharakan1457]

Wouldn’t really make much sense tho. Flash was boomerangs hero rival so that makes some sense why there is some hatred for flash there, where as Harley has no real connection to WW.

[@user-vg8ox3he1i]

Why does boomerang hate flash enough to kill him and piss on him??? Because he stopped him from robbing banks?

[@harleybtasfan90s]

@chandllerburse737 in the new 52 comics yeah

[@Sssneksss]

@@jefftharakan1457the thing is anyone that knows anything about the flash is that all of flash’s villains have some sort of respect for him, so none of them would ever defile his dead body like that

[@dominicanag1032]

I’ve asked myself this question multiple times. Who is this game made for? Who is the target audience. Not the people that grew up loving the Arkham games or the people that love the story driven single player game.

[@chappanagent]

🇮🇳🙏as a terminal patient, ss hurt me so much. Arkham games were very close to me along with the hitman series.

[@AKATenn]

Harley quinn from the 90s cartoon was a badass, one of my favorite characters, the modern one is an entirely different person, someone i don't want to see more of.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯👏

[@harleybtasfan90s]

Agreed

[@j-dog7060]

i couldn’t agree with you more. i’m watching “harley’s holiday” to remind me of how her character post joker should be done.

[@egoborder3203]

the worst part is that because they went with Suicide Squad as a live service game they HAVE to support this game going forward, at least minimally. This nightmare is gonna last at least a year

[@Rengokuo4o6]

My thing is since the game is live service, then you need internet to play the game right? Is internet or data free in USA ? If not how will you make people pay for your game, then internet, then skins, ain't that wickedness?

[@marionase8940]

Internet and data are not free in the United States. Granted they are not super expensive either. What really urks me about the live service model is some people (like myself) live in very rural areas in the woods. This makes internet for us spotty. Making any live service game virtually unplayable. Its one thing when its just a few games out there with this model. More and more games nowadays are going the live service route though. Eventually it may be where any new game that comes out for me is unplayable. Guess if that day ever comes ill be glad I have such a large old physical collection of games.

[@V742]

Have to? If things got bad enough, they may cut it off. I doubt it will; it's not quite shit enough for that.

[@budgiecat9039]

Or not. Look what happened to Babylon's Fall Didn't last a year at all 😂

[@WaimeaMonster24]

OG Harley Quinn must feel like River song shooting the Doctor right now

[@Thebuird]

The sincerity you displayed was heartwarming. They intentionally hurt you with this. They wanted to piss people off and destroy our heroes. These people are sick

[@edgelordleon5859]

The word I would use is "disrespectful." Which I think is quite accurate.

[@Butwhythough881]

The only reason I can think of as to why this game was set in the Arkhamverse was because Rocksteady simply couldn’t trust this interpretation of these characters being in their own universe and Elseworlds being involved. So they used the Arkhamverse to pull people in. They still could’ve had Harley mourning over a dead Joker, but instead have been killed by mind-controlled Batman.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯

[@dancolon47]

If you see that "Sweet Baby" is involved in a game ... then you can safely assume that the same kind of character assassination of Male Legacy characters will be in it.

[@KrakenZzz123]

Leaks already showed that they killed clones not the actual heroes. Relax.

[@funkydiscogod]

@@KrakenZzz123 Oh, now the studio is spineless, too?

[@KrakenZzz123]

@@funkydiscogod nope, that was already the storyline. Lots of hints that you missed.

[@funkydiscogod]

@@KrakenZzz123 Everyone knows if fans liked the game, they wouldn't've been clones.

[@KrakenZzz123]

@@funkydiscogod the story is already done bro. This was leaked well before even the game released for public perception. Relax.

[@Avarn388]

This game I find has hit a raw nerve in people because modern(and I stress this) Rocksteady underestimated how many people loved Batman as a character and the Arkham-verse. And for the game to be so mean spirited and humiliating the members of the league, especially Batman says a lot. I think the most tragic part about this game is what it COULD have been. Imagine if this game had Batman(who let's say comes out of retirement) has to take on the Justice League brainwashed with contingency plans and saves them. We can have the tension of superpowered individuals fighting Batman but us knowing he's done this before in the comics, it would have been cool to see. OR maybe instead of the Suicide Squad, why not the Titans? The Titans have never gotten their time to shine in games and imagine us seeing Nightwing, Starfire, Cyborg etc. having to face members of the league. It would have given the team dynamic element Rocksteady wanted. But nope; they went with Data analytics and "synergy" while also wanting to put their stamp on the Arkham-verse. Well, I hope Sweet Baby Inc, and the team who worked on this game is happy. It's crashing and burning and there's nothing they can do about it. No wonder Seffon left Rocksteady with a lot of the devs from the original Arkham trilogy. Don't waste your money on it. Just replay the older games.

[@noble0155]

look at the crew. rocksteady isn't rocksteady anymore

[@user-vg8ox3he1i]

They are eating well off this. They got paid and all the "wrong" people are upset. When developers get fired and the studio loses money they'll be onto the next project.

[@Butwhythough881]

What’s funny is now there’s people defending this game by pulling the “The Arkham weren’t that great or Arkham Batman wasn’t even that great to begin with” card.

[@invariant47]

this is like making captain america into hydra double agent, it may sound like cool what if but it does not make sense

[@budgiecat9039]

They love shitting on their heroes. Even Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) they turned her into a psychopath fascist when she got the mantle change in 2012 in the Comics

[@SammaclauseGamgee]

I heard about that and never bought it. Thought he'd eventually become a triple agent, but I still didn't buy that Steve Rogers could pass as a Hydra agent. Was it Steve Rogers Cap or a Miles Morales situation where they just changed the hero into another character?

[@minximayhem]

13:49 I totally agree with all of this and would add that Harley would never hatefully shoot Batman, who she actually idolizes. How many times has Harley, heartfully, apologized to Batman for some of the awful things Joker has done. How many times has Batman gone out of his way to try and rehabilitate and help Harley? Harley is a very troubled person with some seriously deep inner demons obsessed with bad romanticism. It's why she's a criminal psychologist, which these writers continue to ignore. Who DOCTOR Harleen Quinn is. And it's even more sick when you consider that they want to prop this damaged individual up as some poster girl for empowerment. She's not a female empowerment role model. She's supposed to be a cautionary tale. Same goes for Ivy and why they work. You remove their tragedy and it all falls apart. I honestly don't mind Ivy being a kid, though. But you're right. DOCTOR Harleen Quinn would never fetishize a kid. Harley Quinn might kill her though :/

[@shred79]

The original Harley would kill Batman without hesitation, just to please her puddin. That´s the one and only Harley for me, loyal to Joker whatever he does

[@maddisans1028]

That’s really gross that they have Harley a predator. Harley in a lot of comics I remember really cared about kids. That’s what gets me the most I think.

[@maddisans1028]

@@shred79Even in the original though there were episodes that had her getting closer to Batman.

[@shred79]

@@maddisans1028 yeah, but at least she still comes back to Joker to fight Batman. That´s what i loved about Harley. That in her core, she can´t escape her madness and her loyality for Joker

[@dansmith8417]

I've been a fan of Batman since the 80's. It was one of the very first comic books I ever got as a kid. I grew up watching The Animated Series when it came on Fox Kids back in the day. I'm fortunate enough to have seen Batman and Batman Returns in theaters. No matter what they do, they can't take those memories away from me. The Arkham games are 3 of my favorite games of all time. Witnessing what they've done to comic books in general has been heartbreaking to say the least. It's always been a niche hobby, and now it's almost dead. It makes me incredibly sad.

[@jaxxpool9630]

Don’t forget about Arkham Origins.

[@TheHorrorMiserMontyG]

I've always love the Harley Quinn character since she first debut in Batman Animated Series. Now, it's clear that the writers for SSKJL didn't care about the continuity of the Arkham games or didn't do their research as to what they did to both Batman and Harley is a insult to their characters, especially in the Arkham Universe. I've really enjoyed your videos so, subbed your channel.

[@Prototype-357]

This reminds me of something I like to call Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Syndrome, you have an established IP with a long history in Pop Culture and the writers look for new ways to revitalize it and how they do it is by pushing down the characters or lore that made the IP popular in the first place in order to bolster new characters and lore that the writers just came up with and the writers expect us to forget our attachment to the old IP to get attached to these new things instead, the same thing happened with Dial of Destiny, the Terminator franchise is also littered with this.

[@Darth_Bateman]

Terminator did it. Rambo did it. Indiana Jones did it too. You see that comic with that preachy weirdo telling a literal straw man version of Batman that there are no ethical billionaires? Basically if you can’t figure out why this strong white male Is a PoS, you invent a reason. Which oddly enough has defined our inverse MaCarthyism era quite well.

[@mediawarrior5957]

main problem they face it having to get a new generation of fan, because we Legacy Fans are NOT IMMORTAL. Easier for a film studio to create a new generation of stars that to get a new generation of fans for a 25+ year old IP. Its now WOKE, its we had to make it "hip" for the kids.

[@NeroLeMorte]

Like volition with their latest saints row reboot.

[@tristanskywalker1998]

I thought the Star Wars sequels were pretty good. The first two anyway.

[@mediawarrior5957]

@chandllerburse737 saying its meant for kids. Much of "it's bad" is perception, how people say Nickelodeon sucks now. They grew out of it and new shows are meant the next wave of kids. Some of the new DC Star Wars and Marvel is BAD.

[@silverheart4049]

I can't believe this game was the follow-up to Arkham Knight. Ugh, give us the family finding their way after Knightfall, Jason dealing with Nightwing and Robin after everything, Tim and Barb being sweet, just...so many interesting things to do with the Arkham universe and they did none. Not even close- they killed Tim, in fact.

[@Morpheuskingofdreams]

Remember when this came out, it was literally all of us in my big brother's room playing the game one at a time .This game was downright depressing-didn't even pick it up. Thanks for the video

[@acemarvel1564]

People are saying the "pendulum is swinging" but i honestly can't see how

[@Sanderus]

Because it is not. It's just wishful thinking.

[@Darth_Bateman]

You can’t see how, huh? Google MaCarthyism and you’ll figure it out. Hell, you don’t even need to do that. All you have to do is search one movie , Crank (2006). And realize times change. Some things are obviously non negotiable. Like, we’re not going to go back to wearing klan hoods and conversion therapy. But now the sociopaths and child molesters and grifters won’t be able to hide behind an ideology anymore, because it’s not going to be popular to protect or dismiss people pointing them out as x-phobic.

[@SaturnDreamingofMercury]

Black-pillers are part of the problem. They're still stuck in social media era of instant gratification. And if they don't get it, they give up. Folks, life isn't supposed to be easy. People preaching that it was in economically prosperous times made us soft. Change takes grueling and long work. GROW THE HELL UP FOLKS AND KEEP FIGHTING.

[@tomhedlund3215]

Swing the pendulum by voting with your money. Larry Fink of Blackrock (who controls more than $10 trillion in corporate assets, and who imposes ESG scores) can't prop up failing franchises forever.

[@Sanderus]

@@hermitcard4494 Businessmen care about the money. Activists do not.

[@jacobchandler7642]

New Rocksteady wanted it both ways with SS:KTJL. They disregarded the lore so they could do whatever, but they also wanted to entice Batman: Arkham fans' wallets back, so they just made it canon. They wanted players to kill the Justice League, but they're also hinting these are clones? If they confirm that and bring the real League back... honestly, that might upset me more. Like, at least stick to your guns, New Rocksteady. Waffling pleases nobody.

[@funkydiscogod]

The worst part is that if the game had been well received, they wouldn't've been clones. It seems the developers are also spineless.

[@Galactus78]

I think they were really depending on shock value to sell the story but forgot that you actually need to like the main cast.

[@jonathandawson3091]

Batman: The Animated Series - oh my god, that was the absolute height. Call me pessimist but I don't think anything like it can happen ever again in this world 😢

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯

[@Petrolacosaurus]

7:41 "Stop trying to make suicide squad happen, it's never going to happen" -Regina George

[@Dunebat]

Suicide Squad *could* work, if it was written by the right person, like Bruce Timm or Paul Dini... but that's never gonna happen.

[@BN-jk6of]

The way the game handled his killing was a disgrace, it should have been scrapped after Kevin Conroy passed or revealed it was a cyborg and not him. If nothing else but out of respect to his memory and the fans.

[@agentsmith2378]

I utterly hate this game and those who made it.

[@RobertoCarlos-it8rn]

Yep thats it, thats the time to convince Jester to play the Arkham games by herself

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

Are there any DC fans that thought this shock value storytelling was successful? No one seems to.

[@internziko]

Thank you for this. This video was very cathartic for me and i completely agree. Throughout the years no matter what stupidness the DCEU and comics were doing wr always had a pristine Kevin universe (be it the TAS or the Arkham games) and here they are attempting to sully that but we won't let them. As far as I'm concerned this game never happened and the Arkham verse remains pure.

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

In the end unless something comes along that retcons/fixes everything (doubtfully) we all can still look back fondly not only on the Arkham games but the animated series too.

[@mediawarrior5957]

WOKE is the least of this game's problems. Its another live service looter shooter grind fest. One part Poison Ivy gives you heat and freeze abilities, really? Was Heat Wave and Captain Cold not available?

[@eternalhalloween1]

We always have the power to not acknowledge it.

[@TopcatsLair]

so true. Conroy's Batman helped me through childhood trauma. I don't think they hate Batman, they have this compulsion to destroy and subvert everything the geek/fan community has seen as tentpoles of the community.

[@user-vg8ox3he1i]

Only the men. If you love wonder woman she came out of this totally untouched

[@TheRandomViewer-zv4bv]

"How does it feel to live long enough to see all your favourite franchises go down in flames?" "It feels GREAT!"

[@JoelKellenProductions]

When the developers of the original games left, it all went downhill.

[@deathbysloth]

The wrong people started liking Harleen...and then DC put those people in charge of her. Did anyone like the beaver?

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

God I hate that stupid beaver😂

[@AlexanderMartinez-kd7cz]

all you need to know about the writers is harley's line: "causing physical and mental trauma to everyone around you". these people can't write proper dialogue or be subtle. they can only puke their ideas. seriously who tf would ever say that?

[@cowboys19js]

Awesome channel. Btw I’m literally the same way with BTAS😂 the whole universe spawned from that was amazing

[@harleybtasfan90s]

What a slap in the face to the Arkhamverse and to Kevin Conroy. As far as I'm concerned, this game doesn't exist and the games ended with Arkham Knight

[@dimebag505]

People are getting sick of this cr4p not just in games, but in films and TV shows too, at least more people are voting with their wallets. We could have had so much more, a continuation of the Arkham games, where Bruce was training Terry Mcginnis, maybe they could have called it Arkham Beyond or something, but this was 9 years in development and a complete waste of time and we are never going to get that now.

[@LuisSanchez-by7mh]

Batman Arkham Asylum was Iconic, Batman Arkham City was Legendary, Batman Arkham Origins was underrated, Batman Arkham Knight was memorable. Suicide Squad deserves to unalive itself. They could’ve given us Batman Beyond or an Epilogue sequel to Arkham Knight called Arkham Legacy. When Paul Dini didn’t get involved anymore the Batman brand is dying a slow painful death.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯

[@jaxxpool9630]

Arkham Origins: Blackgate was decent, but kinda lacking. Arkham VR was a great concept, but was missed potential.

[@Videogeek95]

As far as I'm concerned... There are 3 People from Bruce's Gallery that have ANY right to kill him... 1. The Joker... 2. Harvey... (I view Harvey as Bruce's FIRST major failure so it's poetic justice...) 3. Ra's... It's not about being a henchman... Harleen Quinzel of ALL people does NOT have any right to kill Batman... She just doesn't... It's a case of "Killing Bruce doesn't bring Harley UP it only brings Bruce DOWN."

[@jackharpring5849]

Anyone remember task force X? Thr episode of Justice League Unlimited where supervillains (out of costume) broke into the watchtower to steal an enchanted armor in an episode made as a classy tribute to the 60s Mission Impossible series? I think that was the first and last time the suicide squad has ever been classy......or good for that matter.

[@jaxxpool9630]

They were also good in Assault on Arkham and Gunn’s Suicide Squad.

[@2501vai]

I really love that there are never any jump cuts in your videos! To me It shows beyond a doubt that everything you say is coming from a place of raw, unbridled, in-the-moment honesty. In an age of chronic, mass over-editing i think you deserve a lot of respect and appreciation for that💪

[@snowbunnie1113]

Yeah, this game doesn’t exist as far as I care. Nobody who worked on the original games was part of this. It was made by Rocksteady in name only. I’m just sad because it looks like, after destroying comics, these untalented creeps are moving on to video games…

[@Its_Pretty_Lame]

Thank you, for the longest time I could never properly explain to people why this whole situation with Arkham Batman's death upsets me so much

[@SonicSkychaser]

Also, why the Justice League? They could've face off the Crime Syndicate or the Justice Lords but nope they want the Squad to take on the Justice League. The Lego DC Super-Villains game did a better story on a group of villains taking on the Crime Syndicate.

[@jasonmcgregor123]

I think gameplay wise it looks fun in that Borderlands type of way, and the story seems to have some genuinely funny moments, but overall, with a premise like "Kill the Justice League!" I don't see that working out well. This being a part of the Arkham universe is a particularly bizarre choice as well. Not quite sure who thought that was a good idea.

[@michaelbell6894]

I'm incredibly curious about what changes were made during the lengthy delay. Everything everyone was concerned about is still present in the finished product.

[@acemarvel1564]

At the end of the day most of us knew from the Get-go that this was just going to be another piece pf bargain bin trash that isn't even worth a cup of coffee

[@michaelbell6894]

@@acemarvel1564 but why the extended delay? What did that allow them to change?

[@acemarvel1564]

@@michaelbell6894 Probably a few scenes that would be "too offensive"

[@reigner-brown]

I just wanted to say you provide a sense of community for those of us who want to discuss these topics but may not have the friends for it or, you know, whatever other reasons. Thank you! I enjoy listening to your reviews

[@henrygambles3652]

What was done to the legacy of this franchise, to good taste,to Arkham Batman and Kevin Conroy was beyond disrespectful, I’m glad this game is failing and I hope it causes Rocksteady and WB Gaming to lose money! Nothing happened after Arkham Knight!

[@J03J3rk0ff]

When people call me a fake fan for not feeling attacked by this game and the story I just stop listening to them. I still have dark knight returns, year one, long Halloween, the Batman, the dark knight, Batman TAS on my shelf.

[@uninhibition31]

This is what it feels like having protestors in a virtual space. These activists LARPing as developers 😂

[@Oliver.Verdant]

The game didn’t work, but the Store sure did. There is nothing of value in this game. It's not just bad, it insults everything we loved about the Arkham Games and DC as a whole. The people who developed it don’t have the skills or creativity to handle these characters or the story they were given. The Suicide Squad works in smaller doses and is better as a single storyline or a background team, they’re not the Justice Leage. I loved James Gunn's Suicide Squad, but it's good as a one and done storyline. I believe DC as a company won’t make it another decade if they continue down this path.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

Totally agreed👏💯

[@dantecaballero96]

Said with eloquence and elegance and not a single swear word. Well done

[@luckyjedi429]

I’ll be honest: I do not consider SSKTJL to be canon. Cope? Maybe. But I hate that these games that I love are disrespected so much by the corpse of the studio that made them.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

💯

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

Jester looking cute.

[@RoboBoomStick]

the title says how i feel

[@darthkai3621]

I thought the Suicide Squad was DC’s answer to Marvel’s Thunderbolts

[@LeonardoSilva-nh2gg]

it's not the other way around?

[@dstar01]

Sweet Baby Inc. is to blame here

[@williamedwards4151]

I'm hearing their name more and more. And the more I hear their name, the more I don't like them.

[@snowbunnie1113]

@@williamedwards4151Sweet Baby has a history of destroying game franchises and their fingerprints are all over this game. They wrote the dialogue and made the cutscenes. They push things the child Ivy getting hit on by adult Harley, which is deeply concerning.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

​@@snowbunnie1113that's so creepy

[@TotalWreck]

This is what happens when you bring politics in a game, seriously...we just want to PLAY in fictional worlds and not be constantly lectured...

[@chromesucks5299]

its just another boogieman that conspiracy folk have begun using to put all the blame at.@@williamedwards4151 Instead of putting the blame where it actually lies, WB's management

[@dustinl5813]

Lady you hit the nail on the head!! Can you please make a video on helping getting rocksteady to make SUPERMAN!!!!

[@KrokPanther]

It is happening far too often 😔

[@TheRealAlazam]

I agree with absolutely everything you said in this video. I have been a huge DC fan for my entire life and it saddens me what has happened to it the last 10 years.

[@theanimationcritictaylorri1264]

I wasn’t really into the show but I watched MASK OF THE PHANTASM a few years back and it’s already among my favorite Animated Movies for sure if not top 25 Animated Movies of all time! I’m NOT a gamer so I’m I’m uncultured in that department but when I saw fragments of the BATMAN & Harley Quinn moments absolutely INFURIATING. Also HOLLYWOOD needs to STOP trying to make JARED LETO a thing I don’t have anything against him personally but it’s something I do agree with the masses on.

[@righteousgreek2161]

Aren’t you not excited that the DLC will have gender bent Mr. freeze Deadshot’s daughter and possibly gay deathstroke

[@snowbunnie1113]

Don’t forget about dollar store brand “elseworlds” Joker. He’s the first new DLC character. 😒

[@wildcardproductions6010]

Are you sure *you're* not having a stroke with that word salad I just read?

[@riftgaming8996]

Time to replay the Arkhamverse thats been sitting on my steam library for years and reminisce about the times when devs used to care about us the fans. And NO! This SS:KTJL garbage is NOT our arkhamverse canon. Rejected!

[@Felipe2000-r6k]

It was a matter of time they got Batman, and honestly, the signal was right there with Will Smith's Suicide Squad. Media has been butchering Superman for the better part od a decade and I'm tired of it. The only question that remains is who's the next superhero to be character assassinated by politically motivated hacks we call "creative writers?"

[@JcgLounge]

To be fair, James Gunn’s Suicide Squad movie was probably the best we would get with that whole entire team. But yeah, these characters have always been a C list team. Good characters(most of the time)on the team but there wasn’t much you could do with them.

[@bishopcruz]

Suicide Squad is a great concept and has had some great stories in the comics. Looking at the Ostrander run it was a lot of fun. The issue is that few creators understand the concept. It works well as a group of bad guys fighting other bad guys, a black ops group doing stuff the heroes will not. That can work, and has. But too many people want them to be a superhero team with edge. That isn't them. World ending threats are not the purview of the squad, but they keep trying to make it a thing.

[@DEADHEAD16090976]

The arkham knight game had a cool harley dlc where u could hear her inner voice of harleen quinzel trying to reason with herself it was very cool

[@martinchatz7346]

I actually had so much hope and faith in this game cause it was coming from Rocksteady and its in the Arkhamverse I was ready to love it and hype it up and everything.....imagine my disappointment

[@waltervanwinkle6725]

Great video and analysis. The Arkham games got me back into gaming and Batman. A lot of fond memories. I want to keep it that way so I’ll stay away from this game.

[@TastyTidepod532]

Hearing you talk about how Batman helped you through a tough time in your life hits close to home. I am a massive Superman fan because the Superman stories legitimately helped me through some really dark times, and to see him get disrespected for so long is just depressing. First it was Injustice and then all the bullshit that Zack Synder did with the character, the non stop “Evil Superman” stories and now this game. It’s getting really old and I really hope DC and WB wake the fuck up and stop doing this shit. TLDR; I may not the biggest fan of Batman but I really echo these sentiments with Superman

[@unkemptjargon91]

To he fair, He'll to Pay was a pretty good movie. It was tied in with Flashpoint had a great ending.

[@pointlessendeavors5653]

I think we all would really appriciate, if these companies kept their idological biases and double standards away from the games they are creating.

[@haroldpeagler1430]

Love your story on this topic👍🏾

[@keyboardcowgirl69]

as a huge video game fan , and james gunns the suicide squad is one of my fave movies, so sad to see how they used this opportunity. i dont get why the characters dont control more differently , and why 3 of them are just people with no powers. there are so many other cooler characters, and if they want to do sequels why kill the justice league before they are introduced, and who do they fight after 13 versions of brainiac and the justice league? idk seems like the suits forced them to make a game and they made it out of spite for people that play destiny, they could of literally just used the avengers game as an example of what not to do , just a fuck up on every front

[@JackMelqart]

we like these characters... as extras, in a story, either als temporary allys or as villains, but just them is not really enough.. i actually liked Arkham movie. granted, its one thing as an animated movie, aside of many orthers, another if its on a timeline and you kill all the main heroes.

[@LeonardoSilva-nh2gg]

I think the argument about not using or not promote it suicide squad is kind of dumb. Like, most people cared about Iron Man, Captain America or Guardians of the Galaxy before the movies? Any character/group has a chance to stand out if the project is really good and unique( just look how people love Peacemaker more than the recent Marvel series)

[@battlion507]

The worst of this is that there was supposed to be a Superman game... but even if that game released, it would've failed financial wise. Cuz Suicide Squad succeeded in a way: ANY PUBLICITY IS GOOD PUBLICITY. It was a calculated risk that Rocksteady and WB took. Same thing with Aliens: Colonial Marines and Fallout 76. Financial success, regardless of reception.

[@Brotherofthe4thCompany]

You mentioned how DC currently is more concerned with deconstructing their heroes than honoring them. Which makes me realize that the cover art for Suicide Squad kill the Justice League looks just like first issue of The Boys. I get the feeling these developers are fans of The Boys and wanted to make a game based on the series. But before the Amazon series, it wasn’t popular enough. So they went to Rocksteady to make this abomination to spite the Justice League. These people probably hate superheroes more than The Boys creator, Garth Ennis.

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

The Boys🙌

[@Brotherofthe4thCompany]

@chandllerburse737 At least he likes Superman more than these people at Rocksteady.

[@JohnHenrysaysHi]

If it is heartbreaking, that just shows how much love you have in your beautiful heart for it to break! By the way, if I may, because it's difficult to hold back to say that you look beautiful today, JesterBell! I'm just a pimple in the acne we call life, but I think you're great! Regarding the Arkham games, I think the first 2 are amazing, Arkham City is one of the greatest games I ever played 9/10. And Arkham Knight Batman, is my favorite not story-wise, but gameplay mechanic-wise after Tekken 7's Jin Kazama, Metal Gear Solid V's Venom Snake and Devil May Cry V's Dante because of the fluidity of control combined with the wealth of moves allowing for immersive creative freedom where I could finally do more what I wanted in a game...though, not as much as those 3 games, but still good! And from what I've heard, and from the little bit I played of the Tekken 8 demo, the newly released Tekken 8 appears to have more depth and complexity to the mechanics, and it's possibly the best game in the series, and I thought Tekken 5 DR was the third greatest game I ever played 9/10, only giving 10/10s to Resident Evil 4 and Devil May Cry 3, so hopefully that's something to look forward to compared to this. No sweat not playing the Arkham games! I actually watched Jin Kazama story on youtube, and when I was a kid, the Prince of Persia games which I hope to play...and Metal Gear Solid 3 was my favorite pop culture anything as a kid with Big Boss being my favorite fictional character for awhile but I saw, never playing the actually Final Fantasy VII, a lot of the story on youtube, which, at the time, made me think Sephiroth was a better version of that character, and I got the Play Art Kai! Never getting any MGS merchandise, even though I played all those games. And regarding Harley, she's amazing character. And imo, being that her original interpretation is Batman The Animated Series, which is, imo, the greatest cartoon I've ever seen besides the Simpsons (seasons 1-8) and Avatar the Last Airbender, so cream will always rise to the top! People won't even go to see the original interpretation of Batman, but will with Harley! And you made a great tribute using my favorite Harley scene: "Nice guys like you shouldn't have bad days." In my opinion, the Justice League Unlimited Ace swingset scene where Batman holds her hand before she passes away pretty sums up how important fictional characters are. And Batman and Harley rock! Hope you have a light-filled peaceful day! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! =)

[@henrygambles3652]

I will say Knight is the weakest but I love the gameplay, it’s just the story that I find to be disappointing but still I think it’s a good game and way better than the current Suicide Squad game!

[@JohnHenrysaysHi]

​@@henrygambles3652 ​Hi Henry! Hope you and yours are warm and well! Agreed. Not only was the story weaker imo, but pacing and consideration of the abundance of gameplay mechanics, where, it's a reason why it's my favorite from a gameplay perspective for the wealth of abilities, but for its implementation, they weren't necessary like the previous games where the developers were very thoughtful with the skills/gadgets so they were meaningful, as opposed to "here's a bunch of stuff....enjoy if you want, I guess...." And I did! And that's why Arkham Knight Batman is my favorite, not story-wise, but gameplay mechanic-wise after Tekken 7's Jin Kazama (until I play Tekken 8!), Metal Gear Solid V's Venom Snake and Devil May Cry V's Dante, and it is my favorite game in the trilogy because I appreciate creative freedom. I think you and I talked about X-Men Origins Wolverine (I remember you praising the game and I hope to play it one day!), and maybe that was when my replies weren't working, but despite me thinking the movie was a 5/10 or 6/10, it was my favorite movie when I saw it because, even though the ideas were half-baked, I enjoyed all the convoluted complexity because it helped keep my mind engaged trying to make sense of it as opposed to say, imo, a 10/10 movie like the Godfather when it's....a 10/10 'nuff said! So, I don't have to put in work...because it's actually well crafted and makes sense so no mental gymnastics required lol. I like the sandbox fun. My favorite thing is generally what my mind is currently most engaged with, and the last movie that really engaged me the most is Sound of Freedom because of my belief that it's a representation of good art that could help move hearts to help shape culture, and as a result, generations to help defend the sanctity of life. And I do not think that is a 10/10 movie. Thank you for your replies as always. Hope you have a nice day!

[@henrygambles3652]

@@JohnHenrysaysHi Thank Sir Yes I’m doing well, I hope you and yours are very well too! Yeah it’s got great gameplay and there are some really good story moments but the rest of the story is poor especially with the titular Knight! The X-Men Origins Wolverine(the game not the film) was pretty good from what I remember! The game is actually based on the film’s original script with some additions by Marc Guggenheim(namely Gambit) and the script for the film was rewritten so they had to adapt some changes(Barakapool because it was the idea of Fox chariman Tom Rothman though the original idea for Weapon XI wasn’t a drastic improvement) though overall the Game is much better! And thankfully the game was allowed to be more mature and Adult rated which is actually what Hugh Jackman wanted and believe it or not, the Origins film was so bad he almost stepped away from the role entirely!

[@JohnHenrysaysHi]

​@@henrygambles3652 Thank you! I'm glad you liked the gameplay. Imo, it's so fun to be able to use all those gameplay mechanics with our favorite costume in the wide open sandbox. ​And thanks for the info on the Wolverine Origins game. I wish he would have stepped away! Now he's in that dorky Wolverine Deadpool 3 costume. I hope it's not a silly lazy deconstruction instead of telling a good story. I don't want nostalgic nonsense. I can see the movies again if I want to, and I don't! lol Hopefully the new Wolverine game is even better for his 50th anniversary this year (people are justifiably pessimistic because Marvel and DC have been awful), and, if not, people can play Origins, X-Men Legends games, Marvel Ultimate Alliance games, Marvel Vs Capcom games, or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (THPS3 was my favorite multiplayer experience ever and Wolverine was an unlockable character!). So far X-Men Days of Future Past is the really only good X-Men movie imo (I loved the "Where were you Charles?" scene!), but the Hulk Vs Wolverine animated movie is still the closest to the spirit of the comics that I liked for both him and Deadpool....uhh....Sabretooth and Omega Red were kinda lame haha Accuracy doesn't always make it better imo, especially, for another example, I think the 90 TAS is the closest to the spirit of the Spider-man comics characterization I liked but the Spectacular Spider-man cartoon is better imo! We talked about 90s TAS X-Men and that's my favorite Wolverine...and Nightcrawler! However, I remember you bringing up Nightcrawler in the Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon and, I remember it being my other favorite for Nightcrawler. Thanks again!

[@henrygambles3652]

@@JohnHenrysaysHi Yes Indeed I do! I think it’s an interesting take on the story and did it much better than the film! And also interesting how they set the Days of Future Past idea up before the film! Yeah Marvel and DC have been dropping the ball for the most part but if this game is even half as good as Origins I will accept that! hopefully it lives up to the hype! Yeah I love the MUA series, it’s actually what got me into some characters I’d never heard of like Deadpool and Moon Knight! Hulk Vs Is Amazing! It actually helped me get into Marvel’s Thor alongside Michael Avon Oeming’s Thor Disassembled story! Oh yeah For sure I’m Ok with inaccuracies if they help to serve an narrative purpose for instance As much as I love Doctor Octopus, To me the Raimi version is my favorite adaptation of the character(though the first Insomniac game comes quite close) I acknowledge that it’s inaccurate to Otto’s backstory not having the abusive father and instead making him intro a man grieving the death of his wife but I think that was a smart move by Raimi and made Otto a tragic villain and whilst he was still the bad guy, he wasn’t as detestable as Norman Osborn! I love Nightcrawler too, he’s a personal favorite, I love the irony of him being a kind and compassionate Christian despite his demonic looking appearence,how he serves as the ultimate example of “looks don’t matter” without feeling forced or Cringey! Anytime Mate!

[@thedeepfriar745]

Of course Sweet Baby Inc would ignore a little detail about Harley Quinn in the Arkham continuity, she’s a child murderer. In the Arkham comics her and joker shoot up a school.

[@333yuichi]

They chose to make a SS game over a JL game baffles me enough. On top of that, they expect us to play and kills the JL member(while doing it in a most rude and disrespectful way). It's a stupid game made by stupid people. Are we in an era where we have to root for the bad guys now? If so, I'm glad I'm an old-fashioned guy.

[@XghostXfaceX2]

I was 4 years old when the animated series came out. Batman taught me what was good. What being heroic was. All through Kevin’s voice. So even under the premise of the game when it was announced I rejected it. I don’t want to see Batman or any of the heroes die. We have seen ENOUGH evil heroes or making villains heroes. Seeing what they did broke my heart. On top of that to see fellow “fans” mock us for being disgusted by this is another layer of why this whole thing isn’t okay.

[@TevyaSmolka]

personally for me if they wanted to have arkham batman die fine but at least have him go out with him saving the squad from brainwashed superman and boom problem solved everybody wins.

[@biggeek2256]

I was already a Batman fan before Arkham Batman BUT Arkham Batman HEIGHTENED my love for Batman even more and seeing him be SO disrespected by this game PISSED ME OFF, I was like: “Oh yeah, the most STRONGEST VERSION of Batman, one who had faced MANY challenges across the Arkham franchise and defined ALL ODDS who EVEN power on through Scarecrow’s fear toxin and fought it off with WILLPOWER gets easily brainwashed by Brainiac and killed by HARLEY of all people”, I am SO GLAD that I NEVER bought this game and I never will

[@JoeyDieselComedy]

My biggest issue(the one that makes the game virtually unplayable for me) is the fact that they didn't put Deathstroke (you know...one of the few villains who wouldn't let Batman die like a Dog while granting him a more honorable Death)in the game as a playable character, but shoehorned a Multiverse "variant" of The Joker. In their Defense, they aren't the first ones to deny us the joy of seeing Deathstroke in more Suicide Squad shenanigans. (Granted he'll be more of a paid ally than an actual member forced to do it).

[@michaelbell6894]

I know I'm probably a significant minority here, but I don't understand this pushing of Harley to the forefront as a main character. I've never found her all that interesting, beyond a little comic relief here and there.

[@A_YouTube_Commenter]

It's not organic. She's an interesting character that got shoved into the spotlight to make her into the next big thing.

[@snowbunnie1113]

I don’t think you are a minority here. All Harley’s solo projects have failed. She was probably most popular back in 2016 (because of Margot Robbie’s costume being so cosplayed) the genuine interest her character has long since been lost.

[@michaelbell6894]

@@snowbunnie1113 they obviously seem to think she's this really deep character, who can lead an evil supergroup with her powers of...um...crazy?

[@notyouraverageharleyquinnstan]

Agreed. It's unnecessary and annoying

[@TotallyNotCastiana]

the only place i feel like ive seen the suicide squad characters done well is the injustice games. where theyre forced to work for the regime in the first game. but in the sequel characters like harley have secondary motivations for switching sides (wont say cuz spoilers)

[@jameshurley776]

Jester good video and also before this abomination of a game in 2014 there was a animated movie Batman assault on Arkham it was set in the Arkham universe before Arkham asylum ! It was more of a suicide squad movie and was done well!