This approach raises a crucial question: did Half-Life: Alyx boost Valve Index sales? Surprisingly, yes—it did. Following the announcement, Valve’s Index sales saw a significant jump, with 103,000 units sold in just over a month. A strong franchise can drive hardware adoption. So, is Batman: Arkham Shadow good? And can it sell Quest headsets?

Hopefully, this review will answer the first question. As for the second question? We’ll leave that up to you. Tell us what you think in the comments.

Thug-Life

Taking place early on in Batman’s career, Arkham Shadow is a sequel to a prequel. It takes place after Batman: Arkham Origins and fleshes out some of the early history of Bruce Wayne, featuring various characters known to fans of the lore, including Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Dr. Leslie Thompkins, and several others.

As the game begins, you assume the character of ‘Matches Malone,’ a small-time Gotham City gangster that first appeared in Batman #242 during a character-defining run that was written by Dennis O’Neil, illustrated by the incredible Neal Adams, and penciled by Dick Giordano. To many long-time Batman readers, myself included, this was truly an iconic era. You don’t need to have known any of this to enjoy the game or appreciate the progression of the narrative, but it does demonstrate the intimacy that the writing team led by Narrative Director Brendan Murphy and Lead Writer Alex O. Smith have with the original source material.

Anyway, I digress. As Batman / Matches Malone, you set fire to the Bat signal above the Gotham police station, promptly get arrested, and then sent to Blackgate Prison, where much of the game takes place.

As anybody familiar with movie tropes, you know already how this will play out; you’ll get a flashback showing why you decided to take on the Matches identity and why you wanted to end up inside Blackgate.

Wham! Thud! Thwack!

If you’re a rare bird who’s never played any of the previous Batman Arkham games, let’s just say the games were mostly fantastic, relying on excellent writing, superb voice acting, and drawing on the strengths of Batman’s character to alternate between stealthy sequences where you took enemies out one by one while remaining undetected and all-out fights where you fought various opponents together using a combat system famous for its free-flowing nature that allowed you to string together varied attacks and build up incredibly satisfying combos. It was wildly innovative back then and has, arguably, never been bested in third-person gaming since. The games also showed off Batman’s origins as a detective, with a detective mode that lets you scan clues and figure out your next lead.

The biggest question regarding Arkham Shadow‘s gameplay was always going to be how faithfully it manages to translate that gaming experience to VR, and this is where you have to acknowledge the sheer acumen that developers Camoflaj (who did a great job with Iron Man VR) have demonstrated with Shadow’s design choices.

The first choice made here was to limit the scope of the game world in a way that makes sense. You can create a whole Gotham City on later generation consoles, but it would have been impossible to do so on a Meta Quest standalone headset without massive concessions in graphics, so instead, the game relies mainly on the limited world of Blackgate prison, and outside of that only features a few selected locations around Gotham City, and it weaves a story that works well within those confines, preventing you from feeling that the spatial limitations are contrived.

The other choice made here was to alter the free-flowing nature of the combat, leading to a mixture of free decisions regarding who you’ll strike next and when, and short prompted almost-QTE sequences that occur during combat sequences. So you’ll pick your enemy, punch-dash towards them, then be prompted to deliver a jab, uppercut, or hook, and sometimes a beat down with both hands or a punch after you’ve grabbed an opponent’s leg, etc.

Initially, I was disappointed that the combat didn’t replicate the free-flowing nature of the console games, which was excellent for ‘flow-state’ combat. However, after a few hours, I adjusted, stopped comparing it to the originals, and appreciated that—despite sacrificing some of the original feel—it provided an intense workout. It’s easy to take on small fights with only 3 or 4 enemies, but when you go through a big battle with 10 enemies or more, you’ll work up a good sweat! I checked my Move stats, and on longer sessions of 90 minutes or so, I was burning up around 500 calories playing this game.

Predator sequences, on the other hand, have carried over perfectly to VR and feel just like they did in the flat games, except, well – much better. You’re Batman, perched over your enemies, picking them off one by one with stealth takedowns until the last one is down. When you get good at these sequences, it feels, for lack of a better word, perfect.

The game replaces the Riddler Trophies of the previous games with Rat King statues that are often in difficult-to-reach areas, requiring some puzzle-solving to reach; these are all optional and provide some head-scratching relief from the action of the combat sequences.

As you progress through the game, your arsenal also evolves, with skill or progression trees for your combat skills, suit, gadgets, and predator skills. The game already starts with many of those already unlocked, but as you gain experience points, you can unlock more, like letting you use sonic Batarangs, various combat combos, quicker and stealthier takedowns, and more. Some of these are only available once you’ve received new gadgets, like the Bat Claw, the Shock Gloves, and others, all delivered by Alfred via the Bat Wing. This helps you feel more and more powerful as the game progresses, and by the end, you really do feel like a perfectly capable Dark Knight, ready to take on whatever Gotham’s criminals and twisted villains throw your way.

The game also offers what had become a staple in the console versions: combat and predator challenges. Although there are only three of each for now, we expect more of those to come from Camoflaj.

Batman: Arkham Shadow does what it should; it successfully brings the gameplay of the Arkham series to VR and does it with confidence and flair.

My Beautiful Batworld

Arkham Shadow nails the visual language of Batman, blending Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture with a mood of urban decay. Its dark, gritty criminal underbelly and subtle steampunk elements make it one of the best-looking games on Meta Quest. It could be argued that other games like Red Matter 2 look better, but games like Red Matter 2 don’t have to balance their looks with bone-crushing action sequences featuring a dozen characters on screen at a time.

The game does a marvelous job with all the characters, including the NPC, most of whom are visually distinct. You won’t see the same characters copied and pasted ad infinitum here, and the main characters are incredibly detailed and remarkably well-animated.

Aside from the beauty of the locations and art direction, the actors’ motion and expressive facial captures are superb, highlighting their beautiful performances and lending emotional heft to the already excellent writing.

The game also features real-time shadows, conveniently placing a backlight behind you regularly to highlight your shadow with your cowl and bat ears, subtly and silently reminding you that behind that headset you’re wearing, you ARE Batman.

The only complaint is that the game’s framerate occasionally drops, especially before and after gate-opening sequences, which are likely there to mask load times. It’s a little distracting when it happens, but it never occurred to me during combat sequences where it would have been the most jarring. These hiccups happen even when the dynamic resolution setting is turned on in the game, but Camoflaj have told us that the game is still being optimized, and the first patch might even be out by the time you read this review.

I Hear You, Bats.

If anything, the audio in Shadow is even better than the graphics since, by its very nature, it’s unencumbered by performance limitations. The sound effects are solid throughout, and the soundtrack by Kazuma Jinnouchi blends the familiar dark, orchestral tones of previous Arkham games with fresh compositions that drive home the game’s drama. Jinnouchi maintains continuity with the series while introducing new elements that match the game’s unique mood.

The voice acting is also superb, with standout performances by Roger Craig Smith as Batman / Bruce Wayne, Troy Baker as Harvey Dent, and Mara Junot as Leslie Thompkins. Junot’s portrayal, in particular, conveys deep empathy for Bruce, truly drawing you into the narrative and the emotional connections between the characters and creating a world in which Batman is not a lone solitary figure but a man loved by the people who understand his traumas, his struggles, and the choices he makes.

Bat-Snags

Despite being a smooth experience overall, I encountered a few issues playing Arkham Shadow. Early on in the game, there was a rope tying a door shut, and I was supposed to cut it with a Batarang; this failed spectacularly despite my repeatedly trying; luckily, I found an alternate path, so it wasn’t a game-breaker. A few bugs like this showed up during my playthrough; a vent I couldn’t enter, a doorway that wouldn’t let me in even after it opened, etc. Infrequent as they were, such issues were usually resolved by simply reloading the last checkpoint or quitting the game and starting again.

The game also seems to trigger some communications with Alfred not by chronological sequence but by location, so I found that if a particular voice message from Alfred was triggered at some place, if you returned to that place again, the same recording was played; this was immersion breaking. I’m hoping Camoflaj will fix it.

I’ve also heard of some players who experienced a game crash where the game would just exit. This only happened to me once when my Quest mysteriously declared that it didn’t have enough memory to run ‘Manta.’

Bat Hours

If you’re wondering about length, the game’s campaign lasts about 10 hours, more or less, depending on how well you play it, how much of it you choose to complete, and what difficulty level you select. I played it on Hard. The combat and predator challenges could add significantly to that time if you enjoy those modes.

Bat Thoughts

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a remarkable achievement in standalone VR, featuring a compelling story, strong character development, stunning graphics, immersive combat, and captivating performances. It showcases how well the character translates across different media and highlights and builds upon the impressive world and mechanics created by Rocksteady way back in 2009. It also reflects the dedication, love, and respect that Camoflaj and Director Ryan Payton have shown for both the character and the earlier Arkham games and, in the process, proves that Batman’s world can thrive in VR, making Arkham Shadow a must-play for both VR fans and Batman enthusiasts alike.

What’re you waiting for? Do you really need a score?

Forgive me for being so forward, but it’s brilliant.

Before we begin the review properly, allow me to provide some context. I don’t have a PlayStation, and I’ve never played the PSVR original. In fact, when I first saw it released, I thought it looked a bit naff and didn’t pay any attention to it. As such, I have no basis for a port comparison, and I am reviewing this as a Quest 2 game, irrespective of its heritage. Now, with that out of the way, let me tell you why my stint as Iron Man is one of the coolest things I’ve done in VR… 

SUIT UP

Marvel’s Iron Man VR is a story-driven first-person action game that sees the player (unsurprisingly) take on the role of the titular superhero, Iron Man. The game begins as Tony Stark, Iron Man’s arrogantly debonair alter-ego, takes the stage to give a speech, regaling a shadowy audience with an account of a recent adventure. As he begins to tell his story, the game shifts and the player embodies the Stark of the past, allowing you to take over the action and live out the story as it unfolds.

It is an effective and engaging narrative device that artfully portrays what is ultimately a well-written comic book adventure. Well-paced and well-performed, the story offers exactly enough intrigue and nuance to keep you entertained without losing focus on the action. My only complaint is that the retrospective narrative, coupled with a foreshadowing preamble at the start of each chapter, means that very few surprises are in store as you progress.

That said, the fact that you know where the story is going has almost no impact on how successful it is in engrossing you. It’s a testament to how well the gameplay and storytelling are interwoven into the overall presentation and feel of the game that each new level remains as exciting as the last. 

I AM Iron Man

As great as the narrative components of Iron Man VR are, the real highlight here is the action-packed gameplay. 

Camouflaj (whose previous outing Republique VR we reviewed when it came out) have done an amazing job of realizing the fantasy of embodying one of the world’s most iconic superheroes. From the intuitive movement system to the varied combat options and the incredibly well-thought-out level designs, every element of Iron Man VR’s gameplay offers the ultimate power fantasy. At the risk of gushing this early in the piece, the chance to really BE Iron Man is one of the most thrilling, addictive, and innovative experiences I’ve ever had in VR. 

Frankly, I fucking LOVE IT.

The flying in Iron Man VR does take a little getting used to at first, but thanks to a responsive and intuitive control system, it quickly becomes reflexive. As you become more confident in your abilities, you will start noticing little details in the level designs that allow you to raise the action to a whole new level. Within no time, things like flying at breakneck speed through improbably small gaps only to circle behind your enemies and blast them out of the skies become second nature.

The weapons systems at your disposal can initially feel a bit confusing, but this is a natural part of coming to grips with piloting the Iron Man suit. Flying, punching, and shooting all use hand gestures or controller buttons, so getting to grips with switching between them can take some time to get into muscle memory. Once you get used to the controls, though, Iron Man VR offers an exhilarating combat experience unlike anything else available on the Quest.

Shooting with your palms outstretched blasts the iconic Iron Man repulsors. Point forwards with your palm downward, and you access auxiliary weapons, like a barrage of heat-seeking missiles or cluster bombs. See a land-based target in need of obliterating? Charge your fists and punch downwards to slam to the ground with shattering force. I defy you to do this without putting yourself in that iconic “heroes landing” pose. 

EXPECTED FLIGHT TIME

For many gamers, the big question with a single-player campaign like this will be “How long is it?” Although that is a valid question, the game’s campaign is only part of what is offered here. Before I can address that question, I will admit that I did not time my play through. 

Don’t worry, I am appropriately chagrined.

With that caveat in mind, I can confidently say that playing on normal difficulty, I finished the campaign in around 4-5 hours. That was without dying, without playing the flight trials or combat missions, and absolutely no time spent exploring the interactive elements of Tony Stark’s well-appointed Malibu home. It would be fair to think that someone playing at a slower pace or at higher difficulty levels could easily stretch the experience out for at least another hour, if not more. 

What I can confirm, however, is that this by no means implies that my time with Iron Man ended at the 5-hour mark.

 COME FLY WITH ME

In addition to the 10 (and a bit) mission campaign, there are 10 “Flight Challenges”, which are essentially time trial races around tracks set in the game’s core locations. There are also 5 “Combat Trials” – timed combat challenges that task the player with taking down 5 increasingly difficult waves of enemies as quickly as possible. For me at least, this is where the best fun can be had.

As much as I enjoyed the story, what makes Marvel’s Iron Man VR so good is the intensity and ingenuity of the combat and the movement. I cannot stress enough how incredibly empowering this game is for anyone who has ever dreamed of being a superhero.

These additional trials add a quick session component that will mean that even after completing the game, there is plenty of reason to keep coming back. Two particular challenges of each of these modes provide (for me at least) a borderline perfect reason for continuing to play past the campaign.

There is also a range of upgrade options for the suit, including nine different auxiliary weapons to unlock. Once you think you’ve mastered the combat, a quick switch in loadout will make the action feel so different that you’ll have to somewhat relearn your combat style. The versatility and creativity allowed in how you approach the action are a tribute to the depth and nuance that developer Camouflaj have baked into Iron Man.

With both local and global leaderboards to compete on and an upgrade system that keeps the action fresh, there is no reason that finishing the story should mean that any player would be done with their time as the Golden Avenger.

 BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER

Graphically, Marvel’s Iron Man VR is impressive. While maybe not as acutely stunning as the likes of Red Matter 2, for a world that operates at this speed and scale, Iron Man VR is an outstanding display of what the Quest 2 can handle. Through some excellent directorial decisions, the action encompasses some truly epic scenes that lend awe and gravitas to the experience of controlling one of the most iconic Avengers.

The environments that the characters inhabit are rendered beautifully, with creatively crafted levels that make the game world seem much bigger than it actually is. The art direction and level design work hand in hand to capitalize on the player’s power set by creating beautiful vistas, cavernous interiors, and sprawling cities that look absolutely stunning as you swoop through them at extreme speed.

Similarly, the sound design is another component that speaks to the high-end production values that Iron Man VR displays. Every sound compliments the gameplay, reinforcing and directing the action and ensuring that the player understands what’s happening around them even in the heat of battle. The voice acting is also very well delivered and helps propel the story compellingly.

THE INVINCIBLE Iron Man

Iron Man VR is an outstanding addition to the Quest library and an absolute must-buy for any gamer that has ever wanted to be a superhero. With an innovative and exhilarating movement system that is paired perfectly with a unique and versatile combat system, Iron Man sets the standard for high-octane action.

Offering a decent-length campaign built around a good story and supported by a range of thoroughly engaging side missions, Marvel’s Iron Man VR truly has something for everyone. Camouflaj have delivered a class act with their first Quest title and set the bar high for anything else set to release from Meta’s in-house studios.