Don’t get me wrong, I’m expecting Knight to be amazing. I see no reason why Rocksteady should fail to deliver after two phenomenal entries in the same series. Yet despite that, I can’t help but be pessimistic regarding some of the news for the game, and that their obsession with giving you the experience to “Be the Bat,” has led them down potentially dangerous roads. So here’s why I’m more excited by the possibility of an Origins 2 (using the Arkham Knight engine) than I am the current reality of Arkham Knight.The Batmobile: This is my most dreaded new feature in the game. They’ve turned it into some kind of weird tank. Now, I’ll grant you I would definitely not ace a Batman history test, but since when has the Batmobile had guns on it? It had a couple machine guns mounted on it in the campy Tim Burton films, but even those could only fire straight ahead. They weren’t of much use, and definitely didn’t make the Batmobile prepared for inter-vehicular warfare. I think I just made up a word. Then further, the Riddler challenges mean we’re going to be expected to become every bit as proficient with using the Batmobile as we are with any other game mechanic. Which would be fine, except driving mechanics are notoriously horrible in games that aren’t racing games (and even in a few that are). Even if they manage to pull off a strong mechanic, they’ve clearly designed the game to not really be playable without it, so if you don’t love it as much as they do, there’s not going to be much of a game there for you. With an Origins 2, they’ll have the opportunity to trim back the focus on this mechanic if it turns out to be a game killer. And if I’m wrong, and using the Batmobile is the coolest thing since last Tuesday, then no doubt Knight will only leave me wanting more. Origins 2 can provide.Stealth/Predator: There’s been disturbingly little information regarding how this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT aspect of the gameplay will be in the new game. It was these segments, more than anything else at all, that made me a fan of the series. But I’ve been waiting through three games now for some serious improvements to the system. The ability to use shadows and effect lighting elements would be a relatively subtle change that could make a huge impact on these segments, and moving to next gen consoles and their more powerful engines seems like the perfect time to develop such a system. But seeing as they’ve said next to nothing at this point about these segments, I doubt they’ve done really anything to improve them. And what they have said, mainly speaking of the fear takedowns, seems to be means of eliminating these segments altogether or at least integrating them more with combat. Even if Predator missions are every bit as good as in City, I doubt we’ll see any improvements. Well, maybe in Origins 2.Batgirl: Batgirl is my most requested playable character in the series. Sure, right now she’s trapped in a wheelchair, but in Origins that hadn’t happened yet. If WBM really would like to make a splash, and ensure pulling in the naysayers and purists who made it their goal to hate the first Origins without good reason, then focusing on the Bat-family as opposed to just Batman himself would really be the way to go. I hate Nightwing and Robin about as much as its possible to hate any comic character, but even I had fun playing as them in City, and Robin was the highlight of the Origins multiplayer. And despite the fact that I was appalled that they were putting Catwoman in City, she became my favorite part of the game. As I always say, variety is the spice of life. More characters = more gameplay = better game. Simple math.Co-op: Rocksteady is focused on the single player experience, and that’s fine ‘cuz they definitely deliver on that front. It also makes sense because they’re focused on delivering a Batman experience. WB Montreal has proven more willing to do multiplayer, though, and so I say it’s time for some co-op, especially if they bring in a focus on the bat family. Designing the game from the ground up could offer multiplayer experiences like Splinter Cell’s co-op modes or Castlevania Harmony of Despair, where players really need to work together in different areas in order to progress through a level. Even just a co-op mode separate from the main story designed like this could work. Failing that, even just allowing co-op on regular predator maps would be awesome.I love Origins, but in the end it’s nothing more than an enormous expansion pack to City. For what I’ve discussed to happen, WBM would have to be willing to work hard to make a unique game this time, one that could stand on its own in the series. But just a little work could pay off huge, if it focuses on the right areas. Here’s hoping.

by: Ramsey