Now that the Arkham series has concluded, Rocksteady Studios can focus on the future. At the moment, we know almost nothing about their new project. However, we can surmise that it will probably be another superhero game based in the DC Universe. Given that, I thought it would be interesting to come up with some ideas for heroes they should consider. These are heroes I’d love to see Rocksteady use for a new game.
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is the Robin Hood of the DC Universe, minus the stealing part of course. Like Batman, Green Arrow doesn’t rely on any superpowers. He simply uses his athleticism, archery skills, and tech to dispatch his foes. Making a game around a superhero like this seems like it would be right up their alley. In fact, it might be the safest gamble for Rocksteady.
Since they wouldn’t have to worry about superpowers, they could easily extrapolate what they learned from their Batman games and apply it to Green Arrow. I think it would probably be the most natural progression for the developer. I have further confidence in this idea after playing Horizon Zero Dawn. Guerrilla Games found a way to make bow and arrow combat exciting, fun, and challenging and I believe Rocksteady can do the same.
The Flash
Could you imagine what Rocksteady could do with a superhero like The Flash? The scarlet speedster has all sorts of interesting powers (other than just running fast) including the ability to pass through solid objects, immunity to telepathy, the ability to create vortexes, lightning throwing, and more. There’s more than enough for Rocksteady to work with here. Just think about how fun it could be to fight the Reverse Flash or Gorilla Grodd at breakneck speeds.
Vixen
Although Vixen isn’t as big of a headliner as a Superman or Batman, she could be a very interesting choice given her unique skill set. To give a little background to her character, Vixen is a superhero who has the power to use the abilities of any animal on Earth, alive or extinct.
Since her story isn’t as well known as others, Rocksteady could explore her origins. Since she would be gradually learning how to use her abilities, there would be a built-in explanation (gameplay-wise) as to why she would continue to learn new abilities throughout the game. The potential for a game with a protagonist like this would only be limited by the developer’s imagination.
Cyborg
Although Cyborg has recently been getting a big push from DC, he’s still a somewhat undervalued hero. He has an interesting backstory that could be explored much further in detail. And in addition to having a good backstory, he also has amazing powers.
His most well-known power is his sonic cannon, but he also has the ability to continuously adapt the technology that surrounds his body. This means he can enhance his abilities throughout the game. On top of that, he has the ability to immerse himself into cyberspace, which could lead to some pretty cool and maybe cyberpunk-like ideas.
Wonder Woman
Let’s be honest, Wonder Women is due for a video game of her own, and who better to give us the game she deserves than Rocksteady? Given Wonder Woman’s connection to Greek mythology and her warrior mentality, I think a game with visceral combat would probably work best. As an example, I could see the game being something like a God of War.
The Atom
The Atom’s powers allow for him to grow or shrink himself or objects at will. This could provide a rather appealing dynamic where you would have to switch back and forth from the normal world to the subatomic world. Imagine The Atom dealing with bad guys at normal size then having to deal with a problem at a subatomic level.
Jonah Hex
For those of you who don’t know who Jonah Hex is, he’s a Western-style bounty hunter who occasionally time travels in his free-time. His marksmanship and expert tracking skills make him a formidable force to be dealt with. With a character like this, Rocksteady could make a Western-type game, maybe along the same vein as something like a Red Dead Redemption.
Static Shock
This suggestion is a little bit of a stretch since he’s a not as closely affiliated with DC as the others, however, he is a great character who deserves much more attention. Static Shock is a metahuman with electrical powers. He was originally created by Milestone Comics and later incorporated into the DC Universe.
Static’s origin story is somewhat like Cole McGrath’s (Infamous) origin story; he was a normal guy until a big explosion changed him and everyone nearby. Think of Static in an Infamous type of game—it would be perfect.
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