Chuck Beaver, former producer at Electronic Arts, has pointed out that Batman: Arkham Asylum represents the perfect template for a James Bond video game. After losing the 007 license and observing the success of Rocksteady's title, Beaver concluded that the Dark Knight's approach to combat, stealth, and narrative fits the secret agent perfectly. According to his statements, Bond is essentially Batman, but without a cape or cowl.
Free-flow combat and stealth as the gameplay foundation 🎮
The comparison is no coincidence. Arkham Asylum introduced the Freeflow system, which allows for fluidly chaining strikes against multiple enemies. This system, combined with stealth sections where Batman eliminates threats from the shadows, mirrors Bond's combat and espionage skills. Beaver argues that applying this same structure to a 007 title, with gadgets, chases, and a semi-open world, would have resulted in a more coherent experience than the linear shooters EA produced during its management of the license.
The license lost for lacking a cape 🦇
It's ironic that for years, developers tried to emulate Bond movies with constant explosions and car chases, when the solution was found in a guy with bat ears. While Rocksteady reaped praise for its work with Batman, those managing the world's most famous spy wondered why they hadn't thought of it sooner. Perhaps the only thing Bond was missing was a belt with more gadgets and a grumpy butler.