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.

Although 2016 was overall a pretty terrible year, at least it was a good year for games. So how about we forget all the bad stuff and focus on the good things that came out of this year. These are my top 5 games of 2016.

*This list is in no particular order*

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

It’s been one heck of a wild ride following Nathan Drake and company from one adventure to another. He took us on journeys through the golden city of El Dorado, the fabled land of Shambhala, and to an Atlantis in the sands known as the Iram of the Pillars. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. And what an ending Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End was. Naughty Dog has once again outdone themselves and set an industry standard for compelling storytelling. Not only does Uncharted 4 provide a satisfying conclusion to the tale of Nathan Drake, it also answers many lingering questions we’ve all had about the main protagonist. Couple that with spectacular visuals and a little nostalgia peppered in, and you have yourself a game of the year candidate.

Inside

This dark and haunting 2.5D side-scrolling puzzle platformer (that’s a mouthful) has made it onto many favorite games of the year lists and for good reason. From storytelling, to gameplay, to mechanics, Inside just does everything right. The game is short so I won’t go too far in depth about it, but I do want to highlight what Inside does best, creating moments. There are certain points in this game that are crafted so well that it will make you feel genuine moments of dread, panic, and/or anxiety. Now I know that probably sounds awful, but I mean it in the best possible way. All I’m saying is that game does a phenomenal job producing visceral reactions in its players. On top of that, the controls are tight, the puzzles are clever, and the animation of the main character is exceptional. It’s the culmination of all of these aspects that make Inside a truly standout experience.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

If you know me, then you know that I absolutely love a good cyberpunk game. In my opinion, no one does it better than the Deus Ex franchise. And in a year where people seem to be more divided than ever, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided couldn’t have been released at a better time. What makes Mankind Divided worthy of being one of my favorite games of the year is its deep story, plentiful secrets, engaging dialog, action, and meaningful gameplay choices. The addition of new abilities also opens up new creative avenues for ways to handle certain situations. When it all comes down to it, I had a very hard time putting the controller down while playing this game, even after I beat it.

Hyper Light Drifter

Some games are all style and no substance, others may have substance but can lack in style. When a game manages to have both qualities, that game is special. Hyper Light Drifter is one of those special games. Heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Diablo, this indie action RPG provides thoroughly satisfying and challenging combat through its variety of complex and dynamic enemies. It also boasts some of the coolest artwork I’ve seen in a game all year.

Dishonored 2

One of the main reasons why the original Dishonored was a great game is because of the freedom it gave its players. Thanks to the creative level design plus Corvo’s plethora of supernatural lethal and non-lethal abilities, players could choose the way they wanted to accomplish their objectives. Dishonored 2 takes what worked in the first game and improves upon it in every aspect. For instance, in the first game, you couldn’t really use your lethal abilities if you wanted to finish a mission with low chaos, obviously because killing is a no-no. In Dishonored 2, the devs found a way to work around that by incorporating mechanical enemies. One of the highlights of this game, however, was the clockwork mansion. The whole level is basically a puzzle. Rooms can shift and shuffle around offering different ways to bypass enemies, lead you to secrets, or even open up new pathways to your destination. This level is so intricate and impressive that I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that it may be the most ingenious level design I’ve ever seen in any game.