The Ultimate Guide to Long Combos in the Batman Arkham Series

The Batman Arkham series is renowned for its fluid and satisfying combat system, where maintaining long combos is both a challenge and a spectacle. Players often find themselves engrossed in the dance of punches, counters, and gadget use, pushing the limits of their skills to achieve impressive combo scores. So, what exactly is the longest combo achieved within these games? While there’s no definitive, officially tracked global record, the available information suggests that the longest recorded combo within the Arkham franchise was an astounding 4,042 hit combo achieved by the player African Gamer in Batman: Arkham City on the Iceberg Lounge VIP Room Map on July 2nd, 2015. This feat reportedly took over an hour to accomplish. While this demonstrates the incredible lengths to which dedicated players can push the games, this shouldn’t be considered a target for every player; most will be focused on building combos to enhance the overall experience.

Achieving High Combos: A Deep Dive

While 4,042 is an outlier achieved by extreme dedication, many players enjoy chasing their own high-score milestones. Several factors come into play when building and maintaining high combos. Here are several things to consider:

Understanding the Fundamentals of Combat

The core of the Arkham combat system revolves around free-flowing attacks, dodges, and counters. Timing is critical. Understanding the rhythm of punches, knowing when to counter incoming attacks, and utilizing the environment to your advantage form the basis for a successful combo. Every successful attack raises the combo counter, and the key is to avoid being hit, as a single hit will reset your combo to zero. Learning enemy attack patterns allows you to effectively evade and continue your attack streak.

Utilizing Gadgets

Gadgets are not just tools for solving puzzles or traversing Gotham; they are also crucial for maintaining a high combo in combat. Quickfire gadgets, such as the Batclaw, Batarangs, and Explosive Gel can be seamlessly incorporated into your attack pattern. These gadgets can interrupt enemy attacks, stagger them, or hit multiple enemies simultaneously, keeping your combo count ticking upwards. Combining gadget usage with regular attacks is an essential part of the process.

Mastering Special Moves and Takedowns

The Arkham series offers an array of special moves that add both style and effectiveness to your combo building. These include Beat Downs, Special Combo Takedowns, and Ground Takedowns. Learning when to use these moves adds variety to your attacks while also providing invincibility frames during the animations, which protects your combo from being broken. Mastering this element of gameplay is key to a sustained run at higher numbers.

Utilizing Environmental Awareness

The environments in the Arkham series are often interactive. You can smash through breakable objects, use ledges for takedowns, and exploit elements of the arena to your advantage. Utilizing these environmental opportunities keeps your combo going and is important for efficiency. Keeping the battle moving to avoid a lull will help keep enemies actively engaged.

Enemy Awareness and Tactics

Enemies will also become more aware and tactical as the game progresses. Some enemies might have shields, while others might be armed with electric batons, requiring specific tactics to counter. Understanding the enemy types and devising a strategy to deal with each will keep your combo alive. This also provides an opportunity to vary your attack, leading to a more visually pleasing fight.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Combos in Arkham

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding combos and related aspects of the Batman Arkham series, to provide even more insight:

1. How do you get a 50 combo in Arkham City?

Achieving a 50 combo in Arkham City is easier than you might think. Play until you’re at least in round 4 of a combat challenge, ensuring a sufficient number of enemies. Employ jump attacks and repeated basic strikes. You should reach 50 in just a couple of minutes with this strategy. The key is maintaining a constant rhythm of attacks and dodges.

2. Which Arkham game is the longest?

Arkham Knight is by far the longest game in the series. Its expansive open-world Gotham City and numerous side missions contribute significantly to its playtime.

3. Which Arkham game is the shortest?

Arkham Asylum is the shortest game in the series, featuring a linear progression and only one main side quest. It is the smallest game in terms of scale and scope.

4. What’s the hardest fight in Arkham City?

The Mr. Freeze boss fight in Arkham City is consistently remembered as one of the most challenging battles in the series. It forces players to use all of Batman’s gadgets and tactics.

5. Which Arkham game is the hardest?

Opinions vary. Some players find Arkham Origins difficult due to its multiplayer component. Others cite Arkham Asylum’s challenge maps and harder modes, while some find Arkham Knight simply harder than Arkham City. Arkham City is often noted as being the least difficult.

6. Which Arkham game has the most Riddler trophies?

Arkham City boasts the most Riddler trophies with a staggering 282 to find and solve.

7. Which Arkham game has the best Riddler challenges?

Batman: Arkham Knight is widely regarded as having the best Riddler challenges and missions in the series.

8. Which Arkham game has the best gameplay?

Arkham Knight is generally considered to have the best overall gameplay, with polished combat and predator sections.

9. Which Arkham game has the best boss fights?

Arkham City often receives accolades for its boss fights, with the Mr. Freeze encounter frequently topping many lists. Other memorable battles include Clayface and Ra’s al Ghul.

10. How brutal is the violence in the Arkham games?

The Arkham games feature intense violence throughout, including torture, fistfighting, and gun violence. However, it is not graphic, and remains in line with the violence seen in many of the Batman movies.

11. How do you achieve 240% completion in Arkham Knight?

Achieving 240% requires a complete playthrough, followed by a New Game +, then finishing the Season of Infamy DLC. You must also find all Riddler trophies, solve all the riddles, and save Selina twice. This unlocks the golden batsuit.

12. What happens when you 100% Arkham Knight?

Reaching 100% unlocks a final cutscene that starts with Jim Gordon, and shows Bruce Wayne returning to Wayne Manor before it is destroyed.

13. Which Arkham game is the most replayable?

Batman: Arkham City is often cited as the most replayable game due to its open-world structure and various side quests.

14. What is the order to play the Arkham games in terms of story?

The story order for the Arkham series is: Arkham Origins, Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, then Arkham Knight.

15. Who is smarter: Joker or Riddler?

While both are criminal masterminds, the Riddler is considered to have a higher intellect, even by the Joker himself. This is typically accepted as canon with Riddler frequently being portrayed as having a 190 IQ.

Conclusion

Achieving a long combo in the Batman Arkham series is not just about hitting buttons; it’s about understanding the mechanics, utilizing gadgets, and adapting to the environment. Whether you’re aiming for the legendary 4,042 or simply striving to improve your score, the satisfaction derived from a well-executed combo is undeniable. These games encourage you to keep pushing your skills to the limit. By taking advantage of the mechanics described above, you can find yourself reaching those higher combo numbers in no time.