Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
In the gripping and chaotic world ofBatman Arkham Knight, one of the most shocking moments happens at the start of the game as players get to see and realize the apparent death of the Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime. However, what if this iconic villain had not met his end in the game’s narrative?
This is just a speculation but what if Joker didn’t destroy that cure for the Titan illness, instead used it and survived? The ramifications of his survival would greatly alter the sequel’s story narrative, the city of Gotham, and the power dynamic between the villains and the heroes.
Joker’s Continued Reign of Chaos Over Gotham and Batman
InBatman: Arkham Knight, the Joker’s death at the end ofthe firstArkham Cityis a pivotal event that hugely impacted Gotham City. His demise created a power vacuum, which led to the rise of the Scarecrow. He then launched a full-scale assault on Gotham with the help of other villains.
If the Clown Prince had survived, his continued influence would have significantly shifted the game’s plot. Firstly, his survival would ensure that Gotham remains under his chaotic thumb. Secondly, his survival means that the Scarecrow, despite all his psychological warfare and meticulous planning (from the first game), would struggle to exert the same level of control.
Even if Scarecrow tried to make any plans and united all the villains to take over Gotham, the Clown Prince would easily suppress his dominance and divide the group. The game had Harley Quinn play a major role after the Joker’s death as she helped Poison Ivy escape from prison. But due to her obsession with the Clown Prince, she won’t go anywhere without his consent.
“Fools”: Batman Arkham Knight Was Originally Intended to Be Very Different to What We Got Before Rocksteady Decided to Use Geoff Johns’ Ideas Over Paul Dini’s
With the Joker alive, he would have also found some way to manipulate Scarecrows into allying with him, while pulling the strings behind the scenes to add more depth and unpredictability to the story. This would have raised the overall sense of instability in Gotham, complicating Dark Knight’s efforts to restore order.
Joker will inevitably find a way to show that he is the real big boss of the city. This can be done in various ways, he can kill Scarecrow and keep the allied villains under him, or he manipulates a hero (likely Robin/Jason Todd) into killing Scarecrow, disbanding the villains and leaving them powerless.
Both choices are plausible but sooner or later the Clown Prince will know that Batman is also inflected with the Joker disease (like few other people in the game) and try to manipulate him in any shape or form. This could be the start of his psychological warfare. Throughout the series, he uses various psychological manipulations to undermine Dark Knight’s resolve.
How Joker’s Survival Would Affect Other Characters?
In the game, players have various characters to interact with and learn their background stories. In one way or another, Joker has tried to ruin their life as well. The Prime example would be Jason Todd. Not only he was tortured by him for years but the impact of the metal strain was so great that Jason wanted to kill the dark knight and rule the city with fear.
Jason Todd’s reaction to knowing the information about how the Clown Prince is alive would be huge. This has all the potential to completely change the narrative of the game. Now Jason would try to kill him butthe Dark Knight would try to stop him, helping him to recover and not go for revenge. This will create a rift between them, allowing the king of Chaos to take advantage.
Batman Arkham Knight Adds Robert Pattinson’s The Batman Suit As Part of a Free Update
Another character whoserole would be completely flipped would be Harley Quinn. This version of her is in complete love with the Clown Prince and would leave anything for him. This would mean her actions would be driven by his directives, adding a new layer of complexity to her character and potentially shifting her role in the story.
It is evident that his survival would have drastically altered the game’s narrative landscape to the point where the game would have been more dark and gritty. With his ability to create chaos everywhere he goes, the game’s stakes would have been even higher, the psychological torment on characters would have been even deeper, and the criminal world even more unstable.
In the end, it highlights how powerful Joker is and how he could have influenced the game with just his mere presence. It was likely that he would have left Gotham in an even more precarious state. His survival would keep the game’s universe brimming with tension, setting the stage for ongoing conflict and future adventures in the Batman saga.
Do you find this what-if theory good or do you want to change a few things? Tell us your suggestions in the comment section below.
Shubham Chaurasia
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1368
At FandomWire, Shubham has spent over a year diving into the evolving world of live-service, action, and open-world games. Whether it’s the democratic galaxy of Helldivers 2 or finishing enemies in titles like Assassin’s Creed or Ghost of Tsushima, Shubham brings a sharp eye and genuine enthusiasm to everything he writes.When he’s not writing, you’ll probably catch him clutching rounds in Valorant or leaping off virtual cliffs into a pile of enemies for the perfect finisher. Outside of gaming, Shubham recharges by hitting the gym or heading out on long, spontaneous bike rides, always chasing the next open road. No matter the game or the gear, he’s always committed to bringing readers timely, accurate, and engaging updates from across the gaming industry.
