Superhero games are all the rage right now. Following Marvel's Spider-Man's success, there is only one vigilante that fans are practically begging for -- Daredevil. He is one of Marvel's most consistently written characters, and the series has yet to lose its momentum. Rumors of a game seem to circulate every so often (or, in one instance, footage of a canceled video game is leaked), begging the question of how a game with the Man Without Fear could work.
Daredevil is a franchise that plays around with both light-hearted and dark tones. Hell's Kitchen deserves a mixture of the two, and the best forms of inspiration can come from Marvel's Spider-Man and the Arkham series. By balancing these two successful franchises' tones, players will see New York City represented in a realistic light. However, when darkness falls, the criminal underworld can look as seedy as Gotham City.
The balance of light and dark would also serve as a visual metaphor for the game's story. The backbone of any great Daredevil story involves some courtroom drama. Much like in the Spider-Man games, players could spend time as Matt Murdock as he tries to win a case that plays into the game's overall plot. This could include some character-driven drama between the supporting cast. Players could even have the chance to play lawyer and have dialogue options for Matt as he speaks to witnesses.
The Marvel universe is vast and features a host of interesting heroes and side characters. That means that Daredevil would open up many opportunities for some fan-favorite characters to make an appearance. Maybe a conversation between him and Spider-Man or a side mission involving Elektra or The Punisher. By taking a page out of the modern superhero game, there would undoubtedly be a huge amount of cameos and easter eggs.
Daredevil's rogues' gallery features a huge cast of colorful characters. There are the goofy like Stilt-Man to the downright sadistic like Bullseye. In a city as big as New York, Daredevil can and should encounter all manner of villains. The Arkham Universe features many side-missions devoted to various villains, and this game could do something similar. The villains in the game could show how much crime infests Hell's Kitchen and why the player needs to keep its people safe.
The combat of the game may be the easiest to translate. Daredevil's radar sense could act as a natural version of Batman's detective mode or the Spider-Sense. Combat could use basic dodges and counters with combos that involve throwing DD's billy club. Traversal could be more reined in with a smaller map. Having Daredevil swing from certain points in the city will lessen the visual freedom seen in Marvel's Spider-Man but feel more realistic like in the Arkham games. These components could be upgraded and evolved in a skill tree menu to let the player become better fighters.
A Daredevil game has endless possibilities and potential. It is not just the potential to tell a dramatic and exciting story but also the potential to be a challenging and fun third-person action-adventure. Steady growth in skill would feel incredibly rewarding to players, and there is no reason not to include many of Daredevil's past suits as DLC. There isn't a game on the way, but developers will have the chance to create something truly unforgettable for the genre when that day does come.
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