Batman: Arkham timeline and story. Despite this, there are a collection of the characters that feel rushed into the game world without any, or at most a brief, explanation of their backstory, which is especially disappointing considering the quality of writers working on the title, as well as the countless comics that would have inspired them.
Throughout the game, Batman can find interview tapes - 35 in total- around Arkham Asylum, often well-hidden from the player. These interview tapes feature conversations between the doctors of Arkham and their patients - including Killer Croc, the Riddler, and Victor Zsasz. The use of these tapes created a world and atmosphere that, to some fans, meant Batman: Arkham Asylum exceeded Arkham City. Interestingly as well, four of these interview tapes are between Dr. Harleen Quinzel (who later will become Harley Quinn) and the Joker, briefly examining her transformation from innocent doctor to criminal sidekick.
Even after Dr. Quinzel's first line in her first interview with the Joker, it is hinted at already her interest in him as more than just a patient. Joker's line of "I'll try to make it memorable for you." is met by "Oh, you already have" by Harley. Despite Dr. Quinzel only having four lines in the first tape, all of them are delivered in a flirtatious and already infatuated way, which comes to the suggested conclusion of the Joker's hold over the doctor in a disappointingly quick time. By the second tape, the Joker has already broken out of his cell to bring flowers to Harley's office, which she does not tell the guards of. This is an example of where Batman: Arkham did Harley dirty. Even though Harley Quinn's descent described in Batman: Arkham Asylum's interview tapes is taken verbatim from Paul Dini and Bruce Timm's Mad Love comic, but it deserved deeper exploration in the game itself.
Batman: Arkham Needed To Devote More Time To Harley Quinn
Of course, to tell a building-relationship story over a series of short interview tapes will inevitably have to seem rushed, especially compared to the pace of a comic, but it could be suggested that more of the tapes should have covered the Quinn/Joker dynamic, and this would have assisted with the sudden pacing seen in the game. Mad Love outlines the background between Harley Quinn and the Joker in much more detail, including the Joker's childhood suffering abuse from his alcoholic father - which he explained to Dr. Quinzel during their sessions at Arkham Asylum - but it needed more attention in Batman: Arkham Asylum, which was also written by Paul Dini.
Batman: Arkham significantly changed Harley Quinn, influencing her depictions in other games and even the comics, but this is an example of where she needed more development. The character of the Joker does not struggle during the games in of development, with Mark Hamill's performance of the killer clown being one of the best in gaming history. In comparison, Harley Quinn's backstory feels shortchanged and not cared for, a surprise considering how strong and well-written Mad Love was compared to what was depicted in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
