'Batman: Arkham Knight' Release Date, New Inspirational Trailers: 'Be the Batman'

Jun 12, 2015 09:35 PM EDT

Batman: Arkham Knight has a release date that is less than two weeks away, and there are two new trailers that not only make the viewer want to play the game, they are downright inspiring. 

Recently, there has been a new trailer for the Batman: Arkham Knight video game that probably has the most inspirational message of any commercial, ever.  It begins by showing several people in very difficult circumstances, like a boy in an alleyway holding a locket with a picture of a family taken in black and white.  Then there is a boxer about to go to a fight.  Then onlookers who watch an old man get bullied on a subway train.  Then there is a firefighter who has to go into an inferno to rescue someone on an upper floor.  As each of these characters find the strength to take on their overwhelming odds, titles appear saying: "Be Selfless", "Be Determined", "Be Courageous", "Be Feared", and in the end, "Be the Batman". 

In addition to that, Collider reveals that there is a more comic trailer that was directed by Saturday Night Live cast member Taran Killam.  This one features celebrities playing the game such as Neil Patrick Harris, Wiz Khalifa, Blake Anderson, Minka Kelly, Kumail Nanjiani, Breckin Meyer, Joe Manganiello, iJustine, Troy Baker, and Kevin Conroy.  All of them say that they were the Batman, and it should be known that Kevin Conroy is the voice of the Batman in the game as well as his famed run of the iconic character on Batman: The Animated Series

Batman: Arkham Knight is a long awaited conclusion to the Batman: Arkham series. The first game in the series was Batman: Arkham Asylum.  Debuting in 2009, the extremely dark take on the DC Universe iconic character was met with many accolades, including Game of the Year on several lists.  Its sequel Batman: Arkham City came out in 2011, and was also well-received, setting up for a trilogy.  What came out in 2013 was Batman: Arkham Origins, which is set up as a prequel to the series.  The trilogy will now conclude with Batman: Arkham Knight

So what can be expected for Batman: Arkham Knight?  First of all, some of the great Batman villains will appear such as the Riddler, Penguin, and Two-Face.  Harley Quinn will also be making an appearance, and if you pre-order now, from the Batman Arkham Knight website, you can receive a playable Harley Quinn add-on.  The add-on includes four exclusive challenge maps, and will be the first time the player can be famed Batman villain with unique weapons, gadgets, and abilities.  Harley Quinn is a relatively new but now iconic Batman character created for Batman: The Animated Series. 

Batman: Arkham Knight will have a release date of June 23, 2015.  With the standard edition of the game, there will also be two Collector's editions, according to IGN.  There will be the Limited Edition and the Batmobile edition, both of which will be available in limited quantities across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand for PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version of the game will only be getting the Limited Edition in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The Limited Edition is planned on costing $99.99 and will come with an 80 page art book containing concept art, a SteelBook, a Limited Edition DC Batman: Arkham Knight #0 comic, three unique skins from the New 52 comics as well as a Batman Memorial Statue.  As for the Batmobile Edition, it will cost $199.99 and will come with a transformable Batmobile statue.