The creators of The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City explain why Harley Quinn is the perfect character to lead the new AR mystery game. The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City allows players to jump into the world of Batman like never before and work with Harley Quinn, back at Arkham as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, to investigate the chaotic crime spree ravaging Gotham City.
Harley's empathy for the inmates of Arkham makes her unique in understanding the layers of these people from a psychological standpoint, as a former inmate and criminal, and as someone working to better themselves. Susan Bonds, CEO of Infinite Rabbit Holes, the creators of The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City, explained, "She is on the road to redemption, and because we're getting to know all these inmates at Arkham and their stories...it's not straightforward."
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Screen Rant spoke with Bonds and Chief Creative Officer Alex Lieu about what makes Harley the right character to center The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City around versus Batman or the Joker. Bonds shared that, "She doesn't make snap judgments. So that lets you explore the story and find out motives." Lieu discussed Harley Quinn's humanity and how she gives insight into the characters due to her empathy. Check out Lieu's full quote below:
Alex Lieu: Getting into story mode, you're talking about the Joker being chaos, and nothing matters. And then you have like the flip side of it, [with Batman] which is like change and justice. And trying to right, the bronze, Harley is very in between those worlds. Which to us is besides having just a strong, feminine character in the superhero world of these two guys that are fighting it out all the time. She's a really interesting bridge between the inner conflict of wanting to do good in society, but also a super badass, who gets this oftentimes and wants to enact some Harley magic and some Joker chaos. And so we just think she's really interesting.
As far as like, the idea of being able to tell the backstory of all these people, she has both sides, and it plays out in the story a lot, she has the side of therapist, and she's trying to keep in reality, she's trying to be empathetic. Because who else to shepherd these poor misunderstood souls than someone who's gone through it herself. But she's also gone way far down the deep end. And so for us, it's fascinating, but it allows you to get insight into all these characters in ways that you couldn't have with [Batman].
She can make mistakes. She's very human. The other guy's a little inaccessible. What we like about Harley and all the different forms that she's in right now is, yes, she's a badass. Yes, she's a little crazy, but she's very human.
Harley Quinn has had a unique journey, first as a psychiatrist at Arkham before being corrupted by the Joker and becoming his sidekick. Eventually, Harley leaves her abusive relationship with the Joker and begins to shift from villain to anti-hero. In many stories, Harley Quinn is on a redemption arc, becoming a hero in her own right. The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City takes her back to Arkham, but this time she isn't a patient. Harley is once again trying to use her knowledge to help the Arkham inmates, but this time with the added wisdom and empathy of someone in their position. Bonds revealed that The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City will have a prequel comic that will share the story of how Harley made her way back to Arkham in a white coat instead of an orange jumpsuit.
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Where Batman fights for justice and the Joker strives for chaos, it seems Harley will be fighting for people. Harley's own empathy, ability to connect with the Arkham inmates, and desire to learn what led to their incarceration at Arkham help the players fall into that same mindset. While players are working to solve puzzles, find clues, and save the city, Harley shifts the focus from beating the bad guys and saving the innocent to helping the people and saving everybody. The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City reveals the origins of numerous Batman rogues targeting the city for causes that some think are just. Harley Quinn digs into why understanding them is the key to not just stopping them for now but also helping them and keeping the city safe for longer.
That's not to say Harley doesn't struggle with her own past, sometimes triggered by others to act out and bring the Harley Quinn badassery to the surface. In The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City, Harley Quinn highlights hope and redemption in Gotham City, a rarity in one of the most dangerous cities in the DC universe. Bonds also revealed in Screen Rant's interview that Infinite Rabbit Holes has "planned initially three in the series, but I think that she has that kind of evergreen appeal. So I think you can tell a lot of stories with her."
In The Arkham Asylum Files: Panic In Gotham City, the players are the story's heroes, stepping into the world of Gotham and racing against the clock to save the city. By bringing Harley Quinn in as their fellow investigator, it changes the dynamic of the narrative and how players can approach the game. This is not a Batman story, but a story of those that Gotham has failed.