You’re gliding over Gotham, the rain is smacking against the Batsuit, and suddenly you hear it. Faint, warbling opera music. It’s out of place. It’s haunting. If you follow that sound to a rooftop or a lonely alley, you’re going to find something that shifted Batman: Arkham Knight from a superhero power fantasy into a genuine horror movie.
The Perfect Crime is easily the most disturbing side mission in the entire Arkham trilogy. It’s not just about catching a killer; it’s about the surgical, cold-blooded desecration of human beings.
Most players remember the jumpscares from Man-Bat or the tension of the Cloudburst, but Professor Pyg? He’s the one who stays in your head.
Finding the Bodies: A Trail of Operatic Gore
The mission starts officially after you drop Poison Ivy off at the GCPD, though you can actually stumble upon the first body before the game even tells you to look. There are six victims in total, scattered across Bleake, Miagani, and Founders' Island.
Tracking them down is basically a game of "hot or cold" with your ears. Rocksteady did a brilliant job using 3D audio here. The closer you get to a victim, the louder that scratchy record of Pygmalion becomes.
Where to look
Honestly, if you aren't using a guide, these can be a pain to spot because they aren't always on the highest peaks.
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- Merchant Bridge: This is usually the first one most people find. Anthony Lund is hung up like a macabre art piece.
- The Gotham Herald Building: Look for Franklin Accardo here.
- Heavenly Hotel: Robert Kincaid is waiting on the roof.
- Salvation Bridge: Lisa Mendes is perched on a building nearby.
- Perdition Bridge: Head south of the bridge to find Ella Montgomery.
- Ryker Heights: The final victim, Alison Wears, is tucked away in the docks area.
What makes these scenes so effective is the "Charlotte's Web" style writing on the walls nearby. Phrases like "Imperfect" or "Broken" are scrawled in white paint, mocking the lives that were snuffed out. It’s a total 180 from the usual Riddler trophies or militia checkpoints.
The Deep Tissue Scanner: Peeling Back the Layers
Once you find a body, you can't just call the coroners. You have to use the Deep Tissue Scanner. This is one of the coolest—and grossest—uses of Detective Mode in the game.
You have to toggle through three different layers: skin, muscle, and bone. You're looking for specific deformities or identifying marks that help Alfred narrow down who these people were.
- Skin Layer: You might find a unique tattoo or a birthmark.
- Muscle Layer: This is where you see internal scars or missing organs. In Ella Montgomery's case, you find a missing kidney she donated to her sister.
- Bone Layer: This reveals old fractures or surgical pins. For Franklin Accardo, it’s a prosthetic copper wire in his arm.
It’s slow, methodical work. It forces you to look at the "imperfections" that Professor Pyg found so offensive. Every time you identify a victim, the "Missing Persons" count at the start of the investigation drops by one. It’s a small detail, but it makes the world feel lived-in and tragic. These weren't just NPCs; they were people with backstories that Pyg erased.
Who is Professor Pyg?
The man behind the pig mask is Lazlo Valentin. In the comics, he’s one of Grant Morrison’s weirdest creations, and Rocksteady nailed the adaptation.
Pyg isn't like the Joker or the Penguin. He’s not after money or chaos. He’s a schizophrenic scientist who believes he is a "savior." In his mind, humans are "broken" because they have feelings, flaws, and independent thought.
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His solution? The Dollotrons.
He lobotomizes his victims, performs invasive surgery to remove their "uniqueness," and turns them into genderless, mindless dolls. They don't feel pain. They just obey. When you finally track him down to the Pretty Dolls Parlor in Ryker Heights, you see the full extent of his workshop. It’s clinical, it’s bright, and it’s absolutely sickening.
The Boss Fight: Why You Can't Just Punch Your Way Out
The confrontation in the basement of the parlor is a mechanical shift from the rest of the game. You aren't just fighting thugs. You’re fighting Dollotrons.
Here is the problem: Dollotrons don't stay down. If you do a standard strike or even a heavy combo, they’ll just stand back up like zombies. They literally cannot feel the bones you’re breaking. To win, you have to use:
- Ground Takedowns: Knock them over and finish them while they're on the floor.
- Environmental Takedowns: Use the scenery to crush or trap them.
- Special Combo Takedowns: The instant-finish moves are the only way to clear the room.
While you're dealing with the dolls, Pyg is dancing around the central operating table, throwing meat cleavers at you. You have to counter those cleavers mid-fight, which sends them flying back at him and stuns him momentarily.
The finish is incredibly satisfying. Once the room is clear, you approach the table and perform an environmental takedown, slamming Pyg's head into his own "perfection" machine.
The Easter Eggs You Probably Missed
The mission is packed with lore if you’re paying attention. For instance, the victims aren't just random names. They are actually named after real employees at Rocksteady Studios. It’s a bit of dark humor from the developers.
Also, if you listen to the dialogue, Alfred mentions a case from Batman’s first year that reminds him of this one—a reference to The Long Halloween.
And for the real completionists: if you go back to the GCPD later in the game and visit the evidence room, you can see Pyg’s cleavers and mask. He’ll also talk to you from his cell, and honestly, his dialogue in lockup is even more unhinged than it is during the mission. He truly believes he was helping those people.
Actionable Tips for Solving the Case
If you’re looking to wrap this up quickly, here is the best way to handle the investigation.
- Turn up your SFX volume. The opera music is your best friend. If you’re flying and hear a violin, dive immediately.
- Don't ignore the Batmobile. While the bodies are on foot, the final hideout is in the lower levels of Founders' Island. You'll need the car to navigate the tunnels easily to reach the parlor.
- Prioritize the "Heavy" Dollotrons. In the final fight, focus your combo meter on the Takedowns. Don't waste time on long "Beatdowns" because another Dollotron will just hit you from behind.
- Check the map coordinates. If you’re really stuck, you can check the coordinate display in the bottom right of your screen. Most bodies are near major landmarks like the bridge entrances.
The Perfect Crime stands out because it reminds us that while Batman fights gods and monsters, the most terrifying threats in Gotham are often just broken men with a scalpel and a vision.
To get the most out of this mission, make sure you've finished the "Season of Infamy" DLC as well, as it adds even more depth to the city's darker corners. Once you’ve locked Pyg in the GCPD, head over to the morgue in the hospital—you might just find a few more familiar faces there.