Environment research - Batman: Arkham City - themes and shapes

In order to pave a developing road for my final project, I must first take into account the variety of designs for buildings, focusing on shape and the style in which they are constructed. Here I have elected Batman: Arkham City (2011) as my first example. This game is not classed as horror, nor is it scary however, the building designs and atmosphere of the game are something to be recognised. Some of the buildings in this game use a medieval style of design, focusing on spires, spiked fences, gargoyle perches and tall windows. This blends with the atmosphere surrounding the character of Batman, inspiring terror and fear in the hearts of his enemies - what better way to do this than link the fear created by the presence of Gotham City's dark knight with the environmental aesthetics.

http://conceptartworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Batman_Arkham_City_Art_04a.jpg

http://i.neoseeker.com/ca/batman_arkham_city_conceptart_vconX.jpg

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Other areas of Arkham City continue to promote this old fashioned and/or historical theme. This is achieved by using three-dimensional shapes and linking them together, creating an industrial and rustic aesthetic. A large number of the buildings in Arkham City appear badly constructed or modified, suggesting that the criminal inhabitants of the city have tried to transform the city into a vision of their own. Three gangs rule the streets of Arkham City, controlling and guarding their own territory or 'turf'. With each gang comes a different theme for example, Oswald Cobblepot (a.k.a Penguin) takes control of the museum and transforms it into a winter palace of doom; frozen museum exhibits, hostages transformed into ice cubes and even a shark in the now flooded central hall, stalking the player below a sheet of thin ice. This compliments the initial aesthetic and design of  Arkham City because it takes a large selection of buildings with a clearly outdated/old-fashioned design style and adds a more modern/up-to-date style of design on top.

http://media.pcgamer.com/files/2011/08/Batman-Arkham-City-6.jpg

http://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/media/library/images/games/batman-arkham-city-gamescom-1.jpg

What relevance does this research have towards the development of my project and horror?

The relevance of this research is to gain more knowledge on two areas, the shape in which buildings are constructed to create a more effective atmosphere and to develop an understanding of themes because I have not yet decided a theme for my 3D environment thus, research on this topic will help me narrow down my decision and encourage me to look for examples in other genres, not just in horror. If I research themes in only horror titles, my finished 3D environment will not look very original or imaginative.