Title: Batman: Arkham Origins
Format: PS3(reviewed), Xbox 360, PC, Wii U
Release Date: October 25, 2013
Publisher: Warner Bros.
Developer: Warner Bros. Montreal
Price: $39.99
ESRB Rating: T
Batman: Arkham Origins is the third and possible final installment into the Arkham series, as it takes you back to Bruce's second year as the Dark Knight himself. The story itself maybe a origins story, but the game sticks to formula that helped make the previous titles some of the best this generation.
Story and Presentation:Warner Bros. Montreal took a different route this time, abandoning the storyline from the previous games in favor of an origins story. Bruce is a lot younger this time around, which makes for a much more ruthless and reckless Batman. Kevin Conroy is absent this time around as well, with Roger Craig Smith taking over as the Caped Crusader. Smith has been around for a while, voicing Ezio Auditore in Assassin's Creed and Chris Redfield in Resident Evil. I was a bit skeptical going in at first, but Smith's rendition of the iconic antihero is a worthy performance. Troy Baker takes the reigns from Mark Hamill has The Joker, and even though you can clearly here the differences, Baker does a great job with the infamous role. The game's setting doesn't look that much different from Arkham City, but the setting itself is a lot bigger this time around. This is was actually one of the only gripes I had with the game, was that it looked all too familiar to Arkham City. Even with that said, the Unreal Engine 3 still provides beautiful visuals. Some of the bigger set pieces are nothing short of impressive. This game is pure fan service, bringing the most villains into one Batman game ever. Each villain creates a different personality that antagonizes the Dark Knight, thus creating some memorable scenes. The soundtrack is great as well, rounding out an impeccable presentation, although a bit familiar in the end.
Core Gameplay and Multiplayer:Being the third game in the Arkham series, I didn't expect many changes to the game's winning formula, and that's what I got. You're still given a wide open playground to explore, with side missions and secondary villains for you to take down. You still have your Riddler, or Enigma, challenges for you to collect and complete if your heart so desires. The main story structure will feel familiar to fans of the previous two games. There are predatory areas, as well as combat focused areas as well. Batman moves from one area to the next, it's well paced and well balanced. I thought I would get tired of doing the same types of encounters, but I found myself enjoying it just as much as in Arkham City. One element that Origins has over Arkham City is that the city felt a bit to cluttered. It was hard to focus on one mission, as two or three side missions would quickly pop up and distract you from your main goal. This game feels a bit more focused, and since the main story is so strong, it's a plus. All three of the games in the series have one big thing in common, strong character driven gameplay. From Deathstroke, to Bain, to the Joker, and even Firefly. These boss encounter deliver some of the strongest set pieces not only in the game, but in the series as well. This is the first time that multiplayer has been incorporated into an Arkham game, and I found the multiplayer in Origins had a cool concept, it's just not that very fun. You can be Batman, Robin, or one Joker's or Bane's thugs. Of course being either Batman or Robin is ideal, but being the thug that kills the heroes is pretty satisfying. If you're interested, the multiplayer can be fun, just not very deep.
Final Thoughts:Batman: Arkham Origins is another great game in the franchise, and it shouldn't be missed. Even if you've grown fatigued of the same formula, the characters alone make this one of the better experiences coming out of 2013.
S&S Rating: 8/10 @whatsPlay
