5 Things I Like About BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS


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I’ve been playing Batman: Arkham Origins for days now. To some, it sounds like a great triumph and a quest to those who bury themselves in the pixelated world of video games. To others, it sounds pretty sad. Either way, like the previous Arkham games, it’s been quite an experience. After playing through the main story, almost finishing the new game plus mode, and a good portion of the side missions, I come to like several things about this game.

5. GOTHAM CITY & BATCAVE

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Ever since the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bat-fans have wanted nothing more than to explore Gotham City and stop crime as only the Caped Crusader could. Two years later, Batman: Arkham City let us move around a sectioned part of Gotham. While that subdued our fix, it only made it worse. But lo and behold, WB Games decided to honor our wish by creating Gotham City. This was probably the biggest difference between Origins and its predecessors. The snow was a bit much but I like the fact that I can glide across an entire digital city. The Batcave is equally impressing, showing how Batman has evolved his equipment to the standard we all of think of (including a training area and a prototype Batmobile). Origins definitely emphasizes the saying ‘There’s no place like home’.

4. GREAT BOSS BATTLES

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Another area where Origins delivered is on its boss battles. Previous game suffered in this category but was often overlooked due to its excellence everywhere else. But WB Games decided to do the opposite of that. Players actually got to fight Killer Croc instead of running from him in the sewer, fight a pre-Titan Bane, and go toe to toe with Deathstroke. I was a bit disappointed with the fight against Lady Shiva (which was more of a Mr. Miyagi moment), but the hallucinating fight against Copperhead made it better. I will admit the Firefly battle was a cross between the Poison Ivy and Joker fight in Asylum, but considering that’s how Batman used the same tactic on Hawkman in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, I let it slide.

3. FORESHADOWING EASTER EGGS

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One thing the Arkham series is known for is their need to drop Easter Eggs. Though they showed multiple references to other characters in the DC Universe (including the Suicide Squad and Zatanna), I liked the more chronological references that show what we know will happen in Batman’s history. My favorites are Joker’s origin story and meeting Harley Quinn for the first time (shown in the video), a newspaper clip of Harvey Dent becoming District Attorney and a poster of Haly’s Circus coming soon, alluding to the origin of Robin. My guess is that if they decide to continue the story from Origins, they might combine the Long Halloween and Year Three comic storylines to bring Two-Face and Robin into proper continuity.

2. SOLID VOICE ACTING

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Though we’ll miss Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and Joker, they have some promising replacements. Troy Baker, who voiced Two-Face and Robin in Arkham City, did an exceptional job as the Joker, bringing an enthusiasm and energy worthy of the Clown Prince of Crime. Roger Craig Smith is almost as impressive, finding a good balance between the anger of a young Batman and the collective calmness that comes with being the world’s greatest detective. The supporting cast deserve just as much praise, with Nolan North, Kelly Hu, and Peter MacNicol’s performances standing out the most.

1. COUNTLESS COSTUME OPTIONS

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Once you’ve saved the day and your costume is completely destroyed in the process, it’s time to play in a different outfit. Origins gives you multiple options in that category, spanning (at last count) 12 different costumes for Batman. Other playable characters like Deathstroke and Robin get the same treatment though not as many as the titular hero. There’s nothing like beating up hardened criminals in the Adam West Batman costume. I almost wish they added sound effects every time you hit someone in that outfit.

What do you think about Batman: Arkham Origins??? Drop a comment and let us know!