Batman - Arkham Origins - 25th October 2013

[Rip]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s720x720/523382_564286593603837_1226773240_n.jpg

No Rocksteady though, although they do have the tweaked engine used in City.

Set before Asylum with a 'wide range of villians' early pics show Deathstroke which has to be cool, plot is eight assasins come to Gotham to take down the Bat.

Yes it's early for a thread but who cares.

1. Deathstroke, gives us seven more spots to fill, any suggestions?

[Atty]

Given City, I think it would be cool to have Talia as a villain. I also want more Catwoman.

[mr sabu]

deadshot

[Rip]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/400085/batman-arkham-origins-full-details-batwing-dark-knight-challenge-system-remote-claw/#

C&VG article breakdown :yes:

Black Mask, Falcone, Penguin, Deathstroke for starters, the 'Most Wanted' idea sounds cool since it opens up the scope for villians.

[mr sabu]

screens

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/400137/first-batman-arkham-origins-screens-emerge-online/?page=8#top_banner

[Atty]

While the screens look cool there, A LOT of the locals look copy-pasted from City. That's not a bad thing, to see them before it went to shit, but it could become repetitive to the player unless they massively expand into the rest of Gotham.

[Morrison]

While the screens look cool there, A LOT of the locals look copy-pasted from City. That's not a bad thing, to see them before it went to shit, but it could become repetitive to the player unless they massively expand into the rest of Gotham.

half the map is old gotham, which is where city takes place. the other half is new gotham.

[The Doc]

From the article there should be some major changes to Old Gotham since this is before it was a prison and before it went to complete and utter shit as well. I'm certainly looking forward to what looks to be a fairly impressive game.

I'm not entirely sure that I'm happy that they are going to follow the example of City instead of Asylum. As much as I enjoy sand box stuff you lose a fair bit of the control over the story when people can go about things in their own time and in their own way and there was certainly something missing in City.

I'm looking forward to seeing a larger variety of enemies and perhaps someone who can fight Batman on a more personal level. Catwoman, Cheshire perhaps Bane if he's not just a hulking brute this time around. That was one thing that annoyed me about most of the bosses in both games was it was really a matter of learning the pattern and dealing with it.

I'm glad they at least claim there will be a greater focus on Detective Mode in this game, I really felt that was wasted in both of the previous games. They showed you that it was possible to hunt someone a certain way and then only did it once or twice when it would have been easy to incorporate into some of the side missions. I hope that some of the "Most Wanted" lists are at least as challenging as hunting down Hush or Zsasz was.

Personally I can't wait to get back in there and dart through the shadows taking out goons one by one until the last guy is crying like a little bitch begging me not to hurt him. And then for no particular reason I pop out, scare him and then beat him within an inch of his life anyway.

[Rip]

There is nothing I have found in any other game as rewarding as sitting on a ledge while the last remaining goon from a pack of six or seven cries his eyes out beneath you.

[The Rogerer]

As said, this isn't Rocksteady, so let the franchise milking begin!

[Beer-Belly]

Hopefully Rocksteady is working on the next gen Batman game while this is being made.

[Rip]

Reading between the lines I think that could be what's happening.

[The Doc]

Yeah, they all but say that in the article. I don't feel like looking up the exact words but it was close enough to. "Uh we recognize you people are tired of waiting, so we'll give you this before you start rioting. The A team however is working on, you know the real sequel."

I'm down though, the last thing I want is for Batman to turn into Duke Nukem or Street Fighter or Kingdom Hearts or anything that waited so long that I'm on the verge of not giving a shit.

[Bill Casey]

While the screens look cool there, A LOT of the locals look copy-pasted from City. That's not a bad thing, to see them before it went to shit, but it could become repetitive to the player unless they massively expand into the rest of Gotham.

http://www.thegamescabin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/batman-arkham-origins-map.jpg

World Map...
Amusement Mile isn't flooded, Sheldon Park isn't walled off, the outer walls are gone, and there's another island...
That big ship is Penguin's...

[Bill Casey]

1. Deathstroke, gives us seven more spots to fill, any suggestions?
Eight Great Assassins in the DC Universe come to collect a bounty leveled by Black Mask?
I have a few suggestions...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a338/Billcasey247/finaleight.jpg

[Rip]

I'll say now I hope 100% it won't be Lobo, he just won't fit into the game world they've created (much as love Lobo).

Merlyn has tried to assassinate the Bat before but he's more of a Green Arrow villain.

Cheshire would make a good choice, her poisons could lead to an interesting battle/mission, but to the casual fan would she come off as Catwoman?

Cain and Shiva would be good choices.

Hitman? Do you think he'd take the contract?

How about Alpha or Bronze Tiger?

I suspect we'll get more familiar members of the villainous roster though, perhaps some we've already met like Croc, Grundy and Hatter, or those we've seen in passing like Calendar Man, Killer Moth or the Ventriloquist.

[Bill Casey]

They said assassins and super villains spanning the DC Universe...
I'm assuming they meant what they said...

Could be a chance to tell Batman's first meeting with Talia Al Ghul...
I tried to pick a field of eight who would each bring something different to the table...

Bronze Tiger was a little too similar to Lady Shiva to make my list...

[TimeSplitter]

http://www.ign.com/videos/2013/04/19/batman-arkham-origins-villains-spotted

The standee in the video shows Joker, Scarecrow, Bane, and Killer Croc. Are they part of the 8 assassins, or just cameos?

[Bill Casey]

That's not Bane...
That's a knife villain from Arkham Asylum...
They said they aren't just going to beat the drum of the assassins all day long...

We already know Black Mask and Penguin are in the main story, and there's an "Arkham's Most Wanted" mode where you track down villains in side missions and earn gadgets...

So "Assassin or Cameo" is a false choice...

[Rip]

I'm hoping the 'Most Wanted' will give us some of the obscure villains, the real fanboy stuff we got in Asylum, 10 Eyed Man, King Tut, Royal Flush Gang, Ratcatcher, the 'lesser known' group.

Oh and Assasin...duh :banghead: Tally Man.

[The Doc]

If King Tut shows up I'm gonna fucking riot. I would love for the Royal Flush gang to show up though.

[Bill Casey]

I'm hoping the 'Most Wanted' will give us some of the obscure villains, the real fanboy stuff we got in Asylum, 10 Eyed Man, King Tut, Royal Flush Gang, Ratcatcher, the 'lesser known' group.

Well, Arkham City had a Ratcatcher Riddle, Royal Flush Tobacco, Monarch Playing Card Company, Shark Repellent and references to Crazy Quilt, Toy Man, Cosmo Krank, Huntress, Creeper, and Gentleman Ghost...

And Calendar Man was in it...
Wait a second... Isn't this game taking place on Christmas Eve?

[Bill Casey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d0geMX4nWA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2WvaztYXaU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTjLjiuTdb0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4RnA9gUrbs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5PXMgCrJdA

Game Informer Article...

http://imgur.com/a/y3UO2

[Bill Casey]

Trailer


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pnK8akbd2M

[Bill Casey]

Anarky, Joker and Bane Confirmed...

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/games/batman-arkham-origins-explores-one-formative-night/#/0

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6303/originsjoker.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/originsjoker.jpg/)

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1748/anarkyorigins.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/anarkyorigins.jpg/)



Also, Kevin Conroy said he was voicing Batman for the next Arkham game...
He's not voicing Batman in Arkham Origins; which pretty much confirms the project Rocksteady is working on is Arkham 3...

[Gary J]

So excited for this game it's made me decide to play through Asylum and City again.

I think Deathstroke , Deadshot , Lady Shiva , Zsasz will definitely be 4 of the 8 assassins.

As for other suggestions i could see

Prometheus (He had a bio in Asylum)
Catman (Can see some goons talking about sightings of someone in a cat costume before revealing Catman)
KGBeast (I could see them doing a mini Ten nights of the Beast story)
David Cain / Henri Ducard (It's Origins both of them trained Bruce Wayne surely one or both of them have to appear)

After that maybe Bane (might explain why he was in Arkham Asylum) Black Spider (I think he was an assassin from Black Masks gang)

[Bill Casey]

I'm hoping for Flamingo...
That John Waters looking assassin motherfucker who dresses like Zorro, poses like Prince, wears bright pink, rides a motorcycle, wields a chain whip and dines on women's freshly severed faces...

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100131212518/batman/images/f/fa/Flamingo.jpg

[Morrison]

i don't like that bane is in the game unless he's already broken bat's back.

[Atty]

Without Conroy for this one, this could be the perfect time to do post Knightfall 1 Knightfall...

Go through most of the game thinking your Wayne with a different voice, only to be fake Bats, who gets to beat Bane and then, in the final fight, you job out to the returning real Bats. Could work great to toss in some fatalities, freak Blood out and then reveal you weren't Wayne.

[mr sabu]

never mind i found what i was looking for

[Bill Casey]

E3 Trailer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYqJXp2aylc

[virms]

Looks amazing.

[Miotch]

That sounded like Mark Hammill as the joker, no?

[Grimario]

That sounded like Mark Hammill as the joker, no?

He was the Joker in the first two as well.

Now I think you mean it sounds like him despite the fact that he wasn't signed on for the role again...

[mr sabu]

man i so want this

:( i have to get my copys of arkham city and asylum to work again ( games for windows won't connect )

[Nitram]

I don't think it's Hammill. But he does sound good.

[Bill Casey]

That sounded like Mark Hammill as the joker, no?

It does sound like a younger version of Hamill's joker...
But it's Troy Baker, who voiced Two Face and Robin in Arkham City...
And too many roles in other things (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1684869/) to mention, but he has an impressive resume...

[Bill Casey]

Anarky pic
http://i0.wp.com/batman-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/BAO_E3_AnarkyMolotov.jpg

Bane pic
http://i1.wp.com/batman-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/BAO_E3_BaneBatman.jpg

Bane Arkham Origins Action Figure
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.comicsalliance.com/media/2013/06/bmaobane.jpg

Spoiler tags for size...

[Morrison]

the one interview/gameplay video up on IGN about the game makes it look like this'll fit right into the universe rocksteady created, and feel just like a game they would've created in terms of gameplay. detective mode looks to be more in-depth at times, allowing the player to figure things out on their own more than the simple hand holding of the rocksteady games. whether it's going to be better than either of the rocksteady games, i don't know, but i don't think it's going to be a glaring misstep in the series.

[Bill Casey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe88pKGHors

[mr sabu]

that bit with the chopper is awesome

[Bill Casey]

New enemy type: Venom enhanced thug


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEgoe0HQCSo

[mr sabu]

i like the idea of the new enemys.. venom thugs, also ones that can counter batman

i know nothing about anarky... but he seems intresting

[Bill Casey]

Anarky was the type of guy who broadcast himself beating up a CEO for polluting the river or stealing from the rich and giving to the poorest Native Americans...
He had a complex philosophy and didn't kill. He was anti corporations, anti-government, and anti-religion. He challenged the social conventions of super heroes as vigilante law enforcers, and created a ideological clash of vigilante v vigilante...

This made him exceptionally difficult to write as a character...
So they've re-imagined him as a more villainous bomber...

[Bill Casey]

NEW ASSASSIN REVEALED

http://media1.gameinformer.com/imagefeed/featured/warner-bros/batman/arkhamorigins/ArkhamOriginsCopperhead610.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYxiqIf6rdY


That makes four...

Bane, Deadshot, Deathstroke and Copperhead...

[The Doc]

Here's to Bane's fight not being a fight so f#$%ing predictable that I felt stupid I didn't get it immediately. For some reason I thought he'd be special so I was trying to aim for the hoses, but nope. He was just a slightly less stupid Titan Thug.

I know it's a video game but they do a competent enough job with the combat in these games that combined with a little of the necessary platform changes of Boss Harley (minus Harley not participating) and Mr. Freeze is currently my favorite video game boss. (Like fuck you Batman, why you gotta have no boss rush AND you auto save so I have to play through a bunch of crap to get back to this) but I hope they they cut down a bit on the puzzle bosses.

Also looks great.

[mr sabu]

ill post this here to save bumping the arkham city one

good games done quickly... for sda charity marathons

but arkham city speed run complete in 2 hours 37 mins


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQP7hv117jo

[Atty]

Copperhead may be the least I've liked an Arkham design. Granted, I love basically all the other character designs in the series, but still. Of the remaining assassin's I REALLY hope the primary one is Talia. That would be so great with the existing story of the Arkham canon.

That speed run is pretty groovy. When I got the game (again) for the 360, I ran through the story in 5-6 hours, but wasn't really keeping track or even thinking about a speedrun. Such a great game.

[The Rogerer]

Yet another woman with a big pair of tits hanging out. Male characters in Batman go from the shapes of Joker to Penguin to Bane, where every woman is exactly the same silhouette with different colours painted on. What was Talia supposed to be even wearing in AC? Some sort of leather pajamas?

[The Rick]

ign link (http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/23/mad-hatter-confirmed-for-batman-arkham-origins)
by Luke Karmali JULY 23, 2013




Mad Hatter Confirmed for Batman: Arkham Origins
Hatman returns.

One of the villains set to star in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins has been revealed to be the Mad Hatter.

This month's Official Xbox Magazine (via VG247) reveals that the villain also known as Jervis Tetch is set to join the roster of Batman's enemies in the latest Arkham title.

Though the Hatter made an appearance in Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham City, it appears this time around he'll have a significantly larger role. He's set to be the focal point of the game's trippy action sequences, similar to how Scarecrow featured in the original Arkham Asylum title.

Tetch is set to join Deathstroke and a reimagined version of Copperhead, as well as familiar faces Penguin, Bane and the Joker.

Batman: Arkham Origins is due out on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U and PC on October 25.

[mr sabu]

bring peter macnicol back for the role.. he played a great mad hatter

[Bill Casey]

Copperhead may be the least I've liked an Arkham design.

This new version of Copperhead is coming to mainstream DC Comics shortly after origins launches...


And the fucking Hatter joins the party. Batman in Wonderland, what's not to love?


Yet another woman with a big pair of tits hanging out. Male characters in Batman go from the shapes of Joker to Penguin to Bane, where every woman is exactly the same silhouette with different colours painted on. What was Talia supposed to be even wearing in AC? Some sort of leather pajamas?
So you would like to see some combination of Orca...

http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/square_small/0/8632/255293-157912-orca.jpg

The new Ventriloquist Shauna Belzer...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1OiACGhcuWiGmpPzbBWeGXbyrvEEON Hue1lX72L7ux9BQtjPN8A

Jane Doe...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j238/foxhack/DC/LivingHell-02-01.jpg

Baby Doll...

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS3Kj9j6dAbGT1hhsZMpuTFqcTwBsTFG z-Yi13OPwBDLEnsg6M1-w

Sophia Falcone Gigante...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQEHBy3JMIb5iuBPwWYAs_zU5tWDAAO6 Vc8sanhzLR3Ulsv1IXJ

And Amanda Waller be brought to the forefront...

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSTCwvnS0lrWLCmFy4ol1AC7AN7zVD2q 7NH4FPR2fXXDrZcdLDs

[The Rogerer]

Yes. Even if they insist on having to make every woman in AC sexy, they did a very boring job of it. All practically identical.

[Beefy]

That's video game makers though. I suspect most are locked away in basements and don't get to interact with people very often.

Look at the women in Rogerer's favourite game Metal Gear Solid 4.

[The Rogerer]

That game is pretty horrible if you think about it for a second. Did you know if you shake your controller while Rose is on the screen, her boobs will move?

I wouldn't go back to read what I said at the time Beefy, haha, but I think that was my 4th or even 5th time through the game at a dark period in my life. I don't think I was in the mood for the weird bullshit at the time.

[Beefy]

hahaha I'll try that with Rosemary next time :shifty:

Naomi was the worst. She's a Doctor in MGS so must have been late 20s at the earliest yet in MGS 4 she's mid-20s with a super model figure and no matter the horrors of the situation she's in she has her tits out at all times.

Certainly worse than the sexism in The Hobbit :)

[The Rogerer]

Open disdain, really.

[Bill Casey]

Multiplayer Trailer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYR9plVWNsY


This pretty much confirms a Kotaku leak article that confirmed...

Killer Croc, Firefly and "Some Sort of Electroman Character"


As for the details, according to our tipster: during at least one section of multiplayer, you play as a member of Joker or Bane's gang while trying to take down Batman and Robin. The villains involved—who may be playable and customizable—include Killer Croc, Deadshot, Firefly, Black Mask, Deathstroke, and "some kind of Electroman character," our tipster said. (Maybe Electrocutioner?)

Would be in the game...

http://kotaku.com/batman-arkham-origins-will-have-multiplayer-sources-s-478365060

[mr sabu]

Firefly............ fuck yes please be a boss

[Bill Casey]

Some kind of Electroman character...

That suggests the person describing this character isn't familiar with them...
The way the character is described makes it more difficult for it to be Maxie Zeus, because typically at a glance you can tell Maxie Zeus has a very glaring Greek/Roman thing going on with him. It doesn't seem like the way someone not familiar with the character would describe him...

It's possible Zeus gets a makeover, but I think there's actually a couple more likely candidates who both happen to be assassins...
One is electric themed, and the other could easily be confused for an electric themed villain because of his big shock stick...

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090820231040/batman/images/a/ae/Electrocutioner_01.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5717/gg9x.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/gg9x.jpg/)

[Bill Casey]

bring peter macnicol back for the role.. he played a great mad hatter


Creative Director Eric Holmes has confirmed Peter Macnicol is reprising his role as The Mad Hatter...

[mr sabu]

and that has just gotten me to pre-order

[Bill Casey]

NEW REVEAL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcMN2k1FzxQ

[Alf]

Erection

[Beer-Belly]

Yes. I'm still a little wary because it's not the same Rocksteady crew, but this looks great.

[mr sabu]

according to game informer ( dunno if true trying to find it )

alberto falcone is a side quest

[TimeSplitter]

Another assassin revealed at NYCC

Excecutioner

[Bill Casey]

Another assassin revealed at NYCC

Excecutioner
Photo of the new assassin...

http://i1.wp.com/batman-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ElectrocutionerAO.jpg


Also, Achievements reveal another assassin and another side villain...

Lady Shiva and The Riddler

And the soundtrack reveals...

Killer Croc and possibly Magpie

[Bill Casey]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InUj9BT8KCc

[Bill Casey]

http://images.4chan.org/co/src/1382294050912.jpg
http://images.4chan.org/co/src/1382294014457.jpg

[mr sabu]

i was gonna wait for this but i gave in and ordered it

i hope they send it off tommrow and i get it by friday

and i hope firefly isn't too far in or im gonna do an arkham city and too way too much in a day

sounds fun


To get 100 percent of that will take much, much longer. We have a new difficulty level, New Game Plus is coming pack — that's really difficult — and when you're done with that there's I Am The Night mode — which is no saves and one life."

[The Rogerer]

Currently has an average of 79 on Metacritic, and seen reports that they were protective over who got early review copies. Sounds like a 7/10, safe effort.

[Gary J]

Picked it up this morning it's pretty much the same as Arkham City so far. Since i love City and Asylum I'm loving this too.

[Stocky]

I cannot for the life of me get part death stroke 6 percent in and I'm stuck!!

[takerson]

I don't play video games often. At ALL. My preference seems to be games that are like movies. Uncharted, and the other 2 Arkham games for example. Knowing that, to all that have played it so far. Is this worth $60?

[Fanny]

picked it up today, hope it's as accessible (i.e. easy) for me as the others (i.e. Asylum)

[Gary J]

I cannot for the life of me get part death stroke 6 percent in and I'm stuck!!

He is a fucker isn't he finally got past him and taking Anarky down and that's far easier.

[Gary J]

I don't play video games often. At ALL. My preference seems to be games that are like movies. Uncharted, and the other 2 Arkham games for example. Knowing that, to all that have played it so far. Is this worth $60?

I would say it was worth it but then I absolutely love most Bat related things. It is exactly like the other two so if you think those were worth it then you'll think the same of this.

[Bill Casey]

I cannot for the life of me get part death stroke 6 percent in and I'm stuck!!
You're going to want to fight defensively...
Let him come to you and counter him when he attacks...

This is actually a way to fight in melee battles that some fans never use...

[Stocky]

So never throw a punch just counter?

[Kdestiny]

Game has frozen on me three times now

[Atty]

After reading reviews, I decided to wait. Asylum and City are both probably in my top fifteen games, but I don't feel the need to get on this early. Hearing that there's much less detail in the city (whereas the other games were filled to the top with references, Riddler challenges and thugs that were fun to listen to as you stalked them) was the thing that got me to hold off. I'll still get it when it's on sale.

[Fanny]

I'm about a a half a percent in and there are already references galore. Don't worry about the fanboyism, you'll be satisfied as far as that's concerned x

[Atty]

Ok, held off as long as I can...

[TimeSplitter]

It's a lot of fun so far. The game freezing every once in a while is annoying. I'll put up a whole review when I finish the story mode. (I'm only like 13% done)

[mr sabu]

hoppefully m,y copy comes on monday

hows thew boss fights are they better

[Bill Casey]

After reading reviews, I decided to wait. Asylum and City are both probably in my top fifteen games, but I don't feel the need to get on this early. Hearing that there's much less detail in the city (whereas the other games were filled to the top with references, Riddler challenges and thugs that were fun to listen to as you stalked them) was the thing that got me to hold off. I'll still get it when it's on sale.

There's still plenty of puzzle challenges...
And the references blow the piss out of previous games...

They have a Mendo Soap reference ffs...
Mendo Soap of course is the demon infested soap used by the Geo-Populus cult in the Simon Dark comics...



The game will feel a lot like you're playing Arkham City...
They even repackaged the freeze grenades as glue grenades that make glue flows in the water...
It's almost like a really good expansion pack...



hows thew boss fights are they better
Deathstroke, Firefly and Bane are worth the price of admission...

[Atty]

It's almost like a really good expansion pack...


This is what it's felt like thus far.

[TimeSplitter]

Is anybody else having massive freezing issues right before the Firefly boss battle?

[Kdestiny]

I'm still getting frustrated as it's frozen a fifth time for me now. Usually when I am going from the city to an indoor location

[Atty]

It went laggy as fuck the first time I fought Deathstroke. It would have a mini-freeze every other second and fuck me over.

[Bill Casey]

So never throw a punch just counter?

Depends on how much trouble you're having...
You can get some decent shots in when you go on the offensive, but you can turtle up any time you're having some trouble...
It's dynamic and situational...

Bat claw slam works on him a little...
If you can get a multiplier going, you can use combo takedowns on him...

Whenever the fight slows down, wait for the prompt to hit anything if you hit a button before the counter prompt comes up, Deathstroke will kick your ass...

He's not really too difficult if you don't spaz out...
I beat him on the second try pretty handily and I was playing on Normal...

[Atty]

Bat claw slam worked near everytime with him. Really, the fight became too repetitive, where I think the fast pace would have worked better were it a quicker fight or more varied (if he didn't spam the same attacks on you everytime)

[Stocky]

I eventually got passed him after some sleep finished the main story really did feel like an expansion not a full game...

[Atty]

It basically is. Locations and layouts are reused to the point where it was far too familiar. For an origin story, I'd much rather have seen them go smaller than bigger. Like, how Asylum was a much smaller setting than City, have Batman placed in a less expansive location. It really feels odd how empty Gotham is. Sure they have a bit about the cops telling people to stay inside but, especially as this is pre-Joker, it's something that I don't really buy.

Not finished yet. I really like the story so far and there are some good and innovative sections, but it really feels like I've played it many times before in two better games.

[TimeSplitter]

I finished the story earlier today. It was a lot of fun. Not terribly original, but still a lot of fun. I've got one more "Most Wanted" case to solve. No idea who/what it could be, though.

[Atty]

Oh right, I do love the new detective mode. Great revamp of that.

[mr sabu]

arrived today

playing now enjoying it

[Bill Casey]

I really liked the part with the psychiatrist, and the part at the end with that chair and those guys and that thing. You know, that really non-specific vague thing that you would only understand if you've already seen that part...

[Alf]

Only played the opening mission so far, but the camera control seems really loose, it's feels a bit flighty and doesn't have the feeling of weight as the other games, and when they drag the camera away from you to focus on something else it usually ends up looking really odd.

It's a bit sloppy.

[Morrison]

It basically is. Locations and layouts are reused to the point where it was far too familiar. For an origin story, I'd much rather have seen them go smaller than bigger. Like, how Asylum was a much smaller setting than City, have Batman placed in a less expansive location. It really feels odd how empty Gotham is. Sure they have a bit about the cops telling people to stay inside but, especially as this is pre-Joker, it's something that I don't really buy.

Not finished yet. I really like the story so far and there are some good and innovative sections, but it really feels like I've played it many times before in two better games.

they're telling them to stay inside due to the huge winter storm coming, not necessarily the crime. it's definitely a cop-out, but it's easy enough to buy.

[Atty]

And I'm stuck in what seems to be a game breaking glitch. In the sewers, second time, and ventured further down for Riddler trophies. The elevator is back at the top and I see no exit. I've run around where I can for an hour. Google has people claiming there's a ladder but I don't see it.

[Atty]

Oh thank you Jesus I found a way out.

[Atty]

OK, review time!




So, this is an odd one to rate. The last third (where I ran straight through the story to the end and had new locations) was absolutely fantastic. The final boss fights are truly great. I’d probably still rate the Freeze and Clayface fights ahead, but Firefly, Bane and Joker are suburb fights. Joker in particular is what a boss fight with him should have been in Asylum.


So much is so strong that I want to rate the game really high and the story is top notch but the biggest problem with the game is that it’s padded out. There was no reason to really include the Arkham City map aside from doing a mod-like resin to stretch the game out. I loved all the new areas and Blackgate, but revisiting the Steel Mill, Courthouse and so forth added nothing to the game. Were the map just the southern portion, the bridge leading to Wonder Tower as the north end and Penguin’s boat down there, I think it would have felt less stretched out and more original.


The glitches are plentiful and that’s really a shame. A large map like this can lead to slow downs and I would get them in weird places. I punched one sniper on a roof and he fell into a door below. He was only visible in detective vision but kept being able to shoot me no matter how far I flew away. That’s just an example of random stuff that would happen as the game tried to be Arkham City: New Vegas.


I guess the best way to describe this is that it’s like a movie that’s just too long. One that would be greatly improved by cutting it down in length. In this case, that would mean the shear size of the map. It would also make it more believable that the streets were clear of civilians. They did program in a lot of new areas but that work is completely lost when you’re visiting the same areas that you have before.


The psychiatrist sequence is fantastic. So is Mad Hatter’s bit as a change of pace but it seems that part was optional. City gave a lot of sandbox freedom in doing things and while that’s great, scaling this back a bit (going more linear, ala Asylum) to center on a story that’s actually pretty great would have been a wise choice. It would have also put a much greater focus on the assassins, as you don’t even have to fight them all. Or even see all of them.


The new investigation mode is marvelous. Brilliant new addition.


Bane is suburb in the game. I loved that he started as him and powered up as he went. Seems he’s finally accepted as a true top foe and that’s great. The new Joker guy is marvelous, really. His story is great and the voice work is so very well done.


I still want a proper follow up to City, but I do want more in between this and Asylum now. Kind of wish this had been delayed a few months for testing and didn’t include the entire City map. Everything being fucked to hell made sense in City as it was a prison, but here it’s not and you’d go in places and they’d look beaten to shit where it didn’t make sense for them to be.


I’d say maybe an 8 or 8.5 out of 10 but that may be inflated as I just cleared it and loved the final run of the game. I’m going to replay it pretty much right away, but the biggest thing the game had working against it was expectations. Not only those that fans would have regardless coming off, in my opinion, two of the best games ever made, but those expectations that they placed upon themselves by forcing so many comparisons to Arkham City, having to reuse locations, techniques and whatnot.

[Atty]

Oh right... I loved Batman's suit getting fucked up in the first two games as he was basically out the entire night and all but here he goes back to the Batcave approximately 87 times. Put on a new cape, fatty.

[mr sabu]

I'm going to hate I am the night mode

[Atty]

What's different in it? I'm itching to start New Game Plus, but haven't really looked into I AM THE NIGHT.

[Bill Casey]

One life, no saves...

[Atty]

So I'd have to clock it in one go?

[mr sabu]

dunno... have to see

despite the issues im having a blast

boss fights are a major step up step up

[Atty]

Zero Punctuation:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/8390-Batman-Arkham-Origins (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/8390-Batman-Arkham-Origins)

[Bill Casey]

I'll just leave this DLC teaser here...

http://imagery.playerattack.com/BatmanArkham-HumanitarianStatue-345x560.jpg

[Newf]

I'm kind of wishing I'd picked this up when it was half off (down to $30) during boxing week sales. I never got into Asylum but I played City and by then it felt like a step backwards to play Asylum.

The re-use of the City map kind of turned me off picking this up. I mean, I dig the whole Batman mythos and everything but I'm not a SUPER huge nerd for it.

City was fun but I didn't go back to it after beating it or shortly thereafter. I got all the hidden stuff but had no urge to play the Challenge Maps or whatever they were called. I tried a few and just got super frustrated so it didn't offer a lot of replay value there.

That Zero Punctuation review also kind of turned me off a bit as the part about them trawling the bottom for villains hit home for me as a more casual fan.

What say you, did I make a mistake not getting this when it was on sale or was I right to not bother if I'm not a huge fan?

[Atty]

I platinumed both Asylum and City and have bought four copies of City, one for every platform I have. That said, I traded Origins in shortly after beating it. That should tell you all you need to know.

[Fanny]

you're off your fucking head

[Atty]

I stand on my feet, not my head.

[mr sabu]

it wasn't to bad..

was a great expansion for city

plus it had alot of bugs for when it came out

id wait

[mr sabu]

a small bit about the new dl coming out..

http://www.xboxachievements.com/news/news-17439-Batman--Arkham-Origins--Cold--Cold-Heart--Mr--Freeze-DLC-Unveiled.html


Batman: Arkham Origins will be getting a dose of story-driven DLC featuring Mr. Freeze, as teased by WB Games Montreal at the beginning of the year (http://www.xboxachievements.com/news/news-16986-Warner-Bros--Hints-at-Mr--Freeze-Story-DLC-for-Batman--Arkham-Origins.html).Titled 'Cold, Cold Heart', the add-on sees Freeze crashing Bruce Wayne's 'Humanitarian of the Year' benefit in what WB Games' VP of Production Ames Kirshen calls "a big open-world narrative-based DLC".You'll be able to download 'Cold, Cold Heart' for Batman: Arkham Origins on April 22nd. A price has yet to be confirmed, but you can view the trailer in the latest episode of DC All Access (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l56Ojl83e3A&list=PLYq7H1T5SzMdNp_tv4TGt8CK_dPVEGquc) below, from just before the one minute mark. Cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l56Ojl83e3A

[The Rogerer]

I played too much Arkham City to be able to enjoy this. I felt it's inherently misleading to call a game 'Origins' and start with a kevlar Batman jump into a VTOL jet. Blatantly a stopgap/contractual obligation filler to get some more money in. And they couldn't resist making it about the Joker.

[mr sabu]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmLCRMbHe5w#t=261

minor gameplay video with a bit of info behind cold cold heart