Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 4: What Ails You

Just when I think Telltale has run out of places to go, and that I’ve finally figured out the hook to their plans with John Doe and his eventual transformation into full-fledged Joker-dom, they pull Crazy Ivan and give me a gift like Episode 4. Titled What Ails You, this episode is less a set-up of the finale then a stack of C4 primed to take out every story thread that’s been built up so far. Telltale continues to tell one of the best Batman stories out there right now. If you are at all interested in comics, or characters related to the Dark Knight, this is 100% not optional. Honestly, no one else should be sleeping on this either.

What Ails you is a superb fourth episode, and gives us plenty of great set pieces and character progression as the series reaches its climax.

Episode 4 of Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within has top-notch writing, thoughtful depictions, and impactful decision-making moments. It leaves Bruce, Batman, and you to grapple with questions and uncertainty. Between the future of Joker, the nature of Amanda Waller, and the potential fallout of Bruce's mission on his allies, Telltale has set the stage for what could (better) be an explosive finale.

The hammer is well and truly falling in Batman: The Enemy Within, with everything coming together, twists falling like rain, and everyone’s backs presented ready for stabbing – particularly mine. While it’s not much of a spoiler to say that Episode 4 sees the arrival of The Joker, how that happens and in what form is entirely up to you – and that’s the beauty of what Telltale have crafted. All choices felt important, the opening raid on the SANCTUS facility was action, and I was so enthralled by this episode I almost didn’t notice that Batman wasn’t in it at all (at least he wasn’t for me). On the downside it’s the shortest episode yet at only 70-odd minutes, but I was entertained by all of it and I can’t wait for the finale.

The Dark Knight is working with partners more in this series than we might be used to… but it works well and shows that even the strongest character occasionally needs help from others. I can see heartache on the horizon and a potential avoidance of that heartache… but with Telltale I don’t want to count my penguin eggs before they’re hatched, so I will just wait, impatiently, for the next episode and I will hope that I’ve made the right choices up to that point and that my final choices don’t hurt the ones I love. So for those, like me, who are now caught up in the story… just remember the next episode will be via the same Bat channel and keep an eye for the Bat symbol for release date.

The line between hero and villain is further blurred in Telltale’s latest Batman episode, as a world of half-truths and lies comes crashing down on players in the most unexpected of ways.

In “What Ails You,” there are enough other positives to make this a strong installment. An epic brawl sequence, major plot reveals, and a promise of a satisfying series conclusion make Episode 4 an enjoyable experience, and the climactic Episode 5 looks like it will end things on a high note. Let’s hope so.

What Ails You is the strongest episode so far, giving Batman: The Enemy Within a much-needed injection of verve as it speeds toward the conclusion of the series.

The shortest chapter, but it does not lack in depth. The genesis of the Joker is the most interesting in an episode that also explores more about characters like Amanda Waller and Tiffany Fox. It's a pity that we only have Bruce Wayne and not Batman.

What Ails You is an interesting premise for a potentially remarkable epilogue. Every piece is where it should, Bruce made his decisions and we really want to know where those will lead. Now, it's just up to Telltale.

'What Ails You’ takes The Enemy Within’s biggest and boldest step yet toward redefining the Joker’s role in the Batman universe – should you choose to push him in that direction (which I did). It’s the other characters whose final impacts on Bruce Wayne/Batman’s life have yet to be determined.

Telltale's new interpretation of Joker is a great success, and your decisions will cause much more serious consequences than before. However, Episode 4 of Batman: The Enemy Within still has a ridiculous plot that makes the story childish.

Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 4: What Ails You moves its plot along quickly and in some fascinating ways. It just can't save the entire season.

The episode ends on a bit of a low note as things seem to end rather abruptly. Episode 4 also feels like the shortest one of the bunch so far, with major characters taking a backseat.

What Ails You is the best episode of The Enemy Within since the season opener. After setting the player up with brutal, cathartic violence, the story trims away some (but not all) of its fat to focus on Bruce, his friends, enemies, and the pesky troublemakers who can't seem to rest on either side. There's nothing here that'll change the opinions of Telltale naysayers, but Episode Four at least succeeds in preparing the stage for what could prove an exciting, shocking, perhaps even regret-filled climax.

The weakest episode of this highly regarded series. It's nowhere near a disaster though, still offering a great new Batman tale set within Telltale's interesting splinter universe. The real test of this series will come in its finale, when we see whether these last two episodes of build up end up paying off with something special.

Batman: The Enemy Within: What Ails You may hurl a lot at the wall, but in doing so it’s very exciting and, at times, will have you genuinely intrigued as to what’s next. As that’s the point, it’s hard to be overly negative about it.