Batman: Arkham Origins

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 998 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 672 out of 998
  2. Mixed: 255 out of 998
  3. Negative: 71 out of 998
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  1. corvettecrazy26
    Oct 25, 2013
    10
    The cape is finally black, and there are no man panties in sight. Now Rocksteady should learn to make a serviceable Batman by omitting the absurd blue/purple cape and briefs, their Batman design is a walking paradox.
    P.S. The grey belt is nice, keep that too.
  2. Malevolent
    Nov 21, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ever since I finished playing Arkham City I couldn't wait for the third installment. The gameplay didn't feel any different, but that's okay. I realized that some of the gadgets had the same functions as the gadgets from Arkham City, for example: the glue grenade can do everything that the freeze blast can do and the remote claw is similar to the line launcher. For some reason they changed the aiming and throwing controls from L1/R1 to L2/R2, that was weird. I'm a little disappointed that Joker is the main villain again, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. The boss battles were great (especially Deathstroke). Bane in this game is a lot better from the previous games. So far my favorite challenge map is 100 to 1. Multiplayer mode is a great addition to the series (I love playing as Bane).… Expand
  3. gaminggod
    Oct 29, 2013
    8
    Huge Batman Fan the game is good, but nothing amazing, we have done it all before and they have not innovated the series, same old formula which works fine, but its getting abit old now. notice a few minor bugs when playing also was slightly less responsive when it comes to countering than last years Arkham City.

    My opinion is they could have made this an epic game, by making more of an    Huge Batman Fan the game is good, but nothing amazing, we have done it all before and they have not innovated the series, same old formula which works fine, but its getting abit old now. notice a few minor bugs when playing also was slightly less responsive when it comes to countering than last years Arkham City.

    My opinion is they could have made this an epic game, by making more of an effort with the city, civilians and its surroundings, they could have added the Batmobile that would have been a nice feature and maybe mixed it up a little given you more choices. The things they have done well, they have improved on boss fights made them more interesting the story is better than the previous titles, however im finding it more of an effort to finish it rather than last years Arkham City, maybe because we have moved forward in terms of games, and so does the Arkham franchise as well.

    id still buy it. play it, for any Batman or gaming fan, its as good as the others if not better, with better boss fights, a bit more buggy and nothing else added to move the series forward.    … Expand
  4. EzioA88
    Aug 5, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When you hand off your franchise to another studio, it's a hard move to make. Rocksteady have done this to please fans while they work on the series-ender Arkham Knight and at first, I wasn't sure if this would work. They gave us a brilliant superhero game in the form of Arkham Asylum and then improved upon it in every way with City- which is widely considered to be the greatest licensed game of all time. Arkham Origins is a chance for WB Montreal to show us what they've got and it's also a chance to jump back into the Arkham universe and embrace the old mechanics before Knight swings around. It's a chance that is definitely successful.

    The strongest part of the game is its narrative. However, this won't be obvious to you when you first boot up. The idea is that it's two years into Batman's career on a Christmas night. Gang boss Black Mask has become tired of the hero and has set a 50 million dollar bounty on the Bat's head that eight assassins plan to acquire. Killer Croc, Bane, Deathstroke, Deadshot, Firefly, Lady Shiva, Electrocutioner and a female Copperhead are up to the task and the Bat is bracing for an epic night. After the effective beginning, we're off to Gotham City. A young Riddler is messing around, Penguin is up to his old tricks, Deathstroke is keen for the money and Mad Hatter is even mucking around. I was overwhelmed by the constant villain reveals and was prepared to write the game's story off. Then a sudden smile spread across the screen as the Joker popped up. His introduction is fairly ridiculous, but it is an excellent twist and one that works. After Joker appears the whole plot just straightens out and everything seems to become so clear. In fact, I'd say that this could be the best plot in the whole series- it certainly works and the climax is excellent.

    Another win for the game is its amount of content. The side missions return and they're better than ever, with each mission following a certain villain. They usually end in a nice battle and incorporate plenty of cool investigation scenarios and combat sequences. Along with the side quests, there are also riddles returning. This time they aren't much more than breakable/collectible objects, but the radio towers are perplexing, well thought out challenges that always end in you getting the reward of a fast travel point. The challenge mode also returns and it's slightly expanded. Like the rest of the game, WB Montreal have stuck to the basics, but added their own spin on parts. The ranked challenges are fairly similar to their former counterparts, as are the campaign and custom challenges. There is a lot of content here and the new training challenges make up a small part of the mode, but they are surprisingly enjoyable and help you grasp the mechanics of the game if you're a newbie. Of course, concept art, themes and character models are all valuable objects to unlock and everything seems to go towards 100%. You can also access the challenges from the Batcave now- which is kind of like a hub.

    One part where the game kind of disappointed me was in the open world. Not that it's small- it certainly isn't. Not that it isn't detailed- there is a lot to find and do. Not that there aren't any civilians- while the reason is lousy (they're all inside), I don't think it would suit the game to have people wandering the streets. It's because of the bugs and the small amount of Easter eggs. While none of the glitches were game breaking, they smash your immersion and the lack of big references (like the Scarecrow boat in City) is a little disappointing. It isn't enough to really damage the game though.

    The gameplay itself is excellent, even if highly familiar. Combat is highly refined and requires maximum concentration and great response time. There are new animations and upgrades that flesh it out and the scoring system is rewarding and well implemented. Stealth is also tense once again and the new enemies mix things up. The gadgets are slightly overpowered this time, but I love the remote grapnel and the shock gloves give you a good feeling as they activate. The gliding and traversal is pretty much the same as what we got in Arkham City and is still fluid- it also helps that the cape is black.

    Finally, Origins has a multiplayer mode. It has a great levelling system, plenty of customization options and a few large maps. However, it only comes with one mode (new modes and maps are planned for future updates) and it's hard to get a game seeing as how there is no drop in. The gameplay is nice though, with Batman and Robin feeling good and the other thugs making for interesting variations. The shooting is great and playing as the big bosses is rewarding- Bane is cool.

    To wrap things up, Arkham Origins is a great prequel. It's the same gameplay, just with a larger open world, a better narrative and surprisingly enjoyable multiplayer. It's also a great jumping on point for newbies- though City shouldn't be dismissed!    … Expand
  5. RenzyWenzy
    Jan 17, 2014
    8
    I loved this game. Once again, the Arkhham series has produced a game that makes you feel like you are really the Caped Crusader. Let me start this review with I liked about the game, first and foremost, the story. Origins tells a compelling story of a younger Batman who tries to survive Christmas as 8 dangerous and professional assassins hired by Black Mask try their best to kill him forI loved this game. Once again, the Arkhham series has produced a game that makes you feel like you are really the Caped Crusader. Let me start this review with I liked about the game, first and foremost, the story. Origins tells a compelling story of a younger Batman who tries to survive Christmas as 8 dangerous and professional assassins hired by Black Mask try their best to kill him for the bounty. But that's not all. Somewhere, The Joker is wrecking havoc on Gotham City and it's up to the Dark Knight to stop him. Now, the story, in my opinion, is one of the best Batman origins tales I've ever experienced even though the title is sort of a misnomer as it really doesn't have anything to with the origins of Arkham but the asylum is mentioned a lot of times and there are a few easter eggs which i won't spoil. The voice acting is stellar. No Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill but the voice actors doing Batman's and Joker's voices are incredible. You'd think they were younger versions of Kevin and Mark, that's how on point their voices and impressions are. Another thing I liked was how huge this world was, double the size of Arkham City and it's filled with things to do such as the main story missions, bunch of sidequests, challenges and puzzles for collectibles. Now these collectibles which are the Enigma packs (you know who he is) and although there are definitely plenty of them, they're not as difficult or as challenging to collect as it was in Arkham City which was a bit disappointing. Now there's the boss battles, those glorious boss battles. Definitely the best and most refined boss battles in the entire Arkham series. Nearly every boss battle was, in it's own way, unique and challenging. My personal favorite was the one with copperhead and my least favorite, in fact the laziest boss battle in the game was against Electrecutioner (no spoilers but it's pretty lame if you ask me).Finally, another part of the game I liked which many will debate on is the combat and stealth mechanics. I say it's debatable because a lot of people will complain on how it's just the same, exact combat system from previous installments while others will argue that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Personally, I'm with the latter. The combat's still as solid as it was in the previous Arkham games. Admittedly a little shallow but for a Batman game, it's near perfect and the stealth segments are still as cool as ever.

    Now for the things I hated, the detective missions are forgettable because they have the same exact formula. Review a crime scene, get info from Alfred, beat the crap out of the suspect and you're done. Rinse and repeat. They could have done so much better. I mean you'd think the "World's Greatest Detective" would have a deep detective system that's engaging like maybe a bit LA Noire-ish mixed with elements from CSI but what you get are these mediocre and way too easy clue finding, goon beating side quests. I hope they do better in future installments. Another annoyance are the numerous bugs and glitches especially when you have to fast travel. This game froze like twice, both of them coming from the fast travel animation and when it doesn't freeze, the screen goes black for like 20 seconds and the audio is out of synch and this is post-patch btw. Also, there's this bug where Batman's costume goes back to the default costume whenever you restart and reload the game even if your last save had Batman wearing something completely different. I'd understand if this due to the bigger world but then again, there are games out there with much bigger worlds and a lot less bugs so this is an excusable. Thirdly, the story does a 180 or at least a 90. Without spoiling anything, the plot of Batman's assassins hunting him down for the bounty disappears towards the end of the story and you would pretty much forget that there was a bounty on his head in the first place. Like I said no spoilers but you would understand if you play it.

    Overall, Arkham origins is like The Dark Knight Rises movie. It's bigger and on a grander scale then it's predecessors but just a tad step down from the second one. I enjoyed Arkham Origins and it's my second favorite game from the Arkham trilogy, just above Asylum and behind City.

    P.S. I gave Asylum a higher score but because it's a 9 as an isolated game. I gave Origins an 8 as an isolated game. But if I were to review these 2 games based solely on comparison, I would give Asylum an 8 and Origins a 9 but no, I want to review them in isolation so those are the scores I came up with.    … Expand
  6. DragonBorn-
    Jan 1, 2014
    8
    Awesome game in short!

    Arkham Origins had a lot to live up to after the success of Arkham City. Comparing the 2 there is only one winner and it isn't Origins but basing the review on a separate game AO is awesome. Solid storyline going back to when Batman is facing his most fearsome foes for the first time the story is exciting and keeps the player wanting to continue on until the    Awesome game in short!

    Arkham Origins had a lot to live up to after the success of Arkham City. Comparing the 2 there is only one winner and it isn't Origins but basing the review on a separate game AO is awesome.

    Solid storyline going back to when Batman is facing his most fearsome foes for the first time the story is exciting and keeps the player wanting to continue on until the end in one sitting (well me anyway!). Side missions are as good as Batman AA that keep the player occupied if you want to complete the game at 100%. Combat situations are excellent, many different ways to dispose of the scum of Gotham. Go slow and stealthy or head first all guns blazing. Graphics are excellent with a good choice of voice actors.

    My only gripe is that the main storyline is quite short. As with all good games you want them to keep going and going. Even with the main missions completed there are still loads of other tasks to keep the Caped Crusader busy.

    Definite purchase if your a fan of the previous 2 Batman titles    … Expand
  7. SrPepe
    Oct 30, 2017
    8
    Super divertido. Los enemigos y las batallas contra jefes son geniales. Está buena la idea de ver el comienzo de Batman y Joker. Eso sí, bastantes bugs.
  8. SuperstarVenom
    Oct 30, 2013
    8
    Firstly, this is a must buy game, especially for those who loved Asylum & City.
    I feel the visuals aren't quite as polished as Arkham City,though I've not gone back to check.
    The Story is interesting enough to keep you playing and the skill trees are bigger but frustratingly some gadgets or moves require you to complete the challenge modes which are very fun but not something you want to    Firstly, this is a must buy game, especially for those who loved Asylum & City.
    I feel the visuals aren't quite as polished as Arkham City,though I've not gone back to check.
    The Story is interesting enough to keep you playing and the skill trees are bigger but frustratingly some gadgets or moves require you to complete the challenge modes which are very fun but not something you want to be essential. I miss Robin, Nightwing & Catwoman from Arkham City in the challenge modes, I know this is a prequel game but Robin is in the Multiplayer so why not the Challenges? Maybe they'll DLC these characters. In the story, I find Batman has some problems grappling through the city, like theres not enough points or something. The overall single player feel is just like Arkham city so not much new there but it is definately worth getting. A respectable addition to the series but certainly doesn't take top spot.
    The Season Pass offers some extra costumes and missions for £15, I'd wait for it to be cheaper.

    get the game though!    … Expand
  9. boy_number_8
    Feb 24, 2014
    8
    If your a fan of Batman Asylum and Batman Arkham city then this game will not disappoint.. Origins offers a high class story, fun side quests and Enigmas (Riddler) puzzles are also back.
    I do wish the game played more the the "Origins" aspect. Apart from some key story plots, the game kinda forgets that this is suppose to take place before the other two games. The new gadgets you are    If your a fan of Batman Asylum and Batman Arkham city then this game will not disappoint.. Origins offers a high class story, fun side quests and Enigmas (Riddler) puzzles are also back.
    I do wish the game played more the the "Origins" aspect. Apart from some key story plots, the game kinda forgets that this is suppose to take place before the other two games. The new gadgets you are given, in my opinion, are more advance that ones you own in previous games.
    There are some other small complaints, mainly that some of the assassin boss fights are hit and miss, but other than that this game provides hours of entertainment.    … Expand
  10. DannyNgau
    Mar 19, 2014
    8
    Although this game is not as good as the last two Batman Arkham games, it is still a pretty damn good Batman video game. There are more gadgets and techniques for takedowns. Its story is one of the greatest Batman stories ever told, so I'm not going to spoil it for the people who haven't played it. The boss battles are also quite awesome. This video game is a must-buy for all Batman fans.
  11. mrt127
    Oct 28, 2013
    9
    Batman: Arkham Origins isn't as good as Arkham City or Arkham Asylum.
    But it's still a hell of a good game!
    Brilliant Villains (Boss fights may be a bit uninspired but still fun!)
    Great Story, A roller-coaster of emotions.
  12. i_L_Gunnerz
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    played all the three games. Asylum felt restrictive to me, City was alot more polished. for a while that was the benchmark. Origin is beautiful, the same excellent gameplay, just polished with awesome story, This is the best Arkham game yet, simple!
  13. shaun8pickles
    Oct 30, 2013
    8
    I am very surprised by the low review on this game by critics and users alike. I loved this game, and I highly recommend it if you don't know how Batman's story first started out or, you have played the other games. Arkham Origins brings back the free-flow combat we all know and love, and brings in several new enemies to fight. The combat worked very good, except for a few boss fights II am very surprised by the low review on this game by critics and users alike. I loved this game, and I highly recommend it if you don't know how Batman's story first started out or, you have played the other games. Arkham Origins brings back the free-flow combat we all know and love, and brings in several new enemies to fight. The combat worked very good, except for a few boss fights I found that I would get hit or grabbed when I either parried the move or jumped out of the way. There are also a few technical glitches that are noticeable throughout the game such as: enemies will spin around looking for you after you've knocked out one of their "friends", I had a few problems with enemies getting stuck in walls, sometimes when the game auto-saves the frame-rate will drop pretty low so I would just wait it out on top of a building or something, and last of all I had problems when I wanted to fast-travel to a location the sound would cut-out and the animations would freeze. But all in all these issues could easily be fixed by a patch. Now for the good stuff! This game isn't as good as Arkham City, but, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go pick it up and get suited up. The boss fights in this game are fantastic and bring you out of the normal fights with street thugs. I loved tracking down these bosses and fighting them, it may take a couple tries to beat them, however. The voice acting was very good in this game, I loved how you could interact with your butler, Alfred, and find out what his opinion was and get experience points for it too. He also gives you new tech to use against your foes in the game, like the concussion grenade. All proving useful against large groups of enemies or enemies you just want to sneak by. Arkham is bigger than ever and still looks as beautiful! I loved to sit up on a perch and look down at the city. Another big addition to the game are cut-scenes. And these cut-scenes are great! They are all made in CG, which makes them look very good. I recommend this game to anyone who's played any of the other games, wants to know Batman's beginning and past or if you're playing a Batman game for the first time, this actually would be the best game to start with, then Arkham Asylum and then Arkham City. But that's all just my opinion, the game deserves a solid 8/10 no doubt!… Expand
  14. shaunsussbauer
    Oct 30, 2013
    8
    I am very surprised by the low review on this game by critics and users alike. I loved this game, and I highly recommend it if you don't know how Batman's story first started out or, you have played the other games. Arkham Origins brings back the free-flow combat we all know and love, and brings in several new enemies to fight. The combat worked very good, except for a few boss fights II am very surprised by the low review on this game by critics and users alike. I loved this game, and I highly recommend it if you don't know how Batman's story first started out or, you have played the other games. Arkham Origins brings back the free-flow combat we all know and love, and brings in several new enemies to fight. The combat worked very good, except for a few boss fights I found that I would get hit or grabbed when I either parried the move or jumped out of the way. There are also a few technical glitches that are noticeable throughout the game such as: enemies will spin around looking for you after you've knocked out one of their "friends", I had a few problems with enemies getting stuck in walls, sometimes when the game auto-saves the frame-rate will drop pretty low so I would just wait it out on top of a building or something, and last of all I had problems when I wanted to fast-travel to a location the sound would cut-out and the animations would freeze. But all in all these issues could easily be fixed by a patch. Now for the good stuff! This game isn't as good as Arkham City, but, that doesn't mean you shouldn't go pick it up and get suited up. The boss fights in this game are fantastic and bring you out of the normal fights with street thugs. I loved tracking down these bosses and fighting them, it may take a couple tries to beat them, however. The voice acting was very good in this game, I loved how you could interact with your butler, Alfred, and find out what his opinion was and get experience points for it too. He also gives you new tech to use against your foes in the game, like the concussion grenade. All proving useful against large groups of enemies or enemies you just want to sneak by. Arkham is bigger than ever and still looks as beautiful! I loved to sit up on a perch and look down at the city. Another big addition to the game are cut-scenes. And these cut-scenes are great! They are all made in CG, which makes them look very good. I recommend this game to anyone who's played any of the other games, wants to know Batman's beginning and past or if you're playing a Batman game for the first time, this actually would be the best game to start with, then Arkham Asylum and then Arkham City. But that's all just my opinion, the game deserves a solid 8/10 no doubt!… Expand
  15. gamer4life95
    Nov 17, 2013
    8
    While not as amazing with Rocksteady's Arkham Asylum and City, WB Games Montreal still manages to create a great Batman game. The story is well-written and the boss fights are epic, especially with Deathstroke.
  16. kingprawnsct
    Nov 2, 2013
    8
    If it's not broke don't fix it has proved right for Batman. Arkham origins is essentially Arkham City but with a few added areas and a new story. I was hoping the gameplay would reflect the story that Batman is new and inexperienced but he goes into the game with all moves/gadgets from Arkham City which is slightly disappointing. There are a few new gadgets but one of these (the remoteIf it's not broke don't fix it has proved right for Batman. Arkham origins is essentially Arkham City but with a few added areas and a new story. I was hoping the gameplay would reflect the story that Batman is new and inexperienced but he goes into the game with all moves/gadgets from Arkham City which is slightly disappointing. There are a few new gadgets but one of these (the remote claw) is unbalanced for the predator encounters and essentially gives you 2-3 free takedowns which lowers the difficulty. The boss battles were entertaining and almost make you forget the awful bosses of Arkham Asylum, with Deathstroke and Copperhead the highlights. It's worth mentioning Troy Baker does a terrific job playing the Joker and I hope he gets the same in the inevitable next-gen Batman game. There a few bugs on PS3 mainly with slowdown, interrogation targets being stuck in walls and a batwing drop directly into two sniper crosshairs which are irritating. The story ending build up was good but the final animations annoyed me as it felt like it took you out oft he game which is a personal complaint as I like to feel drawn into stories. Overall an 8/10. Not as good as Arkham City which was fantastic but a solid instalment in the series.… Expand
  17. Polari101010
    Nov 8, 2013
    8
    WB Montreal played it safe with their instalment in the Arkham franchise and that was a smart move. It feeling like Arkham City makes you feel at home, despite Gotham being vastly unpopulated and uninteresting to explore even though everyone is in bed at midnight. Combat feels much better in terms of feel than its predecessors with the fights being more difficult with new enemies. TheWB Montreal played it safe with their instalment in the Arkham franchise and that was a smart move. It feeling like Arkham City makes you feel at home, despite Gotham being vastly unpopulated and uninteresting to explore even though everyone is in bed at midnight. Combat feels much better in terms of feel than its predecessors with the fights being more difficult with new enemies. The Shock Gloves are an interesting idea, but to hard core players it can take away the challenge of certain fights even though it still feels badass. New gadgets like the Glue Grenade shouldn't really be needed since they serve the exact same purpose as the Ice Grenades from AC. The Remote Claw is a great tool however it can make most predator sections too easy and without the feeling of urgency of not being seen by armed thugs. The boss battles are a HUGE improvement for the Arkham franchise, they feel unique in their own way and more on-your-feet action is implemented. The Deathstroke battle may seem repetitive, but it is still awesome. The story for Arkham Origins is BRILLIANTLY told, also showing emphasis on first relationship encounters (namely Batman and The Joker) and early Batman premise.

    All in all, it is a fine instalment and wether you're a Batman nut or fan of the series, this definitely earns a spot on your gaming library shelf.    … Expand
  18. alian235
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    Great addition to the Arkham series. If you loved City and Asylum this is perfect. The combat is basically the same with WB Montreal adding a couple new things. The story is definitely up there with the other two games if not better then them.
  19. Arsenal4Life
    Nov 19, 2013
    10
    Not bad, not bad at all. Big thumbs up to this game. Screw IGN, Gamespot and any other idiotic biased review who only bases the rating of this game in comparison to its predecessors. It's ridioculous how this game is not receiving 9's and 10's only because people think it's too similar to Arkham City WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THAT? The reason I bought the damn game is because I hoped itNot bad, not bad at all. Big thumbs up to this game. Screw IGN, Gamespot and any other idiotic biased review who only bases the rating of this game in comparison to its predecessors. It's ridioculous how this game is not receiving 9's and 10's only because people think it's too similar to Arkham City WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THAT? The reason I bought the damn game is because I hoped it would be like Asylum and City and Origins delivers that. If Arkham city didn't exist,this game would have been called a masterpiece and given a 10/10. And for all the people that give this game low ratings because of similarities to the previous games, these are the same people that give Call of Duty, Battlefield, Assassins Creed, FIFA, even Super Mario and Pokemon games 8-10 ratings every year for the same games. So why is Arkham Origins treated differently? Because its "Batman" and people's expectations rise though the roofs with anything Batman related. Just look at the Ben Afleck reaction, people didn't even give him a chance.… Expand
  20. moahdriven
    Nov 20, 2013
    10
    Been playing for a while now. Yes all the blah blah about it not being as refined as the last one, but this story line is so much more in depth and involving in the villains...its become truly addicting and I can't stop playing. The music is also excellent like Arkham City, which I forgot to mention before. Loving this game and definitely recommend it.
  21. aprilfool
    Dec 26, 2013
    10
    I love this game! Being a big fan of Batman and the comics as well growing up, this has a darker feel to it than the original Batman Arkham Asylum game. I haven't played Arkham City just yet, but I love the story around this game and just how human it makes Batman. He really gets his ass kicked throughout this game and you do really feel like he is in his early years of crime fighting.I love this game! Being a big fan of Batman and the comics as well growing up, this has a darker feel to it than the original Batman Arkham Asylum game. I haven't played Arkham City just yet, but I love the story around this game and just how human it makes Batman. He really gets his ass kicked throughout this game and you do really feel like he is in his early years of crime fighting. The game, like Batman in it, is not as polished as the Rocksteady Arkham Asylum, and is rough around the edges with glitches, but over all, I enjoy the story a lot more and am really impressed with the voice acting. I would play this game again and again because of how much I enjoy it! I think if WB Montreal does continue with the Arkham series they have this fan's blessing!… Expand
  22. bears
    Oct 27, 2013
    9
    First off, this is a fantastic game for anyone who is into polished adventure games. It is a goldmine for anyone who is remotely a fan. Unfortunately what happens when you have a series with a spectacular reputation, games like this don't get reviewed objectively because they're being compared to the titles that came before it.. Such is the case with Batman: Arkham Origins.
    Yes, this is    First off, this is a fantastic game for anyone who is into polished adventure games. It is a goldmine for anyone who is remotely a fan. Unfortunately what happens when you have a series with a spectacular reputation, games like this don't get reviewed objectively because they're being compared to the titles that came before it.. Such is the case with Batman: Arkham Origins.
    Yes, this is a Batman game bearing the 'Arkham' name however it is an entity on it's own so let's treat it as such. With a brilliant story and voice acting combined with some of the best Boss fights I've yet to encounter in gaming, Arkham Origins is a Tour De Force that will satisfy the pickiest of gamers (and Batman fans). It stays true to his 'Origins' and introduces a plethora of eye candy and clever missions accompanied with some very slick graphics. Once again you truly feel like you're Batman as you work your way through the familiar, fluid button azz kicking and gadget assault on a variety of henchmen throughout Gotham. The boss battles are quite challenging and take patience to navigate, something that Warner Montreal knocked out of the park. And the Joker.. Well, let's say he's as addictive as ever (which is a good thing considering his voice over actor has changed). Brilliant.
    If this game could have been reviewed on it's own it would easily have scored a 90+ by the bulk of the 'professional' critics. That being said, if you're still on the fence with this game, I urge you to check out the user reviews along with trusting your gut.. From this Batman-loving gamer, it is worth every penny and should be spinning in your console right now. Next to GTA V and The Last Of Us, it has been my favourite gaming experience this year and will be replayed as soon as I stop writing this review.
    Buy-this-game. I promise you'll thank me later.    … Expand
  23. cnote82
    Oct 29, 2013
    9
    This game is seriously being underrated.

    Is it as good as Arkham City? No...BUT mainly because it really doesnt change much up. If this game had come out after Asylum and before AC, or before BOTH, this game would be getting much more praise than it has. The story is excellent and "neater" than AC. The only things to mentioned that are really negative are the framerate a few    This game is seriously being underrated.

    Is it as good as Arkham City? No...BUT mainly because it really doesnt change much up. If this game had come out after Asylum and before AC, or before BOTH, this game would be getting much more praise than it has. The story is excellent and "neater" than AC.

    The only things to mentioned that are really negative are the framerate a few bugs. The framerate at certain parts is pretty bad....but its not so bad that it hinders the experience. And then there are more bugs than previous Arkhams had. For instance, there were a few times where I saw enemeies running in place, and sometimes in mid air...and there was one time I saw a sniper between two platforms, point at a wall. But, it was only a few times.

    Another minor complaint is that the controls dont seem QUITE as repsonsive as they were in AC, but not extremely noticeable...but still noticeable enough...however you could make the argument that Batman is not quite as instinctive as he is later in his career and thus, slower to react.

    Also, another minor gripe is the city feels too empty....moreso than AC....mainly because its a much bigger area of the city, civilian populated area, and not enough going on. Even with the curfew thing, Christmas Eve and the weather, I still found myself hoping that there were some civilians at some point....there didnt need to be ton, but some scattered around the city wouldve been nice.

    The story is fantastic for what it is. The game is soley to develop Batman and his relationship with Gordon and the city of Gotham. It doesnt develop the enemies as well as the other games (except the Joker, who is done very well, and maybe Bane)....but they do an excellent job with Bruce Wayne, Batman, his relationship with Alfred, Jim Gordon and the city of Gotham. You can truly feel that Batman is gaining trust and by the end, you feel like you will be trusted much more going forward.

    Voice acting is superb. Roger Craig Smith brings more vigor and grit than Conroy (although Conroy is still the king) and Troy Baker sounds maniacal as the Joker, and most of the time, sound just like Hammill.

    The scores dont allow for decimal points so I rounded up, but I give this game an 8.7. If this game came out before AC, Id give it a 9.5 or so, but not enough changed.

    All in all, its a very good game and very enjoyable if you liked the first two. Some haters try to act like its greatly inferior to the first 2, which is complete nonsense. Anyone saying that is likely a narrow minded fanboy that wrote the game off as soon as it was announced Rocksteady and Conroy were not involved. That is not to say there are no legit reasons not to like the game, but people giving it a 0-3 are just hating. Even if you dont like it, there is no way this game ranks under a 5. At the very worst, its an average game, but trust me, if you liked the first 2 and you arent a fanboy of Rocksteady or Conroy/Hammill, you will like this game. You may not LOVE it...but you will like it.

    Bottom line....even with its minor flaws, its a great way to wrap up this generation and a very good prequel story for Batman.    … Expand
  24. Brody_Low
    Oct 28, 2013
    8
    The story is fairly good. It starts out kind of rough and unfocused, but a significant plot twist a third into it really got me hooked and I couldn't put the game down! Combat is still awesome. The shock gloves are fun to use, and really help against armored, shielded, and stun baton enemies. I also really enjoyed the combat based boss fights. That's something I thought the other gamesThe story is fairly good. It starts out kind of rough and unfocused, but a significant plot twist a third into it really got me hooked and I couldn't put the game down! Combat is still awesome. The shock gloves are fun to use, and really help against armored, shielded, and stun baton enemies. I also really enjoyed the combat based boss fights. That's something I thought the other games kind of lacked in some areas. The boss fights would be a matter of spamming some gadget to stun them, and then pound away. If Mark Hamill stays in retirement and Troy Baker is left to voice the Joker, I think we are in great hands. Seriously, what a phenomenal actor. I'd say the low points in the game are its level design and story pacing. There were several points, especially in the beginning, where I didn't know what the hell was going on and why I needed to move forward. Arkham Asylum I think had the best single player narrative I've ever played. You were so immersed in the environment and what was happening. Asylum showed you the story. Origins just tells you. The city also feels pretty dull and empty. Why is it that the only people out in Gotham on Christmas Eve are thugs that all want to fight Batman? I was hoping the first Open-Gotham Batman game would be better in that department. The writing also has some weak points in the dialogue. I cringed a couple times, mostly during the Penguin stretch. His assistant is the most annoying female voice I've heard in my life. The game doesn't do much more than rehash all the awesome stuff from the first two games. There are some bugs and framerate drops too. I've noticed there is a glitch sometimes when you finish a fight with the Shock Gloves and you have to interrogate somebody they'll just stand there cowering in fear, the game doesn't prompt you to interrogate. So I had to reload from my last save and finish the fight without using Shock Gloves and that solved the problem. Nothing like that ever happened Arkham City. Another big no-no was when I went to read the story synopsis and the game said that was 90% complete when I was more like 75%. I got to read a couple hours into the future of the game, which really set the story back for me. All and all though, its a worthy title. If you loved the first two, this game is worth buying at full price. I tried one match of multiplayer and it was pretty cool, I'm probably going to play that a lot this week. 8/10… Expand
  25. BrahmaBull
    Oct 25, 2013
    9
    Glad I didn't listen to the nitpickers. AO is more of the same, but when same is good, no reason to trash it. Clearly much has been re-used, but you get to be Batman once again. It's like getting back behind the wheel of your favorite car. Some of the styling has changed but the game oozes pure caped crusader with little touches that evoke all the previous lore: from the AnimatedGlad I didn't listen to the nitpickers. AO is more of the same, but when same is good, no reason to trash it. Clearly much has been re-used, but you get to be Batman once again. It's like getting back behind the wheel of your favorite car. Some of the styling has changed but the game oozes pure caped crusader with little touches that evoke all the previous lore: from the Animated Series all the way through the Dark Knight movies. Haven't even gotten through the first part of the map but I definitely expect that each of the many big pieces of Gotham will have its own boss to deal with. Very surprised that the new voice actor sounds just like a young version of Kevin Conroy--great casting. Occasional freeze here and there and some audio cuts out but overall a quality production. Didn't expect or want any total overhaul of the previous two games so it's not such a bad thing that Rocksteady let WB Montreal at their code. I had my doubts when I first heard of the new team, but they did a great job with their own piece of the Arkham story so this game definitely belongs in my collection with the others.… Expand
  26. mosabbir
    Oct 26, 2013
    10
    A must buy game 4 sure, absolute gold new gadgets, new enemies, better presentation and a a character defining tale make this game stand on its on two feet beside its 2 brilliant predecessors
  27. jekosovic
    Oct 25, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very impressive. And storytelling is very beautiful. And events are interrelated. The sequel to the previous parts. From my point of view deserves to be one of the most beautiful games delirious year. Because the game where the depth of the story and hand banger play… Expand
  28. ArkHamSandwich
    Oct 25, 2013
    10
    As a huge fan of the Arkham games and Batman in general, I'm really liking this game so far, so if you're standing next to it wondering if you should buy it, it's worth it. The story nails it as an origin, with Batman being more of a myth than the Caped Crusader he is in the first two games. All the villains are given a more bad-ass look. Bane looks a lot cooler than the Paul Dini-styleAs a huge fan of the Arkham games and Batman in general, I'm really liking this game so far, so if you're standing next to it wondering if you should buy it, it's worth it. The story nails it as an origin, with Batman being more of a myth than the Caped Crusader he is in the first two games. All the villains are given a more bad-ass look. Bane looks a lot cooler than the Paul Dini-style "big green tubes shooting out of his back, and The Riddler is more mysterious and incognito than his outlandish counterpart. The gameplay is similar, but they've put a twist on your goals and upgrade method. If you have a lot of experience with the first 2 games, you'll most likely start on Hard, which IS hard. You're forced to use a lot more counters because in a large group, guys can hit you quickly while you're landing a punch on another enemy.

    If you love the first two Arkham games, get it.

    If you're new to the series, try Asylum or City first.    … Expand
  29. PowerHouse_PR
    Oct 25, 2013
    10
    Batman Arkham Origins is a game that sets the stage for Arkham City. For people that gave the game a score below 8, i should say: If i ain't broken, don't fix it". Arkham origins is exactly like Arkham City with some improvements and a bigger city. Anyone who loved Arkham City should love Arkham origins. The game is great. Some say it doesn't add anything new to the series and just moreBatman Arkham Origins is a game that sets the stage for Arkham City. For people that gave the game a score below 8, i should say: If i ain't broken, don't fix it". Arkham origins is exactly like Arkham City with some improvements and a bigger city. Anyone who loved Arkham City should love Arkham origins. The game is great. Some say it doesn't add anything new to the series and just more of the same. That is not true. Arkham origins may not be innovative in the series but it succeeds in improving gameplay mechanics. The story is worth of the Arkham saga, its just very very good.

    You have a great story with a very familiar and yet better gameplay in a bigger city than the one you loved before. So there you have the perfect combination that proves that Arkham origins is a awesome game. Do yourself a favor and get it, Do not listen to the bad critics. You will not regret it.    … Expand
  30. deadfire
    Oct 26, 2013
    10
    The best game ever. The history exicting and sensational. There's not a change in mobility and thematic, but this does not lose the essence of the others Arkhams
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Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Best PS3 Game of 2013
10
#10 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
8
#8 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Level7.nu
    Jan 3, 2014
    70
    Arkham Origins is a game with two sides. One is a well made game with good design in combat and stealth. The other side is a game that never gets out of the shadow of its predecessors. Batman fans should pay attention but that’s it.
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  2. Everyeye.it
    Dec 20, 2013
    60
    Initiation is a very regular package, which relies on the idea of the origins of the bat and retrieves the imagination of Batman Begins, but then binds the player into a series of challenges from a widely known flavor.
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  3. CD-Action
    Dec 13, 2013
    65
    I really hope that Rocksteady can still teach an old bat new tricks, because WB Games Montreal failed to advance the series. What we have here are old gameplay mechanics – which still work fine by the way – sold to us for the third time and supplemented with a bit of fresh ideas that don’t have a sufficient impact on the whole game (and sometimes are simply bad). [13/2013, p.56]
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