You know your batman game is bad when it's both bad as a game and bad as a Batman game. 2.5D just doesn't work with batman, by taking away your third axis not only does it complicate navigation (the horrible map not helping things either), but it takes away the entire stealth aspect of the game, despite still giving enemies weapons that, in a normal (or good) batman game you'd use stealthYou know your batman game is bad when it's both bad as a game and bad as a Batman game. 2.5D just doesn't work with batman, by taking away your third axis not only does it complicate navigation (the horrible map not helping things either), but it takes away the entire stealth aspect of the game, despite still giving enemies weapons that, in a normal (or good) batman game you'd use stealth to avoid or take down. Stealth is not just a big part of the combat in Batman games, but It's a big part of who batman is, and taking it away makes being Batman useless. You might as well be some random guy off the street, you'd be able to combat enemies just as well.
Now, back to navigation. This is an issue so big it needs extra coverage. This game is hell to navigate. The map is useless, because despite being able to move up and down in some areas (with branching paths that go off in different directions) the map is two-dimensional, and gives you no idea of where you are and how to reach your objectives. If anything it makes the game more difficult, making you think you're going in the right direction only to reach a dead end that, according to the map, still goes on.
Now, if it weren't for the confusing map you might be able to navigate normally, but then there's another issue: Progressing. Yes, just trying to progress is a problem. You'll spend hours scanning every room you've been to for something to interact with because for whatever reason, Batman can't figure out how to pull a lever or open a grate or do just about anything until he takes a good long look in detective mode at what he needs to interact with. This makes getting anywhere more of a chore than it already was with the convoluted and confusing prison layout and (more often than not) incorrect map, and now you have to constantly scan your surroundings just to make any progress.
Now for the combat. For whatever reason, the enemies (and Batman) still attack and move in three-dimensional space, though you never really control it. Normally I'd be fine with the combat, which is just like on consoles, but in this case it really bugs me. You'd think they could have done something at least a little new and innovative here, but no. For whatever reason this boring and bland formula for combat stands out much more in this game than in the others. I guess it's because for every other 2D (or 2.5D, in this case) game I've played has actual good and interesting combat.
Now for the two issues that may break this game for many: The story and the boss battles. Boring and uninteresting storyline with absolutely no effort put into it, done in really bland, monochrome comic style cutscenes that just look plain lazy (that the developers put on the box as a feature), with voice acting that perfectly reflects the quality of this game: Terrible. All of the voice actors, including the one for Batman himself, sound bored by their job, and so the already bad story stands out even more. It sounds like they all wish they were somewhere else. Now, the bosses. There's two different kinds of bosses in this game: Combat bosses, where you have to fight them normally, but usually with a special rule or tactic you have to take to defeat them, and Interactive bosses, where you have to be constantly scanning the environment in detective mode, using gadgets on things, and interacting with things to do damage to the boss. The Interactive bosses are boring and generally follow a pattern that you can just repeat over and over and over again for an easy win, but the Combat bosses can actually be really fun and interesting. If they had shown us more of this I might be giving this game a higher score, but no luck.
So, for 15+ hours of boring, monotonous button-mashing and screen swiping (the majority of which will be spent in detective mode looking for where to go next) you can go ahead and buy this game, but I wouldn't recommend it. I've been a Batman fan all my life, and to get this on my Vita was pure and utter disappointment.… Expand
Batman: Arkham Origins BlackgateYour Score0 out of 10User Score
