With Arkham Origins next to it, it was pretty cool to see a portable version available. However, the game was not worked on by Warner Bros. Studios, but by another company all together. With the success of Arkham Origins, both critically and commercially, Armature Studios had a lot to live up to. The game ultimately does well in establishing itself as an Arkham title, but holds itself backWith Arkham Origins next to it, it was pretty cool to see a portable version available. However, the game was not worked on by Warner Bros. Studios, but by another company all together. With the success of Arkham Origins, both critically and commercially, Armature Studios had a lot to live up to. The game ultimately does well in establishing itself as an Arkham title, but holds itself back with painful amounts of backtracking and repetitive gameplay.
Overall, the gameplay itself isn't bad. Combat isn't as fast and fluid as it was on the console titles, but it was good enough to carry you through the game without fault. There weren't any real flaws other than the cape stun having no reach across a wide gap. Stealth is competent enough to be considered fun. I was worried about how stealth would work out in a 2D style game, but Armature studios did a very good job of making it both accessible and fun. Unlike the other games, Detective vision isn't activated with a button press, but instead by touching the screen. Scanning is done the same way, and both mechanics are competent enough to keep the gameplay flowing. Also, gadgets are transferred successfully, and work out despite the Vita's lack of buttons.
Another thing the game has going for it is the boss fights. Even though the first two are a little straight forward, the rest of the fights are really well done, filled with creative trial-and-error gameplay. The stealth based boss throws new gameplay features at you that don't appear through the rest of the game, nor are they explained or made obvious to the player, which makes it a little unfair. I died multiple times without knowing the exact cause of why, which caused frustration. Ultimately though, the boss fights are fun, puzzle-based, and cinematic, just like the rest of the Arkham series.
The story itself is interesting, taking place 3 months after Arkham Origins, and centers around a prison riot at Blackgate penitentiary, in which Black Mask, Joker, and the Penguin have taken control. Somehow, Catwoman finds her way in the mix, and her and Batman form an unlikely partnership to take down the head honchos of the prison. Aside from the relationship with Catwoman, and its origins, the story doesn't have much going for it. In the end, nothing really changes, and there's no real climax or surprising plot twist in the story.
The graphics themselves are visually satisfying, and even though they don't compare to Origins, that's to be expected. The voice acting is nice as well, with all the actors from origins and city reprising their roles.
Even though the game has a few positives, there's a boatload of negatives in this game as well. The first is backtracking. The amount of backtracking is absolutely ridiculous. Even if you choose to ignore the limited amount of side content, the game is still almost 50% backtracking. This is mainly caused by Blackgate being divided into four areas. The lack of a gadget in one area will cause you to leave that area completely, (there's no fast travel system, you actually have to leave the area you're in), only to travel back later. Sure, there is side content, such as upgrades and detective cases, but these only add more backtracking to a game already jam-packed with it. I got so frustrated, that I actually decided to ignore the upgrades and detective case items. Ultimately the side content isn't worth it, and the game would've prospered more if it were a linear story, with upgrades being unlocked as a result of story progression. Even though I'm not particularly a fan of re-spawning enemies, there needed to be something to break the constant on-foot navigation, which is something Rocksteady managed to do in Arkham Asylum.
Another annoyance is the lack of direction. Sure, there is a waypoint on the map, but it doesn't always help you figure out exactly which is the right path to use to get there. The game would've been a lot of better if it had something along the lines of a breadcrumb trail or a mini-map, which would've made the game easier to navigate. The map having no floor by floor navigation didn't help either. Another flaw is the lack of explosive walls that stick out, which is sometimes the only way to progress. This ultimately leaves you saying "What I do?" at multiple times. That's bad conveyance.
What makes this game more disappointing is that it's another Triple A title that bombs on the Vita. Tons of titles including Call of Duty, Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Resistance, and Killzone have had stand alone titles on the Vita. Even though some are considered good, they just don't stand up to the console titles.
Ultimately, the game isn't horrible, and has both competent gameplay mechanics and boss fights that live up to the console titles. However, the ungodly amount of backtracking, crappy side content, and bad navigation make this game a frustrating experience. At it's best, the game is fun to play, but at it's worst, the game is one long, boring chore.… Expand
Batman: Arkham Origins BlackgateYour Score0 out of 10User Score
