Batman: Arkham Origins - Cold, Cold Heart

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 50
  3. Negative: 4 out of 50

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  1. rgrekejin
    Apr 24, 2014
    6
    It's not a bad addition to Arkham Origins... it's just a little lacking in substance. It took me about 2 hours to play through the story DLC from start to finish (and another half an hour to sit through the end credits... I'm not even exaggerating - the end credits are 25% of the length of the DLC!). I didn't complete all of the Anarky side missions or thaw out all the frozen men, so IIt's not a bad addition to Arkham Origins... it's just a little lacking in substance. It took me about 2 hours to play through the story DLC from start to finish (and another half an hour to sit through the end credits... I'm not even exaggerating - the end credits are 25% of the length of the DLC!). I didn't complete all of the Anarky side missions or thaw out all the frozen men, so I don't know how much playtime those would add, but it can't be more than another hour or so.

    The story wasn't bad - it's basically what we expect from a Mister Freeze origin story. Nothing new or groundbreaking just... serviceable. Everyone with even the most rudimentary familiarity with the character knows exactly how the plot is going to unfold right from the word "go".

    The only new gameplay elements, the EX batsuit, the thermal gloves, and the thermal batarang, added very little. The EX suit was basically just a new, mildly silly-looking skin, and the thermal gloves were basically the shock gauntlets from the main game re-skinned. The thermal batarang was useful in thawing iced-up perches around rooms for improved stalking, and it was a mechanic that came into play rather frequently, considering the overall brevity of the DLC.

    Overall, there's not much to see here. The few new locations aren't especially breathtaking, there's only one new enemy type, and only two of Gotham's districts are even open for you to explore. It's basically just a couple more Arkham Origins missions, and not especially memorable ones at that. If you desperately feel the need to get back in your Batsuit, this will give you your fix for a few more hours before withdraw sets in again.

    On a slightly nit-picky note, I was surprised just how quickly the graphics seem to have aged. Maybe it's the jump from last-gen to next-gen in other games that's spoiled me, but I don't think I remember the facial animations from the cutscenes looking quite this silly when I played through the main game back in October.    … Expand
  2. paradox51
    May 30, 2014
    7
    It felt good to jump back into the world of Arkham Origins. Which is probably why I'm giving this DLC the score I'm giving it. As far as story goes, its fairly by the numbers. The XE Batsuit does look rather badass though even though its purely cosmetic in difference to the regular batsuit. The freeze ray foes add an interesting turn to combat. Other than that, its the same old arkhamIt felt good to jump back into the world of Arkham Origins. Which is probably why I'm giving this DLC the score I'm giving it. As far as story goes, its fairly by the numbers. The XE Batsuit does look rather badass though even though its purely cosmetic in difference to the regular batsuit. The freeze ray foes add an interesting turn to combat. Other than that, its the same old arkham formula you should be used to by now.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2014
34
#34 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2014
30
#30 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Jun 21, 2014
    70
    A fun return to Gotham, even if the mechanics continue to feel weary in the hands of WB. [Issue#112, p.95]
  2. Official Xbox Magazine
    May 30, 2014
    75
    Cold, Cold Heart is absolutely fine: The story is predictable but satisfying. The combat is occasionally frustrating but still fun. And the unique touches don't add much, but are welcome nonetheless. [July 2014, p.71]
  3. Eurogamer Germany
    May 2, 2014
    70
    If you pass on this one, you're not missing all that much, least of all new ideas for this series to follow up on in the future. Still, credit where credit is due: this well-written additional episode would have been a clear standout in last year's Batman game.
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