Batman: The Telltale Series - Episode 1: Realm of Shadows

 Xbox One
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 45
  3. Negative: 9 out of 45

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  1. Nobilis1984
    Aug 4, 2016
    8
    Good game but

    this time is more action like adventure. Press the silly buttons will stay with us. The story is well so far. I got myself the other episodes and am curious whether Catwoman and Batman come closer.
  2. Derf_Xephon
    Aug 3, 2016
    9
    Although I've sometimes found Telltale to be hit and miss in terms of enjoying their games, I'm happy to say that episode one is a great start to what I hope will be a great Batman series.

    To anyone that's played a Telltale game before the mechanics will be very familiar. Combat is handled through quick time events which are fairly forgiving, and the player is given three dialogue    Although I've sometimes found Telltale to be hit and miss in terms of enjoying their games, I'm happy to say that episode one is a great start to what I hope will be a great Batman series.

    To anyone that's played a Telltale game before the mechanics will be very familiar. Combat is handled through quick time events which are fairly forgiving, and the player is given three dialogue choices when speaking with others with silence always being an available fourth option.

    Graphically the game shares the same sort of cell-shaded look as all of Telltale's other franchises and looks good, though at launch I did notice a few bugs and a bit of lag. The voice acting is great though some may be disappointed to discover Kevin Conroy is not the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman in this series.

    Story wise Realm of Shadows did a great job a drawing me in. Characters and settings are very recognizable to anyone familiar with the Batman universe. However, certain alterations have been included to make for a somewhat unique experience for seasoned Batman fans. Don't expect to see every character with the same exact motivations as always.

    And as far as overall gameplay goes, I'm happy to see that Telltale has used this opportunity to show more to Batman than simply swinging between buildings and beating up bad guys. As Bruce you must navigate the treacherous world of high society and politics, choosing your dialogue options carefully while never being certain where people's allegiances truly lie. And as Batman a good amount of your time will be spent gathering evidence, investigating crime scenes, and using your awesome gadgets to scope out enemies, all before swooping in for some fairly tense and entertaining fight sequences.

    But where this game shines to me is the decisions you're forced to make while wearing the cowl. Do you want to be a brutal, uncompromising vigilante or a more thoughtful detective? I felt these paths were well supported for this first installment, and I really hope Telltale continues this into future episodes.

    Overall I really enjoyed my time with episode one and I'm looking forward to the next installment.    … Expand
  3. eeyk
    Aug 5, 2016
    10
    The game is great, am absolute in love with every game made by Telltale.
    This game has a frame rate problem but isn't annoying while playing.

    Further The anti aliasing is really really bad.
  4. JayPenrith
    Aug 4, 2016
    10
    Telltale has done it again, gritty, dark and the story is mesmerising and more than fulfilling for even the most seasoned of Batman fans. The whole feel of the game keeps you on the edge of your seat and I for one cannot wait for the next episodes !
  5. GamesXtreme
    Sep 6, 2016
    8
    If you're familiar with a Telltale Game then I don't really need to explain how they work. If not, well, consider them part action, part investigation, and consequence driven gameplay in the style of some of the old point and click games of the past. If you're not a fan of Quick Time Events, then these aren't going to be the games for you.

    Sign up if you're a fan of twisting stories,    If you're familiar with a Telltale Game then I don't really need to explain how they work. If not, well, consider them part action, part investigation, and consequence driven gameplay in the style of some of the old point and click games of the past. If you're not a fan of Quick Time Events, then these aren't going to be the games for you.

    Sign up if you're a fan of twisting stories, great characterisation, interesting applications of QTE mechanics - and meaningful choices that have far-reaching consequences across each episode of their series. Yep, just like the others, Batman is an episodic game - with Episode 1 out now, and 2 soon to follow on September 20th.

    I've got a good feeling about this series, and it's off to a cracking start, introducing some great moments and some really solid action in this episode. The voice work and acting, along with the music and the writing are stand-out, bringing Gotham to life and nailing many aspects of my favourite Batman show of all time: the Classic Animated Cartoon Series starring Kevin Conroy.

    Only this time you get Troy Baker as Batman.    … Expand
  6. Rumic
    Aug 4, 2016
    4
    Good Story and desings, perhaps the best detective mode and here is where all the good ends.
    - Bad animations, when the characters walks they look like androids, and some scenes are full of glitches
    - Only one QTE make sense and is the last one of the episode, there you can die, the rest don't matter even if you fail the secene go straight - the frame rate drops dramaticaly in the game    Good Story and desings, perhaps the best detective mode and here is where all the good ends.
    - Bad animations, when the characters walks they look like androids, and some scenes are full of glitches
    - Only one QTE make sense and is the last one of the episode, there you can die, the rest don't matter even if you fail the secene go straight
    - the frame rate drops dramaticaly in the game with no action.
    - Several parts don't have traduction and other have a bad traduction

    They still think that Spanish peopel speak like latin americans, names like Gatubela instead of Catwoman ruins much of the atmosphere    … Expand
  7. Troublewalking
    Aug 26, 2016
    8
    This is a "visual novel", "choose your own ending" type of game. It does a great job of letting you play Bruce Wayne and Batman the way you choose. Being a choose your own ending. It gives you some actions to do during combat but it's all about the story. It's best to buy the whole story as the chapters are very short and you save money buying the whole package. As a bonus, it saves yourThis is a "visual novel", "choose your own ending" type of game. It does a great job of letting you play Bruce Wayne and Batman the way you choose. Being a choose your own ending. It gives you some actions to do during combat but it's all about the story. It's best to buy the whole story as the chapters are very short and you save money buying the whole package. As a bonus, it saves your options and lets you see what percentage of other players shared your morals or lack of thereof.… Expand
  8. ITZZZPERRY
    Dec 21, 2016
    5
    Batman: The Telltale Series- Episode 1: Realm of Shadows was a huge letdown for me. I love all of the other Tellale games, but this one did not hook me. I thought it was quite boring and the story never grabbed me. The animations also do not look too good.
  9. Batman2752
    Oct 16, 2016
    10
    Utterly fantastic. Telltale really understand Batman. And the updated engine really shows, the loading times are much faster and there is a lot more detail. I have high hopes for the rest of this series, and I have a feeling Telltale won't let me down.
  10. Ray6701
    Nov 7, 2021
    10
    Incredibly amazing graphics cool experience and cool experience with great story
  11. WendyStamps
    Oct 4, 2021
    10
    Awesome game dude I love it so much its really amazing and it's got great graphics
  12. neomoonsevin
    Apr 11, 2023
    10
    Awesome game I like this game I like Telltale point n click games they are great and the story is great

Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. games(TM)
    Oct 7, 2016
    40
    For games so wholly focused on delivering key emotional beats and complex narratives, the presentation and optimisation leaves a lot to be desired.
    Read full review
  2. Games Master UK
    Oct 3, 2016
    40
    One of Telltale's weakest opening chapters yet. [Issue#179]
  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Sep 26, 2016
    50
    A promising start for the Bat. If only it didn't run like a dog. Telltale: sort it out for part two. [Oct 2016, p.94]
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