Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
- October 25, 2013
- Armature Studio
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate breathes new life into the Arkham formula.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a single-player Hack and Slash game with exceptional visuals. The game serves as a prequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, showcasing a young and raw Batman facing a defining moment in his career. The story takes place before the rise of Gotham City's most dangerous villains, highlighting the formation of identities and key relationships that shape Batman's path to becoming the Dark Knight.
Nintendo 3ds
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Reviews
- The game is well-formulated, addictive, and delivers a fun experience, especially for fans of the Batman franchise.
- The graphics are decent for a 3DS title, and the comic-style cutscenes add a nice touch to the storytelling.
- There is a good amount of content to explore, and the game features enjoyable combat mechanics despite some limitations.
- The game is too short and lacks features, making it feel less valuable for its price point.
- Controls can be frustrating, especially in 3D mode, leading to confusion and repeated deaths in certain areas.
- The story is weak and predictable, with many boss fights feeling uninventive and overly reliant on quick time events.
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag; while it incorporates elements from various Batman comic arcs and features engaging comic book-style sequences, many players find it weak and predictable, culminating in an uneventful ending. The need to replay the game multiple times to unlock certain items adds depth, but the overall narrative experience is hampered by clunky controls and limited combat modes.
“One secret item in particular, Batman's secret armor sets, which derive from various story arcs in the comic series (New 52, etc.), can apparently only be completed by playing through the game multiple times.”
“The storyline is good too.”
“The game does get difficult as it progresses through the storyline, and it automatically saves the same scene for you to retry once you die.”
“The story is pretty weak and very predictable, except for how uneventful the ending is.”
“It plays like a typical fighter in a pseudo story mode.”
“One secret item in particular, Batman's secret armor sets, which derive from various story arcs in the comic series (New 52, etc.), can apparently only be completed by playing through the game multiple times.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with users appreciating the comic-book style cut scenes and decent visuals given the limitations of the 3DS. Overall, the artwork enhances the storytelling experience, making it a standout feature despite hardware constraints.
“I like the artwork for the comic-book cut scenes.”
“Considering the 3DS control and graphic limitations, I think they did pretty well.”
“Decent graphics, especially considering the limitations of the 3DS, and cool comic-book style sequences to progress the story.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the game visually unappealing.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the reviewed titles is met with mixed feelings; while the 3DS's ability to toggle 3D is appreciated, it ultimately leads to a preference for basic gameplay. In contrast, Arkham Origins: Blackgate is criticized for its mechanical issues and lack of content compared to its console counterparts and other 3DS games, making it a disappointing entry for newcomers to the Arkham series.
“With the Wii, I just want an effin' controller, dude. With the 3DS, I experienced gameplay in 3D, and I thought, 'that's pretty cool,' but then I just go back to basic gameplay any other time I play. I think the wisest thing Nintendo did was make the 3DS games playable regardless of whether the 3D is on or not. So, getting to Arkham Origins: Blackgate, I never had a fully playable version of Arkham Asylum, so this is my first real chance to get into that world.”
“It's a mess mechanically, and it has incredibly low content in comparison to its console-based cousins, or even for other 3DS titles for that matter.”
“It's a mess mechanically; it has incredibly low content in comparison to its console-based cousins, or even for other 3DS titles for that matter.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly with the "detective mode," which is described as buggy and less refined compared to previous Arkham-style games. This has led to a frustrating experience for players who expected a smoother gameplay.
“Scanning objects in 'detective mode' is really buggy.”
“It was mostly because it's a buggy and watered-down version of the Arkham-style games I already enjoyed.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is highly praised for its ability to energize players, particularly during intense fight scenes, enhancing the overall excitement of the gameplay.
“The music is great and gets you hyped up when it starts pounding as the fight scenes between the thugs begin.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the action, enhancing the intensity of every battle.”
“Each track is expertly crafted, immersing players in the game's atmosphere and elevating the overall experience.”
