Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 1
- August 8, 2017
- Telltale Games
Batman: The Enemy Within returns us to Gotham, and shows that darkness never really goes away. Full of twists, turns, surprise arrivals and cameos, and a deeper relationship system, “The Enigma” gets us very excited for what’s coming.
In this latest chapter from the award-winning studio behind Batman - The Telltale Series, both Bruce Wayne and Batman will be forced into precarious new roles. The Riddler has returned to terrorize Gotham City, but his gruesome puzzles merely foreshadow an even greater crisis. With the arrival of a ruthless federal agent and the return of a still nascent Joker, Batman must navigate uneasy alliance…
Reviews
- An entertaining and nuanced Batman story that feels like an epic movie.
- Excellent voice acting and unpredictable writing enhance the experience.
- The Riddler's unique puzzles and character development add depth to the narrative.
- Still relies on the dull Telltale formula, limiting gameplay variety.
- Some QTEs are too tough or can be failed without consequence, affecting immersion.
- Visual updates are minimal and some animations remain stiff and awkward.
- story13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring an entertaining and nuanced Batman narrative with a dark and gritty tone, highlighted by stellar voice acting and engaging character arcs, particularly involving the Riddler. While some players appreciate the interesting twists and well-written dialogue, others criticize the limited impact of player choices on replay value and note some awkward writing decisions. Overall, the story sets a promising foundation for future developments, with a compelling cliffhanger that leaves players eager for more.
“An entertaining and nuanced Batman story, it’s almost 2.5 hours long and boasts an excellent cliffhanger.”
“Well-written story and dialogue, great voice acting.”
“As a self-contained story, the Riddler’s unique brand of psychotic behavior makes for a satisfying arc – but it’s the bigger picture involving Bruce and the deranged John Doe that promises plenty for the remainder of this series, and we’re excited to see where it goes.”
“Similar to season one, the gameplay segments are subpar, and the small power that choices have over the course of the storyline ruin the replay value of it all.”
“Weird writing and story decisions in some parts; Joker’s involvement feels laughably forced.”
“The story is a lot tighter, and the animations are well-polished and cleaner, setting the expectation for what to expect throughout the second season.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is noted for being more engaging than typical Telltale episodes, with frequent actions that immerse players in the experience, akin to participating in an epic Batman movie. However, some critics point out that the gameplay segments remain subpar and that limited impact of choices diminishes replay value, despite improvements in graphics and mechanics. Overall, the combination of gripping storytelling and enhanced gameplay elements offers a mixed but generally positive experience.
“It has more gameplay than most Telltale episodes, with something to do every few seconds, meaning it feels like you’re in the movie rather than just watching it and doing a QTE occasionally.”
“Bigger than most Telltale episodes, it feels like an epic Batman movie and yet has the most gameplay of any Telltale episode, with actions every few seconds. The voice acting and writing are excellent and unpredictable, the Riddler really gets under your skin, it even looks lovely, and runs fine for once.”
“Gripping new story surrounding the Riddler and more, improved graphics and mechanics, and relationship tracking is useful.”
“Similar to season one, the gameplay segments are subpar, and the small power that choices have over the course of the storyline ruin the replay value of it all.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that the limited impact of player choices on the storyline significantly diminishes the game's replayability, alongside subpar gameplay segments reminiscent of the first season.
“Similar to season one, the gameplay segments are subpar, and the limited impact of choices on the storyline significantly diminishes the replay value.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics have seen notable improvements, enhancing the overall visual experience and gameplay mechanics. Users appreciate the updated visuals, which complement the gripping new storyline involving the Riddler. Additionally, the relationship tracking feature adds depth to the graphics by providing a more immersive narrative context.
“The improved graphics truly enhance the overall experience, making every scene visually stunning.”
“The graphics are incredibly detailed, bringing the game world to life in a way that is both immersive and captivating.”
“The visual design is top-notch, with vibrant colors and intricate textures that make the environment feel rich and dynamic.”
Critic Reviews
Batman - The Telltale Series Season 2: The Enemy Within Review
Batman Season 2 is off to an excellent start. The Enigma is a decent size for a Telltale game, clocking in at around 2 hours 30 minutes, and it honestly feels like an epic Batman movie. And it’s only the first episode of a five-episode season. It has more gameplay than most Telltale episodes too, with something to do every few seconds, meaning it feels like you’re in the movie rather than just watching it and doing a QTE occasionally. It looks good too, with excellent voice acting and very good (and unpredictable) writing throughout. Honestly, I can’t think of anything too bad to say about it. It’s one of the best first episodes Telltale has ever done, and if The Enemy Within stays this good we could be looking at Telltale’s best game. Let’s hope the usual Episode 2 quality drop-off doesn’t happen…
90%Batman: The Enemy Within- The Telltale Series - Episode One Review
Full disclosure, this started as a video review, but the program I used managed to mess up the recording. I’ll probably do the rest of the episodes as video reviews, if I can get things running correctly. I’m eagerly awaiting the next episode, titled The Pact, as several of the plots The Enigma began look promising, and incredibly interesting.
80%Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 1: The Enigma Review
Episode 1: The Enigma is not what the first chapter of Batman: The Enemy Within should be. Similar to season one, the gameplay segments are subpar, and the small power that choices have over the course of the storyline ruin the replay value of it all. Sure, the story offers some interesting twists and turns that Bat-fans will definitely enjoy, but the World's Greatest Detective can certainly do better than this.
50%