Re-Review #24: Batman: Arkham Origins

Batman: Arkham Origins

PlayStation 3

For my initial review of this game, click

>HERE<

This is a game I have been wanting to return to for a few years now. When I first played Arkham Origins back in 2015, I didn't like it very much. I didn't like the tone. I didn't like the repetitive combat. I didn't like collecting all the little trinkets. But most of all I didn't like how uninspired the game was. I was a big fan of the first two Arkham games, and this one felt like we were taking a big step back in the series.

I ended up giving the game a C. I didn't have very many good things to say about it. Now that the dust has settled, I wanted to return to the game and give it another chance. I haven't played an Arkham game in a very long time. I think my problem was that I was too focused on Arkham Asylum or Arkham City the first time I played this. I had recently played them and they were fresh on my mind. I couldn't help but compare them the entire time.

But now I am able to come back and give the game a much more objective chance. And you know what? I liked it a lot more this time around. Right away, I found myself having fun. I liked beating up bad guys in Blackgate Prison. I liked swinging around Gotham on my zipline thingie. I was enjoying the story. I also didn't spend too much time constantly looking for little trinkets and unlocking everything on the map. I focused on the story first. And then I came back and mopped up all some remaining items later.

I also decided to be a lot more selective on the battles I'd enter. One of my complaints originally was there was too much repetitive combat. So this time, I would often skip over optional battles. If I was on my way to a mission marker and I would get attacked by thugs, I would just keep running. And I enjoyed the game a lot more this way.

Sitting back and looking at things objectively, this is a pretty solid Batman game. I like how it takes place on Christmas Eve. They really nailed the tone of the game, with the snow falling and the Christmas lights up. That's also one of the reasons I chose to play this game. It's a Christmas game and the holidays are coming up in less than a week now. When people ask me about Christmas themed video games going forward, I'm definitely going to be bringing up this game.

What faults did I find with this game? It was glitchy. There were a few times over halfway through the game where I thought my game had been corrupted and I would have had to start over. No way was I going to do that. If I had lost my progress right before the end of the game, I would likely have deleted the whole thing off my PS3 right then and there.

Also, the combat is indeed very repetitive. There are some areas of the game, like in the sewer and the hotel, where it seems like the action just keeps going on and on forever. It's like, get me out of this dark and dank place already. I've seen enough! Additionally, I wish there was a better in-game navigation system. There is no onscreen map, and you have to pause the game to see where you are. Even then, the map isn't very helpful. There were a few times I got turned around when inside a building and would end up going backwards because everything looked the same.

But all in all, this game is much better than I initially gave it credit for. It's way better than just a C title. Maybe I'm only saying this because I haven't played the other Arkham games and they aren't as fresh in my memory. Maybe those other games are a thousand times better, and this game is a piece of crap in comparison. But guess what? I don't care. I had fun with this. Judging this game on its own independent merits, it is an objectively good title. And I feel like I owe it an apology.

THE GRADE:

B

For a complete index of all my past posts and game reviews, click

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