Haven't bought AO yet? 2+ hour game time review

[Kalden]

Hey all,

Been playing Arkham Origins for a little over two hours now, and just wanted to throw a thread together for people who are considering buying the game. This is a review of the PC version of the game, so no one is confused. There will be no spoilers; if you'd like to post in this thread, please respect that.

This game will be a thrill ride for people who played the first two Arkham games, especially Arkham City. From the beginning, you can see various references to AC - the map is strikingly similar, which makes sense as this is a prequel to the first two games and adds to the excitement of the game, but the vertical stretch and the high density of the buildings mixed with weather really gives the game a fantastic, realistic feel. The various doodads, textures, and bits of detail from the rooftops to the streets really show that the devs have been working to make this world as realistic as possible; the highways are a particularly nice touch - AO is much grittier than AC, and has a significantly less 'comic book' feel. The batcave is a masterpiece - although I am curious as to how Batman has access to the batwing, but another vehicle is still being built? Hmmmm...

The first few minutes of the game, like AC, works to introduce the player to the controls and familiarizes veterans with the new systems. In fact, many of the controls, and initial gadgets (batarang, explosive gel, remote controlled batarang, etc) are identical in how they work in AC. Personally, I think it really helps vets get that feel for the game quicker, but it is a little disappointing to see that some things, like ventilation duct access, are still identical.

The gameplay itself features the same fighting style, which remains mostly the same from the animations to the combos and finishing moves; however, the graphics are much improved. If you played AC for longer than an hour, you won't have any problems with getting used to combat. Detective mode is also improved and actually really fun to use, and the crtpytographic sequencer takes a bit longer - I found that I used to always decrypt puzzles within about three seconds in AC, but now I will usually run through a few wrong answers first. The Waynetech upgrade system is a bit disappointing - instead of choosing whichever upgrade you want, you have to go through tech trees which severely limits player choice. Obviously, you can't upgrade the gadgets you haven't unlocked through story mode yet, but the tech tree is a significant weakness. For example, you can't unlock the blade dodge takedown, until have unlocked three levels of melee body armor upgrades.

The devs also did an awesome job with cinematics - there are several times where you see the shadow of the bat cast over criminals, and to wonderful effect.

The game is, so far, wondefully made, but that being said, the game is not without its problems. Within these first two hours, I have noticed several glitches - after fighting a group of criminals, one of the bodies started randomly rag dolling all over the street and in the air before it disappeared. There are also some color deficiencies, and other small various things. I have already mentioned the tech tree issue. During several glide kicks, I have noticed that as criminals walk around, Batman will jitter as he gets closer to the target.

Voices... it is true that Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are not in the game, and you notice it immediately with Batman. I have yet to run into Joker, but the Batman world just isn't the same. Batman's voice is dark enough for the role, and seems appropriate. Again, I have not run into the Joker, but I think John DiMaggio (Under the Red Hood) might have been a worthy consideration. Anyways...

Overall, the game so far is really enjoyable, and it seems well worth the price Steam is asking for. However, there is a season pass for $20, which is a great bit of marketing that gaming companies have been using, but as a customer I don't agree with charging full price for a game and then an additional $20 for additional content unless that content is hours and hours of game time. If you do purchase the season pass, you get access to future content, several skins, and if you sign up with a Warner Bros account, you'll get an additional skin.

So far the game is a major win, and if you haven't purchased it, I would highly consider it. Especially if you are a fan of the previous two games.

[Ka3aHTiP# Pic-A-Boo]

Nicely said, bump so people can see :)

[Lord Camel Balls]

Originally posted by Kalden:

Again, I have not run into the Joker, but I think John DiMaggio (Under the Red Hood) might have been a worthy consideration.

I would agree, but Troy Baker was definitely the right choice here. John DiMaggio is good, but Troy has managed to sound almost exactly like Mark Hamill.

[TrifleRifle]

Indeed.

[QuantumLeeP]

Hi, thanks for your review. I was wondering what your thoughts would be on the professional reviews that have come out in the last few hours which place Origins firmly below Asylum and City ? Does the game fail to innovate as their reviews suggest, and do the fights tend to get repetitive with no reason not to button mash?

Thanks again for your input!

[Marcothy]

Originally posted by AnamTuirseach:

Hi, thanks for your review. I was wondering what your thoughts would be on the professional reviews that have come out in the last few hours which place Origins firmly below Asylum and City ? Does the game fail to innovate as their reviews suggest, and do the fights tend to get repetitive with no reason not to button mash?

Thanks again for your input!

I think every game once it goes down the path of sequels runs a point of diminishing returns for "innovation".

Personally, I've always enjoyed the free flow combat style of the game since the original. Crime in Progress, and the ability to influence the "fear of Batman" in GC are interesting twists.

There is innovation, just probably not where they wanted it. The game is very polished, as a 3rd generation game should be. The story so far, is great. I would personally rate it above Asylum and City because there seems to be more of an open playstyle, bigger world - and more to do in general for the game's entirety.

I haven't even done the MP side of the game yet, there are too many "thugs" to chase down in the city.

[itsHuddy]

I cannot wait, now if these files would finally unpack so I can play the game -_-

[L4Diarrhea]

Great review. I liked the verdict also (recommend or not). Since id say its impossible to judge about so many different games using one same scale ( from 1 to 10). The game is awesome and as a person who liked first two games, I say THIS ROCKS.

[Huckleberry]

Well written OP. Agree with almost everythihg...almost :) I really like the guy voicing Batman. I was so worried about this...but I am very pleased. Also, I actually prefer the upgrade system to AC...now I don't spend 15 minutes reading the descriptions every time I want to go upgrade. Plus, you can open stuff up but completing challenges...doesn't have to be only through the story (I just learned this - 4 hours in). Totally enjoying AO!! absolutely woth the buy if you like the first two, IMO.

Very displeased with the "professional" reviewers. This game is an improvement over AA and AC in many ways. Yet it seems that the same measuring stick is not beiong applied to B:AO as to CoD, Assassin's Creed, and every sports game that all iterate year after year with only minor improvements. WB did a great job here and the game is a welcome addition to the Arkham series, IMO.

[Kalden]

Originally posted by AnamTuirseach:

Hi, thanks for your review. I was wondering what your thoughts would be on the professional reviews that have come out in the last few hours which place Origins firmly below Asylum and City ? Does the game fail to innovate as their reviews suggest, and do the fights tend to get repetitive with no reason not to button mash?

Thanks again for your input!

Well, I think the failure to innovate is a proper phrase that I was looking for earlier and is a decent way to describe the game, but only to a small extent. Does the game really fail to innovate though? Eh, it is hard to tell. Honestly, I am not sure there is really way to truly 'reinnovate' such a long running, platinum popular series such as the Batman Arkham series. Take the Final Fantasy series for example - they've been using the same combat and exploration formula for most of their games, and they still find ways to reinvent their games (FFXIV was in desperate need for one). As it was expertly said earlier, it is hard to not have some sort of diminishing returns on a popular series.

That being said, I can completely understand the button mashing in fights, the fights are kind of repetitive, and I do wish some of them would end quicker, but the same could be said of the previous two games and I really enjoyed them. As far as button mashing... I think 'button mashing' is a bit of an exaggeration. True, large fights (7+ enemies) are not hard, but I also time my counters, take downs, and attacks - nothing like a Street Fighter type of button mashing.

Also, keep in mind that most of these 'professional' reviews probably aren't playing the game as deeply as a fan would, the game was released a little over 12 hours ago. These same critics are probably also looking for a brand new style of game and this is probably the only negative they can attack. Logically, they are going to drive the blade deeply there.

All in all, yes much of AO carries the same formula from AC... from the new Riddler trophies to the environmental interaction, but it works. Oh, speaking of environmental interaction... I 'knocked out' a thug earlier by throwing him into an electrified wall during a large fight - I don't believe that that was possible during the previous two games.

I can't say I agree with 'professional' critics... they don't really play and appreciate the game the same way a fan would. To be truthful, the only 'professional' critic I listen to is TotalBiscuit - his "WTF" series is wonderful and really empowers players with knowledge about a game, from a player's perspective.

[Somberlain]

Solid review, but a bit premature since you've only been playing for 2 hours. Still accurate. I recommend Gametrailers review, for once they got a review right.

[Kalden]

Originally posted by Somberlain:

Solid review, but a bit premature since you've only been playing for 2 hours. Still accurate. I recommend Gametrailers review, for once they got a review right.

Thank you. Your feedback is accurate, but I wrote it knowing it was a bit premature, which is why I stated it was after only two hours of gameplay. =p More than anything, it was for people who are still on the fence about buying the game.

I'll be the first to admit, I am quite biased - Batman's been my favorite hero since I was a kid. In fact, I saw the first Michael Keaton movie so many times, I can practically recite the scripts as the movie progresses. That being said, however... I demand that any Batman cartoon, movie, etc be accurate and worthy of the mantle of the dark knight.

I am curious though, how/when did Black Mask get so popular? Not very often you see a 'new' villian get his own movie, then a video game.

[Zeke]

And what about the multiplayer?

[VisciousFishes]

Batman - button masher? I always found that it was a little more refined than a plain button masher in Arkham City. Yes, you can button mash ( and the beatdown was a masher aspect) but the combat in AC I always thought was a bit more nuanced than being purely a "button masher". Especially if you're trying to get a decent variation multplier.

To those who say 2 hours is too soon for a review - meh! As it goes, for a "frist impressions piece by a fan" it's thoughtfully written and while I wait to be able to buy my **pre-ordered** physical disk (which will no doubt run on Steam) it's nice to hear from someone who has obviously thought from the perspective of being a gamer first and not "who can we get advertising their product alongside this".

I agree with Kalden from the "Batman universe" aspect. Michael Keaton was the first "Dark Knight" Batman as before this my first interaction with Batman was through those serialisations that used to appear on a breakfast television program called "TV-AM" (@7.35 and 8.35 am mon thru fri). Bob the Goon, Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier/Joker - good memories.

[QuantumLeeP]

Originally posted by Kalden:

I can't say I agree with 'professional' critics... they don't really play and appreciate the game the same way a fan would. To be truthful, the only 'professional' critic I listen to is TotalBiscuit - his "WTF" series is wonderful and really empowers players with knowledge about a game, from a player's perspective.

I also tend to listen to TotalBiscuit's reviews because he tends to deliver a wholly encompassing review of a game and doesn't usually put his own bs onto the review. Unfortunately we'll have to wait for WTF since WB held their embargo on reviews until today and apparently didn't give out review copies.

[Kalden]

Ahh... Bob the Goon. "Bob... you... are my number one. And I..." 'Yes sir!' Good memories indeed. lol