Just when you think Telltale can’t do it anymore, they do something like this.
Without any spoilers, let’s just say that “Batman: Episode One: Realm of Shadows†is amazing. This isn’t Frank Miller’s Batman despite the grit and noir feel. It’s not Tim Burton’s Batman, despite the inclusion of Vikki Vale, Catwoman and Oscar Cobblepot. It’s not even Batman: The Animated Series despite the fact that the Commissioner Gordon character model feels borrowed from it.
This is the Batman you love, with so many new and different elements added, in the best way possible.
Much like what Marvel did with its “Ultimate†comic book series, everything you connect with about Batman is here, but with so many new storylines and changes made to characters, it’s brand new again. Add in a ton of action and plenty of drama and crime-solving sequences and it’s arguably the best Batman game, ever.
Sure, the Telltale engine may not seem like a perfect fit for Batman at first, but after the first few interactions, everything fits. From Bruce Wayne’s constant inner-turmoil and his relationship with Alfred
to the decisions he must make as Batman, you’ll never feel out of the loop. All about choices and control, Telltale’s engine ends up doing the “Caped Crusader†justice in a way a plethora of game developers over the last 30 years, from Sunsoft, Acclaim and even Konami to an extent, have failed to do so.
Although you’ll buzz through this episode in about two hours, what you get is something smart, savvy and always sexy. If you only play one Batman game for the rest of your life, this is one you definitely won’t regret.
The Good:
Fun Combat: Batman is an ass-kicking machine and for one of the first times in a Telltale series, you get to be a huge part of the action.
World’s Greatest Detective: It almost feels like an episode of “CSI,†but the gameplay engine employed when Batman is putting the pieces together on potential crimes is an awesome pacing device and breaks up the action quite nicely.
The Bad:
Batman’s Voice: While Bruce Wayne’s voice is solid, Batman’s voice just feels weird. Worse than Christian Bale’s in fact.
It Ends: Like many of the Telltale games, there’s an awesome build-up at the end that gets you super excited. The wait for Episode Two can’t end fast enough.
Final Thoughts:
“Batman: The Telltale Game Series: Episode One: Realm of Shadows†is easily the best first episode of a Telltale game series, ever. And that’s not easy feat. Thanks to a solid retake of the character, wonderful gameplay elements and a wild climax, it’s a wonderful introduction to what is surely going to be a masterpiece of an episodic gaming experience.
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