Game Name: Batman: The Enemy Within
Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4 and XBOX One
Release Date (Episode 1): August 8th, 2017
Introduction
I am sure that if you have read my reviews in the past, you know that there are 2 things that I am a fan of. One of those things is Telltale Games. They have not always come out with great games but they are good enough for me to be entertained. The second is Batman. I am a big fan of Batman and what they have done with this version in the Telltale Series.
The first game, Batman: A Telltale Series was very good and entertaining. I liked it. Although I did not buy Season 1, I played it when it was a free game with Games with Gold. To be honest, probably because of that I bought the second season. I may not have bought it if it were not for that free month that it was available.
You can see my previous review of the first season here.
Does the second season hold up to the first one? Let us see
Note: I will not spoil the story in the review.
Gameplay
For those of you who do not know what Telltale games are, they are interactive stories. Imagine you were watching DareDevil or Jessica Jones on Netflix. Then while you were watching you had a chance to choose the path the character takes in the story. Depending on your choices you get a different outcome. This is what you are doing in this game. Your dialogue choices and game choices determine a different outcome for every player.
So you play the character of Bruce Wayne or Batman. In this episode you will go against one of the best characters in the Batman universe, The Riddler. There are 6 chapters to go through. You can play the full episode in about 2 in a half hours. So, basically it is a little longer than an average movie.
The controls are a small factor as it is not a game in the traditional sense. You have to press certain buttons during fight scenes and pick dialogue options during conversations. So you just follow what is on the screen and you will be fine.
So how is the story? I think that it is pretty good. I find it amazing that the games have been able to do what the DC Movies have a hard time achieving. You feel attached to the character. I think that is because you are the character and you make your own choices. This determines the next course of action and makes you feel involved.
Without giving anything away, there is a known character in this episode where people have always loved to despise. However, you kind of feel for him in this version of Batman. I am sure that this will change but it is a nice touch that you rarely see.
The voice acting is excellent. Batman is voiced by Troy Baker. He has been in many different games in the last few years including, Joel in The Last of Us, Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, and Rhys in Tales from the Borderlands. These are just to name a few.
Commissioner James Gordon is voiced by Murphy Guyer. I really liked the way the character is acted. The connection between Gordon and Batman in this series is really well done. Murphy has also voiced other characters in other games such as Aquila in Red Dead Redemption.
I also love the voice acting of Alfred Pennyworth. This is voiced by Enn Reitel. He reprises his role from the first season. For those who do not know who Alfred is, he is the father figure to Bruce Wayne. He is one of the few people in Batman's world that knows about his double persona. Bruce cares deeply about Alfred and in this series you feel that attachment.
The story and dialogue are well written and what I like about the story is that it is not a straight line. Even though you may know the story, there is enough here to keep you on your toes and make you feel like you are writing a different Batman story.
There was one big negative for playing this game on the XBOX One. The loading times are atrocious. Especially at the beginning. It feels like it is loading forever. I know that this is a problem that even other games suffer from. I hope that they fix this with the XBOX One X.
Below you will fine the full play through of Episode 1. So if you would want to take a gander without playing the game, take a look. Remember this outcome is due to the choices that I have made throughout the game.
Batman: The Enemy Within (Episode 1) - Full Playthrough
Bottomline
When I first downloaded this game, the star rating on the XBOX One store was 2.5 stars. This episode is much better than that. I like the writing and the acting in this game. Even my wife that sat down beside me thought that it was a solid story.
I always loved the visuals for these games. It is artsy but realistic at the same time. The menu music and background music is also very good as well.
I think that if you are a fan of this series, this should be on your download list. The price is 29.99$ for the full season which for me it is a great value for this kind of game.
I do acknowledge that not everyone will like this. Some may say it is not even really a game. You are watching a story and clicking a button once in a while. Yes they have a point, but like anything else that is entertainment, it is enjoyable for me. Also, this is better written than many of the movies in the DC universe so, I will strongly recommend this game.
Rating: 9.0 Bat-mobiles out of 10.
What do you think? is it a good episode or did it stink in your eyes. Let me know below.
