Right, I know that this review is a little late, seeing that Batman Arkham Origins was released in the UK during October 2013. However, after spotting this beauty in a Steam sale for around £3.70, I couldn’t resist. I snapped it up and jumped back into the comic-book, Gothamy goodness.
I wasn’t sure what I was expected. I’ve got both Batman Arkham Asylum and Batman Arkham City and I enjoyed them both. The trouble is, I tend to find that the third game in a series is when things start to go a little south, especially when that third game is also a prequel of sorts.
I’m adult enough to admit when I was wrong, and in this case I definitely was. My fear that Origins would be a rehashed version of the first two games was gladly quelled, within minutes. They’ve kept all the bits I loved and added a few more bits in there as well.
Honestly, the basic game of Batman Origins remains very similar to the previous two. The graphics have had a boost, with a whole new storyline, characters and play-modes but there’s nothing here that will seem alien. Some people may want more from the third sequel but in my opinion, it’s not broken so there’s no need to fix it.
For example, the combat remains mostly unchanged as the button-bashing masterpiece that I love. There’s one button to attack, one to counter, another to throw in the odd batarang and so on. No-one’s tried to cram in hundreds of complex button presses. Everything is simple and the combat is fluid and beautiful.
They’ve kept the size of Arkham City, which I guess makes sense seeing as it is set in the same place. You remain free to fly over the rooftops of Gotham city, swoop down and punch ne’er-do-wells to your heart’s content.
Origins is packed with many side quests, such as Riddlers Communication Towers jamming your Bat-Copter (is it called a Bat-Copter? Bat-jet? Hmmm”¦)
The biggest change to Batman Arkham Origins for me is the changes to the way detective mode works. During parts of the game you’re asked to investigate crime-scenes. Using detective mode, which should be somewhat familiar to players of Asylum and City, you can scan bullet holes and fingerprints etc. However, now you can theorise on what actually went down, and can fast-forward or rewind through the action to help you analyse the scene further. I’m not saying this whole detective bit is new, but it now feels a bigger more integrated part of the game.
So, I guess the question is would I love it so much If I’d forked out £40 for it? Maybe, maybe not but it does show why I don’t pay that amount for games anymore.
I spent less than a fiver and as far as I am concerned, Batman Arkham Origins is a great game that is certainly worth more than that. I guess, now it’s just waiting until Batman Arkham Knight is the same price.
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Jim Franklin
Jim Franklin is a freelance writer, living in Derby UK with his wife and his player 3. When time allows he likes nothing more than losing himself in a multi-hour gaming session. He likes most games and will play anything but prefers MMO's, and sandbox RPG's.
They’ve kept the size of Arkham City, which I guess makes sense seeing as it is set in the same place. You remain free to fly over the rooftops of 
