It’s nice when developers decide to give players just a tiny bit more freedom in how they choose to progress in a game, isn’t it? If you agree, then you’ll be happy to know that in Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate you will do just that.  In what some are calling a nod to the Mega Man games of yore; you will be able to choose which bosses you want to take on at any given time.
The fact that many former staff from Retro Studios (they produced the Metroid Prime games) worked on Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate should explain why the game has taken the non-linear direction  that it has. The other interesting fact is that you will also gain weapons or items from each boss battle, giving it an even more retro inspired vibe.
Stealth and hand to hand combat are still the key methods of tackling challenges, and fans of the series will also be happy to know that the free flow combat system is still intact. However, in an added twist, depending on how you choose to progress through the game will net you a different ending, which should help fuel multiple playthroughs.
In case you haven’t been keeping up, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is set to take place after the events of Batman: Arkham Origins, making it a sequel of sorts. The gist of the story is, an explosion at the titular prison allows the less than friendly inmates to take over. And who else is there to investigate other than “old bats” himself?
Odds are stacked in favor of the new handheld Batman title continuing the success of the Arkham Series, and in giving the game a metroid-vania styled progression it’s sure to give fans plenty of replay value. It would seem for the indefinite future Batman: Arkham Origins Black Gate has a release date of October 25 2013.
Published: Sep 8, 2013 03:58 pm