Batman Arkham Origins

[hobbes_182]

So a few days ago I beat Batman Arkham Knight after not having touched the game in almost 6 months.

Well, it turns out that I was 2 missions away from beating the damn thing, which sucked because I was having a blast when I was originally playing it. But coming back to it after so much time had passed kind of tarnished the ending for me. Especially since it took me about 30 minutes to fully get back into the groove.

It especially sucked because I had beaten every Arkham game before it.

It got me realizing that the one game that I never really gave much love when it came to side quests was Arkham Origins. So I thought it was time to fix that and give this one another go. I especially like this one because Batman's armor actually looks tactical, in the game it is his third year as Batman and the Gotham Police do not believe he exists yet. Hell, he hasn't even met Gordon yet.

Here are a few screens from my first hour, I especially love the Batcave. It was really cool how they made it look completely bare-bones, since Batman is just starting off.

Batman Arkham Origins screenshots Batman Arkham Origins screenshots

I thought it was especially cool how Batman is just putting the Batmobile together, and how his Batcomputer is just a bunch of towers stacked together.

Love it.

[hobbes_182]

I got some more time into Arkham Origins.

So normally I would just try to rush through the missions in order to advance the story. For some reason I always felt that I was on the clock in the Arkham games. This time I am taking my sweeeeeeeeeet time and man does it make the game feel great.

In my previous Arkham adventures I would never really "commit" to the free flow combat. This time I have kicked major ass, not getting hit once, just like Batman would do. There was one time where the last guy managed to punch me in the back of the head, but I let out my Ben Affleck Batman yell and beat the crap out of that last goon.

Plus, I am freaking out all of the enemies doing my predator moves.

I did forget that since this is Batman's first major adventure (in the Arkhamverse), I am basically gathering intel in order to build up the bat-computer. I think I have spent more time sabotaging The Riddler's communications towers and hacking his shit.

SCREENSHOT

[hobbes_182]

Here is one cool thing I forgot was in Arkham Origins.

So, as Batman is just starting up, he only has a limited number of gadgets. As you progress through the game, you start "acquiring" and deploying new gadgets. Some of the gadgets are suggested by Alfred for use in the field (although they are still pretty much prototypes), the other gadgets Batman repurposes them from either bosses for the GCPD themselves.

Another cool feature is the crime scene mode. There are two that you HAVE to do in order to advance the story, there are 15 in total littered throughout Gotham which helps you become a better detective.

I have also been destroying the Riddler's network towers, once you have reached a certain point in the game, you discover that there are "handlers" which know where the Riddler's files are hidden throughout Gotham. These are basically encrypted drives which have intel (good or bad) on influential people in Gotham. There is also intel on Gotham itself. Once you beat down the handlers they give away the location of these drives on the map. This is a pretty neat feature, I have stumbled upon some myself, they are pretty hard to miss in small areas since the glow neon green. But on the streets and rooftops of Gotham it is pretty easy to miss.

Detective Mode screenshots Detective Mode screenshots

This main scene has you solving a double murder by analyzing the environment and following Batman's thoughts on each piece of evidence discovered.







Again, that low-tech feel of the Batcave is awesome. This is probably my favorite Batsuit in the series, super tactical looking.

I love building up the bat computer database, man I wish it was night time so I can get some more time in.

[hobbes_182]

I managed to get some more time in Arkham Origins.

I think I am about 70% into the main story, but I have been focusing my attention on Enigma and some side-missions which seem more interesting at the moment.

It looks like there are a few more gadgets to unlock. I think I might solely focus on the side missions for now.

Screenshots Screenshots

Arkham Origins is actually multi-cultural. They managed to drop in some Spanish.



This scene was really cool, so nobody in Gotham believes that Batman exists. Not even the police. This scene has a news chopper filming Batman fighting a group of Bane's goons. You actually play it through the overlay of the television broadcast.



I also finally managed to destroy Enigma's (The Riddler) network relays. All that's left now is to collect the data packs in order to build up the Batcomputer's data base.







There is one last locked door in Enigma's hideout. I'm guessing I need to collect all of the data packs in order to enter that room.

I have never bought DLC for the Arkham series. But I think I will be getting the Mr. Freeze DLC which takes place right after the events in Arkham Origins.

Can't wait

EDIT 05/06/2021 - All right dudes, since RE Village is hours away from being released I will put this one on the backburner for a bit. I will be coming back to this one, want to try and 100% the game.

[hobbes_182]

So as part of the New Year, I have decided to not leave any of my threads hanging. This means that I am going to start completing these games. No more backlog.

It took me about 40 minutes to get my bearings, as it has been over six months since I played Arkham Origins.

It turns out that at this point in the game, you realize there is someone who has been investigating the possible connection between Bruce Wayne and Batman.

Creeping on Batman Creeping on Batman

Shortly after, you hear a distress call from the GCPD due to Firefly threatening to blow up the Gotham Bridge.

GCPD distress call GCPD distress call

There is an awesome boss fight with Firefly. This boss fight is pretty fast and violent. It also shows a major flex from Batman, as you need to pull Firefly down with your batclaw, while he is trying to escape with his jet pack.

Gains.

Firefly boss fight Firefly boss fight

Once you lay the beatdown on Firefly, you have a one-on-one with Gordon. As his hesitance to trust Batman almost cost the lives of civilians.

Brooding Brooding

This is a bit of spoiler territory, as you realize that the person that was tracking you has managed to find the Batcave. The hardest thing here is seeing my man Alfred barely hanging on.

Not to mention, they trashed all of your tech.

Return to the Batcave Return to the Batcave

[hobbes_182]

For the endgame, you return to Blackgate Prison, this is where the game actually started.

Endgame Screenshots Endgame Screenshots

As this is early in Batman's career, you actually save Harley Quinn. This is way before she becomes evil, so here she is still a Doctor.



Bane is basically the final boss of the game. There are two stages to the fight. The first one is straight forward, just dodge and lay the beatdown on him.



The second part has Bane roid-ing out, this makes your attacks useless. Here you have to sneak up on him and use the environment to beat him.



The actual "final boss" is The Joker, but all you do is open a can of whoop-ass on him. After that he gets hauled to what appears to be Arkham Asylum with Harley being assigned to him as his Doctor.









There is actually a post-credits scene where Amanda Waller walks into Blackgate and recruits Deathstroke into the Suicide Squad. Nice.





Even though the main campaign is done, you can now go back to Gotham and do the side missions. I am going to try and 100% this as my Batcomputer database is incomplete.

I'll start on the DLC after that.

I need to stop dropping games and start completing them. I was literally 1 hour away from beating this months ago.

I was a click away from buying the DLC, however, I promised myself I would do the side missions first.