Batman: Arkham Origins

I remember hearing about this game coming out nearly a year ago. And right from the start I became excited because I've been a die hard Batman fan since I was 6 and the previous 2 Arkham games were amazing. But then I began to have mixed emotions as the months fallowed. I heard that Rocksteady games wasn't making the 3rd installment in the series and I was worried because some new video game would screw up the series where we get a game too kid friendly and PG like and too much like that crappy 1997 Batman and Robin film. And I had heard that the game wont fallow the previous 2 games and I was let down by this considering I thought that a instant sequel to Arkham City was needed since their were a lot of questions fallowing Arkham City and I thought a 3rd fallow up game was needed. And of course finding out that Kevin Conroy wasn't voicing Batman and that another actor was needed to voice a younger Batman had me very worried. So in overall the question was could a prequel game really live up to the previous 2 games?

Well I got the game yesterday and I can say it does have its pro's and cons.

The Pro's. The open world environment. Gotham City looked just amazing and dark which helped keep the feel of the previous 2 games intact. And the idea of 8 assasians coming to Gotham City to kill Batman for 50 million dollars was very interesting. And it was nice to see the Black Mask getting more time in the game. And some of the villains in the game I never expected to see ever were in it. I also liked how it was the same control system as the previous 2 games because I had this belief the new video game company would change everything around to make it harder. The Con's. The off by a couple of second glitches. Every time I get into the batwing the game slightly freezes up. This was too familiar with Arkham City. When Arkham City came out I remember how that game had lots of bugs. Mainly the whole box popping up and the damaged download content crap that caused peoples game systems to constantly reset. I also found it slightly strange that Batman has the same weapons he did in Arkham City. If Origons takes place years before the previous 2 games shouldn't Batman not had had the same weapons he had in Arkham City. And if he did have these weapons the whole time shouldn't he had them when Arkham Asylum and Arkham City came along?

The verdict.

I will admit when this game was coming out and after hearing info on it I almost didn't get the game. I had worries from the start that this game wouldn't be as good and this game would likely end the series with a whimper. But I will admit it surpassed my expectations. Roger Craig Smith did a great job voicing a younger Batman. As did Troy Baker with voicing the younger Joker. And I was delighted they kept the dark atmosphere of the other 2 games intact. You cant have Batman be in a non dark feel. It just wouldn't be the same. So Warner Brothers Montreal. You did a great job. I rate the game as a 9. I recommend the game to anyone who hasn't played it.