Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

Editor's Notes

Due to the their related stories, this review of 'Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate' contains some minor spoilers for 'Batman: Arkham Origins.'

Introduction

The Bat is back in action and more readily available than ever before. With the release of 'Batman: Arkham Origins,' players are able to adorn the guide of an early career caped crusader across a variety of gaming platforms, including a separate game for the PlayStation Vita and 3DS that has a story set after the events of 'Batman: Arkham Origins.' With 'Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate,' Armature, the development studio responsible for providing hand-held versions of 'Metal Gear Solid HD' and 'Injustice: Gods Among Us' for the PlayStation Vita, have been tasked to shrink the Dark Knight down to size and provide millions of fans the opportunity to fight crime from their back pocket. Combine this with the whispers of 'Metroidvania' and the expectations for 'Blackgate' present an extreme threat for the Dark Knight.

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

'Blackgate' begins shortly after the conclusion of 'Arkham Origins,' and the uncertain safety the citizens of Gotham continues to permeate the air with the perhaps not yet living up to the crime-fighting icon he was born to be Batman still having much to learn and a cast of unmet criminals. Just such an encounter kicks things off with 'Blackgate' when Batman chases down the alluring and lithe Catwoman. After sentencing her to Blackgate Prison – an institution reserved for the more hardened criminals of Gotham – Batman has second thoughts and realizes her incarceration may have been too harsh a fate for a common thief. Coincidentally, Blackgate Prison has been taken over by Gotham's super villainous Black Mask, Penguin, and the Joker. Deciding to infiltrate the compromised prison, Batman strikes a deal with the comely cat burglar. In exchange for inside information, Batman will seek a more appropriate prison sentence for one Selena Kyle.

'Blackgate' is a side scrolling 2.5D action platformer reminiscent of the Xbox 360 downloadable exclusive, 'Shadow Complex'. In true fetch-quest, Metroid-style gaming, you're tasked with locating a number of hidden Wayne Tech resource boxes that inevitably deliver the tools - those wonderful toys - needed to progress through the prison and through the story. As a result, you'll find yourself doing a considerable amount of backtracking (much more than I generally prefer), regardless of which section of the prison you decide to liberate first: Industrial, Administration, or Cell Blocks.

Although the free-flow combat system of the series is present for 'Blackgate', there are obvious limitations put in place as concession for this more bite-sized experience. Where the console versions of the Arkham universe allow for a more fluid combat system, in 'Blackgate,' the series' group altercations are reduced to lining enemies up to the left or right of Batman, and knocking them back or countering their attacks, until the room is clear. Although it still feels good to walk away from a pile of unconscious prisoners, it just doesn't have the lingering satisfaction of its big-brother consoles.

The combat also feels much slower on the PlayStation Vita. While the button mapping is nearly identical to that of the PlayStation DualShock 3, the responsiveness is simply not there. Regardless of your combatants – average Joe or Boss battle - your actions (and reactions) often feel muddy and less Bat-like than what is customary for the series. While it was never enough to cause frustration, it simply did not meet the high expectations that I had for a Batman Vita game.

It's no secret that the PlayStation Vita boasts numerous touch and Sixaxis Motion control inputs. Thankfully, the developers at Armature have kept the exotic controls to a minimum and primarily relied on the more standard combination of the direction pad, face, and shoulder buttons. Beyond that, a simple tap on the Vita's screen activates Detective Mode, while scanning the environment requires you to hold your finger and swipe across the screen to highlight your surroundings, hidden objects, collectibles, breakable walls, etc. While repeatedly scanning the environment is simple in concept, in practice, it quickly became tiresome. Various key objects (doors, switches, etc.) remain static until they have been fully scanned, often slowing down the gameplay. What worked well in the 'Metroid Prime' series just comes off as forced and wearisome when wearing the cape and cowl.