Batman for the Batfans
First off, let’s just get it out there and say Batman is the greatest superhero of all time right? Good, I am glad we can agree on this. What other superhero has transition throughout each decade with as much ease as Batman. It’s hard to think that when Adam West played him all these years ago with his over the top campiness that we would eventually end up with The Dark Knight.
The reason the character can be called the best without a doubt is the story that made him the Batman. Everyone knows it, the basics anyway. His parents died in a seemingly random mugging one evening, it’s almost not even worth mentioning at this point, right? Batman: A Telltale Game Series do not agree with my theory that the death of Martha and Thomas Wayne should not be mentioned, in fact they seemingly take every opportunity to mention it to you.
Yes it’s all here, the flashback when they died, long foreboding shots of Bruce and his folks in photos, the admission tickets from when they were killed (they even with there own case for some reason) it is almost like they are making fun of it how many times is mentioned. An example of how over the top it is is when an old couple say to Bruce “It was such a shame your parents died all those years ago”, unfortunately there was no response saying “Well that was over twenty years ago but thanks for bringing that up”.
Aside from the mentions of death there is a somewhat solid story. (Sometimes reminding me of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight movie in some places, but hey that is when Batman is at his strongest). Bruce Wayne is helping Harvey Dent run for Mayor with a fundraiser in his mansion, then mob boss Carmine Falcone shows up and says that he runs the city. Without mentioning too much the main story with Falcone is not as interesting as it could be, but the seeds that are planted for the future are what seem more captivating upon reflection. Telltale do not seem afraid to change and mix up what we typically know as the Batman lore and this is what makes this episode and future episodes interesting (and keep hardcore Batman fans on their toes).
For the most part the game plays out like an interactive novel. You take “real” control of characters twice, once as Bruce Wayne for a walk in the park and once as Batman to investigate a crime scene. QTE (Quick Time Events) are a plenty when you come face to face with baddies robbing a bank or just being up to bad guy shenanigans. The other times will see you interact with dialogue options, which for the most part are very encompassing to what Batman you want to be. You can choose to be ruthless, straight to the point, vague or most of the time stand there and not say a word. If you have played a Telltale game before, this is definitely one of them and aside from an updated engine there is not a lot which does a lot to change the formula.
Despite all these mentions of death by the end you find it is actually to do with the story that Telltale are trying to tell, it seems a bit prolonged here but in the greater arc of what they are trying to tell it just could be the strongest of all foundations ever laid. We will just have to see whether or not they can make good on the foundation that they have built here.
If you are a Bat-fan like myself then I recommend it wholeheartedly, people who have a vague interest should be more cautious however as this seems more like the starting pace of the story which has yet to hit full speed.