Can this console port get its claws into you?
Batman: Arkham Origins was another great entry in the Arkham series, but it’s obviously not the strongest and most gamers wait patiently for Arkham Knight, which looks amazing and could be the best Batman game ever, but for now we wait with a console port of the Vita/3DS game…Arkham Origins: Blackgate.
Blackgate is set 3 months after the events of Origins with Black Mask, Joker and Penguin behind bars at Blackgate until a fire breaks out and it transpires that the prison is divided between the three criminal masterminds. How you play is up to you, but this is a very different game to the other Arkham games…it’s more of a Metroidvania one that has you exploring the prison, backtracking with new abilities to reach previously inaccessible areas and so on. You can still do silent takedowns and use your fancy gadgets (as you find them along the way that is) as well as coming across the odd boss fight.
The game is set in 2.5D and while it’s not as sharp as the console games, the Deluxe Edition of Blackgate does well to bump up the visuals from the handhelds. Cutscenes are animated like a comic book, which obviously works well for the caped crusader. Combat is reminiscent of other Arkham games, using triangle to counter attacks and build up a huge combo, but it’s not as fluid here and comes across as clunky at times.
To get the most out of Blackgate, you’ll need to search every little area with Detective Mode, unless you have a guide that is. There’s tons of hidden collectables and upgrades to find that are cleverly tucked away, and like I said before you’ll need to backtrack in order to get them when you have the proper tools.
The Verdict
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate – Deluxe Edition is a bit pricey at £15 for a port of a handheld game, but it does provide a decent Metroidvania type experience and a memorable outing for the Batman. It may be a little rough around the edges, but if you can overlook that then there’s a great game here for you.