As a life long DC Comics fan and especially of the Dark Knight himself, whenever I hear that a new video game based on Batman is announced I feel both the excitement but at the same time some trepidation about it. The most recent successful Batman game series by Rocksteady Studios trilogy now over, I was curious to see who would take up the challenge of bringing a video game out based on the caped crusader and was genuinely surprised by the announcement that Telltale Games would be producing their own episodic series based on Batman. In what promised to be similar in tone to The Wolf Among Us, I settled down with a good cup of Yorkshire Tea and prepared to immerse myself in Batman: The Telltale Series Episode 1, A Realm of Shadows.
Batman: The Telltale series is a five episode game with a completely unique story featuring Batman, who is in his second year of fighting the criminals of Gotham so he is still building his reputation and relationships with the iconic characters of the Batverse. This gives Telltale the opportunity to tell their own version of how Batman meets some of his famous villains such as Catwoman for the first time in a new and refreshing way. If there is one thing Telltale does well, it is telling a unique story.
That unique story telling involves the story focusing just as much, if not more, on Bruce Wayne as it does Batman. To get to see how the man under the cowl is thinking and feeling has always been one of the highlights of any great Batman story, and Telltale have taken this concept and brilliantly used it as the foundation and heart of this game and story. The opening see’s Batman in full action but blended with Alfred talking to an injured and scarred Bruce so we can see both realities of being the Batman as Bruce continues his one man crusade to wage war on the criminals of Gotham, but also how he deals with the life he has chosen and the impact it has on him when not diving off rooftops and beating up the bad guys.
Player choice is a huge gaming element in this game and for me, it really has an immediate impact on the story throughout episode one, so much so that you as the player really feel that each decision you make from a dialogue option to a key event choice folds the narrative and results around them. You will not only get to make the choices for Bruce Wayne in how he deals with the people around him but also in shaping the kind of Batman he is as well. Bruce must maintain his secret but how you shape his more public persona is just as integral as the decisions you will make as Batman and that is a very powerful story driving force. As Batman Bruce will learn the truth about certain people, but then he will be forced to interact with them in public, and how you choose to do that will shape how the people around Bruce will see him going forward.
As Batman, you will make choices in situations that will either help build the fear of him amongst criminals and alienate the Gotham City Police Department by being too violent when intimidating criminals for information or in combat situations where the level of brutality can take Batman very close to the line Alfred is so afraid he might cross one day, or you can be the Batman who maintains control at all times, working with the GCPD and Lieutenant Jim Gordon and reinforcing the relationship with them that is indeed the hero they need. This duality in player choice is really effective and allows the player to tailor their experience and the kind of hero Batman will be throughout the game and story.
Visually the game uses the same cell shading style as The Wolf Among Us and it brings Gotham and its people to life so effortlessly. What was a surprise was the new take on the most well known characters Telltale have created such as Harvey Dent being a very imposing stocky man compared to Bruce and Oswald Cobblepot, who is an athletic guy fully capable of handling himself in a fight which is a big departure from the usual short overweight portrayal of the character.
The usual quick time events and mini-games in Telltale games are used well for the combat side of the game, getting the timing right is key to prevent Batman taking a punch to the face or worse, and successful QTE button presses will build up the Bat-Action meter, which when full will allow you to execute a Bat-Tastic finishing move to the action. I did find that these QTE moments could be very unforgiving the first time you play through but as in previous games, you will not fail if you miss them in some instances but some combat scenarios can result in Batman being killed if you fail at a key moment, forcing you to replay that section.
The point and click element works well when the game explores the detective side of being Batman, when examining a crime scene to find clues to piece together what happened to a nice feature of Batman planning out the order of thugs to take out including deciding on how you will take them out. These lovely little touches really helps explore how Batman goes about things but rather than simply playing as Batman, you the player really feel involved in determining how the action plays out.
I have deliberately avoided talking about the story itself simply because for me it is one of the strongest opening episodes in any Telltale Game in quite some time and spoiling the story would be a disservice. It is very much on the graphic novel quality of story telling that provides players a really immersive experience on every level. Player choice effects how the story unfolds and does so in a way that will have the player rethinking the choices they make along the way rather than simply seeing the story unfold without your involvement. For the first chapter in this five episode story, the player gets a full appreciation for what Bruce is trying to accomplish as Batman, the price he is paying everyday he puts on the suit but also the influence Batman is having on the city of Gotham. It can be completed in just less than two hours but the two hours are full of great story content for any Batman or DC Comics fan to relish.
Batman: The Telltale Series is off to a flying start with episode one, it takes all the elements that make a great Telltale game but manages to refresh them just as much as they have taken the legend of Batman and gives it a new and intriguing feel which is no easy task. On completion I actually found myself wanting to spend more time as Bruce Wayne, looking at the consequences of his mission as well as just learning about the man himself which has always been a fascination for me with this character. I am impressed with just how well Telltale have began this story, and I am very eager to continue this adventure after episode one laid such tremendous groundwork.
This is shaping up to be potentially their finest work yet.
