Time has certainly flown by since Batman: The Telltale Series began just three short months ago in August. It has certainly been the quickest release of episodes for a Telltale game that I can remember but it has helped keep the storytelling flowing well. Serving as the penultimate chapter, Episode 4 Guardian of Gotham is the last chance to setup the finale and give the chance to see how my player choices have influenced the story along the way, but can it deliver what it needs to?
*Spoiler Warning: This review will contain spoilers on previous episodes but not key spoilers for Episode 4*
Episode 4 really stands out as being very different to any other Telltale game even before you press start on the menu for this is the first time I can remember that Telltale actually give a player warning that a decision made in this episode will shape how the final episode will play out. That is a rather unique gambit heading into a penultimate episode and adds an extra level of tension going into Guardian of Gotham.
It also has a rather large surprise going into it as Telltale revealed just a week before this release, that The Joker himself makes his first appearance in the series, something that had not been mentioned in any marketing leading to the start of the series or any episode until now. I was intrigued into how such an iconic character would be used so late in the story as Episode 4 is, but after the opening flashback sequence reminded me of where my decisions had left Bruce Wayne, it more than made a little sense to bring Joker into the story now.
Bruce Wayne has had a really terrible time in my playthrough so far. The main villains of the story, the Children of Arkham, have targeted him for the sins of his parents which has lad to Bruce losing control of Wayne Enterprises, his relationship with Harvey Dent is in tatters with the now Mayor of Gotham City Dent showing a far harsher and brutal side to him as his journey to becoming Two Face teases itself. Now it must be said that my own choices have so far have prevented Harvey from becoming Two Face but his behaviour right now in the story is agonizingly more villain than hero. After Vicky Vale revealed herself to be a Child of Arkham in the climatic end to Episode 3 and injected Bruce with a drug that made him brutally attack Oswald Cobblepot which was televised to the world, we find Bruce now a patient in Arkham Asylum by order of Mayor Dent.
I have always felt that as much as this game has Batman in the title, what has made me enjoy it more as a Batman fan, is how it also feels very much like Bruce Wayne is the real main character of the game. The story has allowed the exploration of the man under both the Bat and the billionaire playboy suits. The story has seen him learn that his parents and in particular his father Thomas Wayne, are in fact the bad guys and responsible for crimes against the city. This has led to Bruce questioning his own crusade as Batman for it was their deaths that inspired him to become the Dark Knight just as his family legacy in Wayne Enterprises is stolen right from under him by The Children of Arkham and put in the hands of Oswald Cobblepot.
To see Bruce so vulnerable just as The Joker is introduced into the story is a powerful tool and then when Joker saves Bruce from a beat down at the hands of two inmates is almost as shocking as Joker attempting to befriend Bruce by acting as his guide and protector in the Asylum. This portrayal of Joker feels very much inspired by that of the Dark Knight Returns Joker character but visually and in the style of his voice. He comes across as being very much capable of the dark murderous chaos we know he is capable of. By having the dialogue options to either allow Bruce to be taken in by the Joker’s charm or to reject his offer of friendship because we know who Joker really is, adds a delicious element to this first introduction.
Sadly however following this opening, the episode starts to lose its pacing and becomes by far the buggiest episode yet. Frame rate drops lead to audio not matching dialogue scenes and some QTE moments lagged leading to missing action cues. It just felt very unpolished for an episode and with a huge decision coming up towards the end, having these niggles just took away from the story telling, which also felt rushed in what is the shortest episode so far.
Overall Episode 4 ‘Guardian of Gotham’ did succeed in giving some fan moments with the introduction of Joker which was handled very well for me and to give me the sense that my decisions have indeed shaped the story rather than simply having my choices feel like nothing more than picking a cut scene option. My game experience so far has been very different to those of a friend who has made different choices to me which has led to his Harvey Dent becoming Two Face in appearance whilst mine has not yet both showing his mannerisms in our stories. The pieces have all been placed on the board for the final episode and battle for Gotham and it is a city that is very much in need of Batman to save the day.
I just wish that this episode had not rushed its ending as it has, after my story defining decision was made and played out the episode abruptly ended almost as though the series was suppose to have four episodes and the rest was sliced off to make a fifth. It even lacks the “next time” look at the upcoming episode which is a first.
Though this was the weakest episode in the series for me, it still managed to accomplish everything it had to do with consequences of earlier player decisions playing out, story threads being tied up and the journey to the final chapter leaving me excited to see how it plays out. But it needed far more polish and it feels more rushed to be released than a considered build up to the final episode sadly.
