BATMAN – The Telltale Series Episode 2, also known as Children of Arkam, is coming out for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One. The developer Telltale Games has announced the official release date for the game, 20th of September.

What we think about character development in Batman – Children of Arkham

From my perspective, it’s just covering old territory. Having Harvey Dent and Catwoman as major characters was a real misstep. Those characters have been done to death and I can’t imagine this game giving them any more nuanced narrative development. Harvey Dent’s character model looks ridiculous.

Also as a comic reader, the Episode 1 Spoiler plot has been done over and over again. I’ve just never found it compelling. None of your choices can have real consequences because Batman is a thoroughly understood character.

On the tech side the engine seems much improved. So “detective” side of gameplay is compelling like the Borderlands stuff just because it’s not the usual point and click style mechanic. However the sequences in EP1 were pretty simple, hopefully they will get more complex/difficult in later episodes. The ability to select a color for Batman’s HUD seemed silly at first, but it makes sense from a usability standpoint, and it’s kind of funny to watch Batman roll up to a purple computer vomit batcave.

The voice acting is authentic, the animation is really well done, and the choice to take the brutal route as opposed to the passive one is pretty awesome. I also thoroughly enjoyed the detective moments, piecing crime scenes together based on forensic evidence. It’s not super complicated and I’m sure you’re used to QTE’s at this point so the game isn’t challenging at all.

All I really wanted was a new Batman adventure. I could experience that wasn’t a poop-filled live action DC movie and I’m all out of Arkham games to beat. This game fills that void.

However the character models are a little funny. I’m not into the tall skinny take on Penguin nor the linebacker beefcake Harvey Dent but these are forgivable. Considering I am enjoying the story so far and am looking forward to episode 2-5 but they are taking too long to release them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwMhxphBUqg