We sit down and review Batman: The Telltale Series — Guardian Of Gotham. This is the fourth episode of Telltale’s take on the Batman franchise. Here’s our review on how they did
The episodes of Batman: The Telltale Series keep pouring out and things keep getting all twisted up in this new take on the franchise. We’ve seen some great twists and turns in the story so far and it looks like Telltale Games is aiming to get the whole thing out in a timely manner. That said, the fourth episode of this Batman episodic adventure is here and it looks to add a few familiar faces to the mix of characters. Hopefully all in an attempt to twist the whole story on its head and give us something that we never expected from the characters. Here’s our review on just how well they did with all of this as we head toward the story’s conclusion.
Story
We are fresh of the amazing twist that happened in the last episode of Batman and due to those events we find Bruce admitted as a patient into Arkham Asylum. He’s still trying to shake off the effects of the drugs and consequences of his past actions but we are here to help him along. It also looks like the Joker, or at least the early version of the Joker, is here to do the same thing as well. All so we can get back to the streets and help take down the true villains in the world and hopefully save the Wayne name in the mix of it all. Who will be doing all of that is up to us and we went more with Bruce in these matters.
Hated
Gods I hate starting out here given that Batman: The Telltale Series has been rather strong since its first episode, but this episode felt like it was all over the place and couldn’t focus. In fact, the whole trip to Arkham felt like it was forced to get a few fan favorite characters mixed into the story and was tossed aside just as easy once the little bit of information was gained. It was something that didn’t feel like it belonged given how everything has pressed on already. Maybe there is a greater story to be had with it all in the final episode but it really felt forced here and the characters under used. Especially since I’ve been hyped to see how Telltale handles the Clown Prince. So far just as a plot pusher.
It also felt really off on how all of the characters in the story have progressed based on the choices made so far. I get that there is a grander story that Telltale Games is going for and allowing for true freedom would make that impossible but even with some of the choices we get here it makes no sense the leaps of logic that the supporting cast makes based on them. That is, outside of pushing the story on and toward where we are heading. Maybe there are some other things that other branches would show in the long run but I should have to see all the fractured timelines to understand the one that I am on. Again, this moves to the choices that don’t really matter column in a way but I’m not putting it there just yet.
Loved
I know I’ve griped on the story here a bit but I will say that once it got back on track and synced up with what we’ve already been playing in Batman so far, it was just as amazing as always. It actually placed things in the balance for Bruce and even ends with a rather hard choice to make. Such a hard choice that as of my play through the percentages were almost 50% on both ends. This hasn’t been the case in a game from Telltale in a while for me and it was great to see that the story could end up going down this path. I won’t spoil what it is for now but it does look like we will have some hardships to deal with in the final episode that I have found lacking through the whole game so far.
Also on the flip side of the above gripe, while the characters of the Joker and Zsasz felt forced in for a bit of story that didn’t feel needed, the short time we saw those characters brought a new life to them that I’ve only seen since Batman: Arkham Asylum. It shows that Telltale Games knows how to take some great source material, make it their own, and also improve upon it. I can see great things from all of these teases if there is a second season of Batman from Telltale and I hope they keep the work they have laid down already. These characters need new life after so long and the little bit we were given here shows that it is still possible. Now to give them their own seasons and we’ll be good.
Overall
In the end, while this episode of Batman: The Telltale Series is needed in the grand scheme of things, it suffered from some forced story bits that could have been handled a different way and not used to pad the overall story. I loved the take on the classic characters but the whole scene was something that could have been as written off as a phone call. You’ll see what I did there. It does lend to the whole of it all but this was definitely the weakest of the season so far. I’m still going to say you should give it a go as I can see it building up to a great conclusion and there are a few things here that will be needed, but this is an episode I hope Telltale learns from in terms of what worked and what didn’t. There is a lot of it here.
I give Batman: The Telltale Series — Guardian Of Gotham 4 Patients In Arkham on the Patients In Arkham scale.
Batman: The Telltale Series — Guardian Of Gotham
Batman: The Telltale Series — Guardian Of Gotham was developed by Telltale Games. Batman: The Telltale Series — Guardian Of Gotham was published by Telltale Games for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and PC on November 22nd 2016. A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for reviewing purposes.