Episode two of Telltale’s Batman adventure is here, and the quality of the first episode has carried through to Children of Arkham as well. If you haven’t gotten in on this series yet, now is the perfect time.
When we left off, Bruce Wayne had just discovered proof that his parents were not the perfect people he thought they were. Oh, it’s about to get so much worse.
Like the first episode, Children of Arkham starts and really doesn’t take a break. Every scene is littered with interactive dialogue, quick-time events and other features we’ve come to see in Telltale’s games. All this dialogue is important as well, so be sure to keep your eyes glued to the screen so you don’t miss any clues.
As with any Telltale game, the story really is the most important part, and Children of Arkham keeps things moving. As each thread comes to an end, two more spring from it. Telltale has done a great job of making everything seem important, regardless of the decisions you have made.
Speaking of decisions, based on the stats seen at the end of the episode, I’m playing Batman with no romantic interest at heart, unlike the majority of gamers. As one could guess, Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle find themselves with some sexual tension. Interestingly, the vast majority of players so far have given in when presented the opportunity.
Some of the other major decisions are much more evenly split. One of the most interesting scenes allows players to approach it either as Bruce Wayne or Batman. This greatly changes how the scene plays out, as you would imagine. In a game that’s theoretically about Batman, it’s interesting to see so many are still interested in seeing more Bruce Wayne.
Children of Arkham is noticeably shorter than the first episode; each achievement for completing a chapter popping up faster and faster. That being said, more plot feels packed into the given timeframe than in the previous chapter. Like other adaptations, this Wayne is haunted by his history. Not to dwell in it, the Bruce here revisits and learns from it to move forward. Then again, with so much new information about his parents, maybe Bruce isn’t the most reliable person when it comes to the past.
Interestingly enough, the eponymous Children of Arkham don’t even really make themselves known until well into the episode. Without revealing too much, Bruce has only scratched the surface with how far this whole thing goes. It does show just how much story there is though, when the titular antagonists don’t even show up until so late into the proceedings.
It’s also refreshing to see a realistic depiction of a classic Batman villain. The Penguin has seen some bizarre interpretations over the years, many involving a literal colony of penguins. The Oswald Cobblepot found in Telltale’s Batman is a man who wants revolution, and is willing to take it at any cost. It seems he may just be a pawn in all of this, however, but let’s not get into too much spoiler territory.
While anyone will be able to enjoy the Telltale Batman series, it definitely feels as if you need to have at least a decent understanding of the basics for this interpretation to really make an impact. Fans of the Dark Knight will love the ways the traditional story is being twisted and turned here, but those not so familiar may not quite know why things are as important or shocking as they may seem. That being said, even those completely new to the character will still be able to understand the dismay of a long-held truth turning out to be a lie, and people you know not living up to the memories you hold of them.
Unfortunately, I did experience some technical issues while playing. At odd times, parts of the screen would go black and pop in and out, and the framerate frequently stuttered during scenes filled with action. These were mostly the transition sequences, but it still broke some of the immersion.
Looking towards the next episode, it seems the important things are Bruce’s potential relationship with Selena Kyle, what actual truth there is behind these accusations towards the Wayne family and who the mysterious leader of the Children of Arkham are.
So what do you think? Have you started playing the Batman series from Telltale yet? What major decisions did you make in your game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
