As someone who has always loved Batman and was too young when the Arkham games first came out, I have finally gotten around to playing them and falling in love with the Arkham-verse.
I would like to also say that it is NOT A BAD GAME, but other than the story and combat I just feel a bit let down after the previous games, more specifically Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, Arkham Origins was just good for me, not as special as the first two.
I'll start with what I found good, the story is honestly amazing and really gripped me and I think that is the same for most people. I am still yet to play all the DLC but I have a feeling I will enjoy it as all the stories in the Arkham-verse are so well done. The hand combat is probably the best and most fluid out of the Arkham series and feels really good. The Voice acting is also really good and has been in every Arkham game. Jim Gordon being Jonathan Banks messes with my brain because I recognise him from other IP's but he does an amazing job. Troy Baker also does a great job as the Arkham Knight, but sounds a bit silly with the mask on and the voice effects the added afterwards but once he is unmasked he sounds much better, but he doesn't sound bad in the first place.
My main problem is with the gameplay loop, it begins to feel incredibly repetitive. Many parts of the game have you go to one place for something and then it turns out something has happened and you need to then travel somewhere else for it.
The introduction of the Batmobile and the forced usage of it. It was very much an interesting gimmick at first and quite fun, but after a while you begin to get bored of the fights with it and the controls are just not great for it, usually feeling clunky and not really enjoyable. It would be okay if the fights in the Batmobile weren't so monotonous and boring. Although the actual combat is the best in the series, some fights with the militia are just boring and do not feel as thought out as the previous titles.
One Major issue I had was there was NO BOSS FIGHTS. The game franchise that has some of the coolest boss fights like Deathstroke in Arkham Origins. So who decided it was a good idea to have the boss fights in the Batmobile? Oh and the boss fight with the Arkham Knight that isn't in the Batmobile is a predator encounter so you don't really get to fight him. There also is not one with Scarecrow at the end but the whole [spoiler]Joker Scare-Toxin[/spoiler] part is really interesting and has a lot of depth to it.
The change in the controls/gameplay mechanics from previous titles is also VERY frustrating, I found myself constantly pressing the wrong buttons for my gadgets because the last THREE games all used the same controls for the gadgets as well as other things, so why they would change it is beyond me. Although previous games occasionally switched where the gadget would be when selecting them, you would realise after five minutes and not have an issue with it again. I also didn't really like how they changed the upgrade system or the map and how it looks/works.
I have also found the game to be not very well optimised and should be able to run at least 144fps but struggles to break 90 at times, which is frustrating since Arkham Origins ran at a capped 200fps and came out 2 years before Arkham Knight. It appears that I am not the only one with this issue as I have found multiple reddit and steam posts that discuss this issue.
Once you complete the game, Batman says he is going to activate the "Knightfall" protocol and to trigger the cutscene you have to complete all the side missions, that I have no issue with. What I do have an issue with is that to complete all the side missions you have to collect ALL the Riddler Trophies, which is 243 for those who don't know. I just found it frustrating that after completing the game, in order to find out what happens to Batman I have to collect Riddler Trophies and I don't think many people enjoy them which is frustrating because he is probably my favourite side mission character in the Arkham games because his dialogue is so entertaining, but collecting the trophies is so tedious and boring.
I find it hard to give the game a 5/10 because I enjoy the story and a few other things, but the rest is just not as fun. I would give the story and combat an 8.5/10 and and the rest a 4or5/10 If I am being honest. I just felt let down in the end.
