Batman Arkham Origins Wiki: Everything you need to know about the game

Batman: Arkham Origins is an upcoming video game being developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal and released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It is the successor and prequel to 2011’s Batman: Arkham City developed by Rocksteady Games.

The game is set for release on October 25, 2013, for the PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360, and PC.

• 1. Development
• 2. Story
• 3. Gameplay
• 4. Characters

Development

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment decided to create a game where Batman would have his first confrontation with the Joker, thus creating an origin story of sorts. The developer, Warner Bros. Montreal, stated that setting the game in an earlier time allowed the studio greater freedom to refresh familiar characters and game play.

Director Eric Holmes, “It gives us the opportunity to refresh things a bit. Refresh characters, refresh ideas, refresh the dynamic between Batman and other characters, and refresh the world, too” stating that Batman hasn’t always been “the character that we know and are very familiar with.” [reference]

Though wanting to stay consistent with the previous games, the team is planning on raising the bar in their use of silhouettes and film noir lighting to make Batman a more imposing figure. With the story taking place around Christmas, the studio is also creating Christmas decorations unique to Gotham City to further lend a haunting feel.

As for Batman’s outfit, the developer it to look assembled from various parts rather than a whole piece suit. Despite Rocksteady Studios, the team that created Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, not returning for the project, it has stated that it has full faith in Warner Bros. Montreal for the prequel.[reference]

Story

Batman: Arkham Origins is set several years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City. The game will focus on a younger, brasher, but still experienced Batman (though he won’t be as experienced as in Arkham City). He has gained a reputation in fighting low-level thugs, though his career comes to a very key juncture as eight of the best assassins in the world have come to Gotham City on Christmas Eve to kill the Batman.[reference]

Black Mask has placed a bounty on the super hero, and Batman must unravel why Black Mask is after him. In Arkham Origins, Black Mask is the most dominant man in the city, possessing vast wealth and resources, and controls Gotham’s criminal underworld. The police at this point are unsure of the Batman’s allegiance, and corrupt cops also come into the picture to help Black Mask.

Gameplay

The game world is more than twice the size of Batman: Arkham City. WB Montreal decided not to modify the combat system a great deal, seeing as it was already a big success in the previous games. It instead decided to introduce new enemy types to provide for new tactics and combat moves to defeat opponents.

New enemy types will also force Batman to adapt and learn new moves in order to take them down. A new gadget known as the Remote Claw can be used like Just Cause’s detachable grapple line to target two enemy types and knock them together. It can also be used to grapple an enemy to an object, causing said object to collapse on the enemy.

Rocksteady will provide advice on the technology, engine and game mechanics. Glides, ledge takedowns and sleeper holds make a return, as does Predator Mode. The Batwing will make an appearance, as well.

Many characters from the Batman universe are set to make an appearance. This includes Black Mask, Deathstroke, Penguin, James Gordon, The Joker, Deadshot, Killer Croc, Alfred Pennyworth and many more. Batman: Arkham Origins will also feature an overhauled Most Wanted system, along with expanded roster of gadgets and moves. The game is also rumoured to feature a multiplayer mode that will allow players to control a member of Joker or Bane’s gang while fighting Batman and Robin. [reference] It is also reported that Joker and Bane will also be playable.

Characters

The game features a number of iconic Batman characters, prominently including:

Batman – The Dark Knight is back in Gotham in a younger incarnation than previous Arkham games and there’s a bounty on his head.

Joker – Batman’s clown faced foe, The Joker, is in Gotham and is up to no good.

Bane – One of a number of Merc’s after the bounty on Batman’s head.

This wiki was last updated on 2nd, January, 2015.