Batman: Arkham Origins, is a prequel to 2011’s Batman: Arkham City, which was developed by Rocksteady Games. Origins is developed by Warner Bros. Games Montreal and is scheduled for release on Oct. 25, 2013, for the PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360, and PC. We rounded up all the details into one place. Here are they are.
Arkham Origins is set years before the events of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City, and focuses on a young but experienced Batman (although nothing compared to Arkham City).
While the Caped Crusader has already gained a reputation by fighting small-time thugs, things are about to change as eight of the best assassins in the world have come to Gotham City and have decided to kill Batman on Christmas Eve.
There are criminals like Joker, Bane, Killer Croc, Scarecrow and Deadshot who all want a piece of Batman, and Dooma Wendschuh, the game’s narrative director, also wanted to tackle the hero’s relationship with his butler Alfred.
“We wanted to take a look at the Batman and Alfred relationship a different way, to make it more relatable,” Wendschuh tells CVG.
“Batman sees Alfred as an extension of the darkest time, the darkest thing in his life. He sees Alfred as an extension of the death of his parents, because Alfred’s been around since his parents were around. Sort of as an overbearing parental figure. And Alfred, for his part, sees Batman as this spoiled kid who’s squandering his parents’ wealth on these nightly escapades. The two of them clash often throughout our story.”
As if that’s not enough trouble for the Bat, he also has to deal with Black Mask, one of the most dangerous men in the city, possessing massive wealth and resources and controlling Gotham’s criminal underworld. Apparently, Black Mask has placed a bounty on Batman’s head and the hero needs to know why.
The game was a result of Warner’s decision to create a game where Batman would have his first altercation with the Joker, and would therefore show Batman’s roots. The developers also wanted the game set in an earlier time. This allowed the studio greater freedom to elaborate on familiar Batman characters and in-game actions.
“We are confident this talented team will craft a fantastic experience, bringing the origins of the Arkhamverse to life,” Sefton Hill, director of the first two titles in the series, stated.
Creative director of the game Eric Holmes also added the following:
“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. Batman hasn’t become the character that we know and are very familiar with.”
As far as the gameplay is concerned, it was reported that Batman: Arkham Origins will experience a world that’s twice the size of Batman: Arkham City. New enemy types will also encourage the Bats to adapt and learn new combat moves.
Old favorites such as ledge takedowns, glides, and sleeper holds will make a return, alongside the famed Predator Mode, and the trusty Batwing. There is also a rumor stating that the game will feature a multiplayer mode. Kotaku, recently, came up with the game’s multiplayer details that it got from one of its tipsters.
“As for the details, according to our tipster,” Kotaku wrote, “during at least one section of multiplayer, you play as a member of Joker or Bane's gang while trying to take down Batman and Robin. The villains involved—who may be playable and customizable—include Killer Croc, Deadshot, Firefly, Black Mask, Deathstroke, and ‘some kind of Electroman character,’ our tipster said.”
