Batman : Arkham Origins

For Review of the Cold, Cold Heart DLC Click HERE!

 2 year  window per game , still Arkham series packs a huge punch . Why ? you ask . Because its Batman :D . I mean come on . Who doesn't love him ? Everyone wants to be him . Well after a 2 year wait here is another chance to role play one of the coolest and Non - super Power HERO ever in the Comic Book World . Arkham Origins is the 3 rd installment in the Arkham series with the first installment Arkham Asylum in 2009 and Arkham City in 2011 .

Story  ::

At this point of the time the story is no big surprise . Everyone would either have finished the game by now or seen so many gameplay and story trailers to guess what the story is about .So let me just give you guys a short intro about it . The entire game takes place on one Night , Christmas Eve to be exact , so expect some snowing ;) . Black Mask the infamous Arms Smuggler  in Gotham City is annoyed with the latest Vigilante who is sweeping the streets of Gotham and making it empty of Crime . So he comes up with a brand new scheme to finish him off by putting a bounty on his head and publishing it to the Crime World's best Assassins in the Market . And its upto Batman to put an end to all this criminals and see to that they end behind Bars .

Black Mask

In the order of Appearance the Assassins are The Killer Croc , Electrocutioner , Deathstroke , Black Mask , Joker , Bane , Copperhead , Firefly , Shiva , Deadshot , Enigma , Mad Hatter , Penguin .  Only the First 7 characters are the ones you actually get to face in the main story Missions . While the remaining characters are available as Side missions . Enigma being the biggest side mission ever.

Keep in mind  that this story is the beginning where it all started . So Batman is a little unpolished and rough around the edges , skirting around the grey corners of Right and Wrong  . Although initially his hard voice was a little off putting , I gradually came to understand what he was feeling . I mean seeing the city crawling  with thugs and Criminals who go about doing crime as its their daily chore , just makes me sick . So I don the Cape of Dark Knight and hunt them like the Rats they are !! That will be your mentality when you complete the story mission .

Since the story is the beginning of the series , it ends with Joker being captured and put to Jail in bound bed and Croc being marched back to into the interior of Arkham Asylum . If you remember correctly , That is how Arkham Asylum beings too ;) Now that was a nice touch .

Intro Clip from Arkham Asylum 

Gameplay ::

1. Combat ::

Gameplay is where Arkham series had always shined at . And Arkham Origins does not fail in that . To say the  truth , Combat had actually been improved a lot in this . Just because you are Batman doesn't give you the power to swoop into a group of thugs and face them head on as you used to do in the earlier versions of the series .Because if you do that , you are probably going to end up dead . This time its not simple Button smashing that is going to push you forward in defeating guys , but the timing you deliver it , is what matters. Counter Ability is still available but had been made more complicated .

Initially when Batman is in his flow with a X, X , X Combo mode , the enemies will wait patiently till he finishes off the combo before trying to hit him . But not in this version , no sir  . Right when you are in the middle of X, X , X  a guy will try to hit you and you have to go to X, Y , Y , X  , Y , X , X , Y , Damn !! that makes the combat so much intense and concentrated that by the time I stopped a big gang Fight between 2 groups , a total of whooping 35 guys , I felt Like " WOW !! I did it . Damn I feel so powerful now ." The Combat is difficult and tough to master but once you do , you will be unstoppable , Not to mention your Utility belt that you can make use of .

2. Boss Fights ::

Against Killer Croc

Especially  the Boss fights . In the earlier series Boss fights were very rare and even if they were present it was all about sneaking behind the guy and taking him down . Never head on . But this time it feels more like a boss fight . Even in the first Chapter you will crash against Croc and god that fight feels intense . Highlight of the Game is the Epic battle against DeathStroke. Damn the guy is good . Almost equal to the Bat . His fight was all about Perfect Counter . Counter Quickly and you are gone , Counter too late and you are gone too . You just have to find the right timing between hitting and countering . Bane's fight is all about evading and providing him a flurry of beatdown moves . Copper head is all about usage of Explosive Gel to take down the correct one . And Firefly,  the most easiest one is all about using  your utility belt . But what makes the fights so intense and dramatic are the amazing Cinematic clips you get at the beginning , Middle and probably at the end .Damn the combat feels good will be your thought when you play against these guys.

Vs DeathStroke

Copperhead

Vs Copperhead

Vs Firefly

3. Stealth ::

That doesn't mean there are no stealth sections in the game . You still are given Stealthy gameplay mechanics which involves the usual taking down of Armed enemies by swooping down from the gargoyle in the corners of the building / Room . I had always wondered what was the purpose of the Gargoyles :P I mean come on , Every building has them . Its not like that it serves an aesthetic environment :P Seriously inside a Police Department :D

4. Quick Travel  ::

The Batwing 

Another new mechanic that have been included in  Origins is the introduction of Batwing . When Rumors first started floating around that you can actually control The Legendary Jet , people went crazy . But later Developer Montreal confirmed that yes , the Batwing will be coming , Yipeeeee !!! , But no you wont be able to fly it manually !! .. Noooooo  :( :(  . You can use it to traverse the huge city of Gotham by Quick Travel . Because imagine how you felt in Arkham City when you have to traverse the entire City just by Grappling and Gliding . It was fun I have to admit but sometimes you will just get irritated to glide from one corner of the map to another . Not to mention the unnecessary fights you will be pulled into when you glide over a building of armed guys . Arrghh !! I hated that . Well thank God ! , these Quick Travel techniques is really cool , not to mention instead of the dreaded Loading Screen as you travel , you get to see an awesome cinematic of Batman Grappling into his Jet and then blazing off into the sky to the destination and Dropping down from the jet as it flows by . Come on , you have to admit it . Its so damn Cool :D huh !!

5. Evidence Scanner :: 

Another new tactic that has been introduced is the Evidence scanner . Now Batman will be able to scan a Evidence and then reconstruct the crime finding out bits and pieces of evidence that would have escaped anyone's notice if not for the possible Trajectory that is shown by the Computer .One of the coolest evidence scan was the one where you will investigate the death of Black Mask and reconstruct it with the most dramatic video ever . And the way Batman Voice over ends the visual had my skin crawling with Goosebumps . I was like WOW ..Super cool :D

You will also get individual side missions where you can investigate crimes that had taken place all over Gotham City.

Gadgets ::

Batman's strength has always been his utility belt . The Famous Tools of Trade includes Batarang  ( Remote + Sonic ) , Cryptographic Sequencer , BatClaw , Explosive Gel, Smoking pellet forming the basic Gadgets that the Bat usually has while the new and advanced ones include ,

1. Remote Claw ::

This is the new addition similar to a Bat Claw which helps in connecting a Chasm with a high tensile wire that Batman can use to traverse the unthinkable . Its also very useful in taking down 2 Armed  enemies . Use the remote claw to get the targets locked and when you do hit fire , The grappler attaches itself to the enemies and pulls them together ;) And also can be used to fire at an enemy and hang him up inverted to a Vantage point . Was very useful in a group full of Armed thugs . Quite a useful gadget but one that was made such a ridicule of initially

2. Glue Grenade ::

This is another new Gadget that can be made use of in Combat . But the main part where it comes in use it to use it as a raft to cross water filler areas. Although we had a similar equipment to travel across water in Arkham City , on the way to meet penguin :D . And seriously wats up with Penguin and the rafts , I don t know . Maybe , since he is named  " The Penguin " they place him in a water filled area :P .

3. Concussion Detonator :

So far this is weakest and most un-used  gadget you will ever come across . I guess they introduced it just for name sake to give some new weapons . All it does when it explodes is to make your enemy go berserk for not even more than 10 sec . Then they are going to start charging at you . No thank you :)

4. Disruptor :: 

Another major device that is very useful , because with out this , your communication to the Super Computer in your Batcave is effectively blocked . So there is no way you can unscramble a electronic Lock without this baby . Also effective against gun toting enemies .

All the gadgets do have a use when the time comes for it . But identifying which is which is were a true Here will  be born ;)

5. Shock Gloves :: 

Another Cool equipment which helps you a lot in combat too . In order to activate it you must charge it first and then once activated its capable of delivering one strike blows to even the most powerful of the enemies. You get it from Electrocutioner who sadly is the weakest of all Assassins . Just when you were expecting a dramatic fight , Baaaam!!  off he goes into twilight zone with  a Single kick :P

Side Missions ::

The best thing about Arkham Origins is that the game not only stops when the Main Missions ends. There are still some case files left undisclosed . Being BATMAN you can't allow that to happen . So after the grand Finale , Batman informs Alfred that he still has got some cleaning up to do in the city before he turns in for the BatCave . And the cheery Alfred gives off a Splendid " We can have excellent late  Dinner for breakfast "  ;)

The Ever Good Alfred

1. Mad Hatter :: 

This guy is the shortest one that you will ever come across and you can finish him off in a single shot . Batman comes to know that a Young girl has been kidnapped .Being the good guy he is , he rushes off to save her and gets lured into the Magic world of Mad hatter . Although the level gameplay style does reminds us of Ra's al Ghul's Mystery world in Arkham City , This sure does it with a panache :D . You will feel like BaT in the WONDERLAND :D . Satisfactory end to the Hatter too atlast .

2. Shiva :: 

Trained by the mysterious Ra's Al Ghul , she follows the code set by her Master that the city of Gotham cannot be saved . It only can be destroyed and then reborn from the ashes. But Batman once again proves her wrong by rescuing the  corrupt police officials she had put in Danger and thereby proving it to her that his morals are much more greater than hers .

3. Deadshot :: 

This guy was available in Arkham City too in a side mission . But since I did not have the patience to go through it then , I left him :D . But not this time around . When Batman reaches a S.O.S signal , he is suddenly highlighted by a Police Copter which is mysteriously taken down by a High power bullet . Using the Evidence Scanner Batman pieces it together to know that such a complex shot needs a experienced person to handle it . And finally finishes off him inside a room with the usual Gargoyle's help ;)

Deadshot's insane angle Shot at the chopper

4. Enigma :: 

Phew ! This guy is the longest . I mean in order to reach out and destroy the network that Enigma has , Batman has to unscramble All the GCR towers in all the seven districts of Bowery , Park Row , Amusement mile , Industrial district , Coventry , Diamond District , Burnley . Only then you will be able to destroy the network relays that Enigma has kept up in places in order to collect info about the citizens of Gotham which he uses to blackmail them into submission . And not to mention the collection of Data Packs which contains the actual blackmail info. Phew collecting all of them is no easy joke . These are hidden all over the city in the most unthinkable places sometimes . But thanks for the information given out by Enigma's Data Handlers you will get them marked in your map .

Not to mention the number of ingenious puzzles you have to crack in order to get the Datapacks which are behind bars or hidden inside . You will make use of all the weapons in your utility belt in order to get to it . :D Like Batarang to hit switches , remote controlled ones to hit switches that are out of reach , glue grenade to stop steam , cryptographic sequencer to unlock closed boxes , .. Like literally all of it :) Hell they even test your gliding capability with one data pack . Hats off . Totally awesome . Apart from one data pack marker which was placed wrongly . Its points to a top of the building but in reality existed below the building inside sewers .

5. Anarchy :: 

Anarchy gets a side mission too , where you have to just reach 3 different locations where bombs have been set up to detonate . After then its BOOM BOOM time for him .

6. Penguin & Black Mask :: 

These guy's side mission does not actually include taking them down . All you have to do is to destroy Black Mask's Gas storage compartment ( Explosive gel) and Weapons stashes of Penguin (Disruptor). when completed all , their case files will be closed.

You do get a mission from Lt. Gordon where he asks for your help to apprehend Black Gate Prisoners who had escaped .

And Developers do have a weird sense of Humor :P

Oh ! the PUN !! 

When I finally did complete all the side missions and Main, god the satisfaction I felt was so immense that I could never describe it in words . And Batman will seem so powerful than ever after hours of playing :) But still the game showed only 52 % Completed :( Maybe they include the Challenges in Batcave too huh . But 25 hrs in this game was more than enough for me :)

Pro's ::

1. You are BATMAN  :)
2. Amazing Graphics that wont strain your GPU that much .
3. Excellent Combat movements that feels more refrained and makes you feel so powerful.
4. Insane Boss fights with amazing cutscenes . Batman has never felt so powerful.
5. Dramatic Cutscens that  feel awesome to look .
6. Quick Travel, Like a Boss , in the BATWING.

Con's :: 

1. Game feels way more similar to Arkham City with a little tweaks here and there .
2. Sometimes When you glide across The buildings Snipers can pull you into Combat which you were not looking out for . Unless you are really good against gun toting enemies , better watch out where you fly .
3. Insane amount of Bugs and Glitches . Especially the One where Batman Wont climb into the Vent in Burnley District's GCR tower ( Enigma Side mission )  . Thank God WB heard the cries from Gamers and released a patch that fixed this major bug . ( PATCH 2 - install it and you are good ) And another one where Batman gets stuck in the side walls due to wrong grappling . God it was irritating.

Overall :: Reviewers from big gaming sites complained that there was nothing new in the game . Well obviously ,  previous game was so good that they left little room for improvement . And WB Montreal fixed them and made a beautiful game out of it . For that I am giving this game a

Rating :: [ 9.2 - 0.2 ( bugs ) ] =  9 / 10 ( Very good )

A must play for Every gamer out there . 

Regards 
Ram 

Contrast

Say hello to yet another Next gen title that  has hit the streets this month . Contrast is an indie game released by Compulsion Games production which borrows heavily from the concept of Limbo  But still manages to stand apart at certain places . So without further adieu lets plunge in

Story :: 

Dawn and Didi 

The story revolves around a little girl and her broken family . Players take up the role of little girl's imaginary character Dawn . Dawn , according to Didi has unique talent of blending into Shadow world and the real world . Now its the Objective of Didi to make her family whole again with help from her imaginary Friend .

The entire game spans only about for 3 Acts with not more than 2 hrs of your time . But still manages to punch a huge impact.

Gameplay :: 

The Entire setting of the game revolves around the neighborhood of Didi's home  which has a L.A. Noire kind of feel to it . Only Didi is made visible to us while we get to see the other characters only via Shadow. It actually kind of makes sense that we can see Didi alone as she was the one who created us :).

But where does the game shine ? , you ask . Well lets say in the unique way that the player character can jump in and out of the shadow world  . Dawn makes use of the shadows that plays on the wall to make her way across vast chasms or to reach places where the normal character was unable to do so . Although initially the puzzles are simple and cool , Its starts getting scarier only when objects make an appearance .

Dawn can use her ability to move objects into shadow world too . Like a piece of Box or a Cannon Ball . This where it gets tricky . In order to move the crates in the shadow world you must make sure that there are no obstructions in between . Because keep in mind , Dawn cannot jump when she is carrying an object . Neither does the object stay in shadows always . When the shadow ends or moves off , the object is going to pop out of the shadow world for sure .

There were some Genuine and interesting puzzles that had me scratching my brain for more than 15 min . But tats the limit , Any decent gamer can easily figure out the solution once he knows whats the main objective is . With that said, that doesn't  mean its going to easy and accomplished with one shot . It may take some time and of course the Trial and Error method do comes into play . Since the acts are so closely connected the Save Checkpoints are kind of rare making you to play the same thing again and again a chore .

There were some puzzles that are worth mentioning . Like the Solar system puzzle where you have to get a ball to a balcony or the one where you have to move the box around in the light house by figuring out to zoom a light in and out . My god , although the solution to the puzzles are not that hard to arrive at , figuring out a way as what we re supposed to make use of in the environment is where the game challenges you to core .

I have to mention the theater platforming for sure. Because this is where you will actually feel that the game is like LIMBO . Hell there is even a spider that comes to attack us like in Limbo . But yet again , the story telling is so narrative that it compels you to play through it again and again without any comments or Grudges .

Graphics was decent and not over the top as you would expect a game with not more that 2 GB space . But still the game looked good and the Environment rich with its own feel.

Pro's :: 

1. Interesting Story line . Even though it doesn't keep you hooked it sure does a good Job of pushing you forward .
2. Innovative way of Gameplay by making use of shadows to traverse the world . Hats off to the concept designer behind it .
3. Eerie and somber music that propels you forward .
4. Decent enough save points .

Con's ::

1. Game was too small .
2. Puzzles could have been a little more harder.

Overall :: If you loved LIMBO , the you will definitely love this . 

Rating  : 8.5 / 10  ( Good )

Regards
Ram 

Splinter Cell :: Blacklist

The legendary Series which  visualized the definition of Stealth Ops is back with Glory . A sequel to the Splinter Cell : Conviction that was released in 2010 , the story picks off where the last game left off , but with even more grand look and  a James bond movie like style in it  . As always the Tech gadgets in the game are ultra cool and makes us the lethal machine when required and a ghost when Stealth is a priority .

Story ::

Picking up where Conviction had left off , Blacklist starts with Third echelon being disbanded . But suddenly a new attack becomes imminent on US soil and the President creates a new Counter- Terrorism Unit known as the 4th Echelon . Sam Fischer takes the commander position with Anna 'Grim' Grímsdóttir taking up as the field Strategic officer who commands all the operations from a modified Cargo Plane termed as the Paladin. The story begins when a mysterious attack on a US Army Base at Guam initiates shock waves and a group calling themselves as Engineers taking responsibility for it . Their main objective is to remove the US troops that have been deployed Abroad , until then the Blacklist will continue . Now its upto Sam Fisher and his well organized team to Stop the Blacklist and to find out the real motive behind the Engineers . Engaged with twists and turns the story is perfect in every way , except from the climax which felt a little  sudden and abrupt

Gameplay ::

This is where Splinter Cell has always shined . And Blacklist doesn't let us down in any way . Players will be able to access the Blacklist missions via SMI ( strategic Mission Interface ) aboard the Paladin . As always Sam enters the field with all the Gadgets that makes his enemy looks like idiots . But that doesn't mean they are completely stupid . As long as they are unaware of your presence they are as good as walking dummies. But once they get alerted of your presence they will be like A Grade military soldiers, searching every nook and corner with flashlights.

Sam and Grim over SMI

Thank god for the full maneuverability that Sam is now able to hide anywhere he wants . I still remember the times in the old Splinter Cell games where you have to search for hours and hours of time to find the right way in , that too without alerting anyone of your presence . When you finally make it in , you see a guard making his way to you and you have no option of jumping back to the place from where you came from and finally you have to take him down . And taking down a guy during that time was not easy as it is now .

Blacklist provides us with many options to hide at the most unusual places . Like You can jump and grab a pipe when a guard comes towards you or use the wall where you can cling to like a Monkey . The infamous Mark and Fire is back again too, although you will refrain from using them to the max level. I used to use that everytime in Conviction , but in Blacklist I was skeptical of using it . Because the satisfaction of a melee kill can never be beaten . But still there were moments in the game where you are literally dragged into Action fights with no other option .

Agent Briggs

The level where you get to play as Briggs with First person perspective was quite new and different . I think this is the first time a game had supported both FPS and 3PS style for gaming .

FPS when playing with Briggs

The game employs 3 styles of Gameplay .

Ghost , Assault and Panther ( left to right )

1. Assault ::

 This as the name suggests is going out on a full on firefight against enemies with your guns blazing . Upgrade your Armor and you are good to go .

2. Panther ::

This is the style I Love the most . You have to take down all guys silently in area either with a lethal or non lethal attack . But no enemy should be left alone .

3. Ghost ::

This the exact opposite of Assault and Panther . Enemies should never know that you were even there at all .This is the most thrilling of all and the satisfaction you get when you complete a mission in Ghost mode is absolutely satisfying . At last a mode that makes us feel like that we are actually playing a Splinter Cell game.

Although the game modes looks cool under its name . The game does not allow you to choose your style at the beginning and try to force you through the entire mission with the same rule.Depending upon the way you play , you are awarded points to the different modes ..If you used Assault style then Assault XP will increase and so it goes on . Hats off to the Creative team that thought of that .

Gadgets ::

The famous Sticky shocker , Sticky Emp , Sticky camera are there again :) . splinter Cell fans will know how memorable these things are . The had helped me in getting out in more than one sticky situations. Since the Blacklist also concentrates more heavily on Multi-player, there is a loadout slot for each character who can be customized according to one's requirements . For eg : If you are guy who loves stealth you can upgrade your suit with stealth clothing along with the gadgets that help you in moving around stealthily . The Stun gun was a favorite of mine in this game . It really helps us in moving around quickly and finishing off a target suddenly coming around the corner while you are still halfway through the hallway . Your gun may not be effective enough at a long range , unless you are an expert marksman who can bring down a guy with single shot .

Its in this place the stun gun comes into place . Just one shot from it is enough to incapacitate any enemy from a distance especially a Search dog  . God !! these are the most irritating ones that you will come across. The Dogs can smell you wherever you are hiding nearby and will give out our place by barking at us . The only way is to avoid the places where the dogs stroll by or eliminate them when you get the chance . This is where a noise maker comes in handy .

Another remarkable upgrade is in your goggles which can be upgraded to awesome techies that gives you more than a fair advantage when you are in the field against enemies. It can be upgraded to Thermal imaging , Thermal Imaging footprints tracker , sonar , sonar upgrade with range specs etc.. Sonar was the best goggle tech that I had ever come across . It helps us in identifying enemies who are behind a wall and those who are in the vicinity .

Thermal Imaging

Your favorite Silent pistol is back although this time you have the chance of upgrading it , to your level of comfort . There are different choices for you from which you can select  the one you want . You also have a variety of Assault Rifles and Sniper Rifles from which you can select you want . Although keep in mind that you have  to get them unlocked with money you earn from completing missions .

Tri-rotor is another new addition to the arsenal . But since we have already come across them in Tom Clancy's Ghost  Recon : Future soldier , this didn't give us that much delight .

Tri-Rotor in action

You also have a variety of Grenades - smoke , incendiary , Frag , sleeping gas , flash-bang etc ...Very useful in tight places where you come across a group of enemies . The level where you have to escape from a prison when the light goes off is amazing to look and play :D .

Side Missions ::

Grim and Charlie give you a variety of side missions while you are travelling in Paladin . Grim's missions are all about stealth , infiltration and getting out with no one hearing a whisper of you . While Charlie's missions are just surviving waves and waves of enemies in a confined space . Briggs only provides you with Co-op mission . so unless you are connected to the Internet and have a friend who is willing to work with you , then this is not going to play out . But I guess it might have been kind of cool to play :)

You do get to talk with Sarah ( Sam's daughter ) now and then , but they never do show her till last .

Slowly when the game does finally drag to the final Chapter , you will just feel washed out . As usual with big games of nowadays , you just feel disappointed with final ending  ( apart from Bioshock Infinite  ;))

Pro's ::

1. Get to play once again as the infamous Secret Agent who defined the Stealth Series .
2. Cool Gadgets and fluid response of Sam is just a pleasure to watch and play .
3. Melee attacks can be brutal and noisy or silent . Be it either way , you will just love taking down enemies .
4. Challenging levels that tests your true skill of remaining undetected and test your patience and reasoning skills with the routine nature of guards roaming around . You can either rush in and get killed or wait for him to come to you and take him down .
5. Graphics has been a major improvement from the last game.
6. Thank god its bug free. I still remember trying to make conviction work long enough for me to complete a mission without it getting crashed.
7. Music Score is not that good although the BGM does hit its peak at some places .

Con's ::

1. Repetitive levels that kind of get boring after sometime.
2. Checkpoint saves are kept at weird places that sometimes piss the hell out of you.
3. Final ending is so simple and quick that you feel as if the climax was never there in the first place.

Overall :: A game that has to be played by all . Especially fans who love Stealth . But for hardcore Splinter Fans , I would suggest you stick with the old games itself .

Rating :: 8.8 / 10 ( Good)

Regards
Ram