Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
The Dark Knight returns for an epic but violent new chapter.
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Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series
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The review
What’s It About?
BATMAN: THE ENEMY WITHIN -- THE TELLTALE SERIES continues the saga of DC Comics' Caped Crusader as he picks up the pieces following the collapse of the Children of Arkham and the shocking revelations he uncovered about his family's dealings with Gotham's underground. There's little time to adjust though, as the city is terrorized once again by a returning threat. Missing and long thought dead, the criminal genius known as the Riddler has made his way back to Gotham, and he's set his sights on Batman. Now the Dark Knight must try to uncover the true motive behind Riddler's return. Along the way, he'll need to deal with a ruthless federal official looking to make an example of Gotham, a criminal underground seeking to take advantage of a weakened city, and a certain maniacal madman whose tenuous grip on sanity may be the closest thing to a voice of reason. How far will Batman go to save his city? And will it cost him his soul to do so?
Is It Any Good?
Gotham's greatest hero returns in an incredible tale that is engaging and graphic and truly emphasizes the fact that consequences of your actions matter. Telltale Games' first foray into the mean streets of Gotham didn't just put players in the cape and cowl of the Dark Knight, it opened a window into the heart and mind of the man behind the mask. Batman: The Enemy Within – The Telltale Series continues Bruce Wayne's journey of self-discovery and his evolution as the hero Gotham needs. Once again, this is a story about making tough decisions and learning to live with the consequences of those decisions. Players of the first season can carry over their choices into this new season or start fresh with the default options. Either way, this is still a Batman unlike any other. This is your Batman, shaped by your choices and your personality.
For the second season of Batman, Telltale apparently decided to push the envelope even further than it did the first time around. Right out of the gate, the violence is more intense and graphic than before. The Riddler's introduction alone leaves no question about his ruthlessness, spilling more blood in his first 10 minutes on-screen than many horror films do in their entirety. The game also feels more interactive, with more reliance on quick time events (QTE) than before. This doesn't take away from the drama of the story, but rather pulls you deeper into the action, heightening the tension and the adrenaline rush. It's still a far cry from a reflex-driven arcade experience, and the primary focus is still on the development of the characters and their stories. In fact, The Enemy Within manages to take the best parts of the first season and raise the bar even higher. This may not be a Batman for the kiddies, but it's easily one of the most engaging Batman tales in recent memory, and one of the best games to ever put players in control of the World's Greatest Detective.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about choices and consequences. What are some ways to deal with tough decisions, and what are some ways to weigh the potential consequences of choices?
Talk about the definition of being a hero. Does being a hero require gadgets or superhuman abilities? Or is it the person behind the mask that makes a hero? What are some examples of real-world humans who are heroes, and what traits do they share?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Telltale Games
- Release date: August 7, 2017
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes , Adventures
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Last updated: April 2, 2021
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