Parents' Guide to Batman - The Telltale Series

For every comic book fan who once dreamed of growing up to be Batman, this is your chance. But being Batman isn't all about grappling hooks and Batarangs. It's about using your brain as the World's Greatest Detective. It's about making critical decisions at a moment's notice. And it's about making sure that the hard choices are the right choices and never becoming the very thing you're fighting against. That's what makes Telltale's take on Batman stand out. The choices you make in the game determine not only the fate of Gotham City but also the character and soul of the iconic superhero. Make no mistake about it -- this is a "grown-up" Batman tale for a grown-up audience. The game doesn't shy away from the darker side of the Dark Knight's world. Scenes from the game include a full-on fisticuffs between Catwoman and Batman, the bloody beat-down of a couple of muggers, and a brutally bone-crunching interrogation of an assassin -- and that's just part of the violence in the first episode alone.

Telltale's tried-and-true decision-making formula gives the game an extra layer of storytelling, as players quickly have to decide what to say or do, opting to follow what they think Batman/Bruce Wayne would actually do or even veering way off course to craft a different, more personal version of the Caped Crusader. The game's new "Crowd Play" feature lets friends get in on the action, too. By syncing up to three mobile device, players can cast their votes during the game's branching choices, with the majority decision being the one selected. Players can then give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down vote to how the decision plays out. It's definitely a fun way to get others to become more than passive observers. Of course, with this being a Telltale adventure, the story plays out over multiple episodes, and many choices you make at the start won't come to fruition until later down the road. It's a slow burn to start, but much like the first issue of a great comic book arc, seeing all the parts ultimately come together is what keeps the audience's interest. With Batman – The Telltale Series, Telltale Games and DC Comics have created a unique interactive experience with a story on par with or even beyond what could ever be accomplished on the printed page. This Batman is your Batman, and his story has become your story. The question is, what kind of hero are you going to be?