3.5/5 ★ – wesleytypes's review of Batman: Arkham Origins.

A good game and a very good Batman experience, but also clearly a B-team effort. Replacements in the voice cast, assets ripped right from Arkham City, and some new ideas with gadgets and series conventions that don't hold up. I was really looking forward to the snow and Christmas setting (nothing beats Batman in the snow) but this Gotham actually ended up being pretty dull, drab, and lifeless. It has no color whatsoever, and the old muddy textures don't help. The voice cast is serviceable, but Batman and the Joker are just mimicry and I couldn't help but hear Ralof or any other number of Nords from Skyrim whenever Jim Gordon speaks. I don't mean to rail against the game so hard because it really was a fun time. But, and this sounds worse than I mean it, I remember why I never revisited this one after all these years. It's more Arkham Batman, which is always a good thing (NOT you Suicide Squad), but it doesn't offer much beyond the satisfaction of "more" and in some places is noticably lacking. I'm glad I finally did come back to Arkham Origins, and it was exciting to see the story actually reach some high points toward the end that are equal to what the Rocksteady trilogy offers, but it will always have those other three games ahead of it.