Batman fans are already getting excited about the upcoming release of Batman: Arkham Origins and Arkham Origins Blackgate, two new entries in the award-winning series from Rocksteady Studios. While Rocksteady may not be handling the project this time around, the team at WB Games Montreal has taken the reigns with full endorsement from the previous studio. WB Games has released some new information about Arkham Origins via Game Informer, along with some impressive screenshots.
Initial plot details were scarce, other than the game revolving around a group of eight assassins who have traveled to Gotham City to kill Batman. As the title implies, the game will focus on Batman’s early days and his first confrontations with some of the franchise’s infamous supervillains. However, it has now been revealed that the group of villains has been brought to Gotham City by none other than Black Mask, who has put a hit out on The Dark Knight. So far, only two of these supervillains have been revealed, including Deathstroke and a monocle-less Penguin, both of whom can be seen in the screenshots below. Aside from the typical villain-themed henchmen, Batman will also be facing off against corrupt members of the Gotham City Police Department, which could lead to some very interesting encounters.
Of course, one of the most intriguing aspects of any Arkham game is the setting, and WB Games Montreal is giving players an open-world experience that is much larger than what we’ve seen in past games. The studio has stated that the new environment is double the size of Arkham City, and is split into two districts. New Gotham stands as the wealthier segment of the city, filled with skyscrapers, parks, and nicer neighborhoods. Old Gotham is set to be the same map as seen in Akrham City, though long before the area was turned into one giant prison. With such a large environment to explore, WB Games Montreal has given Batman a new means of transportation in the form of the Batwing. While Batman’s private plane will not be pilotable, players will be able to call in the Batwing for fast-travel, so long as radar jammers and other anti-air defenses have been eliminated.
While the main focus will be on apprehending the assassins and bringing down Black Mask, Batman will still have to focus on ordinary crimes. Aside from the regular XP that you’ll earn from completing challenges and scoring huge combos, Arkham Origins features a reputation meter that will increase as you complete “Crimes in Progress” and track down “Most Wanted” supervillains who are not a part of the main storyline.
It is still unknown if The Riddler will once again make an appearance. His riddles have been one of the most enjoyable features of previous games, so it is expected that he will return.
WB Games Montreal has also revealed a few details about the companion game Arkham Origins Blackgate. Set shortly after the events of Arkham Origins, the 3DS and Vita title will take players to Blackgate Prison to shut down a riot that has broken out. The cause of the riot is unknown, and no main villains have been announced. The game will be a 2.5D sidescroller.
ScienceFiction will have more updates as they come, but until then, take a look at the awesome screenshots below. Batman: Arkham Origins is set to be released across all platforms on October 25, 2013, with Blackgate released for 3DS and Vita on the same day.
