"Batman: The Enemy Within" How did they Screw this Up?

 


    The truth is, this game is just not that good. It's not why you think though. For once in a Telltale game, your choices actually matter, the fact that episode five changes dramatically depending on what you do is a nice touch, the only issue is that to achieve this, the game makes you jump through many hoops. And it all centers on one person, one man, John Doe, otherwise known as the Joker, the man of the hour for this show, and how the game treats him. It's weird actually, because I would say that the story of this game is pretty good, other than all of the Joker being a hero stuff. 

    One aspect of last season that I actually enjoyed was the new spin on classic Batman villains. I mean with the emphasis on Harley Quinn over the years, it was nice to actually see the roles reversed, where she was assertive, and in charge. That in spite of the fact that Bane and Mr. Freeze actually have powers Quinn still manages to keep them in line. Can you imagine my disappointment when playing the "villain ending" of this game that Harley just ends up being exactly what she is canonically? A submissive, shell of herself slinking behind Joker, without any of the assertiveness that made this version of the character actually enjoyable.

    Don't even get me started on the whole Bruce Wayne thing. For a game with the name Batman in it you sure do spend 70% of the game as Bruce Wayne compared to Batman. At this point I'm not sure how all of Gotham doesn't just hate Bruce Wayne, and doesn't know he's Batman. Then for some reason the one person he can't tell his identity to is Commissioner Gordon? Like come on this is so ridiculous. He doesn't even wear a mask when he commits crimes everyone can see in broad daylight Bruce Wayne just casually chilling with all of these villains what in the world was the point of it all? Like surely all of Jokers goons must realize that Batman is Bruce Wayne, I mean Amanda Waller found out without much effort. Not to mention apparently Wayne Enterprises is the only source of money in Gotham now, because they're robbed like every other day. Look I understand wanting to play with the whole Bruce Wayne is a mask Batman puts on thing, but at some point you do have to ask whether or not the secret identity feels very secret anymore.

     Don't even get me started on the whole John Doe thing. I remember seeing people talk about how you should totally be friends with him, "it'll pay off eventually trust me bro", and being really confused at how anyone could ever possibly trust him to be their friend. I'm so serious too, like even from the start he's just really suspect, and then I tried brushing him off at the funeral only to realize the game really is going to push me to be his friend. Then when I do the reasonable friend thing and tell him I can't trust him after he kills a bunch of people he blames it on me, and people agree with him? The worst part is when Alfred says he has to leave because you used John Doe, and all you can do is just stare at him questioning if he saw everything else you did?

Final Score: 45/100

    I just felt like one big waste of time. I love the fact that your choices matter more, but you just end up realizing how forced it all feels to have your choices matter. The fact that they try and shove Joker being a good person down your throat when he at every turn is a bad person is baffling. The fact that they have Alfred leave you for that is comical as well. Honestly, I feel like Telltale needed someone else to write this Batman story, because while it was a bit interesting, at the same time it really did not feel like a Batman game in the way it should have.

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