Batman - The Telltale Series
I have some friends and people-I-know who like to judge me. All these judgement comes from their inability to accept that people can be different and their tastes can vary, it highly depends on what kinda person you are, your lifestyle and your education.
Telltale Games are always a reason for discussions and some weird talks like “what do you exactly call a game in there?” and every time I hear it I start to get mad. Truth be told, I never understood why people like to judge the genres they don’t like and people who play them, ‘cause it’s never been a big problem for me. If I don’t like the game or genre, I just don’t play it, easy as that.
– Real player with 67.9 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choices Matter Singleplayer Games.
By now, Batman is a well known character who’s had probably the largest exposure among comic book characters. Across the years there have been many interpretations of the character, some focusing on the hero, others on the darker aspects of his personallity and most of them on his growth. They’ve all been done to death. How does Telltale’s Batman fare? Do you need to know his character to enjoy this game? Is this a cashgrab or is there some worth to it, something that make the game shine ? Telltale’s catalogue is formed of both kinds. Batman season 1 is an interesting one. It starts as the former and ends as the latter. Before I go on with the narrative and technical details, I’ll get something out of the way: If you intend to play it on a low-tier device, better stay away! The engine of the game served as a prototype and therefore not many things could be fixed. To this day, the framerate can drop to the half of your display, there’s some stuttering in few moments on high-end machines, but it’s much worse on lower-ends. With that out, here’s the actual review:
– Real player with 35.3 hrs in game
Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series
Batman: The Enemy Within is the second season of Telltale’s version of my favourite DC superhero. Obviously this game is mostly focused on story, so I’ll start with my overall recommendation, and then you can skip my detailed analysis if you want to avoid spoilers.
This is an essential must play for any fan of Batman. The story is fantastic, Telltale back to their absolute best form. Voice acting is outstanding throughout the whole cast, headlined by Troy Baker as Batman/Bruce Wayne. I advise playing season 1 first, because some decisions carry forward, which can impact the appearance of some characters, and their relationship with Bruce. It took me 9 hours to finish Enemy Within, which is longer than Telltale’s other recent games, and I think you can justify buying the game for full price or a small discount.
– Real player with 18.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Choices Matter Point & Click Games.
Gotham’s Finest
By now almost everybody knows who Batman is and most of the details surrounding him (parents‘ death, enemies and villains, Batman‘s codex etc.). So you would probably think “why should I play another Batman game? Will it be the same old story I already know?“. In case of Batman - Enemy Within you would be nicely surprised because many things are just not as you are used them to be. And this is good because it makes the story much more interesting than still playing the same song over and over again.
– Real player with 17.2 hrs in game
Super/Human Identity
Waking up with superpowers and no memory, five strangers find themselves in a struggle for survival and a search for answers. Pursued relentlessly, will their hardships bring them closer together or turn them against each other? And will everyone make it to the end?
Playing as Subject 5, the number designated to you is your only clue to a former life you have no memory of. On the run, fighting for your life, you join up with Subjects 1-4. Together, you must cross a ruined city to get to safety and find answers. Beset by an external threat as well as internal conflict, you have to navigate your way through alarming revelations and difficult choices before finding your freedom.
Superhuman or only human - you must reclaim your identity, or define who you are anew.
FEATURES
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Choose your avatar, pronouns and name as you develop your main character into who you want them to be with frequent, nuanced choices.
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Influence each of your companions’ fates. Will they live or die? Who will they become if they survive?
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Experience different group dynamics as a consequence of your choices. Any two characters can be friends or bitter enemies.
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Romance one of 6 different characters – 3 male and 3 female – available for all genders.
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Think fast and use your telekinetic powers on the environment to defeat enemies. Choose between 4 difficulty settings ranging from Narrative to Superhuman.
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7+ hours long, highly interactive, narrative gameplay. One story with vast variability.
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Stylized, cel-shaded characters and backgrounds, with painted CG artworks illustrating key story moments.
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Epic, emotional, original soundtrack from composer Edwin Montgomery (Warhammer 40,000: Regicide, Wasteland Remastered, Ghost In The Shell, Neverwinter).
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Accessibility features: Opendyslexic font, large UI, self-voicing support with additional descriptive text, captions.
Read More: Best Choices Matter RPG Games.
Fallen Hero: Rebirth
Where to even begin? Well, the simplest way to go is with a list, but much of what I could say/commend is already covered in the product’s description. So I’ll be foregoing that in favor of a wordy paragraph[or two].
Still, what a story! Maybe it isn’t the “perfect book” for everyone, and there are probably a fair number of people who’ve never considered if they would enjoy playing a CYOA game that could make you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle even as you successfully accomplish what you set out to do without a hitch. This book gives that feeling. Oh boy does it ever!
– Real player with 317.7 hrs in game
So, I never, ever, did a review on any game I have ever played. But this one… This deserves it.
For those people who just wanna know if its good: Yes. It is the best cyoa game I have ever played. Go buy it.
And for those who want to know more…
Story
In a world where Superheroes are real, you were a member of the Justice League Avengers Titans Rangers, a team of heroes to protect the innocent. But after a failed mission that left you assumed dead, you return seven years later to become the greatest villain Los Diabolos has ever known.
– Real player with 70.3 hrs in game
Heroes Rise: The Prodigy
Heroes Rise was one of the, if not THE one game that brought me to enjoy interactive fiction so much. It is not, perhaps, the most shining example there is of its genre, but it is so engaging and unique that all else can be forgotten.
Most interactive fiction stories have a single tool for controlling the story, which are the choice branching (which is great by itself) but this game, and every other good Choice of Games out there, carry yet another tool which is incredible in and out of itself, which is the stat system. It allows you to shape your character in different ways and explore the story multiple times with different personalities, not just by choosing different pathways.
– Real player with 16.5 hrs in game
The Short of it:
Heroes Rise: The Prodigy a fun, short game (which is reasonable given it’s price) that can give you one heck of an adrenaline and emotional rush if you let it. I would also recommend this game (and the series as a whole) to anyone who wishes for more sexuality and gender diversity in the superhero genre. Only down side is the thin line between simple and shallow the game dances on, and the hack job of “romance” implemented as an optional subplot.
The Long of it:
The best thing about The Prodigy, and the Heroes Rise trilogy in all, is that it doesn’t reward you for being the writer’s idea of a “Hero,” but for being consistent in your morals (basically: don’t play as a character that’s all over the place). While the game does scale this consistency on dichotomies of “lawful” vs. “lawless,” “fame” vs. “justice” and “soloist” vs. “team player” none of these scales are mutually exclusive (despite what the color-coded bars imply) to one another or are viewed as inherently wrong: you could have a defensive soloist with the law on your side but have a penchant to showboating, or an offensive team player that distrusts authority but will work for the best of the group. During my first run I felt like my choices really mattered, but I was let down during the rail-roaded chain of events nearing the (only) climax, but it does pick up the ball again near the very end of the final fight, though it may seem railroaded again because unless you have a wishy-washy character the final choice for the fight is practically chosen for you depending on the “lawlessness” vs. “lawfulness” scale.
– Real player with 9.6 hrs in game
Heroes Rise: HeroFall
//Intro
Beginning with the “Heroes Rise: The Prodigy,” you’re immediately integrated into the expansive Heroes Rise universe. With nothing short of imaginative effort, Zachary’s narration does quite an impressive job at introducing a few key characters whilst allowing you to establish your own unique role in the Millennia City society.
The actions and choices you make throughout your adventure follow you through each sequel, as you continue on.
Upon finally reaching “Heroes Rise: The Hero Project,” your hero glimpses at the immense buildup of suspense to which inevitably reaches a much earned climatic conclusion in “Heroes Rise: HeroFall.”
– Real player with 11.5 hrs in game
It is best to think of these as novels rather than games. More specifically they are in the vein of the Chose your own Adventure books I adored so much as a kid. And like them the first in this series(Heroes Rise: Prodigy) has a bit of railroading going on. You might just want to scream at the main character.
That said I enjoyed this third installment much better than the first one in the series. Since it is the end of the main character’s story the choices have been opened up a great deal and you really get to feel as if you are shaping the world you are in. In addition at first glance it appears there are many carryovers from your choices in the first two of the series, thus lending more weight to those decisions that may have felt pointless at the time. I am not sure how much that actually effects though since I only went through all three games once.
– Real player with 10.4 hrs in game
Amazing Superhero Squad
Сompleted the game with all endings . Stunning art, that you can admire in the gallery after the game, an interesting plot. Funny references in tasks :)
Overall - a good game
– Real player with 25.5 hrs in game
Read the guide at the beginning, very useful information!) I really liked the art and the study of the world. I can’t say that the game has revealed its full potential in terms of gameplay, but you can get stuck for a couple of hours. We are waiting for the continuation of the story!
– Real player with 1.6 hrs in game
Hero Among Us
Great game , as incredible potential , sadly abandon by the DEV…. Can someone motivated buy the rights and make it the game it should be ?
– Real player with 12.1 hrs in game
Currently at almost the 10 hour mark, I can safely say I am pleasantly surprised with this game. I wasn’t really sure what to expect to be honest, maybe some sort of plague inc style gameplay that would keep me for maybe 1 hour or 2 with a twist… but, I have to say I am still battling to complete this game in the hardest difficulty, as its damn intense!
It is similar to plague inc in how you play the game, however the addition of actually controlling a character that affects the world directly is actually a very cool addition. The theme and art style are great, but what kept me hooked all this time so far is really the feeling of “if only I had taken this one different decision” or “if only I had picked these other talents… I could have gotten it”, which has been keeping me wanting to play just one more match.
– Real player with 11.7 hrs in game
Heroes Rise: The Hero Project
I recommend this adventure right off the back because if you played Prodigy, then you will want to continue “your” story. It took me awhile to get used to the writing style in these stories, as it doesn’t feel exactly like a “choose your own” kind of story. Some of the reactions from “My” character feels closer to watching a character, instead of controlling myself. This adventure takes you into a reality TV show for superheroes, though I’m not sure I would want any of these heroes saving me.
One of the biggest issues I have with “my” adventures up to now are the romantic options. Maybe spoilers, but the romantic choices suck. At least, during my adventure they have. I think the writing overall was better then the first story, I wasn’t pulled out of my adventures as much as I was in Prodigy. After seeing where Prodigy took the storyline, I was extremely curious to see where the next adventure took me. I’ll be honest, I was a little disappointed with a reality show setting, but after finishing the adventure I can at least see why it was chosen.
– Real player with 46.3 hrs in game
Here are my thoughts and feelings about Heroes Rise: The Hero Project. (Spoilers ahoy)
The Good
The story is even better than the last one, with twists and turns that will keep you guessing on your first time playthrough. It has a feeling to it that really gets you tense and pumped up for what happens in the story.
The characters have varying types of personalities and most have semi-realistic personalities.
The Bad
Even though the story is better this time round it has even more problems than the last one. While the first one felt linear it wasn’t glaringly obvious, unlike in this one. Never before have I felt that the choices I made had no impact to the game. Everything I did just felt like poking a wall, it changed nothing. No matter what you do you will ALWAYS get as far as the final eliminations and all that changes is how the ending starts off.
– Real player with 21.9 hrs in game
Inexplicable Geeks: Dawn of Just Us
A hilarious romp though a con filled with wacky heroes with wacky powers. Fantastic writing and amazing art. I had a blast chatting with each and every character. Definitely worth a few more playthoughs to get the full back story of this crazy cast.
– Real player with 3.8 hrs in game
An alright visual novel
– Real player with 0.7 hrs in game