Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 1 Reviews
Don’t go in expecting miracles, but given the expectations of many fans that The Enemy Within was going to be a bit of a phoned-in cash-grab, it’s a genuine surprise to see the IP rebound with one of the company’s very best episodes of any kind in a long time.
Some interesting story developments can't save the first episode of Batman: The Enemy Within from being a tired, simplistic reuse of Telltale's usual techniques.
I wish I'd been given the chance to actually solve more of The Riddler's puzzles on my own – adventure games are traditionally all about that, after all – but the tension and drama that permeate The Enemy Within's first episode make it a winner. This strong start also leaves me very excited to see how John Doe's inevitable transformation into The Joker plays out, and morbidly fascinated to see what scars this version of Gotham City will leave behind on its inhabitants.
Anyone who isn't a fan of the "Telltale interactive story" style will find nothing at all here to change their mind on the genre, but fans of previous games will find themselves thrown into yet another adventure filled with questionable loyalties, tense confrontations, morally-grey decisions and that ever-nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, you should have turned left instead of right.
Oh, and you can make all your Bat-Gadgets purple: plus ten points.
Some of the brief teases point toward a more meaningful story, but this episode mostly hangs its hat on an underwhelming and surprisingly violent Riddler tale
All in all, The Enemy Within starts off strong, even if it does stumble a little here and there. Thankfully, the new story arc seems a lot less bloated and self-involved than the one we got last season, and the new characters are rather well-written, too.
Aside from improvements to the story overall, the first episode looks and feels much better than other Telltale Games I've played recently, with a marked upward shift in dialogue choices, graphics, and quality.
In one of the stronger starts to a Telltale season, Batman: The Enemy Within builds on the new mythos Telltale has created for the classic DC Comics hero. Villains are still villains, but Telltale gives them enough twists to feel new. Great pacing, good tension, and what looks to be an improved engine make for a great Batman adventure. Hopefully they can keep the momentum up for the whole season.
When I sat down to play Batman: The Enemy Within – Episode 1: The Enigma, I was glued to my seat until its thrilling conclusion. While lengthier than most Telltale episodes, the time still went by in a flash. In the end I was left on tenterhooks, shocked and eager to get stuck into the second part of the story.
Batman: The Enemy Within hits the ground running with Episode 1 "The Enigma". The series looks extremely promising and this single episode is worth checking out all on its own. Players will be instantly hooked on the drama, and will be dying to see what happens next. Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 2 can't come fast enough.
I was really impressed with the first episode, and it feels like things are only just starting to warm up.
Telltale starts strong with new characters and a charismatic villain.
The Enemy Within has some great action sequences, but it leans too much on the wider Batman universe as a crutch. It doesn't put in the effort to make you care about the characters or the situations, and because of that, none of the choices feel meaningful.
I'd like to see The Enemy Within challenge players' minds a bit more.
‘The Engima’ offers a great action-packed introduction to Batman: The Enemy Within, with the main players of the season clearly established along with some exciting teases of what’s to come. The action sequences were top notch, the decisions you had to make tense, and the overall presentation as dark and gritty as you’d expect from the depths of Gotham City – it really is a fine showing for the Caped Crusader. The frustrating issues that come with Telltale Games’ releases were present and I did feel like a few tricks were missed with the game’s puzzling, but overall it’s got me incredibly excited to see what’s going to happen next. It’s a welcome return to Batman – The Telltale Series, and Episode Two can’t come soon enough…
The Enigma opens strong but ends with a whimper. Those unfamiliar with Batman's iconic characters will most likely be surprised by how it ends but those familiar with the series will be able to predict the final moments.
Telltale kicks off the second season of Batman with all the power and momentum it needs, meaning if everything goes right, this will be an outright success.
Batman: The Enemy Within opens with a fantastic episode, turning the world of Batman on its head once more with new foes and new allies that you'll have to work with. It drags Bruce and Batman further down into the murky grey area that he inhabits, keeping players constantly guessing as to whether or not they're doing the right thing and bringing relationships new and old into the foreground.