Telltale’s Episode 2 for Batman: The Enemy Within is another successful trip to Gotham City. Picking up immediately after the excellent first episode, Batman and Bruce Wayne are coerced into a tough situation with new villains, and the tension lasts for most of the episode. It never reaches the same heights as its predecessor, but it was a fun ride, puddin’. Some spoilers will be in the review, but we will try our best to put them on ice.
The episode starts with an explosion as three coordinated attacks are occurring in Gotham City, and Batman has to stop a brazen gang from taking weapons from the GCPD. He makes a new friend who beats him and throws him like a doll. I guess that is what passes for Saturday night for him.
That is not the only new villain to make an appearance in this episode. The trailers have shown Harley Quinn joining this season, and she does not disappoint. She swings from playful to absolutely psychotic, and she never loses that deadly predator feel.
Along with a new character we like, we see more of the hesitant John Doe as he adjusts to life outside Arkham. We all know where this is going, and it is hypnotic to see him in his cocoon, before he becomes his future self. I hope the writers take their time with him and really emphasize his interactions with Harley.
The writing and interplay between characters continues episode 1’s improvements from season 1. We have more of the morality triangle between a more sympathetic Waller, a distraught and confused Gordon, and a backed-in-a-corner Batman/Bruce Wayne. Waller is on one end with Gordon on the other, and they are both pulling Batman to their side from the middle.
Technically, the game was perfectly fine. I did not have any sound or visual issues, and it just worked. Telltale has fixed the past issues with their engine, and I can happily relax and be Batman for one – two hours.
Normally, I really like to make choices in Telltale games, even if they do not dramatically alter the story, but I feel cheated by one the choices in episode 2. You are given the option to reach out to two different groups for help, and the story makes it seem like you will be sending them to do something. Instead, you are only choosing who comes to you.
It was annoying, it cheapened the experience, and it broke my immersion like a slap to face. I know the story would have progressed the same either way, but why word the choice in a way that was misleading? Choices are your game, son.
The choices in these games seem to be decreasing as well. I can still choose how I respond in conversations, but the big decisions as mostly gone. This is a little disappointing, because it disconnects me from the characters and starts to feel more like a movie. It is fun, but it does not pull me in as much as I would like.
Although the story in episode 2 was good, it did not deliver the punch for me that episode 1 delivered. It was consistently good, but it was a step down, even with some of the characters. If you liked episode 1, I strongly recommend you jump into episode 2. There are some surprises, and it really feels like we are building to something great.
Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 2 PS4 Review
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Overall - Very Good - 7.5/107.5/10
Summary
Batman: The Enemy Within, Episode 2: The Pact, continues to build a new season with a handful of competing villains, inner conflicts, and fallout from the first season. Although it never hit the heights of episode 1 and lessened the impact of your only real decision, it is still an easy recommendation for fans of the series.
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Reviewed using base PS4.
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