Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - PlayStation Vita

I contemplated giving this review 4 stars just to lower expectations a little bit, but the truth is I played this game probably 6 hours this weekend after opening it when I got home on Friday. This is a MUST-OWN for any Vita owner. If you liked the Scarecrow levels in Arkham Asylum then this game is for you, because it works in a very similar way except that you guide your experience much more than you could in the Scarecrow levels.What impresses me the most about this game is the way Armature transformed the side-scroller and gave it so much depth. There are a lot of "Wow, I can do this too??" moments throughout the game as the gameplay gets deeper and deeper. The combat is great as you would expect from the Arkham series. Maybe not as silky smooth as the PS3 version but not far off.The story is good so far (like I said, I'm just 6 hours in) and the motion comic cutscenes are really charming.The only gripe I could possibly throw out is that this game was obviously made to run on both the 3DS and the Vita, which can only hurt the Vita version. You hardly ever use the right stick (because the 3DS doesn't have one) and the touchscreen implementation is sometimes not used when you would expect it like on the map (because the 3DS uses capacitive touch and pinching to zoom in and out on that would be problematic).So outside of the Vita being a far superior system than the only other one that this game was released on, I love this game. I really think the Vita has the chops to run a game like Arkham Asylum but I'm grateful this game exists and I've had a lot of fun playing it.

I love my Vita. I long for games like this that have the graphics and gameplay to take advantage of the hardware Sony has brought to market. I would have preferred a more 3D environment in the game, but they do a very good job of exploiting this 2.5D format.My only complaint ... and it's not small, but it is only one ... is that with all this powerful hardware, we still can't get full versions. I'd like to see the full Arkham Origins on Vita, not a pared down spinoff. The game is great, but I'm tired of feeling like the leftover pot roast whenever new games come out for every system but mine. Sony has a monster console on its hands with the Vita, and they do very little to recognize that.If you want to use your Vita as it was intended, get this game ... it's great.And the more players buy games like this the more good games they will bring to market. I showed this game (on Vita) to my brother in law, who was playing it on his 3DS ... and he was blown away. The graphics and controls made for a totally different experience. That's not a swipe at the 3DS, because it is a great console too ... but Vita has a lot to be proud of, except for its game catalog. This is a step in the right direction ... keep them coming Sony!!

Maybe I'm the only one in the world who didn't know Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate was a "side-ways game". While the game is still quite good, I wish it would be a basic third person game setup like all the other Batman games. I do like the attempt to make it an open style game. There are multiple locations which you choose on a map that you need to visit and revisit as you gain new skills or tools to progress further in that area. This aspect of the game makes things more interesting and adds time to the game play. This Batman game, like the past ones has Detective Mode. What's unique about playing this on the Vita is that when in Detective Mode you can touch the screen and create a visual bubble which you can move around the room you are in to find hidden items and doorways. There also is chattering teeth and penguin bombs for you to find and destroy. You'll recognize characters like Cat Woman, The Penguin, Joker and more.The graphics are decent and the over-all feel and story of the game rolls with the previous Arkham games. The control is solid and even though I am not a fan of the side camera angle, the game is still enjoyable and greatly uses the capabilities of the Vita touch screen. The movies are all small movement comic book style videos which seem to have the same voice actors as the past Batman games.To be completely honest, as soon as I complete this game I'm selling it. I simply dislike side camera angle games (besides Little Big Planet) and will not endure playing through it again. It is not too difficult and while it is entertaining it is not as free and involved of a game as the open world of Arkham like Batman: Arkham City was.My be worth a look and a play through, but for me it is only worth one run. Recommended for those who know what they're getting into. For me it is too confined and claustrophobic due to the limited camera angle. Check it out, at the right price.

Game was in perfect condition…in shrink wrap still.Great transaction. Item arrived quickly and in good shape.

As a fan of the other Arkham games I have to say I am very happy with this game. The side scrolling setup is great for the vita, and it looks great. The combat is pretty much the same as the other Arkham games, in that it's really smooth and makes you feel like a total badass when you get a long combo. The "boss" fights are pretty fun and each one has a different approach so they force you to think in a different way with each new boss.The only real downside I can think of is the map system, the map screen is very basic and not very intuitive. I spent a lot of time wandering back and forth trying to figure out where I should go, perhaps it's just that I had a hard time with it but I feel like it could have been handled a bit better.Overall, the game is great and very fun, aside from the trouble with the map I really enjoyed playing it and I may even go back and play it again to get all of the collectables.