Lets talk about Arkham Origins. So far... I love it. I am going to try and give you my own review, but while keeping it spoiler less, and also answering come complaints that I have heard about the game so far. I will start with the complaints because I think in those complaints are where I find the compliments. The first complaint, the free flow fighting system didn't change. This is really my first compliment to the game. I replayed Asylum and City to get ready for this game and I am sure glad I did. The groups of thugs are much larger in every fight in this game. I have found it essential to counter, and to use my explosive gels, and my cape, and my grappling hook, and my batarangs, and my multiple enemy take downs. It me, the thing that made me sad in the last game was that the bad guys ran out. To quote Raph from the first TMNT movie "Awww.... no more?" Right when I would get a flow going, I would KO the last guy. Not in Origins. There are 20 dudes in every fight and there seem to always be be people joining. Since I have gotten pretty darn good at fighting like Batman, having the same combat system just makes the game super familiar and thus making me feel more like Batman.
Also, the boss fights are just -way- better. In the last few games the boss fights were all gimmicks. Most of them were "beat up lots of thugs till badman knocks out the boss." Harley, Joker, Croc, Penguin, Two Face. The only real boss fight in Arkham Asylum was Poison Ivy. In Origins you actually have to fight them all. And use the skills you have learned to literally have one on one combat. The Deathstroke fight was cinematic and super great. But it literally made you feel like you were fighting the badguys, and not nameless thugs.
The second complaint I have heard is that "This isn't an Origins story, nor does it have anything to do with Arkham." I think that both of these points couldn't be further from the truth. This whole game is the Origins of the -game- Arkham City. The top island is the exact map of Arkham City. The museum, the church, the courthouse, the Neon green Acme building. All there. Just years earlier. Before this game Batman never heard of the Joker. He had never met Killer Croc. The city thinks he is a myth. Everything about this game says "Here is where Arkham City came from".
Past that there is the story. Yes, you are playing as Bale's Batman. His costume are pulled straight from TDKR. But it looks great. The nicks you see in his helmet and forearm guards helps sell the fact that he is fighting dudes with bats and knives, and maybe that leather cowl wouldn't be enough. The villains though... -not- TDK. Joker is "mad" and not just "crazy". Bane is a fierce brute and not a small Darth Vader. Even the Riddler and the Mad Hatter just seem so much more comic book then they would have in the movie. I feel like this game successfully merges the 90s Animated series with the new Movies. And its strangely believable that the movies were a beginning and that the animated series might come from that some how.
The only downside? There are a couple of control glitches here and there, and there is literally one game breaking glitch that will have to be patched out of the PC version. One of Egnima's towers has a air vent in the PC version that you can't climb, preventing you from unlocking the tower, and thus fast travel to that area. A little annoying, but I like gliding, so I don't miss it, and I am sure it will be patched. Also there was a scene in the Mad Hatter's realm that my physix engine cause a glitch, but thats the price I pay for supreme graphics. I was able to turn the engine off, then one again to get it to work.
Over all. I have loved every minute of it. Same fulfilling combat, great story, interesting twists, superb voice acting. I miss Hamil, but this guys still nails Joker. So all the nay sayers can nay say. I am glad to have bought it, and can't wait to finish it this week. Assuming they patch that grate, I am looking at 100% story completion within the week. I haven't even touched the challenge maps or multiplayer yet though. Anyway... hope you like my mini review! Btw, I am 95% through the main storyline.