Like Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy, the "Arkham" trilogy peaked with the second installment, but concludes with a spectacular, if not superb, final entry. Rocksteady, the developer behind the first two games, did not return for this prequel and that may explain some of the drop in quality. Story-wise, "Origins" tells a fantastic tale of the Caped Crusader. In fact, if this were a comic book, it certainly be considered a classic by some (it's a Year Two story set during Christmas Day). But as a game, "Origins" is almost a repeat of the excellent "Arkham City" with the addition of some minor glitches and a less forgiving combat system.
The biggest addition to the game is the multiplayer mode which has been broken since launch. While "Invisible Predator" is not an essential online experience, it is moderately fun. In it, two teams of six (Bane and Joker's) try to claim "territories" on a map while two players (Batman and Robin) try to stop them using the stealth tactics of the main game. It's basically a third-person shooter match (similar to "Gears of War") with the unlock system made famous by COD. However, the matchmaking is horrible. It rarely connects, so you better have friends invite you into a game if you want to play.
If you've played the previous "Arkham" games, than you should be pretty familiar with the formula. "Origins" brings some spectacular setpieces and cinematics to the table. The gameplay is the same as before but with the inclusion of some new gadgets (the Shock Gloves for example) and side-missions. And while the new crime scenes are simple to solve, they are quite nifty in their presentation. In them, Batman "scrubs" the playback of video in order to solve the mysteries of a case while narrating past events. Overall, "Origins" is a bigger game than "City" with an expansive map featuring tons of missions and puzzles to solve. But the biggest problem is that it's a little too familiar. But while it's not very a fresh experience, Batman fans should still enjoy finding every nook and cranny the game has to offer.
The challenge rooms also return and the PS3 includes the exclusive playable Deathstroke stages. The numerous maps are varied and can be quite challenging. It's also worth mentioning that "Origins" has the most unlockables found in any of the "Arkham" games which really encourages exploration. The plot involves The Joker taking over Black Mask's hold over Gotham City by impersonating him. Bruce Wayne, still new to crime fighting, has a young man's anger and has yet to make alliances. His relationship with Alfred Pennyworth is a noteworthy one that makes the story emotionally involving. While Batman origin tales are nothing new, this one does provide some new insight with the Bruce/Alfred dynamic.
"Batman: Arkham Origins" is plagued with a few glitches that hadn't been present in the previous titles. For instance, enemies can sometimes get stuck in corners or their might be small moments of lag after clearing an area. It's nothing game breaking, but may make you wonder why they couldn't be ironed out for the final release. Yet, this prequel is worth purchasing at full price if you are a die hard DC Comics or Batman fan. It's not innovative, but mostly entertaining. I'd give it an 8.5 if I could.