The end and beginning of your Batman story, BATMAN – The Telltale Series Episode 5: City of Light Review
[Spoiler Alert]
Picking up immediately after the events of Episode 4, Episode 5: City of Light has Bruce returning to what remains of his home to confront Two Face. Two Face has a group of hostages which he threatens to kill if Bruce doesn’t do as he asks. Bruce does his best to save everyone, but inevitably loses a hostage or two to Two Face’s madness. Bruce does his best to reach his old friend, but the betrayal of sleeping with Selina prevents any full return of Harvey Dent. However, Harvey was there enough to allow Bruce to take down Two Face and save a majority of the hostages. He then joins Alfred in the Batcave to have a heart to heart and diagnose the information on Penguin and the Children of Arkham. After discovering the links and measures taken by the dastardly team up, Selina is pinged as she attempts to leave Gotham with a master key she swiped from Bruce Wayne. Bruce leaves to confront her and they have a tender moment before Selina decides to leave for the time being. Bruce then returns to Wayne Manor where he has to find out what happened to Alfred, who was kidnapped by Lady Arkham. The trail leads Bruce back to Vicky’s childhood home where it appears she was treated far worse than anyone could have imagined, then to Arkham Asylum where the patients are released, and eventually into the catacombs under Gotham. In the catacombs, Batman and Vicky have a final showdown, where Bruce eventually wins and frees Alfred. Afterward, the player decides to either support Gordon’s promotion as either Bruce Wayne or Batman.
City of Light tightly wraps up this season of BATMAN – The Telltale Series. Every conflict is neatly resolved and there’s a soft setup for future adventures. The final chapter of the season is filled with tension, as someone’s life is always on the line, minus the interaction with Selina. Actions continually have consequences and seem to all be playing out the entire time. That being said, the final decision to support Gordon as either Bruce or Batman, does not have the weight and impact that all of the other choices that lead to it. Throughout the previous episodes, it constantly felt as if Bruce Wayne was becoming more and more meaningless in the saving of Gotham. It was a glorious capturing of how Bruce Wayne becomes the mask of Batman. However, in the end it feels Batman is just a symbol to be used and Bruce Wayne is able to be Bruce Wayne if he chooses to be. Personally, I am a huge fan of the theory of Batman being the person, and Bruce Wayne being the alter ego. But, I also really like how this sets it up for Batman being more than a hero, but a symbol. It isn’t quite the ending I was hoping for, but it is an epic and hopeful way to end the season.
BATMAN – The Telltale Series is the best Batman story since The Dark Knight. I will also say it has the same resonance as Arkham City. The story’s scale is small, but it is packed to the brim with drama and the interactive medium really immerses players into the game’s world. You might not get to perform all of the amazing feats as you are able to in the Arkham Games, but being able to determine the story’s outcome is equally as gratifying. BATMAN – The Telltale Series perfectly captures the spirit of the modern Caped Crusader and masterfully creates a unique take on par with DCAU. Telltale games once again proves that they are masterful storytellers who respect and love the properties they work with.
BATMAN – The Telltale Series gets a 10/10
BATMAN - The Telltale Series
- City of Light - 10/1010/10
The Verdict
BATMAN – The Telltale Series is the best Batman story since The Dark Knight. I will also say it has the same resonance as Arkham City. The story’s scale is small, but it is packed to the brim with drama and the interactive medium really immerses players into the game’s world. You might not get to perform all of the amazing feats as you are able to in the Arkham Games, but being able to determine the story’s outcome is equally as gratifying. BATMAN – The Telltale Series perfectly captures the spirit of the modern Caped Crusader and masterfully creates a unique take on par with DCAU. Telltale games once again proves that they are masterful storytellers who respect and love the properties they work with.