Honestly, I can only recommend this if you're willing to spend OVER *20 HOURS* of your time lackadaisically getting all the achievements for this game. This is only a good game for you if you've already entirely beat and love the other Batman Arkham games and want more Completionist cred' on your Steam profile. If you even bother to get all the achievements, you are committing to THREE playthroughs of the entire game. You WILL get bored - but maybe that's worth it to you.

Other reviews have already said: the story/cutscenes are good, but the combat is impact-less, the map is HORRIBLE, and exploration is lame and like a point-and-click adventure. Play ANY of the other Arkham games before choosing this. This is the bottom of the barrel of Batman content. There is no replay value here, especially once you've beaten it 3 times and found and scanned all the crap - you will never come back to this game.

Overall, I don't regret playing and experiencing it, just get it on sale if you're bored.

Having been a long time Fan of the Arkham Series, I went into this game with Low expectations knowing this isn't considered the best game. This Game was beyond annoying and almost everything was making me frustrated from just Gameplay, Struggling through the story and many more that I could go on forever about. I personally only see it as a game that fills in the gaps within the Arkham Universe. If you want to understand the "Arkham Stories" fully then I do recommend playing this game along with the others however if your wanting to just play the game then I strongly suggest you ignore this one and play the other ones that offer higher and better gameplay for you!

**"A Shadow of the Arkham Legacy – Flashes of Brilliance in a Flawed Detour"**

Let me start with honesty: I *wanted* to love *Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe Edition*. As a diehard Arkham fan, the promise of a 2.5D Metroidvania-style Batman adventure, dripping with that signature gritty atmosphere, had me hook, line, and sinker. And there *are* moments here that sing—glimpses of the series’ magic, like stalking thugs through vents in classic predator style or unraveling a conspiracy within Blackgate Prison’s corroded walls. But for every punch that lands, there’s a stumble that reminds you this isn’t Gotham’s finest hour.

The premise intrigues: a riot at Blackgate Prison post-*Origins* forces Batman to navigate a labyrinth of gangs, traps, and iconic villains. The voice acting carries weight (Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker return, blessedly), and the story’s noir-inflected mystery hooked me early. Exploring the prison’s three distinct zones—each controlled by a ruthless rogue—feels authentically Arkham, with secrets to uncover and gadgets to master. The Metroidvania progression, backtracking with new tools to unlock paths, *should* work… and sometimes it does. Finding a hidden room or solving an environmental puzzle with Bat-gadgets delivered that sweet “I’m the World’s Greatest Detective” rush.

But too often, *Blackgate* fights against itself. The 2.5D perspective, while visually striking with its comic-book panel aesthetic, leads to clunky navigation. Platforming feels imprecise, with Batman sometimes snapping to ledges he shouldn’t or missing jumps that looked guaranteed. Combat, though serviceable, lacks the fluidity of its 3D siblings—counters feel delayed, and enemy variety is slim, turning brawls into repetitive slogs. Worse, the map system is a headache, obscuring objectives and making backtracking a chore rather than a thrill. I lost hours retracing steps through same-y corridors, muttering, “Where the heck *is* that upgrade?”

Visually, it’s a mixed bag. The hand-drawn backgrounds ooze mood—Blackgate’s crumbling cells, industrial guts, and neon-lit gang territories are dripping with personality—but character models look stiff, animations wooden. The soundtrack, though atmospheric, never reaches the soaring heights of the main series’ scores.

Yet… I kept playing. Why? Because beneath the jank, there’s a kernel of that Arkham DNA. The predator encounters, though simplified, still deliver tension as you pick off goons from the shadows. Boss battles against familiar foes are creative, demanding strategy over brute force. And uncovering audio logs and Easter eggs (plus a post-credits tease that made me gasp) rewards loyalty to the lore.

*Blackgate Deluxe* is a curious beast. It’s not the polished masterpiece of *Asylum* or *City*, nor is it a disaster. It’s a flawed experiment—a side story for completists craving more of Batman’s early years. I finished it in a weekend, equal parts frustrated and fascinated, and while I’d never replay it like the others, I don’t regret the journey.

If you’re a Metroidvania devotee or an Arkham completionist, dive in—but temper expectations. This isn’t the Batman at his peak; it’s the Dark Knight learning to walk… and occasionally tripping over his cape.

**For diehards only. Gotham’s legend deserves better—but even a stumble can be memorable.**