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BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS BLACKGATE PREVIEW

Platforms: PS Vita, 3DS
Date: October 2013
Genre: Action-adventure, beat ‘em up
Publisher: Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment

antagonist and that the game will feature
Batman’s first meeting with Catwoman.

At gamescom 2013 we got the chance to
have a brief hands-on experience with the
PlayStation Vita version of Batman: Arkham
Origins Blackgate, which will be releasing
this October on both the Vita and the 3DS.

The most obvious change in the gameplay is
the transition from a full 3D environment to
a “2.5D” side-scroller. Inevitably this has a
significant impact on the overall experience,
yet despite such a sweeping change (driven
most likely by the 3DS’ lack of a second
analog stick) the gameplay demo we enjoyed
was still distinctly Arkham-esque in feel.

Blackgate will take place shortly after the
events of the upcoming Arkham Origins,
and be centred around Batman investigating
a disturbance around Blackgate prison.
Little was revealed in terms of plot details,
except that the Penguin will feature as an

Combat in particular feels remarkably similar,
despite the transition away from the 3D
environments. Batman’s repertoire of moves
still revolves around fast-moving dodges,
combos, stuns and counter-moves. The flow
and intuition present in the Arkham series is

68 • GameOn Magazine

Batman Arkham Special Edition