Remember that mobile version of Injustice: Gods Among Us? Yeah, I know it wasn't the best, but everyone deserves a second chance, particularly when it developed the Mortal Kombat reboot.
NeatherRealm Studios is working on a free-to-play version of the upcoming prequel, Batman: Arkham Origins. The game is a far cry from the open-world, investigative, bare knuckle basher that'll be hitting consoles. Instead, NeatherRealms is making its mobile version a fighter that sees Bats taking on everyone from standard Gotham goons to the various assassins Black Mask is paying to take out the caped crusader.
Check out the trailer below to see how things look so far:
Free-to-play always makes me a bit nervous, especially when the developer went a bit microtransaction happy with the mobile version of Injustice, not to mention the sheer amount of costumes seen in the trailer, that I can only imagine can be unlocked via "bat-bucks" or something of that nature.
NeatherRealms' version will be out around the same time the console version arrives, not to mention the other mobile Arkham Origins game, Blackgate. In a statement, NetherRealm Studios creative director Ed Boon said, "We created an integrated gaming ecosystem between the Batman: Arkham Origins mobile and console games, which delivers rewards and unlocks that provide greater experiences for players. The mobile game goes hand-in-hand with what is offered on the other platforms."
Translation - expect a few bonuses provided you have, or are plan on getting the console version, a Red Son outfit for example (seen in the above trailer at the 0:25 mark).
While pummeling the game's various baddies, Batman will be able to upgrade his skills and costume with in-game currency. Microtransactions haven't been confirmed, but their inclusion wouldn't be a major surprise.
Batman: Arkham Origins stars a younger, not as experienced Batman we've seen in past Arkham games, and has the criminal Black Mask offering a boatload of cash to whoever can kill the caped crusader. Confirmed classic characters include Penguin, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Scarecrow, Bane, Copperhead, Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, Firefly, the Joker, Anarky, and others.
Batman is armed with more than just his grapnel gun and batarangs. He's actually carrying a few new toys thrown in for good measure, all to help him pummel thugs throughout a Gotham city that's almost double the size of the one seen in Arkham City. The game will release on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC. A follow-up, Batman: Arkham Origins - Blackgate, is also in development by Armature Studio, set to release for Nintendo's 2 and 3DS, and the PS Vita the same day.
Blackgate is something of a follow-up and sees a few additional characters, like Catwoman and Bronze Tiger. On the surface, the plot is fairly basic, but expect a few twists and turns here and there. Basically, a prison uprising has begun on the titular prison island, and it's up to Batman to go in and put a stop to the riot. Unlike the open worlds seen in the first two Arkham games, Blackgate will be a 2D sidescroller in the "Metroidvania" vein. You know the drill, explore there, gain this, backtrack there, etc.
All the games will release on their respective platforms worldwide on Oct. 25, 2013.
