If you go into this experience with zero expectations, no preconceived notions about content that may or may not have been (but definitely was) promised, and you're willing to look beyond a buffet of technical problems, this is a solid 7/10. I've played more than 50 hours, and it's okay. Just okay. When it works, it's pretty good. The rest of the time it's a frustrating mess. Even with a 3090, this just ain't it. The game may be sci-fi, but look elsewhere if you want to see the future.
I've beaten the first chapter twice now, and I'm absolutely intrigued to see what happens next. It gave me the same sort of feeling that The Walking Dead and Wolf Among Us gave me after their first episodes. The story is tight, the dialog is (mostly) very good, and it's a fresh and unique take on the Batman universe that's extremely grounded and surprising, even so early in the narrative. There are frantic combat moments, extremely engaging detective scenes, and some really clever choice-and-consequence (which is why we love us some Telltale games). The experience pops and tells an incredibly brutal story that emphasizes the descent of a once-proud Gotham into the slum we know, but shown to us with the heft and terror that a PG-13 movie isn't capable of conveying visually. We've seen the squalor, but the murder, homelessness, and drug abuse that creates societal squalor is now front and center. It's a remarkable look into a well-trodden universe. But all is not well in house Telltale, for you see there are bugs. Bad ones. It appears that they didn't code in a way to leave the in-game codex, so I was forced to restart the game multiple times (I later confirmed on the Steam forums that this is a widespread issue). Also, playing the game with an Xbox One controller leads to missed QTE button presses. Switching to a 360 controller fixed the problem, or substituting the shoulder buttons anytime there is a prompt for a trigger (most of the time). The game also has threadbare graphics settings, belying its multiplatform development focus. Even with the in-game AA options on, you'll notice a lot of jagged edges. I got a few frame skips (on a GTX 980) and some textures popped in a few times, but we've played enough Telltale games to know that bugs are part of the package. All of this does drag the experience down from being perfect, and a few vocal performances are forgettable, but the game taken as a whole is a solidly-grounded start. Count me in for this one.
I got this game shortly after building my first mid-range gaming PC and I found the game infuriating and complicated, but beautiful and deep. After I managed to break through the wall and enjoy Dark Souls, I decided to revisit Witcher 2. Boy am I glad I did. To date, I have gotten four endings, and I am currently on my seventh playthrough, second time on Dark. The game takes the "classic" shell of Western fantasy and kicks up the bleakness factor to create a world where monsters are an ever-present threat, non-humans are torn between comfortable city life filled with disdain or a life in the wild fighting for non-human rights. Through it all, the Witchers are the first and last line of defense against the evil lurking just beyond the torchlight of small villages and castle walls. The characterization in the game is phenomenal. The voice acting, while not universally perfect, reaches a level rarely seen, and the characters are all complex, with hidden desires, shifting motives, weaknesses, and prejudices. No two characters have the same personality, and it creates a twisted-yet-cohesive role-playing experience. The combat system is a see-saw balancing skill and tactical response with careful preparation and a deep understanding of what resources are and are not worth using. Unlike many other games, you cannot chug potions to buff yourself during combat. You can only use potions and blade oils to prepare for combat, but once the fight starts, you have to use your agility, traps, bombs, and swords to outwit enemies. The combat on Dark difficulty is especially merciless, and I highly recommend it to Dark Souls aficionados looking for a similar- if less complex and difficult- alternative. The game's story is so expertly told that I can't believe hollywood hasn't already bastardized it into a shameful Michael Bay disaster by now. Geralt has been framed for the murder of a king, and has to go on the run to clear his name. Boom. Love it.
