Parents need to know that “Batman: The Enemy Within — The Telltale Series” is an original episodic adventure game starring DC Comics’ iconic hero. The game uses a combination of point-and-click controls with timed decisions and onscreen prompts (via quick time events). “The Enemy Within” is particularly graphic for a “Batman” game, showing brutal and bloody scenes of violence throughout the story. Some characters are also shown drinking and smoking onscreen. Players make decisions to shape Batman’s overall behavior, while also interacting with a cast that runs the gamut of moral spectrum. There’s also some flirtation and sexual innuendo, but nothing overtly shown.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

“Batman: The Enemy Within – The Telltale Series” continues the saga of DC Comics’ Caped Crusader as he picks up the pieces following the collapse of the Children of Arkham and the shocking revelations he uncovered about his family’s dealings with Gotham’s underground. There’s little time to adjust though, as the city is terrorized once again by a returning threat. Missing and long thought dead, the criminal genius known as the Riddler has made his way back to Gotham, and he’s set his sights on Batman. Now the Dark Knight must try to uncover the true motive behind Riddler’s return. Along the way, he’ll need to deal with a ruthless federal official looking to make an example of Gotham, a criminal underground seeking to take advantage of a weakened city, and a certain maniacal madman whose tenuous grip on sanity may be the closest thing to a voice of reason. How far will Batman go to save his city? And will it cost him his soul to do so?

IS IT ANY GOOD?

Gotham’s greatest hero returns in an incredible tale that is engaging, graphic, and truly emphasizes the fact that consequences of your actions matter. “The Enemy Within” continues Bruce Wayne’s journey of self-discovery and his evolution as the hero Gotham needs. For the second season of Batman, Telltale apparently decided to push the envelope even further than it did the first time around. Right out of the gate, the violence is more intense and graphic than before. The Riddler’s introduction alone leaves no question about his ruthlessness, spilling more blood in his first ten minutes on screen than many horror films do in their entirety. The game also feels more interactive, with more of a reliance on quick time events than before. This doesn’t take away from the drama of the story but rather pulls you deeper into the action, heightening the tension and the adrenaline rush. It’s still a far cry from a reflex driven arcade experience, and the primary focus is still on the development of the characters and their stories. In fact, “The Enemy Within” manages to take the best parts of the first season and raise the bar even higher. This may not be a “Batman” for the kiddies, but it’s easily one of the most engaging “Batman” tales in recent memory, and one of the best games to ever put players in control of the World’s Greatest Detective.

RATING AND CONTENT

Recommended for ages 17 and older

Quality: 5 out of 5

Positive messages: 0 out of 5

Positive role models: 2 out of 5

Ease of play: 3 out of 5

Violence: 5 out of 5

Sex: 1 out of 5

Language: 3 out of 5

Drinking, drugs, and smoking: 4 out of 5

Consumerism: 5 out of 5 (Are products/advertisements embedded? Is the title part of a broader marketing initiative/empire? Is the intent to sell things to kids?)

GAME DETAILS

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One

Price: $24.99

Developer: Telltale Games

Release date: August 7, 2017

Genre: Adventure

ESRB rating: M for blood and gore, strong language, violence

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