Have you ever watched a Batman movie or read a Batman comic, where he just gets on your nerves and says or does the opposite of what you want? For example, instead of trying to be middle-of-the-road and play it safe, it would be much more satisfying if he would get his badass on and really sock it to everyone for once. Sure, there have been iterations of the character that have done so (Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns comic series being the most popular), but for the most part, Batman has been the cool and quiet type. Let’s see him take on his inner dark side for a change! With Telltale Games’ new episodic game series, simply titled Batman: The Telltale Series, you finally get your chance to control what Batman/Bruce Wayne says and does, thanks to the developer’s popular choice-driven gameplay.

Batman Episode One: Realm of Shadows starts off in true comic book style, complete with an intense heist and ensuing rooftop battle between our hero and Catwoman. The seductive thief, of course, is after something important, causing a domino effect of events that involve all your favorite Batman characters. Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face) is prominent, as he runs for mayor with the help and support of his friend Bruce Wayne, while crime boss Carmine Falcone rears his ugly head and stirs up trouble for both of them, bringing to light a chapter in Bruce’s family history that not even the Dark Knight saw coming.

Most of this is paint-by-the-numbers Batman storylines that have been used before, but things get more interesting with the introduction of Oswald Cobblepot, better known as The Penguin. Instead of being the stout and chubby fella with the never-ending nose, this version of Cobblepot is younger and more realistic. What’s more, he and Bruce have a history together as childhood friends, one that is strongly built off of each’s tragic loss of his parents. A lot of time has passed since they last saw one another, though, and their initial encounter is somewhat shady, as Oswald declares his allegiance to a revolution against Gotham’s corruption that may have devastating consequences. Bruce warns him to make sure he’s on the “right side” when push comes to shove.

But the best part about Batman: The Telltale Series, at least from the experience of playing Episode One, is the way in which Bruce Wayne/Batman interacts with others is totally up to you. If you want him to remain secretive and diligent, you can. However, if you would rather have him tell off another character or be more confrontational, you can do that, too. All your decisions will ultimately impact how the story unfolds, which also makes the game playable more than just once. Some of the familiar tropes of a Batman game are present, such as a detective mode you can use when studying a crime scene, but this version of Batman leans more in the direction of storytelling rather than fighting, and that is something many longtime comic book fans will appreciate. It’s surely a departure from the Arkham series, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

For more, visit telltale.com/series/batman.

By Jason Savio