Despite all the changes, and somewhat misleading title, some gamers remain optimistic about Arkham Origins while others remain skeptical of the companion project, Arkham Origins Blackgate, a 2.5 dimension handheld tie-in developed by Armature.

Certain gamers were quick to criticize Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, which was announced right alongside Arkham Origins, as a shallow cash grab unfitting of the Batman: Arkham (Insert Subtitle Here) brand. Nevertheless, unlike most handheld tie-ins, Armature will not be porting-down 3D gameplay into a 2D experience - as Blackgate is an entirely separate story experience featuring gameplay specifically designed for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita. Additionally, Armature isn’t just a random tie-in IP factory, the studio has a strong batch of executive developers - many of who worked on Retro Studios’ Metroid Prime games. In fact, the Metroid pedigree helped the studio secure the Blackgate contract from Warner Bros and serves as an indication of what gamers can expect from the title - specifically an Arkham-style story blended with “Metroidvania” gameplay.

According to game director Mark Pacini (in an interview with Game Informer):

Pacini claims that Armature has been working on Blackgate since last spring (about a year from the time of this writing) - spending a significant amount of time deciding which elements of the console-based Arkham franchise could be applied to their handheld title - especially considering the side-scrolling “Metroidvania” foundation:

The 3D Arkham games already require Metroidvania-style backtracking - where a new item or ability allows Batman to enter an area that was not previously accessible. However, Pacini claims that the item-progression is still just as rewarding - even if the game does not take place in an open-world 3D environment:

In the interview Pacini also touches on the Blackgate setting as well as other fundamental changes to the Arkham gameplay - altering free flow combat and the invisible predator mechanic to a 2D plane. For more, you can read the entire Q&A at Game Informer.

Given that it’s a departure from the established 3D franchise format, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate may not be a must-play title for every Batman: Arkham series buyers; however, that doesn’t mean that it won’t provide Metroidvania-style game fans as well as handheld owners with a worthwhile side-scroller set in one of gaming’s most immersive comic book worlds. Decades later, Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are still great gameplay experiences - and they’ve inspired plenty of critically-acclaimed 2.5D successors, most notably Epic Games’ 2009 title, Shadow Complex.

As a result, while the initial Blackgate announcement might have been over-shadowed by Arkham Origins, it’s easy imagine that, should Armature deliver a captivating story, solid controls, and fun applications of key Arkham mechanics in 2.5D, pairing Metroidvania gameplay and the rich Batman mythos could be a winning combination.

Batman: Arkham Origins will be available on Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC October 25, 2013.

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate will be available on Vita and 3DS October 25, 2013.

Source: Game Informer

Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick.