I bought a fighting game and a philosophy movie broke out.
When I picked up Arkham Origins a few weeks back I did so with the understanding that the game would deal with a younger Batman. I presumed it would be in the same story vein of the latest Batman cartoon. It isn’t. Arkham Origins deals with some serious issues starting with identity. I don’t need to give too much away to tell you that the game is all about how Batman processes his identity and other build their identity around this path he’s taken. That path becomes the defining element for a number of key characters who decide in later games whether they want to follow the Bat way or the Joker way.
I haven’t finished the game, so I am no shape to deliver a solid review. I can tell you that the game makes me think in a meaningful way about interpersonal connections. The game reminded me that we often define and dedicate ourselves to something outside of ourselves. We join religions and teams and relationships in an effort to unlock the secrets of who we are. This game shows that in such a vivid way that even the games younger audience will understand why these things happen as well as what drives the relationships between the series’ key characters.