Confirming rumours that surfaced a few months ago, Origins' multiplayer mode is an evolved form of the previous games' offline predator challenges. Two players star as Batman and Robin, engaged in a three-way war with two teams of elite criminals - three from Bane's gang, and three from Joker's. As in every third-person shooter, the criminal players can use and vault over cover, perform evasive rolls and are equipped with no-nonsense ballistic weaponry. Any kills they score drive down the other gang's "reinforcements", and when one gang's reinforcement count reaches zero, all their opponents have to do is mop up any survivors. Batman and Robin, meanwhile, are stalking the shadows high above, picking off stragglers or those unlucky or bull-headed enough to wander off. Each takedown they earn will fill a shared "intimidation" gauge, and once that fills completely, the heroes win. From time to time, Alfred will also radio in and point out high-value team captains, which grant additional intimidation points if taken down. Varying your takedowns and tactics will also fill the gauge faster. Any deaths the heroes experience, however, will lower their intimidation score, and if the last surviving gang member of either team manages to kill a hero, their entire team will be granted a last-chance comeback, and the heroes' intimidation gauge will take a heavy knock.
Log in to comment