Batman: A Telltale Games Series: Guardian of Gotham (iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC [reviewed], PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox 360)
Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Released: November 22, 2016
MSRP: $4.99 (Each Episode)
Let me just get this out of the way -- they did it. They injected the Clown Prince of Crime into a Batman story. No, "he" wasn't in any promotional materials leading up to its release. There were no hints to his existence in the first three episodes, so I thought we were in the clear, but I was wrong.
With that said, this is a mostly safe performance, that for once doesn't just try to mimic the great Mark Hamill, and thankfully doesn't take any cues from Leto's recent foray into Hot Topic Theater ("would you...die for me?"). So while I think that Harvey, Bats, and Oswald could have carried this series all on their own, the presence of Batman's greatest nemesis really doesn't hurt anything. Plus, they get points for trying something new with the character that I won't spoil here (along with a few inoffensive rapid-fire cameos from the comics).
That's mostly because all of those aforementioned ingredients, all of the buildup and character turns. They've all taken shape and formed an interesting dichotomy. On one hand you have the conflicted newly christened mayor Harvey Dent, who still hasn't been fully taken over by his Two Face persona, attempting to restore order to a clearly broken Gotham. Then you have the [admittedly obvious heels] Children of Arkham, who are taking the city back after they suffered for so long. There are so many variables and uncertainties that it keeps you on your toes.