By Alex Lehr

“Arkham Origins” was not the game that we deserved, but the game that we needed.

I spent months anticipating the arrival of the third installment of a beloved game series.

The Arkham series, kingly in its place on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, has showed us just what a hero of Gotham needs to be.

“Arkham Origins” was first announced around April 2013, and when I heard about it, I became as excitedly loopy as an Arkham patient.

Recently it’s also be revealed that a fourth entry into the series will be made, Arkham Knight, which will be a sequel to “Arkham City,” thus finally continuing the story we’ve been waiting for. I have high hopes for this upcoming fourth treasure, which has been reported by Imagine Game Network as to be released this year on Oct. 14.

I am excited for the release of “Arkham Knight” after playing “Arkham Origins.”

Upcoming on April 22 is the first story-related DLC titled “Cold, Cold Heart,” which, according to WB Games VP of Production Ames Kirshen, will change gameplay by allowing the player to become more “resilient” against cryogenic weaponry, as the DLC focuses upon the backstory of Mr. Freeze, a popular nemesis in Batman lore and my personal favorite Batman villain.

“Arkham Origins” was the first game in the series be created Warner Bros. Games Montreal.

The plot begins Christmas Eve.

Notorious crime lord Black Mask has led a riot in the prison Blackgate, and Batman, suited up and ready to kick, punch and choke justice into the criminals, jumps into the Batwing and shoots off for the prison, ignoring faithful butler Alfred’s pleas that it is Christmas Eve.

The true gameplay begins at Blackgate and carries it into the open world adventure that is Batman’s Christmas Eve.

Truthfully, nostalgia and redundancy clash when the game begins.

Gameplay has been recycled from the game’s predecessor, “Arkham City”. Batman starts the game with gadgets like the Batclaw (used to pull things from a distance), a remote controllable Batarang as well as a regular Batarang for basic throwing, explosive gel which can be used to destroy walls and other obstacles, and even a hacking device which can be used to hack into systems and open doors, among other things.

These gadgets are only a few of what will become available to Batman throughout the game as it progresses. New gadgets include the Remote Claw, which can create a zip-line for Batman to use as well as allowing him to pull objects from a distance into enemies.

Shock Gloves are also introduced, electrifying Batman’s punches when used and allowing for instant incapacitations of enemies, as well as powering up generators that allow Batman to access lifts and doors alike.

Like in “Arkham City”, Batman moves faster and flies more flexibly than the hero that we encountered in “Arkham Asylum.” Combat is quickly initiated with much singular button pushing, but a variety of special moves can be performed depending upon the hit combos you get. Combos are performed with a series of attacks on your enemies without missing or getting hit.

Returning to the series is the Joker. In this story, Batman comes across the mass-murdering clown for the very first time.

In this game, The Joker is voiced by famed voice actor Troy Baker, who also starred as Bioshock Infinite’s Booker DeWitt. Baker does an amazing job of replicating the voice of legendary Mark Hamill, who voiced the clown in the first two Arkham games, as well as the animated Batman series that premiered on Fox Network in 1992.

Roger Craig Smith brings Batman to life through his voice by continually sounding agitated, serious and intimidating.

New villains to the series are the mercenary Deathstroke, the poisonous, snake-like Copperhead and the assassin Shiva. Bane, Killer Croc and the Mad Hatter return to the series after having appeared in the last two games.

All the villains challenge Batman based on an offer from Black Mask of $50 million for Batman’s head.

The soundtrack is superb, with much of the composition coming from Christopher Drake, who is able to induce a dark atmosphere in the game.

Riddler trophies are reincarnated as “Enigma Data Packs,” forcing Batman to scour the city in search of the devices while taunted by the Riddler, who in this game is referred to as “Enigma.”

Obtaining these data packs follows similar methods like those from “Arkham City,” where the player will have to search for the packs all throughout Gotham City, as well as solve puzzles to obtain them.

Truly, “Arkham Origins” was like a very huge add-on to “Arkham City.”

As James Gordon put it in the “Dark Knight,” Batman is indeed a hero that we deserve.

Have a nice Bat day.