BATMAN: THE ENEMY WITHIN

The first season of Telltale’s Batman was mixed, but did establish one of the most strikingly different takes on the hero we’ve seen. Season two opener “The Enigma” builds on that foundation, ushering in a sequel that looks set to surpass its predecessor.

In the aftermath of the Children of Arkham, it seems Batman’s let the genie out of the bottle. Sleazy Mafiosos are out, costumed weirdos are in. Enter the Riddler, returning proto-Joker John Doe and a ruthless supervillain-hunting government agency. Don’t fear if you missed the first season – thanks to an opening recap and mostly clean-slate story, it’s easy to get up to speed.

Things kick off in the form of a Saw-esque crime thriller, with the Riddler trapping people in gruesome torture devices until they solve his conundrums, and Batman racing against the clock to stop him. The script feels tighter and more exciting than any season one episode, and strikes a satisfying balance between the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan’s film universe, and the more outlandish world of the comics.

It’s a reassuringly strong start, suggesting Telltale’s learned from its mistakes. If the next four episodes can keep up the pace and quality, this could be one of the studio’s best seasons yet. Robin Valentine