Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask (Xbox One) Review

By Josh Di Falco 28.01.2018

Review for Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask on Xbox One

As with all reviews of this episodic nature, there will be spoilers for previous episodes throughout the review so it is not recommended to continue reading without playing the previous episodes first.

Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask begins how the previous episode ends: with the revelations that Catwoman is also a member of the Pact. The mystery surrounding the Pact and its true purpose takes another major step forward, with help from the deceased Riddler, while Amanda Waller and Detective Gordon put Batman in-between a rock and a hard place. To make matters worse, Harley Quinn and the others are aware that there is a mole in the group after the failed attempts at the conclusion of the last episode, and they begin their internal investigation to weasel out the traitor.

After her abrupt and sudden departure that seemed to be "filler" in the last season, it was a wonder when Catwoman was going to crawl her way back into the frame. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that she has secretly being doing work for the criminal organisation known as the Pact. More specifically, she was an associate of The Riddler, and again it comes as no surprise that she is not fully sold on this group, but rather she's undercover trying to find out who had Riddler killed. The opening sequence is well written, with Bruce Wayne and Catwoman having to hide their knowledge of each other, and pretend that they are meeting for the first time in front of the gang. However, soon enough they are left on their own and they begin to work together in further infiltrating the group and investigating the Pact's reasons for all that they are working towards.

Unfortunately, for Wayne, Detective Gordon has a hunch that the billionaire has been dabbling in criminal activities, and he gives Batman an ultimatum to bring him in. While Batman's true identity is not known to Gordon, it does make their relationship pretty complex at this stage; especially considering that Gordon's investigative rival in Amanda Waller does know the truth and, as such, holds that over Wayne's head in order to progress with his infiltration and maintain his criminal cover. This is a dynamic that was put on hold in Episode 2: The Pact, but it does add a new layer of intrigue and worry to what is becoming an already complicated plotline.

Screenshot for Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask on Xbox One

Of course, after being left for dead by the Pact, Harley Quinn makes her triumphant return to the group and she is packing a lot of anger. Pointing the finger at a mole in the group, Bane takes investigative matters into his own hands with his cruel, torturous, and destructive methods of interrogation. The character of Bane is a monster with a vicious streak, and his Mexican-wrestler gimmick is a weird overlap with his character development. While Quinn and Bane's relationship is further strained by their double-investigations, as well as their egotistical battle to determine the true leader of the Pact, it does place Mr. Freeze into a generic background role that still does not seem to have any sort of need for the story at this stage.

To further complicate matters, Bruce Wayne's relationship with his "good friend" John Doe sees a strain on their friendship. While it is no secret as to whom John Doe will end up becoming, it is still a great and interesting watch to see what exactly will make Doe snap into becoming the Clown Prince. While he does have the hots for the temptress in Quinn, it is clear that she is using his attraction for her own selfish deeds. How far this manipulation carries or whether this is the trigger that creates the famed clown remains to be seen.

Screenshot for Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask on Xbox One

Cubed3 Rating

7/10
Rated 7 out of 10

Very Good - Bronze Award

Rated 7 out of 10

While Batman: The Enemy Within - Episode 3: Fractured Mask is a small improvement over the previous episode, it is becoming quite clear just how complicated and convoluted the story is becoming. With many layers to peel back in this story, it has made the end game for the season unpredictable. There is Amanda Waller and Gordon's fight over Batman/Bruce Wayne's infiltration over the Pact, and Harley Quinn and Bane's on-going feud over leadership and direction of the criminal gang. Then there are the mysterious John Doe and Catwoman who still do not know where their affiliations with Wayne and Batman lie, while poor Mr. Freeze's left with nothing to do. There is a lot to juggle with two episodes to go, and there promises to be plenty of heartbreak along the way.

Developer

Telltale

Publisher

Telltale

Genre

Adventure

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  8/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  0 (0 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date Out now   Japan release date None   Australian release date Out now   

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