Batman: The Enemy Within – The Telltale Series

This is a rare instance of Telltale Games including meaningful and game changing choices in a game. You don't end up feeling like the choices you make did not matter much, which is one of the most common criticism of Telltale games including the first season of this game. One of the more interesting and surprising things for me was how much you could influence certain characters with your actions, including the joker.
The game also touches on questions such as:
Is the crime in Gotham becoming worse with supervillains a natural phenomenon, or is it Batman who makes this happen?
Is Batman really a force for justice and good, or is he just as psychotic and dangerous as the people he locks up in a cell?
Would it not be better to do good in other ways using Bruce Wayne's resources instead of burning yourself out by becoming a masked vigilante?
Isn't Batman just a rich A-hole who likes unnecessary gadget and toys, and gets off on beating up people with mental health issues?
Ah...so many philosophical questions...
Overall, I feel this is the best Telltale game I've played since A Wolf Among Us.

A fantastic sequel to the Batman - Telltale Series. This game offers an excellent reinterpretation of the original characters with a unique and fresh perspective. The meaningful choices truly impact the plot, and the intense and thrilling storyline is complemented by outstanding voice acting. Everything is executed brilliantly.
텔테일이 해석한 배트맨.

Overall: 8/10
Story:
Telltale’s Batman: The Enemy Within is another episodic narrative-driven interactive adventure game, but it delivers a more refined and emotionally resonant narrative compared to its predecessor. One of the standout positives is the exploration of Bruce Wayne’s duality. This time, the game forces Bruce to balance his role as Batman with a complex undercover operation, adding very interesting layers of tension and personal conflict. The narrative’s focus on Bruce’s moral struggles feels more intimate and well-executed, allowing you to truly engage with his character arc. Additionally, the evolution of John Doe into The Joker is a major highlight, giving you unprecedented control over your relationship with him. This player-driven transformation adds intriguing depth to both the characters and the overall narrative, creating what I feel is a more unpredictable and emotionally engaging story.
Another strength is how T.E.W. tightens its focus compared to the first game. The narrative zeroes in on key relationships, making each character integral to the story’s progression. This tighter storytelling helps the game feel more cohesive and purposeful and on top of this, this title also does a better job of making choices feel impactful, especially in shaping John Doe’s fate and influencing the finale.
On the downside, the narrative can occasionally feel predictable despite its stronger focus on character dynamics. Certain plot points, such as Amanda Waller’s manipulative tactics or Selina Kyle’s uncertain loyalty, can feel somewhat formulaic for those familiar with Batman lore. Lastly, while the game’s choices offer more weight than in the previous entry, Telltale's signature "illusion of choice" does metaphorically seep through the cracks in the foundation of the game since some minor, less important decisions still lead to similar outcomes, which may diminish the sense of true agency for some people. Basically, T.E.W. is a marked improvement over the first game, delivering a more personal, character-driven story, but it still grapples with occasional narrative predictability.
Gameplay:
The gameplay in T.E.W. builds upon the foundation set by its predecessor, introducing several refinements while retaining the core mechanics fans of Telltale games are familiar with. The action sequences, driven by Quick Time Events (QTE's), feel more polished and responsive, offering slightly more variety in combat scenarios. While the basic structure of these sequences remains similar, T.E.W. introduces more dynamic choreography, making each encounter feel fresh.
A notable improvement lies in the decision-making and dialogue system, which feels more impactful here. As mentioned earlier, choices carry heavier consequences, giving the you a stronger sense of agency, particularly in shaping the relationships between characters. The pacing between intense action and narrative-driven moments has also been fine-tuned, leading to a smoother experience.
However, while gadgets play a slightly larger role in gameplay, they still don't evolve much from the first game. In addition to this, the detective mechanics, while still present, haven't seen significant upgrades either, and the puzzles remain intuitive but don't offer much beyond what was established previously. Ultimately, T.E.W. refines the gameplay elements of its predecessor without drastically altering the formula, offering a more balanced and engaging experience, but leaving some areas ripe for further innovation.
World:
T.E.W. expands upon the first game’s world and level design by offering a broader variety of locations and a more immersive atmosphere. While the previous game focused on familiar Gotham environments like Wayne Manor, the Batcave, and crime-ridden streets, T.E.W. introduces diverse and dynamic settings such as Riddler’s puzzle-filled lair and Joker’s chaotic hideouts. These locations aren’t just backdrops; they reflect the personalities of the game’s major villains and enhance the storytelling. For instance, Riddler’s lair is filled with deadly traps that force you to engage with their surroundings in ways the first game didn’t. This adds depth to the environments, making them feel like an integral part of the experience rather than mere set pieces.
Furthermore, T.E.W. elevates Gotham itself, making the city feel like a living entity shaped by the events of the story. The game’s environments mirror the tension between Gotham’s criminal underworld and the Agency’s sterile, controlling influence, offering a more dynamic sense of place. Compared to the static and sometimes slightly repetitive locations in the first game, T.E.W. creates a richer, more atmospheric world, blending mood, interactivity, and storytelling into each environment.
Visuals:
Being released only a year after the previous title, it makes sense the direction taken in regard to visuals/art style. Rather than trying innovate too far out of its scope, T.E.W. builds on the art style established in Telltale's Batman, with the graphical improvements being more incremental and subtle than transformative. The enhancements lie in the finer details—character models are slightly sharper, facial animations more expressive, and lighting effects feel more refined, especially during key moments of tension. Additionally, the more grounded yet cel-shaded, comic book-inspired visuals remain intact, providing a distinct atmosphere that suits Gotham’s dark, gritty world.
Nevertheless, these improvements, while noticeable when side-by-side with the first title, aren’t likely to stand out dramatically to most players. Telltale focused on polishing what was already established, which keeps the visual continuity while making subtle enhancements that improve immersion.
Music/Sound Design:
When it comes to music and sound design, T.E.W. stays fairly consistent with the first game. The score remains serviceable, featuring a mix of brooding atmospheric tones and tense crescendos that fit the dark, crime-ridden world of Gotham. However, while the music enhances the mood during key moments, it never quite stands out as a memorable element. Like its predecessor, the soundtrack does just enough to underscore dramatic scenes and action sequences, but doesn’t elevate them to anything more impactful.
Similarly, the sound effects, from the swooshes of Batman’s cape to the punchy impacts of combat, are solid but not particularly noteworthy. Dialogue is well-acted and well-mixed, ensuring the performances shine, but the audio mix doesn’t carry much weight beyond this.
Compared to the original Telltale's Batman, there’s little noticeable improvement in sound design. It stays at a slightly above-average level, with no standout tracks or audio effects that linger once the credits roll, at least for me personally. It’s competent, if unremarkable, and feels more like a functional backdrop to the story rather than an immersive audio experience.
TL;DR:
T.E.W. offers a more refined, character-driven story compared to its predecessor, with an engaging exploration of Bruce Wayne's duality and a standout evolution of John Doe into The Joker, allowing for a player-driven narrative. The game tightens its focus on key relationships, enhancing the story's cohesion and making choices feel more impactful, though occasional predictability and Telltale's familiar "illusion of choice" still linger. Gameplay is refined, with smoother QTE's and more dynamic action, but detective mechanics and gadget use remain underdeveloped. The world is expanded with richer, more diverse settings, enhancing the game's atmosphere, while visuals and sound design build incrementally on the previous title without significant leaps. Despite its minor shortcomings, The Enemy Within is a marked improvement, delivering an engaging and well-crafted experience that fans of narrative-driven adventures should definitely check out!

Absolutely loved this. Choices matter much more in this game than the first one. Played from start to finish in one day it was so good. Absolutely worth playing. Amazing story telling and characters. Voice acting is top notch just as in the first game. Highly recommend this game to any Batman fan.

Batman: The Enemy Within is an improvement on the first season in nearly every way:
PROS: Great cast of characters; Amazing novel like story telling; Most choices of how you act really matters
CONS: The Quick-time events and detective work were a bit of a let down compared to the first season.
CONCLUSION: Overall this game is a fantastic continuation to the Telltales first season. With a lore that is loyal to the Batman universe and the hard decision making on how the story plays out, I honestly recommend this game to any fan of DC universe & of Telltale studios. Would be cool to see another season of this awesome series!

Batman: The Enemy Within is the sequel to the Batman Telltale Series. It builds on Joker's personality and how he came to rise. A telltale game is always S-tier, this is no less than other series. I love how you can choose different ways to deal with people, combat wise too. Definitely play the first Batman Telltale game before this as this game continues off from there. Recommended!

Better than the first game, with the caveat that it takes significant creative liberties with the characters. I think Telltale Games earned the right to some creative license, but by the fifth episode they had taken it to a pointthat will frustrate many Batman fans.
Nonetheless, a fantastic story that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, never slowing the pace as you fight to save Gotham from a pact of villains including Bane, The Riddler, and Harley Quinn. I was sad when the game ended, and it looks like there won't be a third, although one can always hope.