Batman and Bruce Wayne – both are masks, in one way or another. This idea is central to The Pact, episode two of Telltale’s Batman: The Enemy Within.

Kicking off seconds after Amanda Waller’s dramatic reveal that she knows Batman’s true identity and following the death of the Riddler, a new crime wave sweeps Gotham perpetrated by Harley Quinn and her gang. Waller, with the leverage she has over Bruce, orders him to use his connection to John Doe to infiltrate the group of rogues and uncover their grand plans.

The Pact is undoubtedly the heaviest Bruce-focused episode to date, with most of the episode following the rich playboy’s attempts at being an undercover agent. Here, Bruce’s and your own code are tested to the limits, as Telltale craft scenarios that constantly push to see how far you’re willing to go or how much you’re willing to risk to assimilate with the group.

Obviously, the story must press on to hit its key moments, but Telltale do a stellar job of putting you in some impossible positions that ensure the choices you’re forced to make are no less fraught with trepidation and indecision. For some, it’s easy, like John Doe who already believes Bruce’s motives are pure, but it’s the rest of the villains he has a tougher time to convince, especially Harley Quinn.

Again, as they’ve done with so many familiar characters from the series, Telltale flip expectations with Harley. Usually the one doting over The Joker, the roles are reversed this time around, with John doing everything he can to please and impress her. It’s an interesting switch to the norm that gives new life to a difficult character. Her statement that John is still “finding his way” and “doesn’t know who he really is yet” sends a terrifyingly clear message that the events of this series and the choices you make are all leading up to the formation of The Joker proper.

That is certainly one reason to stick around, but The Pact also offers up more cliffhangers and story beats to keep you intrigued. Even if the disguised linearity of Telltale’s episodic output does falter a little with the inevitability and relative ease Bruce joins Harley’s gang, The Pact shows there’s still room for unique Batman stories to be told.

INFO
Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Release: Out Now
Formats: PS4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android
Price: £18.99