“Sometimes I remember it one way, sometimes another… if I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!”
— The Joker, The Killing Joke
Batman fans will get the chance to rewrite The Joker’s origin story in the finale of Telltale’s Batman: The Enemy Within on March 27. Read no further if you’re not caught up, but Episode 5: Same Stitch will take the character of “John Doe” closer to his destiny or in a completely new direction (barring an Elseworlds adventure or two):
“What would you choose: a friend whose unhinged approach to justice turns your allies against you, or a sworn enemy who will stop at nothing to see you suffer as your city burns? Based on the relationship you’ve built with John Doe, you’ll see one of two very different stories play out. So what’ll it be, Bruce: friend… or foe?”
As the description indicates, the choices players have made over the course of the season will determine which story — and which version of The Joker — they’ll see in the finale. Same Stitch features two totally separate takes on the fully evolved John Doe: one a ruthless villain that hews closer to the classic Clown Prince of Crime and the other an unpredictable vigilante that’s unlike any other portrayal of DC’s iconic character.
According to Telltale, Episode 5: Same Stitch is the “branchiest” episode they’ve ever created. By taking earlier choices into account, the epiosde includes more than 4,500 possible lines of dialogue divided among 38 characters.
“Without exaggeration, Same Stitch is the most ambitious piece of content Telltale has ever produced,” said James Windeler, the Lead Writer of Batman: The Enemy Within. “We had to adjust our usual development process to accommodate the added scope, but it was super important to us to honor players’ choices, whether they chose to befriend John or not. We had to deliver on the season’s central promise of allowing players to craft their own Joker.”
Batman: The Enemy Within – Episode 5: Same Stitch will be available for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices. You can spy a handful of new screenshots from the finale at Telltale’s official website.
