10 Hated Video Games That Became Cult Classics

Because Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City were borderline perfect, it felt like the prequel, Arkham Origins, couldn't match them. Fans were extra cynical, since this follow-up was handled by WB Games Montreal; a company so green, it didn't exist before Arkham Asylum. And with classic voice actors Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill not returning, skepticism for Origins was through the roof.

Sadly, these concerns were apt. Origins did little to distinguish itself, since the setting, weapons, and mechanics remained mostly unchanged from the previous entries. The game froze so often, you'd swear Mr. Freeze was to blame.

With that said, Origins shouldn't be dismissed, especially by Arkham purists. The new Batman (Roger Craig Smith) and Joker (Troy Baker) fit their roles so well, the most attuned listeners couldn't tell the actors had been recast. The story explores the Joker's origins in a way rarely seen in any game before or since. It has some genuinely heart-wrenching moments, especially between Bruce Wayne and Alfred.

Also, the boss battles are top-notch. Rather than tangling with a legion of random goons, the boss battles in Origins has the dark knight fight... actual bosses!

And after the disastrous reception of Batman Arkham's successor, Gotham Knights, Origins is now looking like the unsung hero of the series, giving fans more incentive to revisit it.