Gotham Knights: Specifications
Platforms: PS5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X, PC
price: $70
Release date: October 21 2022
Type: action adventure
Gotham Knights is not a Batman: Arkham game. The developers at WB Games Montreal have confirmed that since before the game was released, you will almost certainly reach the same result yourself after a few hours of playing. The shadow of the bat looms large over Gotham Knights.
Comparisons to Rocksteady’s popular Arkham trilogy are inevitable – not least because WB Montreal developed a prequel, Batman: Arkham Origins as well. If you just want to know if Gotham Knights are as good as the Batman Arkham games I can spare you some time, the answer is no.
However, judging by its own merits, there is a lot to like about Gotham Knights. All of its four playable heroes feel special enough that picking a “main” character is a tough choice. And while the game’s mission design is a chore, the rewards are well worth it. This may also be the most well-verified digital depiction of Gotham City ever.
Blurry typing and serious performance issues set the game down, but this fun with the extended Pat family is more fun than you might expect. Read on for the full Gotham Knights review.
Gotham Knights review: How to play
Gotham Knights is a third-person co-op action game in which you play as one of four heroes: Batgirl (Barbara Gordon), Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Robin (Tim Drake) or Red Hood (Jason Todd). You can choose a hero at the beginning and stick with him throughout the campaign, or you can switch between the four as you go.
Make no mistake that every hero is a simple cosmetic trade-off. Playable heroes share basic moves – light attack, heavy attack, grappling, etc. – but each one feels unique. His acrobatic upbringing makes Nightwing the most agile knight, while Robin’s petite stature makes him an expert in disguise. Batgirl brings technical expertise, and Red Hood’s dual (non-lethal) pistols allow him to be extremely effective on the range.
Batman: Arkham Games pioneered a free-flowing melee combat system that action games are still ape to this day. Gotham Knights share some of that DNA, but getting out of large-scale confrontations unscathed requires careful use of your abilities rather than just spamming a button counter.
Whenever you take damage, you will build your momentum bar. Once that bar is full, you can activate several of the characters’ special abilities. These range from the Red Hood firing a range of powerful shots, to Nightwing jumping on the head of a criminal like an Italian plumber with a mustache. Some of the early abilities feel a bit weak, but the later initial abilities are very satisfying to unlock.
Stealth is also an option, but it’s not a style of play that I would recommend. The raw tools at your disposal are basic, and silent removals are time-consuming to implement. And sprinting doesn’t usually facilitate a sneaky approach either. In most cases, it’s more effective to jump straight into fights, not to mention more fun.
When you’re not defeating the gangsters and their evil henchmen, you can explore Gotham City via the bat course or rooftop parkour. It’s usually best to make your way through the city on foot, especially since each character’s traversal ability is initially unlocked. For example, Batgirl can’t slide between rooftops until you unlock the ability, and that takes several hours. This just makes navigating the early game a chore.
Gotham Knights Review: Missions and Upgrades
Gotham Knight employs an ingenious day and night cycle. During the day, you regroup at the base of your home, the bell tower. Here you can switch characters, complete exercises, talk with your allies, and craft or customize equipment. At night, you venture into the city to complete missions, prevent crimes, and search for collectibles.
The nuances of this structure don’t get enough explanation during the game’s how-to. Fortunately, I was finally able to decipher the cluttered user interface and the gaping Batcomputer menus. It’s also essential to know that Gotham Knights do not expect you to complete every randomly generated “opportunistic” crime. Once I stopped trying to do everything on my mini map, I enjoyed the game so much more.
The main missions are engagement, at least. This takes you to popular DC comic sites, including Iceberg Lounge and STAR Labs. It also features a lot of familiar faces – some friendly, some less so. Optional side missions that focus on the villain are well worth your time, and let you face off with the likes of Harley Quinn, Clayface, Mr.
Upgrading your character is a huge part of Gotham Knights and here the game really attracted me. You can customize every aspect of your knight, and upgrade everything from your super suit to your weapons. There’s also a large skill tree, interchangeable momentum abilities, and mod slots for your gear. There is a lot to take in, but this wealth of upgrades allow you to mold each character to your favorite style of play. Plus, even the most mundane side content starts to feel at least somewhat compelling when you know there’s a worthwhile reward.
Character level applies to all heroes. This cross-advancement is welcome, but it has limitations. In theory, it allows you to switch characters whenever you want without being substandard. But it is likely that you will find yourself choosing your favorite protagonist. This is because weapons, equipment, and general “strength level” are unique to each hero.
For example, after a long session playing as Red Hood, it was around a power level of 230. I went back to Belfry, intent on switching characters, but found that my Robin was only at a power level of 46. Less attractive when I knew I was going to reset a lot of the progress I had just made.
Gotham Knights Review: A Story
Captures the Gotham Knights story in the aftermath of Batman’s death. The demise of the Dark Knight created a power vacuum in Gotham, and criminals became more and more emboldened. With the city approaching chaos, the game’s proud quartet must rise up and establish themselves as the heroes Gotham needs.
They’re decent comic book leads, and the spotlight’s larger Bat family is a nice change of pace from most Batman games. The Court of Owls are the game’s central villains, which is another refreshing change. The last thing we needed was another Batman story centered on the Clown Prince of Crime. But don’t worry: If you’re keen on competing with the eclectic Batman gallery of crooks, there are plenty of old favorites sprinkled into the mix.
The basic setup is solid, and the premise undoubtedly has potential. But the writing is more DC New 52 than the golden age of comics. The CW’s lineup of DC TV shows will be closely paralleled, and that’s not a favorable comparison. Scenes involving an anxious red hood are particularly noticeable.
Gotham Knights: Visuals and Performance
Gotham Knight is a visually stunning game. Its version of Gotham City makes a great backdrop. The flashing neon lights stand out dramatically against the atmospheric fog covering the horizon. This is the first time in games that Gotham has ever felt like a real place, where ordinary people might actually live.
The hero’s design is exceptional, too. All four heroes have a wealth of unlockable suits, and if you find a favorite, you can upgrade it without changing your cosmetic appearance. The animation of the character in general is at a high level. The brilliant way Nightwing jumps around enemies and front flips on rooftops makes it difficult to transform into another hero.
Unfortunately, the Gotham Knights falter when it comes to performance. For starters, there is no option to choose between Performance and Resolution mode. And frame rate fanatics at the 30fps target won’t be impressed. And what’s worse: the game often struggles to meet that low level. The inconsistent frame rate is not acceptable in any game, but for an action-packed title like Gotham Knights, it’s a real flaw.
Gotham Knights review: The Verdict
The Gotham Knights movie comes short in several important areas. The story has compelling components, but it misses them with cookie-cutter character arcs and sheer writing. In addition, performance on consoles needs serious improvements. However, don’t be surprised if Gotham Knight can still grab your attention despite its many flaws.
All four of its playable characters feel special, and the constantly rewarding upgrade system offers real building variety. There’s no denying that the foundation of its gameplay isn’t as revolutionary as the Batman: Arkham series but the Gotham Knights define their own identity – even if they aren’t unique.
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