Gotham Knights has finally released and brings with it a fresh take on Gotham City’s protectors. Rather than the Dark Knight taking the limelight, Batman takes a backseat role as players control his proteges—Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood—as they struggle to fill the shoes that Batman’s absence has left in Gotham.
Unfortunately,Gotham Knightsjoins the roster of modern games that just miss the mark. There is a lot of potential for a game set in Gotham City to focus on heroes other than Batman, but Gotham Knights does not do the bat family proper justice.
Combat
Combat is one area where I have relatively few complaints. The game is clearly inspired by the combat mechanics featured in the Arkham games, but it brings a fresh take on the style with the skills and abilities of the bat family. Each playable character has a distinct feeling when in combat, from Nightwing’s quick and flighty hits to Batgirl’s clobbering punches. All of the characters let their personality show in how they choose to take down enemies.
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Visuals and Performance
The visuals of Gotham Knights versus the performance creates one of the more conflicting and heartbreaking aspects of the game. While players, sadly, only get to experience Gotham City at night, as is customary for games set in the Batman universe, the detail and life that this version of Gotham City has is impressive. This is by far my favorite rendition of the fictional city, as it gives a real feeling that Gotham is a living, breathing locale, filled with citizens that have lives, jobs, and families. It gives the actions and heroics of the bat family much more meaning and impact.
Gameplay Loop
There is a solid foundation with Gotham Knights' day/night mechanics, but the execution doesn’t quite hit. The bat family operates from the Belfry during the day, investigating and brainstorming potential leads to the many crimes that plague Gotham City, and they take to the streets at night. Returning to the Belfry provides players an opportunity to reset, assess the information gathered on their patrol, and plan out their next night of action.
This loop is a great concept and makes each night seem like a new adventure where players can build upon the work they’ve done previously. There’s a real sense of progression, as the leads gathered on one night can usher the takedown of a major Gotham villain the next.
Verdict – Misses the mark
Players having the chance to control heroes other than Batman in a DC game set in Gotham was an exciting prospect, but unfortunately, this Gotham Knights didn’t live up to its potential. With a messy performance at launch, repetitive gameplay, and a predictable narrative, Gotham Knights leaves a lot to be desired. This game is still worth a playthrough for fans of Batman, but expectations should be lowered before setting foot in Gotham City.
Interested in Gotham Knights and want to read more about the game? Check out theGotham Knights pageon Pro Game Guides for helpful guides and content!
