Should You Play Gotham Knights In 2024?

Summary

The reviewer reflects on their experience with *Gotham Knights*, a spin-off set in the Batman universe after the death of the Dark Knight. While not as polished as the *Arkham* games, *Gotham Knights* offers a fresh perspective with four playable Bat-family members. Despite mixed reviews, the game is fun, with engaging open-world exploration, although it suffers from clunky combat animations, repetitive gameplay, and underdeveloped characters. The story has potential but lacks deep engagement. Overall, while it may not be a favorite, it remains an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre who manage their expectations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reviewer played the Batman Arkham games and enjoyed them, but felt they finished too quickly and wanted another Batman-related game.
• 😀 Gotham Knights, a spin-off set in the Batman universe, was released in October 2022 and received mixed opinions, mostly negative, which led the reviewer to wait before playing it.
• 😀 Gotham Knights is not a sequel to the Arkham games, but it features four playable characters from the Bat family: Nightwing, Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl.
• 😀 Each character has a different playstyle, with Nightwing being agile and good for team play, Robin being stealth-focused, Red Hood being the strongest with aggressive combat, and Batgirl focusing on hand-to-hand combat.
• 😀 Batgirl was chosen by the reviewer for her similar combat style to the Arkham games, though the reviewer felt the animations and traversal were less fluid and smooth than in the Arkham series.
• 😀 Performance-wise, the reviewer encountered occasional FPS drops on PC, but nothing game-breaking, and the console version was limited to 30 FPS, which many players found disappointing.
• 😀 Despite Gotham Knights not matching the visuals of the Arkham games, with a more stripped-down feel and lower-quality lighting, the reviewer still appreciated the world and enjoyed exploring Gotham.
• 😀 Combat in Gotham Knights, especially as Batgirl, was criticized for being too simple and repetitive, lacking the variety found in the Arkham games, with basic attack animations.
• 😀 The story of Gotham Knights starts strong with an engaging intro, but the plot, which involves investigating Batman's death, was considered somewhat lackluster, with limited character development for the new protagonists.
• 😀 Overall, despite the flaws, the reviewer enjoyed the game, finding it fun, particularly for those who like free-roaming and open-world gameplay, but acknowledged that it fell short compared to the Arkham games.

Q & A

What are the main differences between *Gotham Knights* and the *Batman Arkham* games?

The main differences include the fact that *Gotham Knights* is not a direct sequel to the *Batman Arkham* series and features four playable characters from the Bat-family, unlike the Arkham games that focused on Batman. The gameplay mechanics in *Gotham Knights* are also somewhat clunkier, with less fluid movement and combat compared to the Arkham series.

Which character in *Gotham Knights* seems to be the most popular based on the review?

Based on a poll in the reviewer's community tab, Red Hood is the most popular character in *Gotham Knights*. He is seen as the strongest character, using dual pistols and explosives, which makes him appealing to players who enjoy aggressive combat.

How does Batgirl's combat style in *Gotham Knights* compare to the other characters?

Batgirl's combat style focuses on hand-to-hand martial arts, which makes her feel similar to Batman in the *Arkham* games. She uses gadgets like hacking tools, batarangs, and a cape to glide, making her the most similar to Batman, but her combat system lacks the fluidity and variety of the *Arkham* games.

What are some of the issues with traversal in *Gotham Knights*?

The traversal in *Gotham Knights* is less smooth compared to the *Arkham* games. While the game allows players to grapple and glide around Gotham, the animations feel clunky and slow, making the movement less fluid and enjoyable than in the Arkham series.

What improvements have been made to *Gotham Knights* since its release?

Since its release, *Gotham Knights* has received updates to improve its performance, particularly addressing issues like bugs and FPS drops. The game now runs more smoothly, especially on PC, but console players still face the limitation of 30 FPS.

How does the story in *Gotham Knights* unfold?

The story begins with Batman's death, setting the stage for the Bat-family members (Nightwing, Robin, Red Hood, and Batgirl) to investigate his mysterious death. The plot revolves around uncovering the truth behind his demise, interacting with various DC Comics villains, and exploring new sides to their characters.

Does the story in *Gotham Knights* have strong character development?

The story in *Gotham Knights* has some character development, but it feels lacking in depth, especially for the new characters introduced. The game doesn't provide much backstory or development for these characters, which could make it harder for players to get emotionally invested in the narrative.

What is the general reception of the visuals in *Gotham Knights*?

The visuals in *Gotham Knights* are considered decent, but not exceptional. While the character models and cutscenes look good, the world itself lacks the same visual quality found in the *Arkham* games, particularly when it comes to lighting and reflections. Some players noted that the world looks flat and less detailed compared to earlier games.

How does *Gotham Knights* handle mission design?

Mission design in *Gotham Knights* is more open-ended compared to the linear structure of some other games. Some missions allow players the freedom to choose how to approach objectives and how to track down criminals, providing more freedom. However, the mission design could have been more engaging, as some tasks felt repetitive.

What was the reviewer's overall opinion of *Gotham Knights*?

The reviewer had a mixed opinion of *Gotham Knights*. While they enjoyed the game overall and had fun with the open-world exploration and combat, they found the game lacking in certain areas, such as smooth animations, varied combat, and stronger character development. The game is considered fun but not a standout compared to other superhero games like the *Arkham* series.