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The words, Gotham City will thrill many DC fans. They evoke feelings of drama, danger, and excitement. What’s more, they are associated with some of the sexiest superheroes and the most hated supervillains. Consequently, when I heard about Gotham Knights in 2020, it got me salivating. Therefore, can you imagine my excitement when my review copy turned up last week? Well, like most of you, I couldn’t wait to get started, but will it live up to the hype?
Developed and published by Warner Bros. Games, this is an open-world RPG. Furthermore, it comprises 4 famous superheroes, a plethora of amazing villains, and a grim and grimy city to explore. On top of this, it captures that seedy and unnerving undertone of every great Batman film, comic, and TV show. Accordingly, with all these elements combined, you experience a story-rich title that should astound you. However, there was something off in this blockbuster endeavour.
Gotham Knights will KAPOW, ZAP, and BAM you right in the kisser.
Rarely does a game hook me from the off. Yet Gotham Knights did just that. Its opening cinematic hits you where it hurts, while brilliantly setting the scene. Its dramatic opener will KAPOW, ZAP, and BAM you right in the kisser. Now, I’m not normally one for plot spoilers, but hell, here we go, Batman is dead…yep, Bat is no more! However, his legacy lives on through a team of 4 DC superheroes. Robin, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Nightwing must continue Batman’s investigation, avenge his death, and protect Gotham City. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done as every villain is determined to make the most of Batman’s demise.
So, the story is a pretty standard affair. Yet, I loved how it dragged you across the grim metropolis while incorporating some old-school characters. Alongside this, there are oodles of side quests to complete, collectables to find, random crimes to stop, and much, much more. You can, if you wish, ignore all the additional content and focus on the main plot. But what would be the point of that? Instead, to get the best out of this, you’ll scour the rank and filthy streets as you tackle the criminals and avoid the GCPD.
Standard open-world ideas.
I love the open-world genre, but the lack of originality is somewhat tiresome. Disappointingly, Gotham Knights falls into all the normal pitfalls and repetitive action. By searching your surroundings and battling your foes, you’ll gain XP. This, in turn, is used to level up each character, and new abilities can be purchased to improve agility, combat, or defence. Alongside this, there are challenges to complete that open up special abilities, new gear, and the ultra-powerful Knighthood tier. The latter option is essential if you are to explore the city with ease. For unknown reasons, it allows you to leap through the air like a demented frog. Now, this confused the hell out of me, but I didn’t care. Why? Well, the ability to devour miles of this massive city in a few leaps was a skill I loved to master.
On top of this, you can scan the city to find collectables and landmarks. This wasn’t essential, but it added some depth to the already lore-rich experience. However, a critical mindset may claim that this was nonessential padding designed to appease completionists. I think it was a nice addition that distracted me from the constant fighting and crime-solving. What’s more, they were normally located in hard-to-reach places, so discovering them all is no mean feat.
Combat and investigations.
The DC franchise is renowned for its slick combat and exciting encounters. Thankfully Gotham Knights doesn’t let you down. Each of the 4 heroes offers a unique style that is intriguing and badass. Yes, even Robin was super cool. Shocking, I know! Focusing on a hack n slash approach, you may worry about finesse. Well, you shouldn’t. The developers have incorporated an evade and dodge system that rewards you for perfect execution. Moreover, there are ranged weapons, momentum abilities, and stealth and aerial takedowns. These combined give you plenty of tactical choices that are far removed from the normal hack n slash tropes.
Sadly, though, no matter how much variety is on offer, the combat is still repetitive. Thankfully, the tedium is countered by some interesting investigatory missions. Here, you’ll piece together clues and try to resolve crimes. These normally innocuous quests form the backbone of the main plot and reveal key intel. This was fantastic as it punctuated the non-stop action while giving you the opportunity to breathe.
Gotham Knights = 30 FPS
The elephant in the room has to be the woeful frame rate. At 30 FPS, it can’t be considered a next-gen performance. However, it neither impacted my experience nor did it bother me. Yes, there were moments where it stuttered, but it was so infrequent that it was negligible. Instead, my lasting impression was how polished the world appears. With rich colours, wonderful details, and incredible expansive views, I was amazed. Furthermore, the slick combat was smooth, uninterrupted, and fantastic to look at. Alongside this, the cinematic was delicious and captivating and added to the drama.
The incredible atypical audio then cements Gotham Knights aesthetics. It delivers a brilliant stereotypical performance with exciting and upbeat music, aggressive sound effects, and gruff soundbites. Moreover, the acting is great. Each player executes their part perfectly to enhance the end product. What was also fascinating was the noise of the city. The hustle and bustle of everyday life brilliantly juxtapose the fast-paced and crazy action. It was a minor detail, but it helps to bring a massive world to life.
It couldn’t be easier to play.
With 4 characters to choose from, many abilities to learn, massive chasms to leap, and so forth, I expected this to be hard to play. However, I was wrong! The fantastic UI and well-considered layout make it incredibly easy to play. Consequently, you’ll be smashing your foes and completing mind-blowing combos in no time. Yet, it isn’t perfect. Sadly, the Batbike is awful to steer. This is particularly annoying, as it forms the key method of navigating the city. Accordingly, it is disappointing, as it is clumsy, unintuitive, and boring to use.
If you want a game that is great value for money while offering replay value and longevity, then look no further. Gotham Knights allows its player base to swap between each hero with ease. What’s more, you can play with a friend in a completely untethered cooperative experience. This is one of the key factors in the aforementioned 30 FPS issue. Unfortunately, the developers couldn’t improve the performance without reducing their gameplay approach.
Gotham Knights is divisive.
I really wanted to love Gotham Knights, and mostly, I did. However, I can’t ignore its repetitive gameplay, awful vehicular control, and the inevitable complaints about the frame rate. Yet, this DC title is enjoyable. The combat is smooth and captivating; the villains are great, and the story flows nicely. What’s more, two-player cooperative action is the icing on the cake. Yes, it could be better, but hardcore fans won’t care. It is for these reasons that I recommend you buy it here! Can you avenge the death of Batman? Follow the clues, prevent a crime spree, and protect Gotham City.
