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In a city cloaked in darkness, Batman's absence looms like a ghost. Gotham's streets are beset by the relentless tides of crime as Commissioner Gordon's fall further darkens the city's future. Four new heroes, trained under the Bat, now shoulder the burden of Bruce's legacy. Yet, living together under this shadow is anything but simple. The pain of recent loss and their distinct, independent personalities push them to the brink of chaos. But self-indulgence is a luxury Gotham can no longer afford. For Gotham needs them, Alfred needs them, and, quite frankly, we need them too!
Stepping into Gotham's Shadows
Right from the start, you'll step into a beautifully constructed Gotham City, vast and teeming with life. The sprawling city sets the stage for nightly patrols by the four protagonists, placing them against a backdrop of urban decay that grows more evident with each passing night.
The central narrative revolves around discovering the truth behind Bruce's final investigation and the enigmatic criminal organization, the Court of Owls, which serves as the story's primary antagonist. While the Court of Owls might not be as immediately recognizable as other iconic villains in the Batman franchise, their appeal and narrative significance should not be underestimated.
We won't divulge the story's details here, but it's worth noting that you'll encounter familiar faces from the Batman universe throughout your journey. While their visual depictions may not be ground-breaking, they blend well into the game world thanks to solid localization. This strong narrative foundation is a highlight in this tormented chapter of the Batman gaming legacy.
Gotham's Allure and Redundancy
The desire to explore Gotham is strong, especially for Batman fans eager to recognize iconic locations, uncover references to comics and films, and immerse themselves in the city's rich atmosphere. The city is rife with side missions, robberies to thwart, bombs to defuse, armored vehicles to rescue, and crime scenes to investigate.
The first few hours offer plenty of excitement, but redundancy starts to creep in after a few nights. Exploration becomes repetitive, and mission design reveals its limitations with repetitive scenarios. It begins to feel like filler, primarily aimed at accumulating experience, resources, or customization items. Unfortunately, the investigative aspects of the adventure are somewhat underwhelming, which is a missed opportunity.
The game's main narrative keeps things fresh by introducing various iconic characters and offering players a chance to visit different locations. We initially anticipated being able to approach missions differently depending on the chosen hero, but the differences are less pronounced in practice. Whether you choose Robin, Batgirl, Red Hood, or Nightwing, it doesn't significantly alter the gameplay experience.
Four Heroes, One Path
The heroes have unique abilities on paper, but these distinctions don't translate into noticeable gameplay differences. For example, if a mission demands stealth, you might assume Robin is the best choice, while Red Hood is more suited for aggressive situations. In reality, the impact of your choice is minimal, and players can choose their preferred playstyle without feeling compelled to adhere to the strengths of each character. It's a missed opportunity for diverse gameplay experiences.
The Co-op Conundrum
Co-op play doesn't offer a dramatically different experience. Player-controlled characters don't drastically impact the difficulty, and co-op hardly modifies the game's progress or structure. There's a lack of exclusive co-op elements, and the overall gameplay experience doesn't differ significantly when playing with friends. It would have been more engaging if the game encouraged more varied approaches to missions in co-op.
While there's some level scaling, it's not always balanced, and weaker characters may find themselves at a disadvantage during co-op. Fortunately, death doesn't carry heavy consequences, as you'll quickly respawn close to your point of defeat with only minor resource losses.
The Performance Debate
The game's capped 30fps frame rate became a heated topic of discussion. It's evident during combat sequences and when riding the Batcycle, where the sensation of speed feels underwhelming. While Gotham Knights remains playable at 30fps, it's clear that higher frame rates could elevate the experience.
The development team cited the vastness, complexity, and dynamism of the game world and the co-op mode as reasons for the frame rate cap. However, the cap feels restrictive and limits the sense of speed and fluidity in a title that deserves better optimization.
The Verdict
In the end, Gotham Knights is a decent title with moments of genuine fun. While it doesn't meet the high bar set by Rocksteady's Batman games, it's still an enjoyable experience that manages to capture some of the magic of the Batman universe.
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