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A full year and two days have passed since Gotham Knights, the follow-up to the highly popular Arkham series, was released. With the game now accessible on both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, we've decided to give it a try despite the significant criticism it received upon release. Our goal is to play the game and see for ourselves if it really deserves all the hate it's been receiving all this time and how the game holds up a year later.
As this is my first opportunity to play the game, I previously refrained from purchasing it at its full $60 price point due to the numerous negative reviews. However, its availability on Game Pass piqued my curiosity, and I decided to take a chance on it. I must say I didn't make a mistake. Gotham Knights is by no means a flawless game, but it's not the catastrophic mess some have painted it to be. To delve further into this, let's examine the details.
The story of Gotham Knights is very good
Before I begin, let me clarify that this is not a review, and I don't intend to discuss the game's merits and drawbacks. Instead, I aim to share my perspective on why this game seems to be receiving an unwarranted amount of criticism.
Gotham Knights presents a story filled with intriguing mysteries and unexpected plot developments. The narrative commences following Batman's death, as Gotham City is inherited by his proteges, known as Batman's knights or his family, as it is referred to in the game. One aspect I genuinely appreciate about Gotham Knights is the freedom it grants you to choose your character and follow the storyline. Notably, the cutscene cinematics adapt to each of the four protagonists, which is a commendable feature.
The narrative incorporates reimagined characters from the DC universe, offering a more contemporary and relevant take on these iconic figures. It also features familiar locations and landmarks within Gotham City. An illustrative example is the Iceberg Lounge, which has been updated and now appears more aesthetically pleasing and fitting for modern times.
The story is cloaked in an air of mystery, pushing you to keep playing until you unravel its conclusion. While it's not the Arkham Knight-level kind of story, it is highly captivating and truly deserves all the praise.
The fighting system is fast-paced, Spider-Man-like, only deeper and even better
While the Arkham series featured fantastic and gratifying combat, WB Games decided to elevate the fighting experience to new heights in Gotham Knights, and it's safe to say that their decision was on point. Although the combat might feel more akin to Spider-Man than the Batman games, it appears to be precisely what the developers aimed for.
Spider-Man, in general, borrowed Batman's combat foundation and introduced swiftness to it. Gotham Knights, in turn, adopted Spider-Man's mechanics and introduced additional features, including momentum moves, which further enrich the combat system. When you factor in elemental damage, you get a remarkably deep and highly satisfying combat experience that becomes increasingly addictive over time.
Furthermore, each of the four heroes boasts distinct move sets and unique combat and traversal abilities, elevating the combat to impressive heights.
The resources and weapon and armour upgrades are the worst part of the Game
While some aspects of the game are commendable, others invite criticism, with the upgrade system taking the lead. It's remarkably pointless and doesn't require any significant research or additional resource gathering, as resources are readily available. Defeating enemies and completing bonus objectives constantly replenishes these resources, ensuring you'll never run out of them.
Every hero has unique outfits that, as you upgrade them, enhance the character's stats. However, the issue is that new armour and weapons periodically appear, and the crafting process becomes monotonous. This system bears some resemblance to the one used in the Avengers game, which garnered widespread hate from the gaming community.
And definitely, if I were to critique anything in this game, it would be those rather dull upgrade mechanics.
Gotham Knight is the most beautiful Batman game ever
The performance issues that plagued this game upon its release have thankfully been resolved, allowing us to fully appreciate the splendour of modern Gotham City. The city is replete with captivating locales and breathtaking vistas. Since the game unfolds exclusively at night, the city's lights are genuinely striking. Cruising on the Batcycle adds an extra layer of beauty to the game, while the rain effects elevate the overall experience.
Despite being a year old, Gotham Knights undeniably stands out as one of the most visually stunning games I've experienced. The textures are remarkably crisp and detailed, the visual effects are outstanding, and even on the Xbox Series S, which is a less powerful version of the Xbox Series consoles, both the graphics and performance were genuinely impressive.
Give Gotham Knights a chance; you won't regret it
Taking everything into account, Gotham Knights has undeniably received its fair share of unwarranted criticism all along and genuinely merits your attention. I can't speak to the state of the game on its initial release or whether the performance was as poor as some claimed, as I didn't play it then. However, I can confidently state that, a year after its release, it is absolutely worth your time. If you have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus Extra, do yourself a favour and give this game a shot; you won't be disappointed.
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