Is it possible for Gotham City to offer superhero gamers an exhilarating experience without the iconic Batman? The opening sequence of the game involves the death of the legendary character. As he died at the end of the 2015 Arkham Knight story, this should come as no surprise. The question is, can his fellow superheroes pick up where he left off? Can they continue the compelling storyline and hook gamers in for one more mission?
Gotham Knights has been created by Warner Bros Games Montreal. They are the same company who made the content for Rocksteady’s Arkham Knight and was responsible for Batman: Arkham Origins. Although the new game takes place in a new continuity, it feels familiar. Batman leaves his four sidekicks, Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood, to carry on his crusade. The characters have been rebooted, and new voice actors play the roles. Unlike the Arkhamverse, the setting is more faithful to the original comic book with over-the-top graphics and arch-villain dialogue.
The player gets to choose which character they want to be and can switch between them by changing costumes in the Belfry. There is a lot of time to explore the cityscapes in this open-world game while working through a to-do list and following quest markers. The player has to complete the missions to achieve their superhero skill. For example, Batgirl does not get her cape that lets her glide around the city until she has done some virtual training and stopped ten crimes. The city is constantly changing, making it fun to play, and it feels alive with possibilities.
For fans of superhero games, Gotham Knights is definitely worth checking out. However, it is not the only online game for Batman fans to play. There are several free-to-play Gotham-based games for mobile devices, including Batman: The Enemy Within and VRSE Batman. There is also Marvel Snap, a virtual card collector game with in-app purchases. The franchise has also collaborated with online slot developers over the years. Playtech has created the ultimate battle seeing Batman going head-to-head with Superman. There are many Batman slots to choose from, and for those who enjoy a more comprehensive range of characters, there is also Justice League. Unfortunately, those interested in trying these out will have to pay an upfront stake as they are not currently offering no wagering free spins.
Anyway, back to Gotham Knights. The game has two editions, the standard and the deluxe edition. The deluxe edition has the addition of a ‘Visionary Pack’ as well as the standard game and 233 Kustom Batcycle Skin. In addition, the Visionary Pack has exclusive in-game extras and cosmetic items. These include the Batman Beyond animated series inspired, Beyond Suitstyle. Deluxe players can also choose the KnightWatch Transmog, which Jim Lee designed at DC.
The game is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XIS and PC. The PC versions are available via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The price tag for the standard game is $69.99, and the deluxe version is $89.99. For superfans of superhero games, there is a collector edition. For $299.99, the collector gets the deluxe edition plus an augmented reality pin, a sixteen-page booklet, an exclusive Gotham City map and a four-statue diorama, amongst other goodies.
Gotham Knights can be played in single or multiplayer mode. Gamers can either invite their real-life friends to play in two-player mode or hook up with other players already in Gotham City verse in cooperative mode. The game features an all-new, if familiar, storyline. An expansive criminal network has taken over the city streets, and the Batman Family have to protect Gotham from a descent into chaos. Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin do this by solving mysteries. Along the way, they must defeat notorious villains and overcome multiple challenges.
Overall, the graphics are impressive, the missions fun and the detective work and battles more than adequate to keep a superhero gamer entertained.
