Gotham Knights review by jeuxvideo.com

Death is just the beginning

Before discussing the plot of the game, it is necessary to clarify a “point of detail” which is important. Gotham Knights is in no way the consequence, whether direct or spiritual, of batman arkhamknight developed by Rocksteady. The story begins with a revelation made in the first ten minutes of the game that turns the DC universe upside down. The Dark Knight is dead which results in the North American city being thrown into chaos. Faced with an upsurge in crime and an age-old threat that rules the city from the shadows, the Bat-Family takes up the torch, determined to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Gotham’s protector.

The adventure revolves around a crossover of several narrative arcs called “files” featuring the Court of Owls as well as several of the most emblematic villains of the Batverse. However, some notable absences could disconcert fans. Our four vigilantes (Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake) thus give the answer to Harley Quinn, Oswald Cobblepot and many others during an adventure carried out at full speed and whose duration is around twenty hours. of game. Warner Games happily draws from the source material, namely comic books, in order to imagine a breathtaking story that is faithful to the values ​​of Batman, but knowing how to emancipate themselves from them. Gotham Knights is not an adaptation of any particular work. It is a reinterpretation of the myth of the batman with his apprentices as heroes.

The staging is up to the drama brought to the screen. The death of Batman marks the spirits, those of vigilantes, longtime allies, villains quick to reinvent themselves, but also players who discover a city of Gotham in full boiling. Numerous carefully crafted cutscenes mark out a desired epic epic, and fill the story of the Knights of Gotham with a keen sense of heroism. Gotham Knights thus manages to trace its own path, without Batman, and to do so with a certain talent. The absence of Bruce Wayne could have been detrimental. In fact, it is not. Our four heroes rise to the height of their mentor with strength, perseverance and courage.

Once upon a time Gotham

It is customary to describe a particularly central city in a work as a character. If this comparison may seem exaggerated at times, in the case of Gotham Knights, it could not be truer. The city of Gotham imagined by the artists of Warner Games is the largest ever built, which is a fact, and is comparable to no other. The North American port city, made up of several districts connected by bridges, shines at night with a thousand lights under neon lights and lighting inspired by films Noir. Gotham is mostly wet, dirty and grimy as this visually stunning fictional city must be, eaten away to its foundations by an ancient Evil.

To move around Gotham, our vigilantes can count on the Batcycle – Batman’s motorcycle – as well as on the essential grappling hook allowing them to move as they please on the roofs of the city. Flying over the city, moving from roof to roof with ease, and spinning at top speed on a motorized mount prove to be of rare efficiency and extremely exhilarating. Fortunately, the technique follows. Gotham Knights does not have to be ashamed of the competition, quite the contrary, and offers fans of the Dark Knight a solid epic that does not suffer from any failures. The progression is smooth, and therefore bug-free… a fact to be welcomed as the developers have taken care of their copy.

The shadow and the prey

Batman is originally a detective, as the DC initials for Detective Comics indicate, and the studios in charge of the project have understood this well. The best detective in the world has transmitted this knowledge to his acolytes who are now leading the investigation instead of their mentor. They analyze crime scenes, identify clues, and cross-check them to define the next objectives. This desire to return to the origins of the Dark Knight is to the credit of the designers. However, this “investigation” dimension is finally (too) marked out. No need to be an expert in criminology to unravel the threads of mystery. Everything happens naturally, one mission after another, without racking your brains too hard. Nevertheless, some puzzles and other enigmas that spice up and renew the adventure could slow you down for a few moments.

The Knights of Gotham are also masters in the art of concealment and infiltration. Before swooping down on the enemy and making their fists speak, our heroes are asked to use stealth and eliminate the threat without being detected. If certain characters, in particular Batgirl and Robin, have predispositions in this area, our four vigilantes can easily get rid of the threat without being detected. Several missions are also thought in this direction, and invite not to arouse suspicion at the risk of failing. Gotham Knights applies here a formula that has proven itself in the past against suspicious enemies, but whose intelligence remains artificial.

The way of the knights

Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin are not forced to remain lurking in the shadows and can favor a frontal approach, just to apply an expeditious justice, in the face of a rich bestiary. The combat system, which moves away from that of the Arkham saga to better draw inspiration from that of Marvel’s Spider-Manis mostly based on a mix of dodges, attacks and various abilities. Unsurprisingly, the desired clashes that are both accessible and technical occupy a place of choice, and provide a real feeling of empowerment during the adventure. Fighting crime on the streets of Gotham is extremely rewarding whether it’s against small fry or bosses of a whole different caliber.

Nevertheless, the camera wanders at times, losing sight of its subject for a fraction of a second. Coupled with an attack indicator located on the enemy, this can be disabling in higher difficulty levels. Gotham Knights also has a Light-RPG overlay reflecting the rise in power of the various vigilantes. The gain of experience linked to the success of missions and the resolution of crimes unlocks new skills specific to each hero. Finally, new costumes and equipment with various properties are regularly made available to the heroes on the condition of making them with the help of materials and plans unearthed in Gotham. This does not revolutionize the formula of Action-RPGs, but greatly contributes to immersion.

The Bat Family

The absence of Batman is felt during the first minutes of the game before giving way to a new feeling, that of discovery. The four heroes of Gotham Knights, although trained by the Dark Knight himself, are all very different. They are distorted reflections of their mentor with their own style, philosophy of life and vision of justice. Nightwing is a born acrobat and leader. Red Hood relies on brute force and firearms. Robin puts her discretion and her gadgets to good use. As for the badass Batgirl, she shows an unparalleled sense of hacking and hand-to-hand combat. It is even possible, and strongly recommended, to alternate between the characters between two missions, their rise in power being done in parallel.

The “S” in Gotham Knights isn’t there to look good. Warner Games’ title is fully playable in solo and two-player co-op. The main adventure as well as all the side missions can be shared with an ally without being chained to the latter. Vigilantes can roam the city as they see fit, fighting crime separately before joining together to advance a particular storyline. The developers have even integrated combined attacks, just to make the synergy between the characters ever more concrete. The same goes for the boss fights which differ whether you are alone or accompanied… a far too rare initiative!

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Conclusion