Gotham Knights brings players into a post-Batman Gotham City, where four of the Dark Knight's closest allies—Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin—must take up the mantle and defend the city against a new wave of crime. Developed by WB Games Montréal, this action RPG is a departure from the traditional Batman: Arkham series, offering a fresh, co-op-friendly experience with a new roster of heroes. While it offers a unique take on the world of Gotham, the game struggles to fully live up to the legacy of its predecessors. Let’s dive into the highs and lows of Gotham Knights.

The story of Gotham Knights takes place after the death of Bruce Wayne/Batman, who leaves behind a mysterious message for his four trusted allies. With Batman gone, the city falls into chaos, and it’s up to Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin to step in and take charge. The plot is centered around investigating a series of increasingly dangerous criminal activities, including the rise of the Court of Owls, a secret society with vast power lurking in Gotham's shadows.

The narrative itself is compelling, particularly with the inclusion of the Court of Owls, which adds a layer of mystery and intrigue to the story. The game does a great job of exploring the dynamics between the four protagonists. Batgirl’s leadership skills, Nightwing’s charm, Robin’s intelligence, and Red Hood’s raw power all feel distinct and are well represented in the story’s development. The characters have their own personalities and motivations, and the writing does a solid job of portraying their grief, their responsibility, and their growth without Batman’s presence.

However, while the characters are well-written, the overall plot can feel somewhat predictable and lacks the depth and complexity seen in previous Batman games. The game's pacing also falters at times, as the narrative often feels stretched out across repetitive missions, which can detract from the emotional weight of the story. The game introduces several great villains, but the stakes never quite match the high expectations set by the Arkham series.

Gotham Knights introduces an open-world action RPG experience where players can freely explore Gotham City and take on a variety of side missions and main story objectives. The game’s combat system is rooted in the Arkham-style combat but with some notable differences. The gameplay feels a bit more methodical and slower-paced compared to the fast, fluid combat of the Arkham games, and it’s more focused on heavy hits, dodges, and specific hero abilities.

The four playable characters each have their own unique combat styles. Batgirl is fast and nimble, Nightwing relies on acrobatics and agility, Red Hood brings powerful ranged and melee attacks, and Robin is more tactical, using his staff and technology to control the battlefield. The customization options allow you to tweak each character’s abilities and stats to suit your playstyle, which adds a layer of depth to the gameplay.

While the combat is enjoyable, it does feel repetitive at times. The enemies you encounter—whether it’s regular thugs, supervillains, or the Court of Owls’ talons—often follow similar attack patterns, and many of the side missions feel like carbon copies of each other. The combat mechanics lack the smoothness and finesse of the Arkham games, and the flow of battle can sometimes feel clunky, especially when transitioning between attacks or dodging.

One major addition to Gotham Knights is the co-op multiplayer, which allows players to team up and take on Gotham’s threats together. This feature is a welcome addition, offering the chance to team up with friends and experience the game’s story and missions in a more collaborative way. While the co-op gameplay is fun and adds replayability, it’s a shame that the game doesn’t take full advantage of the potential for more dynamic, strategic team combat.

Graphically, Gotham Knights is impressive, with Gotham City being one of the most visually striking aspects of the game. The city is vast and packed with intricate details, from the rain-soaked streets of downtown to the dark, foreboding corners of Crime Alley. The lighting, particularly at night, is moody and atmospheric, capturing the essence of Gotham’s noir-inspired setting. The rain, fog, and mist add to the game’s grim, oppressive tone, making the city feel alive, but also constantly on the edge of chaos.

The character models are also well-done, with each of the heroes having their own distinct visual design. The costumes are true to their comic book roots, with Batgirl’s suit being sleek and tech-oriented, Nightwing sporting his iconic blue and black, Red Hood wearing his armored gear, and Robin’s look being more tactical. However, the facial animations can sometimes feel stiff, and the cutscenes lack the polish that you might expect from a AAA game.

Overall, the art direction effectively captures the gritty, dark tone of Gotham City, but the game’s graphical performance can sometimes feel inconsistent, especially when it comes to environmental textures and character animations.

The sound design in Gotham Knights does a great job of supporting the game’s overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is cinematic and moody, with deep, ominous tones that mirror the game's darker themes. The music ramps up during intense combat encounters and exploration, giving you that feeling of Gotham’s danger lurking around every corner.

The voice acting is also a strong point, with each character’s voice actor bringing the appropriate energy and emotion to their roles. The interplay between the characters is genuine, and their performances help breathe life into their personalities. The dialogue is sharp and often filled with wit, especially from Nightwing and Red Hood, and there are moments of genuine emotion between the characters, particularly during more personal story beats.

Gotham Knights is an ambitious step into the world of Gotham without Batman, allowing players to control some of the most iconic heroes in DC Comics. The story, while not as complex or gripping as some might expect, does a good job of fleshing out the dynamics between Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin. The game’s combat is satisfying but can feel repetitive, and the open-world design is impressive, though it occasionally lacks variety.

The game’s biggest strength lies in its characters, the atmosphere of Gotham, and the opportunity for cooperative play. However, the repetitive mission structure and clunky combat mechanics hold the game back from reaching its full potential. Gotham Knights is a solid entry into the DC Universe, but it doesn’t quite match the excellence of its predecessor, the Batman: Arkham series.

Rating: 7/10

Mid. Glad I got to see my old friend again. The crowbar.

I would recommend this game, but ONLY on a huge discount. Definitely not worth the full price.
However, if you enjoy the Bat Family, there is some fun to be had here. I played through the entire game as Jason because I'm an edgy loner who likes Red Hood. The movement can feel incredibly clunky. I gave up on the platforming challenges real quick as they seemed nearly impossible. Combat is fine, but definitely could have benefited from an actual lock-on system.