Gotham Knights Gameplay Is Finally Impressing Critics

Phew, it was touch and go there for a while. Thankfully, our first real glimpse of Gotham Knights gameplay leaves even the superhero ensemble's harshest critics hopeful that the Bat Family will take flight to the top of the charts in what could be one of 2022's big hitters.

We'll admit that while Warner Bros. Montreal's Gotham Knights has an interesting premise and enough of a legacy as a spiritual successor to Rocksteady's Arkham games, the first teases had us preparing headlines like "Gotham Knights is the Worst Batman Game Ever." Thankfully, a new gameplay reveal has us lighting up the Bat-Signal with glee. 

What Does The Gotham Knights Gameplay Reveal?

Courtesy of IGN, we get to see the first 16 minutes of Gotham Knights gameplay. Although WB Montreal is keeping the game's prologue a secret (presumably hiding some pretty major plot points), the gameplay reveal jumps straight in with a tutorial on how the title's combat works. 

You pick which hero you want to play as, and here, we get to see Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in action. Gotham Knights has previously faced controversy for its representation of Gordon as an able-bodied vigilante because she was wounded by Joker and ended up in a wheelchair in the comics. Given that Gotham Knights is set after this, the developer was called out for an unrealistic portrayal.

Diving back into the Gotham Knights story, there's a mention of Dr. Kirk Langstrom, which confirms Man-Bat will have a part to play. Babs runs around Gotham University to try and solve the mysteries of Langstrom, then takes on some low-level grunts to give a taste of combat. For those who've played Rocksteady's Arkham games, you'll see a lot of similarities.

Fans React To Gotham Knights Gameplay

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We'll admit that the dialogue is a little clunky in Gotham Knights, but on the whole, the game is looking better than ever. One fan said, "This is probably the best showcase they've had so far the gameplay looks a lot more smooth than some of the previous showcases." Another added, "Missing some of the polish that made the Arkham series a masterpiece. It still looks like a fun game with excellent combat, detective work, and little details (Grey Ghost Poster!) Looking forward to playing." A third simply said, "Great looking game and the combat looks fun and flashy. My most hyped game for 2022."

Gotham Knights is in a strange place, with fans confused about whether it's a sequel to 2015's Arkham Knight or not. Although both stories feature a world after Bruce Wayne has died (supposedly), Gotham Knights is a whole new beast. Previously, everyone was underwhelmed by the bizarre use of magic powers for Red Hood, and while Gotham Knights still has its critics, it's a damn sight better than it used to be. Either way, we can't wait to suit up as the Bat Family.