With Gotham Knights, Warner Bros. Games Montreal makes you feel like a superhero. In this upcoming issue of 2021, you take on the mantle of Gotham City’s protector – he views his streets and rooftops like Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin in the wake of Bruce Wayne’s untimely demise. To save the city from further chaos, you must embrace the spirit of Batman’s legacy and conclude one of the darkest chapters in Gotham’s long history.
While Gotham Knights shares some DNA with the Arkham games – WB Games Montreal was behind Batman: Arkham Origins of 2013 – you should expect more variety and challenge from this brand new experience. “We’ve completely redesigned the combat system to work well together,” said Fleur Marty, executive producer of Gotham Knights. “Of course we’re still a fighter, and some of the mechanics will not feel completely alienated from people who have played and enjoyed the Arkham series, but in many ways it is very different.”
A light in the dark
KEY INFO
(Image Credit: Warner Bros.)
Games Gotham Knights
Developer World Cup Montreal Games
Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive
Platforms PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X / S, PC
Release 2021
WB Games Montreal is creating an original story in the DC universe, one separated from Arkham history, comic books and movies. Patrick Redding, the creative director of Gotham Knights, says that ‘it was a dream’ for the studio to have the freedom to make its mark on Gotham. “It’s a universe that many of us have been invested in the team since we were old enough to read. The real test of it was when we actually started working with DC and started talking about what we wanted for characters and storylines. “and our specific interpretations. It encouraged us to double our unique approach.”
The unique recording depicts a 15-year-old Gotham in Bruce Wayne’s office as protector. The Rogues Gallery is already well established. Low-level criminals fear Batman’s presence, his intervention expected by the emerging forces of the underworld, and disgust at large sections of the Gotham City Police Department after the assassination of Commissioner Gordon. It is our responsibility to restore order with a little vigilance, though it will be easier said than done.
“The hardest part is the embarrassment of wealth,” Redding claims, talking about the decades of storylines from which the studio can draw inspiration. “We can not try to move every last piece of interconnected lore, otherwise it is not coherent. This is the essential difference between a medium like comics – where you can read inner minds and study each panel for clues – and play, where the player experiences the fantasy of these characters by making choices and taking action. ”
“With the game, you can switch to another character at any time, as long as you return to The Belfry to do so”
Fleur Marty, executive producer
And so the action will unfold in an open world Gotham City, which we believe may be the most interactive and dynamic version of the space ever dedicated to a video game. Gotham is made up of five different neighborhoods, and you’ll have to regain control of each one while iconic villains, like Mr. Freeze, and powerful new threats, like the mysterious court of owls, emerge from the shadows after the fall of the Dark Knight. . You will have the task of clearing up increasing threats to the city, protecting the citizens of Gotham from street crime and finding out what happened to Bruce. It is this balance between inquiry and rebellion that has shaped the direction of Gotham Knights.
“Even when we had the main mystery of our central mystery, we forced ourselves to concentrate first on characterization, and how it should not only shape the narrative and execution, but also the action set of each of the four heroes,” says Rescue. “We looked at the overall tone of our Gotham City and used it to decide in which cast and villains we should build the game. It became the foundation, it shaped the game systems, and then we got the story of the game. built and found our cast. of characters to work on top of that. “
That cast is very important. With Batman’s most iconic villains flooding the city, this is not a mission you can do on your own – you need a little help from your friends. While Gotham Knights has four playable heroes, it is designed for a two-player collaboration to deliver a fairly specific superhero fantasy. “The two-player dynamic matches the fantasy and the Gotham City environment. The ‘duo’ or ‘team-up’ is such a central feature of the universe that there is a literal abbreviation for it in the comics, animation, film and TV shows, “says Redding, noting that it was also a way to ensure that the city’s narrow streets and ancient architecture did not feel claustrophobic when fighting with a friend. “Gotham is a city of alleys and rooftops, so the footprint for play must be compatible with it.”
Fight for the future
Gotham Knights is an action RPG with a twist of heroes who will each be able to improve over time, investing in new abilities, combat equipment and costumes as you progress. While Gotham Knights can be played solo, it also includes seamless drop-in, drop-out co-op, so you and a friend can take on Gotham as you prefer. Marty tells me that it was important for WB Games Montreal that you never feel like you could only play as one character, and consequently there is a fluidity and freedom in Gotham Knights’ core design.
“With the game, you can switch to another character at any time, as long as you return to The Belfry to do so.” With the Batcave destroyed at the moment Code Black was launched, The Belfry is the new base for the Gotham Knights. This is where you will regroup and rest during the day, pushing the narrative forward as you take on new challenges and missions, and build on your heroes’ suits, weapons, equipment and style of play. When night falls, and you are ready to patrol again, you will be able to return to Gotham as one of the characters, and without any fear of being underground or prepared.
“Since the story progression is shared between all the characters, it also makes sense that you don’t have to build it up from scratch every time you want to. It also remains very coherent in terms of our narrative,” Marty continues. “Since the other members of the Batman family are always in the background in some way while you are out of the world fighting crime or unraveling the mystery, they do not remain inactive. So it makes sense that they too progress and become stronger. ‘
This design decision serves two purposes. First, it ensures that we will not spend all our time in The Belfry arguing with a friend about who Barbara Gordon will play. Second, you do not have to hone through the experience of character unlocking and levels. Enemies will also scale down to your level of progression, ensuring that we will always be free to experiment with different heroes and their unique playing styles, weapons and abilities. Gotham Knights is going to offer us the most challenging mission the Bat-Family has ever experienced, and you will be able to tackle it on your own terms.
Big in 2021 is GamesRadar’s month – long investigation into the most anticipated games on the near horizon. Check back every day during January for brand new previews, practical impressions and exclusive developer interviews of the games that will define 2021.