The Gotham Knights cinematic launch trailer has just dropped, like a masked vigilante, on a thug in a dark alley. While the visuals and story are great, I'm still not convinced that four bats are better than one.
The trailer introduces each member of the Batfamily, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Redhood. One by one, the trailer shows them wandering the grimy, neon-lit alleyways of Gotham, gunning down thugs, gangs, and criminals.
But it's not just his fighting skills that are on display. Each member of the Batfamily also expresses his own deepest insecurities when they cross paths in the Dark City: "mate, inadequate, replaceable" are just some of the questions Robin faces. It's a nice addition to the cinematic trailer as it shows how these superheroes and vigilantes are more than their masks.
This look into each member's psyche seems to be an integral part of the game's narrative, especially since, spoiler alert, it doesn't look like Batman is going to beat up criminals in Gotham Knights, at least not under a tombstone. So I have a feeling Gotham Knights will see the team of four navigate their way through villains and their emotions as they come to terms with the loss of Batman.
But the question remains whether the introduction of four very different heroes and vigilantes works well for a series known for having a figurehead. Can WB Games connect the synergy of characters with very different personalities? I'm not sure, but I think they'll still have to rely on Batman for help.
vida loca
It would be a lie to say that the Gotham Knights game went well. WB Games made some questionable decisions. I can't help but immediately think of the Living the Vida Loca incident.
A few days ago, video game critic Janet Garcia posted footage from Gotham Knights showing Batgirl fighting a prison fight where, seemingly out of nowhere, a female version of Ricky Martin's Living the Vida Loca starts playing a scene in middle of the fight. Working familiar music into combat worked brilliantly in Guardians of the Galaxy, but it didn't land for me in Gotham Knights. Instead of a cool fight scene, I could only see a cheap attempt at flattering a female audience.
I have to tell you that during my Gotham Knights preview, Living la Vida Loca started playing and it was by far the weakest moment of my session. My jaw dropped when he started playing and I was like wtf keep rn. pic.twitter.com/b75lvP6VFmOctober 6, 2022
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It's not just Batgirl who had a dodgy introduction. When I found out that Redhood had been given magic, I was completely confused. Redhood is one of my favorite DC characters. The point of his character, like most members of the bat family, is that he has no superpowers, just impeccable marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat experience, and of course, a fancy red helmet. I understand that Redhood was raised from the dead in the comics, so reality can expand when it comes to the character of him. Still, being able to summon magical platforms in the air feels like a useful gameplay mechanic, rather than a natural extension of the character.
primed breath
It's not all bad news. The cinematic trailer that was just released is proof of this. The direction of the story looks promising. Every character featured has a notoriously complicated relationship with either Bruce Wayne or Batman, so exploring that in Gotham Knights may mean we get a better understanding of who those characters are without the shadow of the Caped Crusader hanging over them.
I just hope WB Games doesn't try to do too much. Each of these characters would make an interesting protagonist for a game set in Gotham. Especially Nightwing and Redhood, who have written a lot about them. But combining four of these characters risks confusing the issue.
Less is often more, and the Arkham games are a prime example. You knew where you were when it came to the purpose and spirit of Batman. But in Gotham Knights you have stark contrasts. First, Nightwing honors Bruce's legacy by continuing his work fighting crime, while he makes a name for himself in the shadow of Batman. Alternatively, there's Redhood, which is incredibly tricky. As a vigilante, he openly rejects Batman's ideals of non-lethal justice, as he has no problem planting a bullet in someone's skull. These two solos are so different that it will be interesting to see how WB Games brings together each of the four members of the Bat-family in one game.