After almost an entire year of silence and teasing from Warner Bros., fans were finally able to bear witness to a new title without the Bat himself. The new title finally delivers on all the hype and leaks that have floated around the last few weeks, even if it might exist outside the Arkham universe. Showcased this morning at DC FanDome, WB Montreal showcased a new trailer and gameplay footage of their upcoming title, Gotham Knights.
The trailer cold opens to various news outlets reporting the death of the billionaire himself, Bruce Wayne. The death of the now to be revealed Batman reinvigorates the villainy community; but luckily, Bruce could send a last message to four distinct heirs. Instantly recognizable are Nightwing and Robin, accompanied by newcomers Batgirl and Red Hood. Giving their lives to become vigilante protectors of the city from a new looming threat from the infamous Court of Owls. With some very sinister secrets that will more than likely coalesce with other villain stories surrounding the Bat’s death, Gotham has surely never been so vulnerable.
Wrapping up the trailer with a showcase of some gameplay in an alpha build of the title, we can see how expansive this title will become. Giving a larger look at Batgirl free-roaming to a new area, fighting enemies, and even a brief glimpse at an early game fight with Mr. Freeze. While the combat is slower than recent Arkham outings, the alpha gameplay is still subject to change. Despite the four playable character styles being very similar to Marvel’s Avengers game by Crystal Dynamics, Gotham Knights places a much larger emphasis on the usual caped crusader stealth, investigation, and combat. With details on how this will all play out amongst the main cast across the sprawling Gotham City, fans will have to wait quite a while longer until they can stalk the streets.
All the unique gameplay abilities of the 4 heroes combined with the heart of Batman’s capabilities make for a promising title with the rolling skyscrapers of Gotham to explore. Gotham Knights will be released concurrently on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms, current and upcoming, in 2021.
