With the imminent arrival of WB Montreal’sGotham Knights, the anticipation surrounding its release is building with each passing day. The Bat Family has its time to shine this time around, as Batman’s death seems to set up the events of the story. With theArkhamseries still somewhat recently on the minds of many, the newest DC video game has such lofty heights to live up to. Not only that, but2022’sThe Batmanwas a stark reminder of the property’s ability to produce quality products, and the success of the Pattinson-led film stemmed a lot from its take on Gotham itself.
Conversely, Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy adopted an altogether alternative approach.Gotham Knightswill likely be something different once again, but with Gotham being recreated, it should take cues from other great Batman stories and present a city that is right on then cusp of being a lost cause.The Dark KnightTrilogy consists of fantastic films, but the Gotham they forged left much to be desired, and WB Montreal should avoid the same fate.
RELATED:Gotham Knights’ Wholesomeness May Be Its Key Ingredient
Gotham City is Crime-Ridden as well as Corrupt
Corruption at the federal level is par for the course for Gotham, and theCourt of Owls thatGotham Knightslooks set to utilizeproves just how much the city is at the mercy of unsavory higher-ups. Folks like Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon are exceptions to the very grim rule, andThe Dark Knighttrilogy did well to show this as Carmine Falcone’s grip on the city is noticeable in the first film, and Bane’s easy ride to the top was all too efficient inThe Dark Knight Rises. Petty crime is important to the fabric of Gotham City, though, as it has far more of an impact on the city’s aesthetics and tone.
The problem with Nolan’s films was that the Gotham they presented felt squeaky clean from all angles that weren’t ground level. From the rooftops it looked like any other place, and as such Batman was an entity that looked out of place in a city that didn’t look as downtrodden as characters kept reiterating.Gotham Knightswill place the city at the forefront of the game’s presentation, so it has to look like it’s equally impacted by petty crime and structural corruption.The Batmandid this,as did 2019’sJoker, and WB Montreal needs to follow their lead.
Gotham Knights' Open World Has to Stand Out
Identity is crucial in open-world game design, as so much of the fun will be found in engaging with side quests and exploring the playground itself, searching for collectibles and soaking up the sights. There are plenty of offerings that use the format in an uninspired way, which serves to render any otherwise strong gameplay largely useless as the setting simply isn’t interesting enough to hold players' attention. This happened withWatch_DogsandRage 2, and asGotham has such a rich historyand deep sense of character, it would be disheartening to not see any of its charm carry over toGotham Knights.
The Gotham thatThe Dark Knightpresents wouldn’t have stood out among the plethora of interesting video game cities like the Lost Heaven ofMafiaor Los Santos ofGrand Theft Auto 5. A version of Gotham that is darker, grittier, more rundown and hopeless would giveGotham Knights' open world some much-needed identity, especially ascomparisons toBatman: Arkham Knightare sure to follow its release. Batman exists as a direct response to Gotham City’s crime and corruption, andGotham Knightsneeds to show fans that while the Caped Crusader’s efforts were helpful, they were by no means a remedy to Gotham’s rotten ways. It needs to reflect the horrors that occur there on a regular basis, and for all it did well,The Dark Knighttrilogy failed in that respect.
Gotham Knightslaunches June 08, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
