Gotham Knights - PC, PS4/5, Xbox 1/X - 2021

jawa_ wrote:

Barnsy! wrote:...did you ever give this a go?

Barnsy, I haven't, yet! I saw the reviews and opinions and, although they varied quite a lot, I'm keen to play this sometime. I'm glad that you're enjoying most of it (albeit not all!).

The criticism this game has got is fair. Its definitely not as good as the Arkham games - but I am enjoying this.

I probably going to be done with this game in a couple of weeks - I'm playing on PS5 physical copy - I can send it you if you like? Free - obviously?

Barnsy! wrote:...I probably going to be done with this game in a couple of weeks - I'm playing on PS5 physical copy - I can send it you if you like? Free - obviously?

Barnsy, what a lovely thought, man! Thank you so much but I do have a copy of the game on PS5; I picked it up before Christmas in a sale (£29!). Have yet to play it, naturally .

You're a real dude, Barnsy!

jawa_ wrote:

Barnsy! wrote:...I probably going to be done with this game in a couple of weeks - I'm playing on PS5 physical copy - I can send it you if you like? Free - obviously?

Barnsy, what a lovely thought, man! Thank you so much but I do have a copy of the game on PS5; I picked it up before Christmas in a sale (£29!). Have yet to play it, naturally .

You're a real dude, Barnsy!

Cool The offfer open to anyone else

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I really don't like being mean about games.....I was going to do a 'pros and cons' but unfortunately all the positives (and there are positives) are impeded upon by the negatives. I really love the opening cutscene cinematics and story, I'm a sucker for shadowy secret society stuff but the weird pacing and busy work you're forced into takes you out of the story. Its really annoying having to return to the belfry so frequently to basically watch a disposable cutscene of the Knights speaking - there was none of that in Arkham Origins - the dialogue between missions with Alfred was done over telecommunication (none of these GK cut scenes had anywhere near the impact of the little in game 'its midnight sir just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas'). Related the genius of the Spiderman game was 'how do we include Jonah Jameson Jr without messing with the flow of the game?' - turn him into a Alex Jones type figure with a podcast you can listen to whilst your playing rather than go to a newspaper building to watch a cutscene.

There's games that are undeniably flawed and unpolished but I love (e.g. Sonic Frontiers). The frustrating thing with this game is 'competent', it looks fine, I don't have a problem with the [over-simplified] combat etc, its just a victim of its own self imposed limitations. If the GK is say, 20hours there's a solid 10 hour game in there. I'm a big fan of games like skyward sword from previous remade with modern quality of life improvements - GK is the opposite, its essentially a 360 era game padded with modern gamings worst indulgencies - intermittent respawning of boring enemies, grinding weird progression structures, breadcrumbs to no where side missions etc.

I've done as little of the fast travel unlocking knighthood system as possible because its BS, so I'm underpowered which has made traversing around the sandbox much less enjoyable (2/3s of the game in and I can't glide - you should really start with the ability to glide). Talking of the overworld its a big step down from Arkham Origins. AO had a smaller more densely packed sandbox but it felt like a living breathing place, gliding and traversial was super fun - Gotham which is supposed to a thriving population centre feels so sparse, boring and empty - it doesn't feel like Gotham just a really generic open world. Getting around is a chore, especially by the sub-30mph-bat-bike withs its whoosh effects at the side of screen (but your cape not flapping!).

The main characters are mostly likable and interesting enough - but the game suffers for its lack of Batman. Not just because I like Batman but because there's not the same history with supporting allies and enemies - there's not the same power dynamics, fear, resentment, respect. This problem is exasperated with there being four of them too many threads etc; a 'lesser' in the shadow of a mentor story theme worked better with the Spiderman Miles game - it helped that Miles was an interesting character and it was a pleasure playing as him. With the four knights there's no lead and neither of them could carry a game on their own.

Its not just the levelling-up side missions that are frustrating, within the missions (which I mainly enjoy) there's interrogate NPCs busy work - I find myself toggling between hard for the main bits of the mission and easy for the filler as when on easy you seem to only to do less of the interrogation, investigate scene junk.

I know reads as very negative - but I am still enjoying this game.

Digital Foundry has re-visited the game following the recent patch and they are pretty positive about the technical side of the game now.

Gameplay wise nothing has really changed so if it didn't appeal before then it's unlikely to now; but, for those that do give it a go, at least it runs a lot better.

Holy strawberry float - boss battles on this are a pain.

Basher/Blazer and Mr Freeze I'm at the top of the recommended level (albeit it on Robin, the stealth character) and I'm getting utterly wrecked. Limited healing items can do one.

jawa_ wrote:

Digital Foundry has re-visited the game following the recent patch and they are pretty positive about the technical side of the game now.

Gameplay wise nothing has really changed so if it didn't appeal before then it's unlikely to now; but, for those that do give it a go, at least it runs a lot better.

Is it still 30fps?

Photek wrote:Is it still 30fps?

A locked 30 .

I have a major problem with 30fps games, retro games like Ocarina and stuff I think it's ok but new games at 30, naaaah, never pick the RT modes if they impact performance. I'd happily pick this up if it was 60fps, DF did compare it to Arkham Knight and wonder why its NOT 60fps, seems to be coded badly in their opinion.

Photek wrote:...DF did compare it to Arkham Knight and wonder why its NOT 60fps, seems to be coded badly in their opinion.

I've yet to play the game but the general criticism does feel to be a bit overblown. DF were pretty complimentary - baring the 30 FPS limit - in that last video.

https://www.esrb.org/ratings/38790/gotham-knights/

Nintendo Switch version has been rated by the ESRB

ITSMILNER wrote:https://www.esrb.org/ratings/38790/gotham-knights/

Nintendo Switch version has been rated by the ESRB

Wow, I would not have predicted a Switch version! I wonder - hope! - that it'll be a native, non-Cloud game?

jawa_ wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:https://www.esrb.org/ratings/38790/gotham-knights/

Nintendo Switch version has been rated by the ESRB

Wow, I would not have predicted a Switch version! I wonder - hope! - that it'll be a native, non-Cloud game?

It seems to be native, guessing it would be handled by Turn Me Up Games who are handling the Batman Arkham ports.