Is Gotham Knights Worse Than Arkham? A Deep Dive Comparison
The question on the minds of many DC fans, and gamers alike, is whether Gotham Knights lives up to the legacy of the revered Batman: Arkham series. The simple answer? It’s complicated. While Gotham Knights offers a unique take on the superhero genre, it does not surpass the Arkham games in overall quality and impact. While the two games feature many of the same characters and are both set in Gotham, they are significantly different in gameplay, style, and overall execution. Gotham Knights struggles to match the polished combat, tightly crafted world, and captivating narrative that defined the Arkham series, particularly Batman: Arkham Knight. However, Gotham Knights still has some redeeming qualities and brings something new to the table. Let’s unpack why.
The Core Differences: Gameplay and Mechanics
Combat Systems
One of the most significant departures is in the combat system. The Arkham games are renowned for their fluid and rhythmic “Freeflow” combat. It’s deliberate, methodical, and emphasizes timing and counterattacks. Gotham Knights, however, shifts towards a more action-oriented style, incorporating a special move meter and timing-based button presses for increased damage. While this change is intentional, and not inherently bad, many find it less engaging than the precision-based combat of the Arkham games. The stealth mechanics are present in Gotham Knights, but even those feel less polished and refined than their Arkham counterparts. This fundamental change in combat is a major reason why some players find Gotham Knights to be less enjoyable overall than the Arkham series.
Open World and Presentation
The open-world design is another key area of contrast. Arkham Knight boasted a dense and intricately detailed Gotham City, with a distinct sense of atmosphere. In contrast, while Gotham Knights features a larger map, some areas feel somewhat flat and lacking depth. The depth of field is less pronounced, which impacts the overall visual fidelity, according to Digital Foundry’s analysis. This lack of dense detailing contributes to the perception that Gotham Knights’ map, despite its size, is not as engaging as its predecessor. Art direction is also a key talking point with some players preferring the more gritty look of the Arkham games, whereas some players may prefer Gotham Knights more comic-book, bright and colorful aesthetic.
Story and Narrative
The Arkham trilogy’s story is a strong component that helps the games stand up today. It’s a cohesive and engaging tale of the Batman mythos, that provides a clear narrative drive with memorable characters and arcs. While Gotham Knights tries its best to provide a similarly complex narrative, it falls slightly short of its predecessor’s story. The central plot revolves around the fallout of Batman’s death and the rise of new threats in Gotham, which provides an interesting narrative thread, but the delivery and pacing sometimes feel inconsistent. Players find that this has a negative impact on the overall engagement and enjoyability of the game.
Performance and Technical Issues
Framerate and Stability
One of the most heavily criticized aspects of Gotham Knights is its performance. The game launched with a highly unstable 30fps frame rate, with frequent drops, stutters, and frame-time fluctuations, especially while traversing the open world. These technical issues severely impact the player experience and made the game feel “rough and jerky” for many. While patches have improved the game’s stability somewhat, the performance issues at launch left a lasting negative impression, significantly contributing to the negative reviews of the game.
Visual Fidelity and Polish
While Gotham Knights has its own visual appeal, it is clear that it does not match the technical polish of Arkham Knight. The game lacks the same visual fidelity as its predecessor and while the game does look beautiful, it doesn’t live up to many players’ expectations. Furthermore, the level of detail in the environment, especially in comparison to Arkham Knight, leaves much to be desired. The lack of visual polish contributes to the perception that the game is a downgrade from the Arkham series.
Critical Reception and Player Feedback
Metacritic Scores and Reviews
The game’s critical reception was mixed, with Gotham Knights garnering a 67 on Metacritic, compared to the highly rated Arkham trilogy. Many critics and players pointed out repetitive gameplay, subpar graphics (compared to Arkham Knight), and nonsensical crafting components as major flaws. These criticisms highlight a general disappointment with the final product, especially when compared to the high standards set by the Arkham games.
Fan Sentiment
The overall fan sentiment has been divided, with some appreciating the game’s unique characters and new approach to the Batman mythos, while others have criticised the game’s issues and felt that it is inferior to the Arkham trilogy. While there are fans who enjoy the game for what it is, the comparison with the Arkham series has been unavoidable, and many fans feel that Gotham Knights fails to reach the level of quality and polish they expected from a Batman-related title.
Conclusion: A Different Experience, Not a Better One
In conclusion, while Gotham Knights offers a unique experience with its four playable heroes and a co-op option, it ultimately falls short of the quality and polish of the Arkham series. The changes in combat, open-world design, and visual polish combined with performance issues make Gotham Knights an inferior game when compared to Arkham Knight in many ways. Though not a bad game in itself, Gotham Knights suffers from its direct comparison to the critically acclaimed Arkham series.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does Gotham Knights look so bad compared to Arkham Knight?
Digital Foundry attributes this to Arkham Knight’s superior art direction and denser map. Gotham Knights may have a larger map, but it lacks the same level of depth of field, making some areas feel flatter.
2. Is Gotham Knights combat like Arkham?
No, the combat in Gotham Knights is more akin to an action game with a meter for special moves and timed button presses, unlike the deliberate, counter-focused combat of the Arkham games.
3. Was Gotham Knights a failure?
Gotham Knights was met with mediocre reviews, earning a 67 on Metacritic. While it sold reasonably well in some regions, it did not achieve the critical acclaim of the Arkham games.
4. Who is the weakest character in Gotham Knights?
According to player feedback, Red Hood is generally considered the weakest. He is slow in general movement, has limited traversal options, lacks a good dodge, and has slow melee speed and mediocre damage.
5. Is it better to play as one character in Gotham Knights?
You can play the entire game with one character and not miss out on anything. While each character has unique abilities and story missions, the core experience is the same.
6. How big is the Gotham Knights map?
The Gotham map in Gotham Knights is said to be the biggest version of Gotham represented in video games. It’s also noted for its density and verticality.
7. Why is Mr. Freeze so hard to beat in Gotham Knights?
Mr. Freeze’s attacks consist of icy beams, which require players to use ice-resistant gear. He is best defeated by maintaining distance and attacking with momentum abilities.
8. Is it difficult to play Gotham Knights?
The game’s difficulty is often cited as being inconsistent. The game can be enjoyable and challenging when engaging in enemy damage but many critics cite enemy health as a major issue which can make some encounters excessively tedious or downright impossible.
9. Does it matter who you use in Gotham Knights?
The characters are designed to be balanced, and the decision of who to use is primarily based on your preferred play style and specialties. Each character is strong in their own right.
10. Why did they cancel Gotham Knights?
The CW canceled the show as they were unable to renew it, and the studio could not find a new home for it. Despite the show having good viewership, it was not enough to justify renewal.
11. Who is the hardest boss in Gotham Knights?
Talia al Ghul, the final boss, is typically considered the most difficult to defeat in the game. She is a member of the League of Assassins and League of Shadows, making her a formidable opponent.
12. Should I play Arkham before Gotham Knights?
It is recommended to play the Arkham games before Gotham Knights due to their story. Batman’s apparent death in Arkham Knight directly influences the plot of Gotham Knights.
13. What are people saying about Gotham Knights?
Reviews for Gotham Knights are mixed, ranging from claims that it’s a GOTY contender to calling it unplayable. Most agree it’s a flawed but enjoyable experience for fans of the characters.
14. Who is the most fun to play in Gotham Knights?
Batgirl is generally considered the most fun to play. Her moveset is familiar, her skills are easy to pick up, and her gadgets and hacking skills allow for versatile gameplay.
15. Does Gotham Knights ever end?
Yes, Gotham Knights ends with the heroes stopping Rebecca March, the Owls’ leader, from blowing up Gotham. Ultimately, the game ends on an optimistic note for the heroes.