The Surprising Game-Changer that Makes Gotham Knights’ Batman Irresistible

Highlights

Fans were largely disappointed with Gotham Knights because it lacked a playable Batman, had a sparse villain presence, and the narrative was underwhelming.

WB Games Montreal has consistently depicted Batman as a multi-dimensional and emotionally engaged character, in contrast to Rocksteady's more reserved and detached portrayal.

The way the Arkhamverse Batman interacted with his allies lacked empathy, and the incorporation of Jason Todd's narrative could be seen as a sudden rewriting of the existing storyline. In contrast, in Gotham Knights, Batman genuinely values and safeguards his Bat Family.

Gotham Knights received a negative reception upon its release and continues to be a source of controversy. Fans were disappointed by the absence of Batman as a playable character and the limited presence of villains in the game. Additionally, the narrative of Gotham Knights was burdened by its repetitive use of Bruce Wayne's storylines, including the underwhelming Court of Owls. It is unfortunate that WB Games Montreal, known for their careful treatment of Batman, decided to have him die twice in Gotham Knights, considering how well he was portrayed.

Prior to Gotham Knights, WB Games Montreal developed Batman: Arkham Origins a decade ago. Even in this prequel, where Batman was the protagonist, the developer successfully built upon Rocksteady's interpretation of the character, creating a more well-rounded and complex portrayal. Arkham Origins established relationships with various villains that later found closure in Rocksteady's subsequent Arkham games. While it was intended for Batman to be portrayed as coldhearted in Origins and more open to companionship in later games, the opposite was true, and Gotham Knights' depiction of Batman is equally thorough.

WB Games Montreal Understands Batman's Emotionality Better Than Rocksteady

WB Games Montreal's portrayal of Batman deserves recognition for portraying Bruce as someone who values and embraces his comrades instead of isolating them. In contrast, Rocksteady's version of Batman remains stoic and distant in Kevin Conroy's impressive performance, consistently pushing away those he cares about.

Furthermore, Rocksteady's Batman has a tendency to demean his adversaries, possibly stemming from either disdain or not perceiving them as genuine threats. While this could be attributed to his frequent encounters with them, his unemotional facade is unnecessary when dealing with his Bat Family allies.

Rocksteady's Arkhamverse storytelling made a significant mistake by skimming over the recruitment process of Batman's sidekicks. While new sidekicks were introduced between Asylum and City, Batman's empathy towards them is lacking, except for Oracle in Asylum. If Batman's behavior towards them stems from his failure with Jason Todd, it would make sense by the end of Knight. However, insufficient groundwork was laid beforehand to establish this as a legitimate reason.

It feels like Jason's inclusion in the story was exclusively written for Knight and not considered during the writing of Asylum and City. If it was indeed included, there should have been more allusions to it. Otherwise, Batman appears equally indifferent and unsympathetic throughout all three games. Additionally, WB Games Montreal created a plot hole in Origins by allowing Batman to open up to Jim Gordon and hinting at Barbara eventually becoming Batgirl.

This willingness to collaborate with others is quickly overturned in Asylum, and without any explanation of what happened to Jason, it feels like a retroactive change, especially since he is supposed to be the same version of the character. In contrast, Gotham Knights presents a Batman who is as experienced as Rocksteady's version, but who is able to fully honor and cherish his Bat Family in a way that Rocksteady's Batman never could. Not only does Bruce sacrifice himself twice in this game for the sake of Gotham, but he does so to protect his family.

On the other hand, Batman's "death" in the Arkhamverse is a result of his true identity being revealed, and his indifference toward the Bat Family makes that decision appear selfish rather than protective. In Gotham Knights, Batman has confidence in entrusting his city to his allies and knows it will be secure, whereas Rocksteady's Batman would probably never consider this, especially since he goes to the trouble of subjecting Azrael to trials for this very purpose.

Gotham Knights is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.