Unearthed Arkham Secret: Rocksteady Unleashes an Exciting Twist in Gotham Knights

Highlights

Gotham Knights disappointed fans who had high expectations, particularly in terms of its narrative and side quests.

Rocksteady deserves the opportunity to create its own Bat Family game, as it is highly probable that they would excel at satisfying fans who are avid followers of their Arkham universe.

The inclusion of Rocksteady's Dual Play combat system, which was previously showcased in Arkham Knight, would be a highly anticipated and appreciated element in a Bat Family game, offering a seamlessly integrated gameplay experience with tag-team dynamics.

After years of anticipation, Gotham Knights had the daunting task of meeting the high expectations of DC fans. As the first Batman-related game following Rocksteady's acclaimed Arkham Knight, it had a lot to live up to. Additionally, being the only game to continue WB Games Montreal's Arkham Origins a decade later, with no direct connection between the two, added to the pressure.

While Gotham Knights didn't completely disappoint, it fell short in the areas where it needed to excel. Its two-player co-op feature, which was meant to be a standout element, left fans questioning why a game featuring four members of the Bat Family - Red Hood, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Robin - only allowed for two players. The addition of four-player co-op later on could not undo the disappointment caused by a lackluster narrative and side quests. Nevertheless, Rocksteady deserves an opportunity to develop their own Bat Family game, whether it incorporates co-op or not.

Rocksteady Could Succeed Where WB Games Montreal Failed

Rocksteady could likely create a Bat Family game more successfully than WB Games Montreal, despite the latter's limited game releases. The decision-making process behind which studio was assigned which game is intriguing, especially considering WB Games Montreal's initial hint at a Suicide Squad game in Arkham Origins' post-credits scene.

If we assume that WB Games Montreal was originally meant to develop Kill the Justice League before Rocksteady took over, it is possible that both studios ended up with Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad due to unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, rumors suggest that Rocksteady had plans for a Batman Beyond game, and there may be other alleged games between the two studios that fans will never know more about.

Either way, Gotham Knights distinguished itself from the Arkham games’ canon. That shouldn’t have spelled doom for the game, but Rocksteady would likely have an easier time appealing to fans if it was, in fact, a part of the Arkhamverse continuity.

Arkham Knight’s Dual Play Mechanic Would Be Right at Home in a Gotham Knights Game

The Dual Play combat system by Rocksteady is already integrated to enhance the enjoyment of tag-team gameplay, even when playing solo. In Arkham Knight, Rocksteady successfully incorporated this feature, enabling players to effortlessly switch between Batman and one of his Bat Family companions during predetermined sequences.

The combo meter allowed players to perform a cinematic swap of characters, executing an instant tag-team takedown when the combo counter reached a specific multiplier. Seeing Batman fighting alongside his allies in-game and being able to actively participate as both characters was immensely satisfying. Unfortunately, this feature is unlikely to be included in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which focuses on four-player multiplayer. To reintroduce this gameplay mechanic, Rocksteady could develop their own Bat Family-led game, either as a single-player experience or with co-op functionality. This would allow them to return to their roots and potentially appease fans who may be dissatisfied with the multiplayer aspect. Utilizing gameplay mechanics similar to Arkham Knight would likely be well-received, considering how much fans yearn for a game of this nature once again.

Rocksteady's take on Gotham Knights would be more captivating as a prequel game featuring a few Bat Family characters. However, Dual Play would not be restricted by the narrative's backdrop. As long as there were multiple characters available to assist players in combat as non-playable characters, the ability to seamlessly switch between three or four characters in the midst of battle could enhance the Arkham Knight experience in a thrilling and logical manner.

Rocksteady Already Has the Blueprint for a Single-Player Take on the Bat Family

In the future, any upcoming game related to Batman that is not part of the Arkhamverse will inevitably be compared to the Arkham games. However, fans do not appear to be excited about Kill the Justice League due to its live-service concept. Nonetheless, if Rocksteady were to return to the elements that made them an influential developer, it would likely bring back their entire previously loyal fanbase.

Rocksteady could bring an intriguing twist by creating their own game centered around the Bat Family. With established members throughout their tetralogy, it would be fascinating to see where this game would fit in the timeline and who would take up the mantle. Considering the passing of Kevin Conroy, Rocksteady might receive forgiveness if they choose not to make another Batman-led game, as long as they avoid overshadowing other characters like Gotham Knights did. Gotham Knights had its flaws, and they were not solely a result of comparison, so a Rocksteady version would need to excel on its own terms.

However, the Bat Family is primed for an exciting narrative after the events of Arkham Knight. Regardless of whether players actually get to kill Batman in Kill the Justice League, Rocksteady has the chance to improve upon the areas where WB Games Montreal stumbled. This choice could prove advantageous if Kill the Justice League fails to measure up to the success of Rocksteady's previous games.

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