u/nightwingsfav_munch

This one’s more for the original fans & ppl who followed along with the releases as they came out. I’ve been replaying Knight lately, & just restarted City.

I’ve noticed each time I play Knight, I love the details & feel it has some nods to the OG aesthetic (the gothic, metal architecture, swirly railings, etc).

And I’ve noticed each time I replay City, I’m surprised by how much more condensed it feels & how colorful & comicy it is. Ik Knight leaned into much heavier realism, but it’s almost jarring when you play them back to back & see how different they look.

Which made me wonder: were fans who played as the games were released/followed along patiently, disappointed when Knight came out? I personally love the insane detailing of it, but at the same time I could see fans being disappointed had they been following along since the beginning (2009), because Knight feels like an entire genre shift, ngl. I love it, but it’s almost hard to imagine it’s the same series.

**EDIT**: Do any of you wish they kept the aesthetic of City/Asylum instead of the hyper realism?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the game. It’s one of my favs & I love coming back to play it. At first, I saw nothing wrong with it—I never understood all the hate for the game or graphics or character models or any of it. But now that I’ve branched out & have deeper knowledge of DC comics, I have some thoughts on what could’ve made it better.

1. I wish we got to see the Knights in civilian mode outside of the Belfry.

Ik that’s not necessary & isn’t really “heroic” (as ik action plots are what sells), but I think it would’ve been so cool if we’d been able to explore Gotham during the daytime, or out of costume (to not get chased/shot by cops for once lol), something.

The mission of sneaking into the Orchard Hotel during the Masquerade Ball (in Bruce’s memory) would’ve been a perfect chance to sneak in & brown nose. We could’ve snuck into rooms & listened in. Alfred even got us a room and we never used it! I think it would’ve been so fun.

2. A daytime option.

Going with point 1, I still think getting to see the map during the day would’ve been cool. If we civilian missions—we could’ve seen more of what the emails discussed. Dick dealing with the legalities of Wayne Enterprises, Babs reconnecting to her father’s memory (or even standoffs with Commissioner Kane), Tim taking classes at Gotham University, or Jason having moments with his ex Isabella. Maybe that’s a pipe dream given it could’ve meant massive amounts of content & cutscenes (thus delaying production further), but I think it would’ve been cool to see more of their civilian lives.

3. A sequel to rectify some complaints.

Imo, the biggest issue with Gotham Knights’ backlash isn’t the game itself, it’s that fans of the Arkhamverse never gave it a chance to be its own game & build. Rocksteady had 2 games developed before they made the hyper realistic, advanced video game of the trilogy conclusion. Were the first two kinda buggy? Yeah. But Batman Arkham got to build on itself. Is Gotham Knights newer & should’ve been advanced in ways? Sure. But that doesn’t automatically mean it exceeds the quality of a game (Arkham Knight) with 2 predecessors.

I’d like to think that had WB had a less harsh reception, we might’ve been able to get a sequel to GK—one that expanded on what we already have & could’ve introduced other characters & villains. But the game was never really given a chance.

4. Not every bat-fam member needs to be in the game, & that’s ok.

I might get hate for this, but it’d be a headache to include them all. If we’re talking Cass, Steph, & Damian, if not others too?? The roster fills up exponentially. Having 4 playable chars was great, but having other members be part of this universe would’ve flooded in with likely an impossible amount of data for the devs to deal with. For one thing, the Belfry would be cramped. For another, we’d have competing figures. If Babs was Oracle instead, we’d still have Cass/Steph as Batgirl, sharing (which feels redundant). If Damian was here, he’d be competing with Tim—same issue.

Keeping it limited to the 4 wards of Bruce Wayne made the game a lot more straightforward.

Granted I do wish we got to see Kate Kane, just as a side character or a one-off cutscene. Or in the sequel.

5. At times, Dick feels a little dumbed down.

While I love the characterization of each of the Knights (which I’ll talk about more below), comments like Montoya calling him a “himbo” rub me the wrong way. It feels more like trying to appeal to certain immature fanbases by doing that. Dick’s the first robin & the goalpost for sidekicks in general, put some respect on my man’s name!

To give some grace, they did have the emails hint Dick was playing up the “golden retriever” vibe more strategically as the “Wayne Heir”, bc it took attention off the vigilantes.

6. Arkham Asylum.

I get the game didn’t focus much at all on the asylum, since it’s abandoned. But the hospital felt small & oddly shaped. Maybe it’s just because I’ve played Batman Arkham Asylum & the map was fully devoted to Arkham, idk. But not a big deal, just felt like a bit of an afterthought in the game’s design rather than a core piece of history.

7. Why is everyone dark haired?

I get most ppl irl are brunette. But I feel like I never once saw a civilian with blonde hair. I notice that in most games, I assume it’s just a graphics issue or whatever, but it always throws me off. So many NPCs look the same.

***

POSITIVES/WHAT THE GAME GOT RIGHT:

1. Personalities.

There’s no denying the Knights are pretty unique. The characterization of each of them gives a different feel & story depending who you choose. I absolutely adore the way they leaned into certain niches—like Dick’s peacocking confidence (especially in his glutes), Jason’s book reading, Alfred’s ever-present patience.

I saw some ppl complain abt Tim being nerdy or awkward, but ppl seem to forget he’s a teenager. He’s not hyper competent & collected, he’s portrayed as vulnerable because he feels the least connected to Bruce out of the core-four. It works for an adaption.

Babs feels big sister-y, but not overly perfect & curated. & she’s much more than “the girl” or “the ex”—she’s her own person.

Jason’s therapy plotline is much more modern, & avoids DC’s typical self sabotaging character tropes.

Dick leans into classic heroism, playfulness & a hint of vanity playboyism. He has a good heart, but he isn’t always “perfect” at comforting those around him—accidentally trying to take on the weight himself like Bruce, until Alfred reminds him to be his own man.

Can’t forget Alfred. He’s often knowledgeable, easygoing, & a highly supportive character in GK.

2. Design.

It’s colorful, still rainy but not a gloomy filter. The suits are unique. Tons of transmogs. & the character designs are amazing.

I like that all of the Knights look athletic but different. Babs can wear a little mascara with her ponytail & glasses, & she doesn’t look dainty. Dick’s got a highly trim (yet voluptuous tbh) build & charming smile. Jason’s beefy & strong (though I’ll admit, I hate the haircut). Tim’s more lithe, but has the similar skin/hair to Dick & Jason.

3. It feels more like a hopeful, Post-Batman game.

It’s got bright colors, there’s fun dialogue, arguing & soft moments. It’s not a stoic, Batman-centered game, which is the entire point. They’re defending Gotham their own way, while bickering & bonding.

3. Optional Patrols.

I like that as the player, we get to choose how many nights we patrol. It feels more like an immersive story than a strict one night or streamlined event.

4. No Joker.

I get he’s a popular villain, but tbh I’m glad GK spotlighted other villains instead of him.

Anyway, that’s some of my thoughts on the game. Do you guys have anything you wish was different?

I assume it’s not a majority of fans, because I feel like Bruce is objectively hot. He has good masculinity to his face, & nice features. But I hear a decent portion of the fandom compare him to primates & monkeys. I can KINDA get it, but he looks more like a 90s heartthrob than anything else, to me.

(all my shots btw)

Any guess who I mained in Gotham Knights? lol

(all my pics minus the head-shot on the 3rd slide/bottom, got it off pinterest I think)

Ik it’s not a big deal it’s just a subtle detail I loved. Get this poor man some balm before his lips get chapped 😭