Batman games are a lot of fun. Taking on entire gangs of thugs, gliding, stealthily boobytrapping enemies, and defeating puzzles in realistic looking comic worlds are just some of the reasons why I'll continue forking over cash for these games despite them lasting four gaming generations now. The new Batman game for the PlayStation V and Xbox Series X looks like it has all of the devices and gameplay that make these games a joy...
Except for Batman himself. He's gone. The trailer opens with his goodbye if you see this then I'm dead video. You can see it here:
Batman has handed down his training and outdated gear to four heroes...
Robin
Batgirl
Nightwing
Red Hood
They all have their own moves and ways of getting around. I've been a Batman fan since the 1980s and could honestly care less about any of these guys. It's going to be up to the game's storyline to make me interested.
No Bat OK?
How do you feel about a Batman game that lacks Batman himself? Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood are students of Batman so he'll live on through them, but it feels kind of wrong being in the Batman universe without him.
These stealthy 3D Batman games go back to the appropriately named, Batman Begins in 2005. Then came Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009 which every Batman game has been based on since. They added the Batmobile along the way but took things too far and made it into a tank which ruined the fun in Batman: Arkham Knight. The pre-alpha gameplay of Gotham Knights below starts with Batgirl on a bike which looks like fun.
Batgirl feels closest to Batman and hopefully is the main character through the game because I never liked any of the other characters forced on me along the way as if it were a bonus, but really were just a drag. At first it was Catwoman. It felt like torture being her and I couldn't wait to be Batman again. I'm not a fan of Robin, Nightwing, or Redhood and wish they had just made this a Batgirl or another BATMAN game.
2 Player Co-op
This will take place in the future of previous Batman games so there will be new tech and gear of course, but the ability to play with a friend will be a welcome addition. Taking on bosses alone is exciting, but it will be so much more intense with two players. Each character will have their own strengths and style so I can see a lot of arguing who plays who and aggressive control swapping when bosses throw down.
I captured all images from the two YouTube videos above playing at 720p with cropped screenshots. I'm really looking forward to playing Gotham Knights on the PlayStation V and sharing the videos with you guys here at Hive Gaming. Which character will you choose to be? I'm with Batgirl and hope there is a less campy outfit option.