It’s obvious whyBatmanfans wouldn’t appreciate anotherBatmanseries or video game without Batman. General sentiment demands a flagship series should always have its protagonist dominating proceedings, but both the video game and series renditions ofGotham Knightsseem no exception, much to the disdain of DC fans. In the light of vocal criticism from several circles,Gotham Knightsshould to right its wrongs, and quickly, before the title gets doomed to the unwanted flop label.
DC CW’sGotham Knightsis one of the latest additions to the ever-growing list of “Batman without Batman” ideas in the last few years. Unfortunately, the initial reaction to the series hasn’t been overly warm, asGotham Knight’s pilot episodefailed to impress fans, who deemed it to be a Gotham-themedRiverdale. The main pain point for Batman fans is the tenuous connection – if any – of theGotham Knightsshow to theBatmanlore and overall vibe. IfGotham Knightsis to make any headway with its audience, the series needs a reimagination of its plot.
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Gotham Knights TV Series Debut Ratings are Warning Bells for the Franchise
Asides fromGotham Knights' disappointing silver screen debut season, the video game has also had its fair share of criticism from the general public. Apart from bearing no resemblance to the famedArkhamgames- a trilogy that enjoyed widespread support from fans of the Batman franchise around the world - theGotham Knightsvideo game has endured several shortcomings in its gameplay, ranging from monotonous fighting techniques to stiff motorcycle mechanics. Amid all its technical issues, unfortunately for WB Games Montreal,Gotham Knights' lackluster and remarkably thin storytelling still sticks out like a sore thumb.
Despite being set in an open-world Gotham City with limitless potential,Gotham Knightsonly offers players three side missions, which is a travesty for a game with four main characters. While AAA-ratedgames likeGrand Theft Auto 5have excelled with the multi-character dynamic in the past, the importance of each persona to the overarching storyline was clear, and that crucial effect is missing fromGotham Knights. The decision to include four protagonists inGotham Knights' gameplay was an imitation of throwing paint at the proverbial wall and hoping it stuck, as players could go through the entire game using a single character without any bearing on their experiences.
Thedisappointments ofGotham Knightshave been well-documented, and the television series could make amends for its shortcomings with a few tweaks going forward. The core idea of Batman’s death and the CIS-esque element of a team coming together to solve the mysteries of his demise is a compelling plot for The CW to build upon, despite the terrible exposure the series has endured in its first season. The room for character development in characters like Batman’s spoilt adopted son, the new Robin, the stand-out Joker’s daughter, and the two-faced Harvey Dent presents an opportunity for Gotham Knights to foster quality backstories and deep character arcs.
While CW attempts to reconstruct the series' image, the game has practically undergone a surgical overhaul since its release. The developmental team has taken a hands-on approach to fix its issues to the best of their abilities, releasing heavypatch updates forGotham Knightsperiodically, most recently adding a barrage of new content and improving accessibility with mechanics like Text-to-Speech. Players have appreciated the efforts, althoughGotham Knightscould do with the improved significance of all its playable characters in the grand scheme of its plot. Overall, both the series and the video game have ample room for improvement, andGotham Knightsneeds to repair its reputation as a whole while its window for redemption is still open.
Gotham Knightsis available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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