Gotham Knightsfans now have a thorough idea of how combat functions between Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, and Red Hood. Each character has unique abilities and mechanics that set them apart, and players have the option to play as one or all ofGotham Knights' playable protagonistsin single-player or two-player co-op.
This week’sGotham Knightsgameplay walkthrough finally offered a look at Nightwing and Red Hood, whose unique gameplay mechanics were previously a mystery. Since this reveal, fans have shared both their pleasure and discontent with how the gameplay looks in comparison toGotham Knights' first gameplay presentation with Batgirl and Robin.Gotham Knightsstill has five months before its scheduled release date, but one fan has already noted some issues that they have with the combat thatGotham Knightsdecided to share on Tuesday.
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Redditor u/BeansWereHere takes an investigative look atGotham Knights' newest combat demoat half its normal playback speed. At this speed, and with edits that pause the demo on certain frames, BeansWereHere points out several instances where the character model’s attack animation is not synced to its hit confirmation and supposed status effects. Yellow slashes are noted before Nightwing’s attack lands, for example, that are followed by an out-of-place “explosive effect.” Likewise, BeansWereHere makes note of what they call “moon walking.”
“Moon walking” is the term used to describe when the character floats between strikes on two or more enemies, and they slide back and forth with animations in-between. In this gameplay demo, Nightwing slides along the rooftop on his knees and gracefully flips and spins to reach the next enemy AI. This is what WB Games Montreal Game Director Geoff Ellenor described as ping-ponging, which is representative ofBatman: Arkham’s Freeflow combat.
Some fans argue that exceptions were made toBatman: Arkham’s evident “moon walking” due to how smooth and fast its animations were. Besides,Batman: Arkham’s “moon walking” only ever became truly chaotic when players received exceptionally high combo scores, thus making the character’s attacks faster and stronger. Fans ultimately wish thatGotham Knights' animations looked as smooth, particularly becauseGotham Knightshas been confirmed as a next-gen console exclusive.
Later in the demo, Nightwing’s hit sparks are blue instead of yellow, and the character can be seen using an elemental cryostasis status effect. This may suggest that the yellow color and perceived explosive effect are specific status effects that Nightwing had equipped at the start of the demo. However, there are still apparent desync and delay issues that BeansWereHere correctly points out. WB Games Montreal still has time to polishGotham Knightsand hopefully fix the issues that fans have perceived from its latest demo.
Gotham Knightsis currently scheduled to release on October 25 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
