WB Games Montréal's upcoming Gotham Knights video game is like four games in one, with different cutscenes depending on which hero players select for their journey into Gotham.
"Every character gets custom lines per level per cinematic, and they each get a character arc with multiple cinematics in it," WB Games Montréal narrative director Montréal Lemay told Inverse. "It was a lot of writing. But because we wanted that to be part of the experience -- and because gameplay and animation were doing the same thing on their side with unique animation sets and unique gameplay per character -- you had to rise to the occasion. It's four games in one."
The Bat Family-focused game, which lets players choose between Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin, was designed to encourage at least four playthroughs with each character, added cinematics director Wilson Mui. "We've managed to deliver essentially four cinematics in one," Mui said. "So when you're playing as Red Hood, you're gonna get your version of that cinematic, but let's say you decide to switch to Nightwing or Batgirl, you're gonna get their version. I can honestly tell you, those are four very different cinematics, different dialogue, and different interactions with characters."
Gameplay footage revealed thus far has shown that the gameplay experience between Batman's four protégés is also dramatically different. For instance, Nightwing relies on his eskrima sticks and a glider while Robin uses a bo staff and the Justice League satellite to teleport around the battlefield. Meanwhile, Batgirl wields tonfas while Red Hood remains the only member of the Bat Family to use firearms. In an intriguing change from comic continuity, Red Hood also possesses mystical energy thanks to his exposure to the Lazarus Pits.
Despite its initial resemblance to the Batman: Arkham games produced by Rocksteady Studios, Gotham Knights takes place in a different version of Gotham City, where Batman has seemingly died. With new threats emerging in the aftermath of the Dark Knight's passing -- including the rise of the sinister Court of Owls -- Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake must unite to keep Batman's legacy strong. Gotham Knights features both single-player and cooperative multiplayer modes as well as heavy customization, letting players unlock various outfits for each character.
Developed by WB Games Montréal and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Gotham Knights launches on Oct. 25 and for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Source: Inverse