Hey! How ya doin'? What is your dream Bat Family story? I'm lucky enough to get tell mine with Jason - tinyurl.com/5aavhtch Thanks to @loverboymedia for editing this video, make sure to check out his video on The Batman - tinyurl.com/2p9xmh64 Thank YOU for your constant love and support! ❤
HiTop Films ♥♥♥ Kindly make a video on Dragon Ball Super: Superhero ❤🔥, it's a ravishing masterpiece because unlike every other Superhero Flicks it's comedy makes you laugh effortlessly also the humor is self-aware which balances the warriors ultra serious conversations. A pure nostalgia with a fresh content, it proves that Dragon Ball Series is more with Goku & Vegeta 🔥
To me, the Bat Family is a symptom of the greater "Bat disease" so I would really like to see them not only growing out of Batman, but being better than him. All of them together providing a better solution to Gotham than Batman was ever able to
the combat feels so shit since they removed the counter and added levels+healthbars, there is no creativity , what you can do in gk doesnt even compare to what you can do especially in stealth in arkham knight, for me the dream batman game was arkham knight , even tough it had too much batmobile it was the perfect batman game , hell maybe even the best super hero game
@Kris Terry My ex friend's birthday was November 11th. My mom texted me the news. It broke 💔. I then watched the pilot episode of The Animated Series "On Leather Wings" and then cried.
Kevin Conroy was not just a voice actor for Batman, or a superhero, or a character, He was the Batman. A Batman that appreciates everyone around him and loves his family and his fans and everyone around him!
@@SomeGuy-mt4hq That's true but I've also seen a lot of comic book fans huffing copium and pretending like Gotham Knights is the best game they've ever played just because they adore the characters that the game is adapting. So I really appreciate a review from a channel like HiTop Films that can admit the games faults even with the insane love they have for the characters
It sucks bc the quiet moments of the batfamily just acting like siblings was something I hoped for so much in this game and they achieved that. Jason is one of my favorite characters, seeing him interact with villains like Harley with an understanding that the other family members can’t achieve was what I wanted. This team proved in those moments that they know these characters. I feel like the creative team were forced into only doing the big name villains and had the creative reigns restricted from their hands, completely unable to make something new
Exactly! I can perfectly picture one of their bosses saying “ok let’s play it safe and mostly do what the Arkham games did”. Like bro you, I went through a list of Batman villains on my lunch break once and couldn’t believe the wild shit I found. We didn’t need to see Harley Quinn, penguin, or Mr. freeze again. There are other baddies out there At the very least they seemed to know what they were doing with Jason Todd’s character even if I don’t like his final design
I also felt like they really knew their characters. The thing is that they are not a really big studio and this is their first Gotham knights game. Usually the first game on a franchise is not that complete. Remember killer crock on Arkham asylum… or that weird final boss battle. Things like that. This is the first time we get a Gotham that looks more like a city. As I was playing the game with nightwing I felt like I was playing a The Batman episode or one of the Batman tas episode. The problem is that there were a lot of things that we all felt were missing and our only hope it’s that the developers get a green light on a second and bigger project. If they don’t then I don’t see any other developer making a game like this anytime soon.
@@blunderbuss9984 it was not that scary, easy and kind of boring. It’s not a bad part but I would have liked it to be harder and scarier. For example, it could have make the place darker, make you fight with Croc, or make you run away and end up into the underground (the part with ruins in which you can’t use the grapple)
the biggest issue is that they always felt like a team of heroes but never like family. it feels like the game completely forgets that three of them are brothers. i really hope this game gets a sequel cos it's on the verge of greatness. i also love the touch of jason not being able to talk about his feelings so he messages them all, it makes him feel more human especially because that's something i struggle with myself. i just hope that they can add more stuff that makes them feel human
@@Ravathiel Yes, but... after a long time. Tim Drake was the first child he adopted as a son. Back in the day, Dick and Jason were just his wards (they were introduced in a time where single parenthood, much less a single parent adopting a child, was not seen as an okay thing to do). After Tim's dad died during Identity Crisis, Bruce adopted Tim, and not long after that he went through the process of adopting Dick and Jason as his sons. I think when he approaches Dick about it, Dick is already well into his twenties and his time as Nightwing, and Bruce calls it just a formality, but the only way he knows how to express that he loves him. Also, just so you know, there's no need to differentiate between pre- and post-Flashpoint anymore; with Rebirth and Infinite Frontier, everything pre and post-Flashpoint is part of the same timeline.
@@rookiedrifter4273 right. But never Barb. Stephanie was the only Batgirl to be Adopted. But Bruce literally was killed off The Next Issue And the adoption was never mentioned again And idk about that one. Dark Frontier showed off old ass heroes on a screen. Like classic bronze age Aquaman Seemed to imply they and modern Aquamam are still not one of the same
@@Ravathiel Was... Bronze Age even the real Arthur? Wasn't it Arthur Joseph? There was that weird period where Aquaman wasn't Orin and it was Arthur Joseph, everybody thought he was some abomination or maybe a reincarnation of Orin, and then he kinda just... went away? I can't remember if he died or not. They haven't done jack shit with him since then. The current Aquaman is Orin. So, yeah, they're different characters, they just haven't done anything with Arthur Joseph. I'm moreso talking about how, now, pretty much everything post-Crisis on Infinite Earths is part of the same "earth"; like, everyone remembers Wally West and that he was The Flash for a long time now, as opposed to before where he wasn't even in continuity. Everyone remembers Brother Eye and Final Crisis happening, stuff like that.
I always wanted a "battle for the cowl" type game. Play as members of the bat-fam as they each try and take up the mantle of batman, and all depending on the character, the story plays out different Always figured out that would be really cool to explore.
Honestly really fun concept. I imagine it would be a pain in the ass to execute tho lmfao! I am curious tho! Would love to see how each one of those routes end respectively
in those versions it isnt a trust issue, its a issue with him feeling responsible if anything goes wrong, he trusts them, he just has an easier time being on the line, than the sideline/ side in general
personally, it was just the developer's way to make the experience more intimate. like "you're batman now, and gotham relies only to you to save it". having richard,tim,or barbara helping would lessen the achievement, that YOU alone save gotham!
I can’t speak for the other characters , but Nightwing was done really faithful the moments of Dick trying to carry the world on his shoulders , the doubt , the fear of being an incapable replacement and a failure really shone through . Like you said though , there’s not nearly enough of it . They should’ve made the interactable cutscenes the court of owl moments and most of the main story heavily focused on the knights and Bruce’s death
(Random Rant lol) Agreed, In general it might have been better for the game to have been focused more on one or at Max two characters. A Nightwing and younger, more ruthless Redhood would have made for an interesting game. Depending on the path you take you get different outcomes and effect the other character in some Significant way. I feel part of this game feeling empty is partly that for the odd reason that DC doesn’t feel confident in giving such a well-established and well-beloved character like Grayson his own solo title outside a team. Or Dc not wanting to take the risk in exploring and furthering a character past their iconic role/titles such as Tim Drake Arkham Knights sequel should have existed and been about Grayson and Todd. How their viewpoints, ideals, and methods clash. What they see Batman as and what he should be. Not only would it be more focused and satisfying but it would speak on the misinterpretations and irritations of Bruce Wayne that the casual audience discusses. It could ultimately give the choice to the player. Should Batman be the light, a leader, and the hope of Gotham or should Batman be absolute darkness, the outlaw, and weapon against crime. Does are generalizations based off battle of the cowl and Grayson Batman. Naturally whoever won out or the player controlled decides how the franchise continues and naturally the world of Batman would have somewhere new to venture while still being recognizable. Introduce the Court Of Owls as Grayson's Primary enemy during his era as Batman or The Order of Saint Dumaz/Azrael for Jason. DC over the years has become two words. These two words are a large part for why they became stale and why they can’t move forward like they have in the past from Jay Garrick, to Barry Allen, and to Wally West. Wasted Potential In the past Bruce Wayne died as Batman in Earth-2's original continuity, Dc stated with that book "Only Legends Live Forever". The man under the mask will die, but the mantle and what it means to people will live own. Whether it be through a protege or successor. However, that isn’t the case anymore. Dc forgot that and it has made those legends less appealing. Those once legends are empty, they are only caricatures of what they once were.
@Oddwolf 799 Guess a more condensed version is that I don't feel this is just a problem with Gotham Knights, but Dc as a whole. Specifically, the comics rn give me the same feeling that HiTop discussed in his video. Of course, there are still good books out there, but there is just a lot that I don't like, or feel is being wasted at DC Plus the previous text was a rant, so it was bound to be confusing lol, it also for some reason had me put a game idea in there. Idk I was just talking, but that was my main point lol
For me, my dream Batman game is exploring the dynamics between Jason and Dick. Crafting a story where these two polar opposites have to work together to save the Bat family and solve a mystery together. I want it to be about two brothers working through their own problems and finding time to mend their faith in each other. It felt like Redhood was going to be the great antagonist for Dick Grayson’s Batman but over the years that has changed. But in the comics there is still resentment , there is still anger that resides between these two characters. I want an out of continuity story that finally creates a bond between these two brothers as they work together to save Gotham and their family.
I have alot of issues with this game but one that irks the crap outta me is how playing as one character in the story makes the other characters feel like they are just doing nothing in the belfy. It was made worse because I mostly played as Tim so it was crazy to me that had a 16 year old investigate a bunch really dangerous ass places alone while they just chilled in the background.
This is why i didnt just play 1 hero. They give you the choice to play as all 4. I had Red hood for mostly for main story missions, nightwing for clayface, robin for mr freeze missions, batgirl for harley. Occasionally i had the others in main story but made sure to end it with my main.
I think the cutscenes really highlight this issue. Especially the final cutscene. It is such a huge and monumental moment for all of the characters. Yet the only one that pops up is the one the player just so happened to pick for the final mission. It feels so detached
I've always said for years that I'd love to see a Nightwing game. Nightwing was actually the character that got me into reading comics weekly and I think there's SO much potential for a story set with Dick after Bruce's death. They could explore themes of legacy and identity of course but also themes of reflection and rebirth. How do you be the best of the person that raised you, the father that was there for you in your darkest moment, while also trying to become your own man? And this could be shown by not only including some of Nightwing's own rogues gallery but also adding some brand new ones in there. It's time for Dick to come back into the light again. It's time for hope.
Yh plus he had bludhaven which makes him like the only batfamily member besides Bruce to have their own city. Since the rest kinda just hang around Gotham or travel around
A question that's been on my mind for a while, especially as I'm messing around with fanfic of my own - has your work on Jason affected how you engage with all other depictions of the character, when you've spent time crafting your own take on it? More and more I find myself wondering about missed potential and roads not taken when returning to old favorites - now my mindset seems more critical than it ever has.
Yeah that’s definitely understandable. Two people can look at the same character yet see two completely different things and that’s completely normal. So long as you don’t get petty about it
In my opinion that’s part of the issue with comic books and their characters at this point in the road… so many of us cling to these characters (rightly so) as an amalgamation of what we like from the dozens of artists who’ve written them and our own internal interpretations. With Jason and Bruce and dick and babs and Tim especially… nobody can do them Justice to me but me at this point and it’s almost too bad. Even great interpretations like The Batman still aren’t -really- what Batman is in my head. I think it’s the tragedy of the genre
I'm so glad you talked about the Guardians of the Galaxy game. I'm absolutely loving it eight now and the characters talking and making the little choices like letting it go or blaming rocket after a mistake makes you really feel like the character you're playing and that these characters know and care about each other
had my best moements banters between companions from Walking Dead, Borderlands, Bioshock, mostly common for RPG genres, and now GotG added to the list.
the problem was that the replay-ability ain't as much as similar superheroes game. plus you stuck with quill that has the least variation of battle style,compared to other guardians.
I wish I loved that game more. I really liked the story, but the gameplay/combat bored me to death. I found myself just waiting for the next cutscene when I was playing. It's better than GK that's for sure though.
You have so much passion for everything your produce that it makes me feel what you’re feeling. It’s the first time I’ve ever found a channel like this
Yep. I feel the same way about this game. I’m struggling to find it in me to play through it cause I feel what they were trying to do, but wanted so much more of it. Great video as always HighTop.
The way you write these videos, your word choice, pacing, and passion are actually incredible. I had the exact same takeaway from Gotham Knights as you did, but I never knew how to word it until this video.
You're probably never going to see this, but a batman game centered around the Long Halloween with that creepy tone of endless murders and the variety of places like Gotham's Chinatown or sewer system, with the addition of mixing in action sequences that make you FEEL like batman (like the arkham games), different stories like Arkham Knight or City, and some kickass music would probably be my favorite batman or superhero game ever.
Right on brand. Your video actually made me emotional and tear up. I love how much you genuinely care about these characters on such a deep and empathetic level
This is so well written that Im watching it a second time at work to pass the time. I never watch game reviews or retrospectives a second time. But the way this came together was almost poetic. Love your work!
This was like a No Way Home kind of situation. On the surface, its great but when you look at it for a second longer you realize there was a lot of missed potential and a serious lack of "show dont tell". There were a few moments which were raw, powerful and had a lot of heart but they were screwed over by the plot and the overall witty dialogues of these "traumatized" characters. Both No Way Home and Gotham Knights needed more time in the oven for perfection.
It’s not even a GOTHAM KNIGHTS game because they don’t do fucking anything together. The other 3 just send the player to the mission and tell us what to do over comms. And none of the characters have any identity because they all have the same ending/they do not change the cutscenes in any meaningful way. (And their side stories are entirely missable and meaningless anyway.)
Damn. The logs and emails and behind the scenes stuff sounds beautiful. What a shame they don’t incorporate that into the whole game cause that’s lovely to know they were like a real family and that they cared deeply for each other.
I’ve always wanted a Batwoman horror game, where you fight a lot of the supernatural and spooky creature villains, while having silent hill type psychological elements dealing with Kate‘s fears and anxieties about herself, her family, her loves, and what happen with her sister. Maybe having it inspired by the first arc of her new 52 run. That would be the best for me
I personally wish this was an Arkham game. Specifically a game where we can explore Arkham Knights’ Gotham as the Arkham Knight versions of these characters. It would’ve been cool to play as the post-AK version of Jason Todd and explore his character and see his redemption arc play out.
With Red Hood’s ending, it really does feel like they at one point wanted to make a Red Hood game (after a Damian game) but had to make a Bat Fam game instead. His ending feels the most thematically appropriate and in line with what Batman’s death means to the Bat Fam. He’s had to live up to Batman’s example the most and he’s had to struggle the most out of all of them. He has a direct connection to the Lazarus pit and Talia, and if he’s the one to pull Bruce from the brink, it becomes a full circle of thematic progression. Jason helping Bruce overcome his mind control from the Lazarus pit is EXACTLY what Bruce did for him before the events of the game.
Excellent video, Alex! Always love how passionate you are. I understand what you mean when the game's missions lack individuality. The game treats events as if ALL the Gotham Knights experienced them. However, I think the game did an impressive job at making the cutscenes and dialogue unique to each character. I was expecting a one size fits all approach to dialogue, but it's actually really different depending on who you're playing as. That's pretty cool considering there are 4 playable characters.
Actually being serious, though, you make a great point about how a lot of the best content is optional and if you don't seek it out, the characters come off as more sterile and half-hearted than before. This is actually a problem I had with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, where the ending where the people of Harlem help Miles out doesn't feel as impactful if you hadn't done the side mission where you help free them from Kingpin's takeover.
My issues when the game was announced was the fact that it’s not really the whole Bat family. I of course mean the absence of Stephanie and Cassandra specifically bothered me. The game advertises that it includes all the Robins but Stephanie was a Robin too.
Genuinely fuck gotham knights, they did not try. Just from a story/character perspective, it is INSULTING. It reduces the characters to cardboard cut-out archetypes, the court of owls are a joke (not only do they not do anything, they get replaced by the league of assassins lmao) and the ending is genuinely the worst ending to any superhero game ever. Plus they killed off jim gordon, batman, joker is simply missing along with catwoman and 90% of the rogues/allies- so the world of GK is dead and what’s left is empty garbage.
I was watching the "if game trailers were honest" and it made me think, this game really was gonna be the marvel's avengers for DC but they saw how badly people received that game and said let's not do the live service model
Why are collectible audio-logs and emails so common in videogames nowadays? For example: Sonic Frontiers, FNAF: Security Breach, Marvel's Spider-Man, Bendy and the Dark Revival, Halo Infinite, etc. Sometimes these hidden messages can be fun to collect, especially hidden ones, but to me it seems like the developers don't have faith in the main story, so they write little audio-logs, emails, or whatever. They should try to focus more on the actual story and characters.
I was in disbelief when I read the news.. the man I heard while playing the Arkham series to death for the 36th time in a row. The Knight who’s voice touched my heart and gave me strength and calculated confidence to face every enemy with his monotone, quickwitted, cold delivery. His presence made me feel like I am Batman. I will never forget you Kevin Conroy.
Hey man, I know you probably won't read this, but I think it's worth writing. Your videos are amazing, and I understand your passion. I too want to tell stories of my favorite characters, I have stories that have never been written and I want to tell them. It's admirable that you're taking your time to make a movie about one of your favorite characters. I can't really afford that, so I'm going to do my story through stop motions. I believe no matter how you do it, if it's engaging, interesting and compelling enough that people will see your work. Whether it's a fan movie, stop motion, big budget movies, or a comic book. I hope that your project goes well, and that you can tell the story you want. I'm interested in whatever you have to tell, and I can't wait.
I actually wouldn't have minded a Damian Wayne game, but not as they were presenting it; not as the Batman but in the future. I'd prefer something more akin to Infamous, exploring the duality of Damian's character; his assassin training and his will to be better, to be like his father. The League of Shadows has always wanted to raze Gotham and I think they'd be pressed to find someone more motivated to do so than Damian, as both his parents were lost to it. It'd also be a cool way to incorporate both lethal and non-lethal tactics without having to split them between characters, exploring what remains of the League of Shadows after the Arkham Knight DLC, discovering a Gotham without Batman... There's just endless potential there, I feel.
This video is clearly very passionate, well formatted, delivered with an impressive script that turned my head & kept my attention the entire way through. Thank you for making a video that expresses all these little frustrating issues with Gotham Knights and how they culminate to disappoint the people who care about the story they're trying to tell. I'll definitely be watching more content from you in the future, loved every second of this.
In all honesty, the reason I like the Arkham series is because of the grimy visuals and the people living in the world. The Arkham games feel lived in, they are dirty and dark, sad and brutal, Batman and all of his villains fit so unbelievably well, I mean damn they made Solomon Grundy make an appearance and he didn’t feel out of place for even a moment, I want a batman like game that can keep that same world feeling but focused on a different story with a character like red hood leaning more into the detective and mystery aspect, it would be nice to watch someone like red hood discovering what it means to be the worlds greatest detective while rummaging through the grime and filth trying to separate himself from it by attempting to justify the killings he does in a world where killing happens more for amoral reasons I want him to ask the question “at what point do my killings become amoral? At what point am I just another crook?” I feel that these where always questions that Jason should have asked himself because after all, he has the tools to kill but he doesn’t need to, he chooses to, so at what point does “for the greater good” become an excuse and not a motivation?
No Man's Land would be the perfect setting/set-up/gameplay loop for a BatFamily Game. Mystery. Traversal challenged. Gangs (hopefully with nemesis system). Escaped iconic villains. Post launch missions showing Gotham's road to recovery.
If I could’ve had the Red Hood game of my dreams, I would’ve wanted a bloody parkour FPS like Call of Duty meets Mirror’s Edge with a story carrying the quality and tone from the best of the Black Ops games about overcoming the trauma of death of both himself and those around him as well as about how hauntingly inescapable a history of violence can be and often is for ex-cons. A game that could be an introspection on the FPS genre where you kills tens of thousands of enemies without thinking about the cost of the lives you’re taking, told through the eyes of a character who has should’ve naturally encountered these crises in his comic book life many times before. A story about being stuck among the killers and the dead with no escape. A story about how a boy with bloody hands could rinse his hands of that blood with the help of those offering him their help, but out of love and fear he would rather distance himself from those kind hands and keep them safe than take the chance to save himself and put those he cares about in the crosshairs of his life. How does that sound?
I absolutely love the passion that you put in every one of your videos. Even when you are discussing something you didn't care for you still approach it with the same amount of empathy and attention to detail as you would with something you loved. Your criticisms are fair and productive, not pointless and destructive, which I love so much and it's what keeps me coming back to your channel every time. Great job, Alex! Keep up the amazing work!
Your review is incredible- it sums up perfectly the issues I had. I adore the batfamily and really wanted to adore this game 100%. I wish that they kind of covered the 2000s gotham knights comic series like no man's land (but with Jason too) with Cass as Batgirl and Barbara as Oracle on the comms. I just want more people to know that Bruce has a daughter too. Having personalised character specific missions would have been amazing and really shown off the characters different skill sets.
Bro you said it absolutely perfect. It’s lifeless, and the fact that I wanted to fast travel trying to just get things done, I didn’t even want to explore, was just sad. They should have just made this a Ninja Turtles game, I wouldn’t have felt let down comparing it to Arkham Knight.
This game makes you feel like replaying the Arkham series again. Even though Arkham Knight came out 7 years ago, It really made me appreciate it a lot more with how well done it is.
One of the first reviews I saw for the game said that it was set up almost completely as a live-service game akin to “The Avengers” but, as that game tanked, they switched gears at the last moment and kept the majority of that game model in the finished product. It was never made to be a story-rich experience, but rather a soulless “grind and loot”, microtransaction-riddled throwaway game. These characters and stories deserved better.
I'd simply like a Batman: The Animated Series open world adventure with Andrea Romano wrangling all the surviving cast, using Shirley Walker's themes, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini's writing, with Bruce Timm's designs and Eric Radomski as producer, is that too much to ask?
A game having the potential to be great but failing to deliver on that is worse than the game being bad from the start for me. As someone who knows these characters a bit but never could read their comics I always cherish every opportunity to be able to get to know the bat family more in media like games or shows, and knowing that there was not only just potential, but pretty much entire arcs and stories relegated to optional codex entries and not in the plot of the game is, like you say, heartbreaking. It seems like it's gonna be a while before a game that properly explores the bat family comes out, disappointing....
personally, Titan’s Jason Todd really resonated with me. I was that angry, angsty teen dealing with feeling alone and abandoned. Making Jason’s story focus so heavily on his mental health being ignored or mishandled by the people around him forcing him even farther into anger was an inspired choice.
my ideal gotham knights would have a revamped main storyline - with the opening scene still being bruce’s death; but stopping there. we don’t see who kills him, just that he dies, rigjt there in his own home turf. this story is about his grieving children having to curb their rage as they uncover the truths of their father’s death- knowing nothing of his last, unfinished case. the story becomes a tale of these kids going through their grief together, as a family, in the most batman way possible- by throwing themselves in the mission. except there are moments of growth- moments so distinctly unbatman, that you remember that these are new people- a brighter future. and finally, at the end of the game, we uncover that the major villains of gotham were conspiring for batman’s death, with the court of owls at the helm (much like scarecrow in arkham knight) in this continuity, it would be the court of owls that killed thomas and martha wayne, and uncover that their true target was never the batman, but /bruce wayne/. the new white knight of gotham. the shining beacon of hope in the shape of a rich airhead with a heart of gold. something for gothamites to focus on other than the horrors of their city. and together, the knight foil the court’s plans, and have a final, tender moment as they attend bruce’s funeral, which would occur a couple weeks after his death (because i’m not pulling an arkham knight and pretending this can all happen in one night lmao) this has been eating at my mind so i’m putting it here. if you read all that, kudos to you and i hope you enjoyed my insane ramblings LMAO
Reflecting on Gotham Knights' core story theme of Bruce Wayne/Batman's death, and its affects on the other characters and world in general, has a different more personal tone to it now, after the sudden death of Kevin Conroy himself.
This sounds silly but I’d like a stylized Adam West Batman game with a colorful and vibrant Gotham, cartoony but cool visuals and sound effects, and a fun little story.
i need a red hood focused game 100%. one about him dealing with his issues with bruce, and tim, and maybe even seeing how he deals with seeing joker again. he's such a good character and it's a crime that he hasn't had his own game yet 🙏🙏 OR a game where we play with batman after jason is killed, and getting to play as a violent, angry bruce who lashes out and needs to be kept in check by nightwing or alfie or even gordon
Some people say they like the interactions between the knights but that’s one of the worst parts. The cutscenes are awkward, unnatural and usually just cringe. No one acts like they should and it usually just ends with “we need to protect the city! Together!” Read the Wayne family adventures webcomic if you want a genuine look at the batfamily.
honestly botching the batfamily's character arcs and emotional development is a pretty classic DC move. good to see they're keeping the tradition alive at least.
More Bat family story goes like this: A Stephanie Brown story focusing on her struggles of not being a Robin and overshadowed by a returning Barbara as Batgirl. As Batgirl 2 she needs to find her own identity and play "Spoiler" to a Villain's newest master plan. Think its unique with a lesser known Bat-fam character
High top, damn man, I love the way you speak about the things you're so passionate about brother. I feel it. I'm heartbroken for you and anyone else who has to play that game and not really get to experience it the way that they wanted to. Thank you brother. You're amazing and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for this movie you're making!.
i did feel i was alone and heartbroken when i play this game it dose feel like your alone knowing the person you care for and look up is gone it suck i know the feeling i been there heck we all been there
My Dream Batman game. Rated M, this is comic based Batman, not for kids. The Bat-Family is heavily involved, has their own missions, their own moments to shine. Nightwing would be considered the co-protagonist. The game would be later in Batman's career. Batman, Nightwing, Red Hood, Cassandra Cain Batgirl, and Oracle would be the be family cast. The story would revolve around Gotham, a few years after No Man's Land. I like the idea of some of Gotham being in ruin. The main antagonist of the game would be, yes, I know done before, but Joker. Because I like the Joker. But, aside from the Joker, the line up would be, Scarecrow, Professor Pyg, Court of Owls, Deathstroke (Nightwing focused), Blockbuster (Nightwing focused), Falcone/Maroni, Mr. Bloom, Zsasz, and the Underdweller. It would have two player Co-op with three versions of cutsense depending on character, co-op, or Solo. Gotham would be massive, like masssssive, skyscrapers, sewer systems, the country side. All of it. There would be active waring factions, random crimes. Ranging from muggings, to bank robberies, to randomly generated serial killer investigations. It would have the detail and depth of a Red Dead Redemption game with the combat of Arkham. No health bars outside of bosses, no damage numbers. Just new skills and gadgets and moves. Thousands of easter eggs and lore hidden through the city. Random encounters.. just.. a living breathing Gotham, gasping for justice. Neon, lights, loud, dirty, messy.. just chaotic.
I would’ve loved to see or play as even more of the Bat-Family. I personally think that Barbra should’ve been Oracle and Cassandra Cain should’ve been Batgirl. Characters like Azreal and Spoiler should’ve been characters and maybe include more villains. I think it would be cool to do a kind of No Man’s Land without Batman and the family trying to capture a plethora of villains, with it all being orchestrated by the Court of Owls.
My ideal Batfamily game is actually a Court of Owls centric story, but one more like the comics. No League of Assassins turf war, just good old mystery and intrigue about city development, gentrification, political corruption, and the shadowy group behind it all. I was desperately hoping Thomas Wayne Jr. would make an appearance, I was desperately hoping we would find out of Dick Grayson's familial ties to the Court and the fact that his Great Grandfather wasn't just A Talon, but THE Talon, the Court's greatest success. I was hoping to fight the Court and it's Talons all throughout the city in an attempt to protect the lives of judges, city planners, good cops like Gordon or Montoya. But instead the game stopped being about the Court of Owls halfway through, it revealed Jacob Kane as the Voice of The Court, which I saw coming the moment we first see him become Jacob Kane is only ever relevant when he's the bad guy. I didn't want him to unmask himself a quarter of the way through the game and ruin the mystery, I wanted to play a game that felt like a Noir film mixed with a Spy movie. I wanted more sidequests than just Harley, Freeze, and Clayface. I wanted Kite Man, I wanted Clock King, I would have loved to see Crazy Quilt for the love of god. I don't hate the big names, but like you said, we've played this game before.
I personally feel this game was originally intended to be a Red Hood game. Jason's dialogue throughout is more fitting, the final boss is better suited for Jason, his ending is the best out of the four. It was almost like the other 3 were forced into the game and they suffer from it. I really need a true, faithful Red Hood game. One where he kills and explores his psyche more.
I love this game. It is one of the most imperfect games that I peacefully enjoy, a guilty pleasure if you will. Something about gotham knights has beauty to my eyes that many miss. I adore these characters to the point that they have become a part of me. It's as though my eyes see what could have been rather than what really is. I instantly explored each nook and cranny to complete the game because I wanted a trophy for my favorite characters. And in those collectibles IS the story that was locked away from the general audience. The saving grace to this tragic heartbreak IS uncovering the narrative that could've been. I love the game because I see the characters I adore with a narrative I personally uncovering with them. I get to choose to grieve with them. I could push through and forget to heal, or I can uncover batman, uncover thr knights and understand what it means to grieve and heal.
Similar to you I was hopeful at the start. I was captivated by the opening scene and enjoyed certain moments, but as the game went on the narrative began to fall apart. They lost me about half way through.
To think, this COULD have been Kevin Conroy’s final performance as Batman. Instead, that honor goes to Multiversus. And I’m not really sure how to feel about that.
i had a lot of fun with gotham knights it wasn't perfect but the ending got a genuine emotional reaction from me which is rare with games and i hope we get a sequel so wb montreal has a chance to refine it. great video man even when i disagree with you on things i always appreciate hearing your thoughts
Although i do love the arkham games very much i feel like it would be nice to have a nice change of pace and have a game that is true to the character but still light hearted similar to the Lego Batman MOVIE.
I wish the story and the Knights played out differently depending on who you played as for a mission. For example when you're in the Labyrinth (I think that's it) and for Dick you see the circus and his parents dying that it just triggers this sort of PTSD response from him and the other Knights try to make him feel better, you get what I mean? I'm not sure if I'm making much sense, I just wish who you chose actually mattered in the game.
When you mentioned “I played this before” I did have that same thought process then at the end it kinda clicked to me that maybe it was on purpose as a sorta Batman went through all this in the Arkham games now being the next Knight you go through to prove you are a worthy successor cause you did everything he did and then surpassed a non holding back version of him
That'd make sense if you were training as him. But doesn't once you realize that Arkham has been out for 13 years and every action adventure game post Arkham and pre Bloodborne used it's gameplay formula. They either needed too fully commit too being its own thing or just fully commit too being a Arkham clone and in which case they could use certain missions too mirror older Arkham missions too use the angle you're going for
Cause that sounds nice on paper but that only makes sense if this is a Arkham game, it being its own thing with no narrative ties too the Arkham is what might've held it back because that would've been actually a great story/gameplay choice. But I feel like they didn't want too connect it too the Arkham games in case it was poorly received cause that'd fuck the legacy up
Hey! How ya doin'? What is your dream Bat Family story? I'm lucky enough to get tell mine with Jason - tinyurl.com/5aavhtch
Thanks to @loverboymedia for editing this video, make sure to check out his video on The Batman - tinyurl.com/2p9xmh64
Thank YOU for your constant love and support! ❤
Honestly, my dream Batfamily story is just to see the Wayne Family Adventures Webtoon fully acted or animated.
HiTop Films ♥♥♥
Kindly make a video on Dragon Ball Super: Superhero ❤🔥, it's a ravishing masterpiece because unlike every other Superhero Flicks it's comedy makes you laugh effortlessly also the humor is self-aware which balances the warriors ultra serious conversations.
A pure nostalgia with a fresh content, it proves that Dragon Ball Series is more with Goku & Vegeta 🔥
To me, the Bat Family is a symptom of the greater "Bat disease" so I would really like to see them not only growing out of Batman, but being better than him. All of them together providing a better solution to Gotham than Batman was ever able to
the combat feels so shit since they removed the counter and added levels+healthbars, there is no creativity , what you can do in gk doesnt even compare to what you can do especially in stealth in arkham knight, for me the dream batman game was arkham knight , even tough it had too much batmobile it was the perfect batman game , hell maybe even the best super hero game
I'm not sure about the family as a whole, but I'd like a prequel series about Alfred. Always felt like there was a story there
"Batman is dead"
After hearing the news today, that line couldn't hit any harder
@Kris Terry
Tell me about it. It came as a shock to me too.
Rest in peace Kevin Conroy 💔🦇😥😥😥😥😥😥😥
@Kris Terry My ex friend's birthday was November 11th. My mom texted me the news. It broke 💔. I then watched the pilot episode of The Animated Series "On Leather Wings" and then cried.
Kevin Conroy was not just a voice actor for Batman, or a superhero, or a character, He was the Batman. A Batman that appreciates everyone around him and loves his family and his fans and everyone around him!
RIP Batman
rest in power to a lengend
Rip
Holy shit touch a woman
Rest on
Bro says he's not a game reviewer but just gave the most in-depth, well articulated, and truthful review of Gotham Knights I've seen yet😭👏🏻
A review can't really be truthful, it's too subjective
@@SomeGuy-mt4hq That's true but I've also seen a lot of comic book fans huffing copium and pretending like Gotham Knights is the best game they've ever played just because they adore the characters that the game is adapting. So I really appreciate a review from a channel like HiTop Films that can admit the games faults even with the insane love they have for the characters
"but i’m not a rapper"
LMAO YOURE SO RIGHT
@@thehomietheo fair and understandable. Have a good day
It sucks bc the quiet moments of the batfamily just acting like siblings was something I hoped for so much in this game and they achieved that. Jason is one of my favorite characters, seeing him interact with villains like Harley with an understanding that the other family members can’t achieve was what I wanted. This team proved in those moments that they know these characters. I feel like the creative team were forced into only doing the big name villains and had the creative reigns restricted from their hands, completely unable to make something new
Exactly! I can perfectly picture one of their bosses saying “ok let’s play it safe and mostly do what the Arkham games did”. Like bro you, I went through a list of Batman villains on my lunch break once and couldn’t believe the wild shit I found. We didn’t need to see Harley Quinn, penguin, or Mr. freeze again. There are other baddies out there
At the very least they seemed to know what they were doing with Jason Todd’s character even if I don’t like his final design
@@animationdude9
I mean they did use the Court of Owls
I also felt like they really knew their characters. The thing is that they are not a really big studio and this is their first Gotham knights game. Usually the first game on a franchise is not that complete. Remember killer crock on Arkham asylum… or that weird final boss battle. Things like that. This is the first time we get a Gotham that looks more like a city. As I was playing the game with nightwing I felt like I was playing a The Batman episode or one of the Batman tas episode. The problem is that there were a lot of things that we all felt were missing and our only hope it’s that the developers get a green light on a second and bigger project. If they don’t then I don’t see any other developer making a game like this anytime soon.
Jesus loves yall
@@blunderbuss9984 it was not that scary, easy and kind of boring. It’s not a bad part but I would have liked it to be harder and scarier. For example, it could have make the place darker, make you fight with Croc, or make you run away and end up into the underground (the part with ruins in which you can’t use the grapple)
the biggest issue is that they always felt like a team of heroes but never like family. it feels like the game completely forgets that three of them are brothers. i really hope this game gets a sequel cos it's on the verge of greatness. i also love the touch of jason not being able to talk about his feelings so he messages them all, it makes him feel more human especially because that's something i struggle with myself. i just hope that they can add more stuff that makes them feel human
@@blunderbuss9984 didn't Bruce adopt all the robins though pre flashpoint?
@@Ravathiel Yes, but... after a long time. Tim Drake was the first child he adopted as a son. Back in the day, Dick and Jason were just his wards (they were introduced in a time where single parenthood, much less a single parent adopting a child, was not seen as an okay thing to do). After Tim's dad died during Identity Crisis, Bruce adopted Tim, and not long after that he went through the process of adopting Dick and Jason as his sons. I think when he approaches Dick about it, Dick is already well into his twenties and his time as Nightwing, and Bruce calls it just a formality, but the only way he knows how to express that he loves him.
Also, just so you know, there's no need to differentiate between pre- and post-Flashpoint anymore; with Rebirth and Infinite Frontier, everything pre and post-Flashpoint is part of the same timeline.
@@blunderbuss9984 Yeah, but Barbara was never adopted, since she had a dad, and she wasn't even trained by Batman.
@@rookiedrifter4273 right.
But never Barb.
Stephanie was the only Batgirl to be Adopted.
But Bruce literally was killed off The Next Issue
And the adoption was never mentioned again
And idk about that one.
Dark Frontier showed off old ass heroes on a screen. Like classic bronze age Aquaman
Seemed to imply they and modern Aquamam are still not one of the same
@@Ravathiel Was... Bronze Age even the real Arthur? Wasn't it Arthur Joseph?
There was that weird period where Aquaman wasn't Orin and it was Arthur Joseph, everybody thought he was some abomination or maybe a reincarnation of Orin, and then he kinda just... went away? I can't remember if he died or not. They haven't done jack shit with him since then.
The current Aquaman is Orin. So, yeah, they're different characters, they just haven't done anything with Arthur Joseph. I'm moreso talking about how, now, pretty much everything post-Crisis on Infinite Earths is part of the same "earth"; like, everyone remembers Wally West and that he was The Flash for a long time now, as opposed to before where he wasn't even in continuity. Everyone remembers Brother Eye and Final Crisis happening, stuff like that.
I always wanted a "battle for the cowl" type game. Play as members of the bat-fam as they each try and take up the mantle of batman, and all depending on the character, the story plays out different
Always figured out that would be really cool to explore.
Honestly really fun concept. I imagine it would be a pain in the ass to execute tho lmfao! I am curious tho! Would love to see how each one of those routes end respectively
I would love a dlc with each character having there own Batman suit
This is what I've been saying for awhile
I think the point isn't they become the next bman, because no one can be. It's them being the best version of themselves
So like an injustice style gameplay
I think it’s nice to see a Batman that actually trusts his family, I feel a lot of other interpretations have him be so “I gotta do this alone”
in those versions it isnt a trust issue, its a issue with him feeling responsible if anything goes wrong, he trusts them, he just has an easier time being on the line, than the sideline/ side in general
at least that is how ive interpreted it over my life
That's the point, his past makes it hard for him to feel like he is not in control of the situation
personally, it was just the developer's way to make the experience more intimate. like "you're batman now, and gotham relies only to you to save it". having richard,tim,or barbara helping would lessen the achievement, that YOU alone save gotham!
Wrong, most intrpreattions if not all put trust in his allies.
I can’t speak for the other characters , but Nightwing was done really faithful the moments of Dick trying to carry the world on his shoulders , the doubt , the fear of being an incapable replacement and a failure really shone through .
Like you said though , there’s not nearly enough of it . They should’ve made the interactable cutscenes the court of owl moments and most of the main story heavily focused on the knights and Bruce’s death
gotham knights should have been a nightwing game if the court of owls are the main villains
(Random Rant lol)
Agreed, In general it might have been better for the game to have been focused more on one or at Max two characters.
A Nightwing and younger, more ruthless Redhood would have made for an interesting game. Depending on the path you take you get different outcomes and effect the other character in some Significant way.
I feel part of this game feeling empty is partly that for the odd reason that DC doesn’t feel confident in giving such a well-established and well-beloved character like Grayson his own solo title outside a team.
Or Dc not wanting to take the risk in exploring and furthering a character past their iconic role/titles such as Tim Drake
Arkham Knights sequel should have existed and been about Grayson and Todd. How their viewpoints, ideals, and methods clash. What they see Batman as and what he should be. Not only would it be more focused and satisfying but it would speak on the misinterpretations and irritations of Bruce Wayne that the casual audience discusses. It could ultimately give the choice to the player.
Should Batman be the light, a leader, and the hope of Gotham or should Batman be absolute darkness, the outlaw, and weapon against crime. Does are generalizations based off battle of the cowl and Grayson Batman.
Naturally whoever won out or the player controlled decides how the franchise continues and naturally the world of Batman would have somewhere new to venture while still being recognizable. Introduce the Court Of Owls as Grayson's Primary enemy during his era as Batman or The Order of Saint Dumaz/Azrael for Jason.
DC over the years has become two words. These two words are a large part for why they became stale and why they can’t move forward like they have in the past from Jay Garrick, to Barry Allen, and to Wally West. Wasted Potential
In the past Bruce Wayne died as Batman in Earth-2's original continuity, Dc stated with that book "Only Legends Live Forever". The man under the mask will die, but the mantle and what it means to people will live own. Whether it be through a protege or successor. However, that isn’t the case anymore. Dc forgot that and it has made those legends less appealing. Those once legends are empty, they are only caricatures of what they once were.
@Oddwolf 799 Okay lol
@Oddwolf 799 Guess a more condensed version is that I don't feel this is just a problem with Gotham Knights, but Dc as a whole. Specifically, the comics rn give me the same feeling that HiTop discussed in his video. Of course, there are still good books out there, but there is just a lot that I don't like, or feel is being wasted at DC
Plus the previous text was a rant, so it was bound to be confusing lol, it also for some reason had me put a game idea in there. Idk I was just talking, but that was my main point lol
@@NOTDeezy. Yeah. should have put William Cobb in there. ;)
For me, my dream Batman game is exploring the dynamics between Jason and Dick. Crafting a story where these two polar opposites have to work together to save the Bat family and solve a mystery together. I want it to be about two brothers working through their own problems and finding time to mend their faith in each other. It felt like Redhood was going to be the great antagonist for Dick Grayson’s Batman but over the years that has changed. But in the comics there is still resentment , there is still anger that resides between these two characters. I want an out of continuity story that finally creates a bond between these two brothers as they work together to save Gotham and their family.
Enemies to brothers!
I have alot of issues with this game but one that irks the crap outta me is how playing as one character in the story makes the other characters feel like they are just doing nothing in the belfy. It was made worse because I mostly played as Tim so it was crazy to me that had a 16 year old investigate a bunch really dangerous ass places alone while they just chilled in the background.
yeah i feel like the game would be sick if it implemented something like ai teammates from Ghost Recon
This is why i didnt just play 1 hero. They give you the choice to play as all 4. I had Red hood for mostly for main story missions, nightwing for clayface, robin for mr freeze missions, batgirl for harley. Occasionally i had the others in main story but made sure to end it with my main.
I think the cutscenes really highlight this issue. Especially the final cutscene. It is such a huge and monumental moment for all of the characters. Yet the only one that pops up is the one the player just so happened to pick for the final mission. It feels so detached
@@CoOlKyUbI96 y’all take this shit way to seriously, rly not trying to be a dick but you all need actual lives
I get your point... but its Tim Drake. Lets be real here, he could probably do it on his own.
Rest in Peace Kevin Conroy, I hope HiTop makes a Tribute about him and his big impact on Batman.
He did
I've always said for years that I'd love to see a Nightwing game. Nightwing was actually the character that got me into reading comics weekly and I think there's SO much potential for a story set with Dick after Bruce's death. They could explore themes of legacy and identity of course but also themes of reflection and rebirth. How do you be the best of the person that raised you, the father that was there for you in your darkest moment, while also trying to become your own man? And this could be shown by not only including some of Nightwing's own rogues gallery but also adding some brand new ones in there. It's time for Dick to come back into the light again. It's time for hope.
Exactly man, hopefully a Nightwing game or Series gets made!
I agree so much!! I only recently got into DC myself but Dick was the reason for me, too - the things I would do for a Nightwing game 🥺
Yh plus he had bludhaven which makes him like the only batfamily member besides Bruce to have their own city. Since the rest kinda just hang around Gotham or travel around
Well said
I felt literally the exact same feelings you had just with, I've always wanted to play as Barbara/Batgirl for a whole game. 😭
Ah lol didnt expect you here. Love your vids!!
Love your re videos
If you put on bat suit would you be batgirl or batman?
@@mrdee2454 What a moronic question.
A question that's been on my mind for a while, especially as I'm messing around with fanfic of my own - has your work on Jason affected how you engage with all other depictions of the character, when you've spent time crafting your own take on it? More and more I find myself wondering about missed potential and roads not taken when returning to old favorites - now my mindset seems more critical than it ever has.
100%. It's hard for me to seperate my personal takes on the character from the work of other artists.
sorry to just join in but I feel this same thing often, even if it’s not comic characters im working with.
Yeah that’s definitely understandable. Two people can look at the same character yet see two completely different things and that’s completely normal. So long as you don’t get petty about it
In my opinion that’s part of the issue with comic books and their characters at this point in the road… so many of us cling to these characters (rightly so) as an amalgamation of what we like from the dozens of artists who’ve written them and our own internal interpretations. With Jason and Bruce and dick and babs and Tim especially… nobody can do them Justice to me but me at this point and it’s almost too bad. Even great interpretations like The Batman still aren’t -really- what Batman is in my head. I think it’s the tragedy of the genre
How I feel about certain video games.
I don't think anybody except me could do a Legend of Dragoon remake any justice
I'm so glad you talked about the Guardians of the Galaxy game. I'm absolutely loving it eight now and the characters talking and making the little choices like letting it go or blaming rocket after a mistake makes you really feel like the character you're playing and that these characters know and care about each other
had my best moements banters between companions from Walking Dead, Borderlands, Bioshock, mostly common for RPG genres, and now GotG added to the list.
That gsme was so underrated but such a GREAT game
the problem was that the replay-ability ain't as much as similar superheroes game. plus you stuck with quill that has the least variation of battle style,compared to other guardians.
I wish I loved that game more. I really liked the story, but the gameplay/combat bored me to death. I found myself just waiting for the next cutscene when I was playing. It's better than GK that's for sure though.
@@RexMckinnis the game had no right being as good as it did honestly
13:09
“An apathetic nothing, an empathetic longing”
Loved this phrase
You have so much passion for everything your produce that it makes me feel what you’re feeling. It’s the first time I’ve ever found a channel like this
Every word hits hard.
The man's not a reviewer, a critic....he's a poet.
I never want to see footage from this game ever again in my life.
Yep. I feel the same way about this game. I’m struggling to find it in me to play through it cause I feel what they were trying to do, but wanted so much more of it. Great video as always HighTop.
The way you write these videos, your word choice, pacing, and passion are actually incredible. I had the exact same takeaway from Gotham Knights as you did, but I never knew how to word it until this video.
You're probably never going to see this, but a batman game centered around the Long Halloween with that creepy tone of endless murders and the variety of places like Gotham's Chinatown or sewer system, with the addition of mixing in action sequences that make you FEEL like batman (like the arkham games), different stories like Arkham Knight or City, and some kickass music would probably be my favorite batman or superhero game ever.
I like how you break character when you get to Harley’s motivation out of sheer confusion for what her story line is about
Right on brand. Your video actually made me emotional and tear up. I love how much you genuinely care about these characters on such a deep and empathetic level
This is so well written that Im watching it a second time at work to pass the time. I never watch game reviews or retrospectives a second time. But the way this came together was almost poetic. Love your work!
This was like a No Way Home kind of situation. On the surface, its great but when you look at it for a second longer you realize there was a lot of missed potential and a serious lack of "show dont tell". There were a few moments which were raw, powerful and had a lot of heart but they were screwed over by the plot and the overall witty dialogues of these "traumatized" characters. Both No Way Home and Gotham Knights needed more time in the oven for perfection.
It’s not even a GOTHAM KNIGHTS game because they don’t do fucking anything together. The other 3 just send the player to the mission and tell us what to do over comms. And none of the characters have any identity because they all have the same ending/they do not change the cutscenes in any meaningful way. (And their side stories are entirely missable and meaningless anyway.)
Damn. The logs and emails and behind the scenes stuff sounds beautiful. What a shame they don’t incorporate that into the whole game cause that’s lovely to know they were like a real family and that they cared deeply for each other.
I’ve always wanted a Batwoman horror game, where you fight a lot of the supernatural and spooky creature villains, while having silent hill type psychological elements dealing with Kate‘s fears and anxieties about herself, her family, her loves, and what happen with her sister. Maybe having it inspired by the first arc of her new 52 run. That would be the best for me
I personally wish this was an Arkham game. Specifically a game where we can explore Arkham Knights’ Gotham as the Arkham Knight versions of these characters. It would’ve been cool to play as the post-AK version of Jason Todd and explore his character and see his redemption arc play out.
the Arkham versions of the characters in this games Gotham would have been so cool. I prefer the Gotham in this game😊
These versions are better than Arkham's
@@silentghost751 Elaborate.
@@MyArchive930 they're actually three-dimensional characters and have emotions
@Comic Taku they're actually three-dimensional characters and have emotions
With Red Hood’s ending, it really does feel like they at one point wanted to make a Red Hood game (after a Damian game) but had to make a Bat Fam game instead. His ending feels the most thematically appropriate and in line with what Batman’s death means to the Bat Fam. He’s had to live up to Batman’s example the most and he’s had to struggle the most out of all of them. He has a direct connection to the Lazarus pit and Talia, and if he’s the one to pull Bruce from the brink, it becomes a full circle of thematic progression. Jason helping Bruce overcome his mind control from the Lazarus pit is EXACTLY what Bruce did for him before the events of the game.
Excellent video, Alex! Always love how passionate you are. I understand what you mean when the game's missions lack individuality. The game treats events as if ALL the Gotham Knights experienced them. However, I think the game did an impressive job at making the cutscenes and dialogue unique to each character. I was expecting a one size fits all approach to dialogue, but it's actually really different depending on who you're playing as. That's pretty cool considering there are 4 playable characters.
My favorite thing about the game are the little interactions and banter between the bat family it adds a lot of humanity to the characters
Actually being serious, though, you make a great point about how a lot of the best content is optional and if you don't seek it out, the characters come off as more sterile and half-hearted than before. This is actually a problem I had with Spider-Man: Miles Morales, where the ending where the people of Harlem help Miles out doesn't feel as impactful if you hadn't done the side mission where you help free them from Kingpin's takeover.
My issues when the game was announced was the fact that it’s not really the whole Bat family. I of course mean the absence of Stephanie and Cassandra specifically bothered me. The game advertises that it includes all the Robins but Stephanie was a Robin too.
I think the reason they didn't use Stephanie or Cassandra is because people who haven't read the comics won't know who they are
Genuinely fuck gotham knights, they did not try. Just from a story/character perspective, it is INSULTING. It reduces the characters to cardboard cut-out archetypes, the court of owls are a joke (not only do they not do anything, they get replaced by the league of assassins lmao) and the ending is genuinely the worst ending to any superhero game ever. Plus they killed off jim gordon, batman, joker is simply missing along with catwoman and 90% of the rogues/allies- so the world of GK is dead and what’s left is empty garbage.
Kevin Conroy is up there in Heaven, making the Batman crossover we never knew we wanted with Adam West.
The closest we had has beware the gray ghost in Batman the animated series, such a beautiful homage ❤
I hate my dirty mind at 13:57 when he said "Dick never really felt like dick." 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Agreed. What it lacks more is the art. Art of story telling, art of character building, art of the whole city atmosphere in general
Gotham Knights makes you feel like Batman getting his Heart broken.
I was watching the "if game trailers were honest" and it made me think, this game really was gonna be the marvel's avengers for DC but they saw how badly people received that game and said let's not do the live service model
I really want a full on mystery batman game La noire style. Like it’s got combat and batman movement but it’s more story driven and mysterious.
That would be awesome.
Why are collectible audio-logs and emails so common in videogames nowadays? For example: Sonic Frontiers, FNAF: Security Breach, Marvel's Spider-Man, Bendy and the Dark Revival, Halo Infinite, etc. Sometimes these hidden messages can be fun to collect, especially hidden ones, but to me it seems like the developers don't have faith in the main story, so they write little audio-logs, emails, or whatever. They should try to focus more on the actual story and characters.
I was in disbelief when I read the news.. the man I heard while playing the Arkham series to death for the 36th time in a row. The Knight who’s voice touched my heart and gave me strength and calculated confidence to face every enemy with his monotone, quickwitted, cold delivery. His presence made me feel like I am Batman. I will never forget you Kevin Conroy.
The Schumacher vs Burton comparison was spot on, style over substance is a destroyer of worlds
Hey man, I know you probably won't read this, but I think it's worth writing. Your videos are amazing, and I understand your passion. I too want to tell stories of my favorite characters, I have stories that have never been written and I want to tell them. It's admirable that you're taking your time to make a movie about one of your favorite characters. I can't really afford that, so I'm going to do my story through stop motions. I believe no matter how you do it, if it's engaging, interesting and compelling enough that people will see your work. Whether it's a fan movie, stop motion, big budget movies, or a comic book.
I hope that your project goes well, and that you can tell the story you want. I'm interested in whatever you have to tell, and I can't wait.
I actually wouldn't have minded a Damian Wayne game, but not as they were presenting it; not as the Batman but in the future. I'd prefer something more akin to Infamous, exploring the duality of Damian's character; his assassin training and his will to be better, to be like his father. The League of Shadows has always wanted to raze Gotham and I think they'd be pressed to find someone more motivated to do so than Damian, as both his parents were lost to it. It'd also be a cool way to incorporate both lethal and non-lethal tactics without having to split them between characters, exploring what remains of the League of Shadows after the Arkham Knight DLC, discovering a Gotham without Batman... There's just endless potential there, I feel.
Damian sucks
This video is clearly very passionate, well formatted, delivered with an impressive script that turned my head & kept my attention the entire way through. Thank you for making a video that expresses all these little frustrating issues with Gotham Knights and how they culminate to disappoint the people who care about the story they're trying to tell. I'll definitely be watching more content from you in the future, loved every second of this.
In all honesty, the reason I like the Arkham series is because of the grimy visuals and the people living in the world. The Arkham games feel lived in, they are dirty and dark, sad and brutal, Batman and all of his villains fit so unbelievably well, I mean damn they made Solomon Grundy make an appearance and he didn’t feel out of place for even a moment, I want a batman like game that can keep that same world feeling but focused on a different story with a character like red hood leaning more into the detective and mystery aspect, it would be nice to watch someone like red hood discovering what it means to be the worlds greatest detective while rummaging through the grime and filth trying to separate himself from it by attempting to justify the killings he does in a world where killing happens more for amoral reasons I want him to ask the question “at what point do my killings become amoral? At what point am I just another crook?” I feel that these where always questions that Jason should have asked himself because after all, he has the tools to kill but he doesn’t need to, he chooses to, so at what point does “for the greater good” become an excuse and not a motivation?
No Man's Land would be the perfect setting/set-up/gameplay loop for a BatFamily Game. Mystery. Traversal challenged. Gangs (hopefully with nemesis system). Escaped iconic villains. Post launch missions showing Gotham's road to recovery.
If I could’ve had the Red Hood game of my dreams, I would’ve wanted a bloody parkour FPS like Call of Duty meets Mirror’s Edge with a story carrying the quality and tone from the best of the Black Ops games about overcoming the trauma of death of both himself and those around him as well as about how hauntingly inescapable a history of violence can be and often is for ex-cons. A game that could be an introspection on the FPS genre where you kills tens of thousands of enemies without thinking about the cost of the lives you’re taking, told through the eyes of a character who has should’ve naturally encountered these crises in his comic book life many times before. A story about being stuck among the killers and the dead with no escape. A story about how a boy with bloody hands could rinse his hands of that blood with the help of those offering him their help, but out of love and fear he would rather distance himself from those kind hands and keep them safe than take the chance to save himself and put those he cares about in the crosshairs of his life. How does that sound?
I absolutely love the passion that you put in every one of your videos. Even when you are discussing something you didn't care for you still approach it with the same amount of empathy and attention to detail as you would with something you loved. Your criticisms are fair and productive, not pointless and destructive, which I love so much and it's what keeps me coming back to your channel every time. Great job, Alex! Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you. I needed to hear that. Comments like this keep me going. ❤️
Fun fact: THEY COPIED + PASTED THE SCRIPTS FOR THE AUDIO LOGS IN THE WRONG ORDER. Unsure how you can even fuck that up…
Your review is incredible- it sums up perfectly the issues I had. I adore the batfamily and really wanted to adore this game 100%. I wish that they kind of covered the 2000s gotham knights comic series like no man's land (but with Jason too) with Cass as Batgirl and Barbara as Oracle on the comms. I just want more people to know that Bruce has a daughter too. Having personalised character specific missions would have been amazing and really shown off the characters different skill sets.
Bro you said it absolutely perfect. It’s lifeless, and the fact that I wanted to fast travel trying to just get things done, I didn’t even want to explore, was just sad. They should have just made this a Ninja Turtles game, I wouldn’t have felt let down comparing it to Arkham Knight.
This game makes you feel like replaying the Arkham series again. Even though Arkham Knight came out 7 years ago, It really made me appreciate it a lot more with how well done it is.
I played gotham knights for like 4 hours and then downloaded Arkham knight and played that instead. I really wanted this game to be good.
I still haven't played it, dang
No
@@rasheendaughtry1096 yes
@@therealkhobe What an insane thing to say.
One of the first reviews I saw for the game said that it was set up almost completely as a live-service game akin to “The Avengers” but, as that game tanked, they switched gears at the last moment and kept the majority of that game model in the finished product. It was never made to be a story-rich experience, but rather a soulless “grind and loot”, microtransaction-riddled throwaway game. These characters and stories deserved better.
This title hits different after today…
R.I.P. Kevin Conroy
This was great journalism, this wasn’t a review this was a cry from a fan who was DEEPLY HURT. I’m right there with you!
I'd simply like a Batman: The Animated Series open world adventure with Andrea Romano wrangling all the surviving cast, using Shirley Walker's themes, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini's writing, with Bruce Timm's designs and Eric Radomski as producer, is that too much to ask?
How long do we have to wait until we get a condiment king boss battle?!?!
A game having the potential to be great but failing to deliver on that is worse than the game being bad from the start for me. As someone who knows these characters a bit but never could read their comics I always cherish every opportunity to be able to get to know the bat family more in media like games or shows, and knowing that there was not only just potential, but pretty much entire arcs and stories relegated to optional codex entries and not in the plot of the game is, like you say, heartbreaking. It seems like it's gonna be a while before a game that properly explores the bat family comes out, disappointing....
Now you see why Guardians of the Galaxy succeeds. Just one playable character.
personally, Titan’s Jason Todd really resonated with me. I was that angry, angsty teen dealing with feeling alone and abandoned. Making Jason’s story focus so heavily on his mental health being ignored or mishandled by the people around him forcing him even farther into anger was an inspired choice.
my ideal gotham knights would have a revamped main storyline - with the opening scene still being bruce’s death; but stopping there. we don’t see who kills him, just that he dies, rigjt there in his own home turf.
this story is about his grieving children having to curb their rage as they uncover the truths of their father’s death- knowing nothing of his last, unfinished case. the story becomes a tale of these kids going through their grief together, as a family, in the most batman way possible- by throwing themselves in the mission. except there are moments of growth- moments so distinctly unbatman, that you remember that these are new people- a brighter future.
and finally, at the end of the game, we uncover that the major villains of gotham were conspiring for batman’s death, with the court of owls at the helm (much like scarecrow in arkham knight) in this continuity, it would be the court of owls that killed thomas and martha wayne, and uncover that their true target was never the batman, but /bruce wayne/. the new white knight of gotham. the shining beacon of hope in the shape of a rich airhead with a heart of gold. something for gothamites to focus on other than the horrors of their city. and together, the knight foil the court’s plans, and have a final, tender moment as they attend bruce’s funeral, which would occur a couple weeks after his death (because i’m not pulling an arkham knight and pretending this can all happen in one night lmao)
this has been eating at my mind so i’m putting it here. if you read all that, kudos to you and i hope you enjoyed my insane ramblings LMAO
Shout out to Bailey for killing this edit, man killed himself making this
Reflecting on Gotham Knights' core story theme of Bruce Wayne/Batman's death, and its affects on the other characters and world in general, has a different more personal tone to it now, after the sudden death of Kevin Conroy himself.
This sounds silly but I’d like a stylized Adam West Batman game with a colorful and vibrant Gotham, cartoony but cool visuals and sound effects, and a fun little story.
i need a red hood focused game 100%. one about him dealing with his issues with bruce, and tim, and maybe even seeing how he deals with seeing joker again. he's such a good character and it's a crime that he hasn't had his own game yet 🙏🙏
OR a game where we play with batman after jason is killed, and getting to play as a violent, angry bruce who lashes out and needs to be kept in check by nightwing or alfie or even gordon
Some people say they like the interactions between the knights but that’s one of the worst parts. The cutscenes are awkward, unnatural and usually just cringe. No one acts like they should and it usually just ends with “we need to protect the city! Together!” Read the Wayne family adventures webcomic if you want a genuine look at the batfamily.
YES! I love batman family adventures, it's so GOOD and it feels like they are a family in the webtoon.
honestly botching the batfamily's character arcs and emotional development is a pretty classic DC move. good to see they're keeping the tradition alive at least.
Watch Legion should've already told them that yeah Multi characters with freedom and no personality might not work out.
More Bat family story goes like this:
A Stephanie Brown story focusing on her struggles of not being a Robin and overshadowed by a returning Barbara as Batgirl. As Batgirl 2 she needs to find her own identity and play "Spoiler" to a Villain's newest master plan.
Think its unique with a lesser known Bat-fam character
3:33 What’s the background music from? It sounds so familiar, but I just can’t place it.
This was extremely well done, almost poetic. wtf
You must be new lol
High top, damn man, I love the way you speak about the things you're so passionate about brother. I feel it. I'm heartbroken for you and anyone else who has to play that game and not really get to experience it the way that they wanted to. Thank you brother. You're amazing and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for this movie you're making!.
This hits extra hard knowing Kevin Conroy just passed away .........
i did feel i was alone and heartbroken when i play this game it dose feel like your alone knowing the person you care for and look up is gone it suck i know the feeling i been there heck we all been there
The perfect mix of Master editing by Bailey and the amazing narration and heart from Alex makes this a perfect video! Such an amazing essay!
Thanks dude!
It’s such a musical pairing
My Dream Batman game.
Rated M, this is comic based Batman, not for kids.
The Bat-Family is heavily involved, has their own missions, their own moments to shine. Nightwing would be considered the co-protagonist. The game would be later in Batman's career. Batman, Nightwing, Red Hood, Cassandra Cain Batgirl, and Oracle would be the be family cast. The story would revolve around Gotham, a few years after No Man's Land. I like the idea of some of Gotham being in ruin. The main antagonist of the game would be, yes, I know done before, but Joker. Because I like the Joker. But, aside from the Joker, the line up would be, Scarecrow, Professor Pyg, Court of Owls, Deathstroke (Nightwing focused), Blockbuster (Nightwing focused), Falcone/Maroni, Mr. Bloom, Zsasz, and the Underdweller. It would have two player Co-op with three versions of cutsense depending on character, co-op, or Solo. Gotham would be massive, like masssssive, skyscrapers, sewer systems, the country side. All of it. There would be active waring factions, random crimes. Ranging from muggings, to bank robberies, to randomly generated serial killer investigations. It would have the detail and depth of a Red Dead Redemption game with the combat of Arkham. No health bars outside of bosses, no damage numbers. Just new skills and gadgets and moves. Thousands of easter eggs and lore hidden through the city. Random encounters.. just.. a living breathing Gotham, gasping for justice. Neon, lights, loud, dirty, messy.. just chaotic.
Interesting idea.
I would’ve loved to see or play as even more of the Bat-Family. I personally think that Barbra should’ve been Oracle and Cassandra Cain should’ve been Batgirl. Characters like Azreal and Spoiler should’ve been characters and maybe include more villains.
I think it would be cool to do a kind of No Man’s Land without Batman and the family trying to capture a plethora of villains, with it all being orchestrated by the Court of Owls.
My ideal Batfamily game is actually a Court of Owls centric story, but one more like the comics. No League of Assassins turf war, just good old mystery and intrigue about city development, gentrification, political corruption, and the shadowy group behind it all. I was desperately hoping Thomas Wayne Jr. would make an appearance, I was desperately hoping we would find out of Dick Grayson's familial ties to the Court and the fact that his Great Grandfather wasn't just A Talon, but THE Talon, the Court's greatest success. I was hoping to fight the Court and it's Talons all throughout the city in an attempt to protect the lives of judges, city planners, good cops like Gordon or Montoya. But instead the game stopped being about the Court of Owls halfway through, it revealed Jacob Kane as the Voice of The Court, which I saw coming the moment we first see him become Jacob Kane is only ever relevant when he's the bad guy. I didn't want him to unmask himself a quarter of the way through the game and ruin the mystery, I wanted to play a game that felt like a Noir film mixed with a Spy movie.
I wanted more sidequests than just Harley, Freeze, and Clayface. I wanted Kite Man, I wanted Clock King, I would have loved to see Crazy Quilt for the love of god.
I don't hate the big names, but like you said, we've played this game before.
Shame it wasn’t an Arkham knight sequel could’ve got Kevin Conroy in the flashbacks as Batman.
God bless him. RIP tragic.
HiTop’s heart: Gotham Knights broke me.
I personally feel this game was originally intended to be a Red Hood game. Jason's dialogue throughout is more fitting, the final boss is better suited for Jason, his ending is the best out of the four. It was almost like the other 3 were forced into the game and they suffer from it. I really need a true, faithful Red Hood game. One where he kills and explores his psyche more.
I love this game. It is one of the most imperfect games that I peacefully enjoy, a guilty pleasure if you will. Something about gotham knights has beauty to my eyes that many miss. I adore these characters to the point that they have become a part of me. It's as though my eyes see what could have been rather than what really is. I instantly explored each nook and cranny to complete the game because I wanted a trophy for my favorite characters. And in those collectibles IS the story that was locked away from the general audience. The saving grace to this tragic heartbreak IS uncovering the narrative that could've been. I love the game because I see the characters I adore with a narrative I personally uncovering with them. I get to choose to grieve with them. I could push through and forget to heal, or I can uncover batman, uncover thr knights and understand what it means to grieve and heal.
Same me and my brother did the whole story co-op and I have to say..thats tne best way to play
Robin didn't even make it to the tumbnail, that how forgettable his inclusion in the game is
Similar to you I was hopeful at the start. I was captivated by the opening scene and enjoyed certain moments, but as the game went on the narrative began to fall apart. They lost me about half way through.
To think, this COULD have been Kevin Conroy’s final performance as Batman.
Instead, that honor goes to Multiversus. And I’m not really sure how to feel about that.
i had a lot of fun with gotham knights it wasn't perfect but the ending got a genuine emotional reaction from me which is rare with games and i hope we get a sequel so wb montreal has a chance to refine it. great video man even when i disagree with you on things i always appreciate hearing your thoughts
14:18 Jason Todd>>> He NEEDS some more love and some good content to be made for him, fr...
Alex literally never misses. The only channel where I immediately hit the like button.
❤️
13:57 "Dick never felt like Dick"
- HiTop Films 2022
Really wish they brought Cameron Bowen back as Red Hood, dude was the best voice for him 2nd to Jensen Ackles
Or as Tim, though the guy they got for him was good.
Although i do love the arkham games very much i feel like it would be nice to have a nice change of pace and have a game that is true to the character but still light hearted similar to the Lego Batman MOVIE.
I wish the story and the Knights played out differently depending on who you played as for a mission. For example when you're in the Labyrinth (I think that's it) and for Dick you see the circus and his parents dying that it just triggers this sort of PTSD response from him and the other Knights try to make him feel better, you get what I mean? I'm not sure if I'm making much sense, I just wish who you chose actually mattered in the game.
This is one your best videos yet, from the breakdown of the story/characters to the editing. Keep in up man
When you mentioned “I played this before” I did have that same thought process then at the end it kinda clicked to me that maybe it was on purpose as a sorta Batman went through all this in the Arkham games now being the next Knight you go through to prove you are a worthy successor cause you did everything he did and then surpassed a non holding back version of him
That'd make sense if you were training as him. But doesn't once you realize that Arkham has been out for 13 years and every action adventure game post Arkham and pre Bloodborne used it's gameplay formula. They either needed too fully commit too being its own thing or just fully commit too being a Arkham clone and in which case they could use certain missions too mirror older Arkham missions too use the angle you're going for
Cause that sounds nice on paper but that only makes sense if this is a Arkham game, it being its own thing with no narrative ties too the Arkham is what might've held it back because that would've been actually a great story/gameplay choice. But I feel like they didn't want too connect it too the Arkham games in case it was poorly received cause that'd fuck the legacy up
U need to write a book or dialog man. The way you choose to describe or talk about things is so good
My God, this is one of the best game reviews ever. WOW, I think I have to watch this video again.