Gotham Knightscaught a lot of flak upon its original October 2022 release. A game revolving around the titular team ofBat-Family heroes,Gotham Knightsis currently sitting at a 67 on Metacritic, with many critics finding the game’s combat, missions, and characters a little lackluster, especially when compared to the previous games in DC’s catalog.
ButGotham Knightswasn’t all bad. Though its main story had some bizarre moments, it was generally quite compelling, and the different gameplay styles of each hero encouraged fans to experiment and swap between them. Some steady foundations are hiding beneathGotham Knights' more infamous issues, and those foundations could easily pave the way for another DC superhero team-up game, this time focusing on Young Justice.
Gotham Knights Has Laid The Blueprints for a Young Justice Game
Young Justice Is an Ideal Pick for a Superhero Team-Up Game
First appearing in June 1998’sYoung Justice: The Secret #1, the eponymous team of superheroes was formed to fill the gap left by the Teen Titans growing out of their adolescent roles. In the team’s debut,Tim Drake’s Robin, Superboy, and Flash sidekick Impulse join forces to free the new superhero Secret from captivity. This team-up proved to be pretty successful off the bat, leading to Young Justice getting its own comic run in September 1998.
Just like any other superhero team,Young Justicehas seen many faces come and go over the last few decades. While Robin, Superboy, and Impulse remain staples of the team pretty much throughout its history, there have been many recruits over the years, including Wonder Girl, Arrowette, Teen Lantern, and even the de-aged Li’l Lobo.
If it came to making a superhero team-up video game, a Young Justice title would have plenty of varied movesets and powers to choose from for its playable heroes. A Young Justice game would also be able to avoid a potential powder keg of a Superman orWonder Woman game, as it could excuse making its playable heroes weaker by explaining that their age and lack of experience are holding them back from achieving their full comic-accurate potential.
A Young Justice Game Could Be a Direct Sequel to Gotham Knights
Though it would need a few creative workarounds,a Young Justice gamecould act as a direct sequel toGotham Knightsif DC or Warner Bros. wanted it to, both in terms of gameplay and narrative. By the end ofGotham Knights, the Bat-Family have publicly declared themselves to be the protectors of Gotham, but with three pseudo-siblings already taking care of business, Tim Drake’s Robin could easily make his way over to a new superhero team. And withGotham Knights' version of Tim Drake being just 16 years old, he’d be the perfect age for a Young Justice team member, or even its group leader.
Gameplay-wise, a Young Justice game could carryGotham Knights' formula forward, giving players four key members of the team to play as. A common criticism ofGotham Knightswas that the characters' combat felt a little too similar to one another, but with the wildly different power sets of the variousYoung Justice members, that probably wouldn’t be as much of an issue.
Gotham Knights
WHERE TO PLAY
Batman is dead. A new expansive, criminal underworld has swept the streets of Gotham City. It is now up to the Batman Family - Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin - to protect Gotham, bring hope to its citizens, discipline to its cops, and fear to its criminals.From solving mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city’s history to defeating notorious villains in epic confrontations.Gotham Knights is an open-world, action RPG set in the most dynamic and interactive Gotham City yet. Patrol Gotham’s five distinct boroughs in solo or in co-op and drop in on criminal activity wherever you find it.Your legacy begins now. Step into the Knight.
