Gotham City Impostors Review

Two Batman's are better than one, then again none can still be pretty fun.

If you ever complained about game developers churning out nothing but shooters then you've probably ignored everything to do with Gotham City Impostors. I, too, figured it to be the most idiotic idea I'd heard in a long time: a game set in the Batman universe, without Batman, that plays as a shooter. Well, admittedly I was wrong, Monolith have created a solidly enjoyable game that provides a ton of fun, if not anything revolutionary.

I Think You And I Are Destined To Do This Forever.

Gotham City Impostors puts you on either a team full of vigilantes, known as Team Bats, or a team of psychos, known as Team Jokerz (That Z isn't even a joke...). Up to 12 players (6vs6) compete in any of the three game modes: Team Deathmatch, Fumigation (Domination) and Psych Warfare (Capture the Flag). The game is perhaps best described as a cartoonish looking twitch shooter with a deep emphasis on customization and leveling. Save for a series of challenges, where the player competes in timed objectives to earn medals and experience; this is strictly an online multiplayer game, so take a pass if you were just looking for single player content. The biggest criticism I really have of the game is that matchmaking has been inconsistent. Sometimes it has me in a match in less than thirty seconds and other times I'm frozen in a lobby full of players watching the countdown timer freeze. For an online only game these issues can't occur, luckily they don't seem to happen that often.

The modes break down mostly as expected. Team Deathmatch throws two teams at each other until time runs out. These matches were hands down the easiest to get into, since there's clearly more people playing in this mode. Though it's fun, it does nothing to differentiate itself here like the other modes do. Fumigation is a capture point match where teams battle to hold onto the three points long enough to hit 100% and activate either the Jokerz gas attack or the Bats' bat onslaught. In my experience these matches were the most enjoyable, frequently tight and almost always ended in satisfying ways. More than the other modes, I found Fumigation had the lion's share of hotly contested matches that ended with late comebacks or last minute ties.

Psychological Warfare is a twist on capture the flag, where teams race out to retrieve a battery and bring it back to their base so that they can power their brain wash machines. Once plugged in the capturing team has to defend the battery for 20-30 seconds so that it can detonate and demoralize the opposing team. Demoralization lasts for 20 seconds, and players afflicted will run around flailing their arms, able only to slap the opposing team. Obviously, the team that demoralizes the other most wins. Though I actually found myself laughing pretty hard when I managed to slap an opponent to death, being demoralized usually meant instant death. I've had a hell of a time finding matches in this mode, something I can't knock the game for but a concern that I think you should know.

It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Cross-Comic Reference

How much you dig Gotham City Impostors will depend on how much you buy into the wacky weapons and the off-the-wall mobility granted to players. Spring boots, roller skates, grappling hooks, and gliders are just some of the ways you have to get around during matches. Each level has multiple vents, ramps and trampolines to use these gadgets on so that players can spend just as much time in the air as they do on the ground. This emphasis on quick and vertical movement is one of the biggest features that set Gotham City Impostors apart from other similar games. And really, nothing is more satisfying than gliding through the air and dive bombing an unsuspecting enemy.

The other big hook is the weapon and customization system, which is outlandish in its own right. As you might expect, leveling up lets you unlock newer weapons, weapon mods, skins, gadgets, costumes and Fun Facts (perks). Regular shooter staples like rifles and machine guns are still here, but they've also included guns like the Deep Freezer, a home-brew weapon that freezes enemies, or the Bear-Stalker, a silent crossbow used for sniping. Keeping with the comic theme, mods range from the usual reflex and red dot sight attachments to the odd but aptly named body odor sniffer, which reveals nearby enemy positions. You can also set up streak rewards for when you earn a certain amount of points or go awhile without getting any. Things remain balanced, however, with bonuses like double damage or better resistance to explosions, so there isn't a perpetual dominance by top players as a result of these rewards.

Gotham City Impostors comes with just five Batman themed maps, like ACE Chemicals and Amusement Mile, three competitive modes and a challenge mode for score/time chasers. Even still I felt that the $15 asking price was worth it, as is, and potentially a steal if Monolith supports the game right (less cosmetic DLC and some more maps, please). The chaotic action lends itself to some hilarious moments and some extremely satisfying matches that you don't get from many other shooters out there, especially on the home consoles. Though it's still hard to see the reasoning behind using the Batman license, this doesn't tarnish the property either. While Gotham City Impostors might not do enough to pull players away from other high-tier shooters, it does plenty to add another legitimate, fun, and lighthearted option to the market that's totally worth checking out.