Gotham Knights has released a full sneak peek at the gameplay of the prologue, and it showed that the game's detective mechanics are worth looking forward to. Although they only made up a small part of the demonstration, their spotlight was one of the more memorable moments. Playing detective is an important part of Batman's skillset that deserves more appreciation in games.

Gotham Knights follows four of Batman's former proteges as they fight to protect Gotham City after the tragic death of Bruce Wayne. With many of Batman's old adversaries still active in the aftermath, they need to live up to his legacy to prevent the city from falling into chaos. Not only was Batman a world-class martial artist, but he was a brilliant detective as well. The Arkham games failed to show Batman's detective side, but Gotham Knights can rectify that with the Bat Family.

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In a Gotham Knights preview at IGN, the player's chosen protagonist goes in to investigate a crime scene while avoiding police notice. They use a scanner to follow trace evidence that leads them straight to where the crime took place. Taking in all of the details in Langstrom's lab, they will put together a general idea of what took place in their head. From there, the player is tasked with searching for any further clues that can paint a clearer picture as to what happened. After this section, the rest of the preview becomes more combat-focused as it shows off Batgirl's acrobatic Gotham Knights combat style, but this segment does offer a look at what the rest of the game could have in store.

Gotham Knights' Detective Mechanics Reinforce Batman's Influence

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It's easy to see how detective gameplay can make Gotham Knights more intriguing. In the power vacuum that is sure to be left in the wake of Batman's death, any number of villains could be involved. Seeking out clues can narrow down who the true players in the plot are, as well as their motives. In addition, having the player specifically seek out the facts of the case themselves rather than having them revealed through cutscenes will make the game feel more rewarding. Hopefully later detective segments will be more intricate to truly test the player's skills. A lot is riding on Gotham Knights' success, so hopefully the developers' work can live up to expectations.

Batman is known as the world's greatest detective, so it makes sense that the members of the Bat Family trained by him would have some crime-solving skills of their own. Although they may not be at the same level as Bruce Wayne, the game shows that they are more than capable of piecing together a crime scene. The mystery is sure to get deeper as the game goes on, and it will be interesting to see how the pieces end up falling together as the game reaches its climax. With Gotham Knights' villains still mostly a secret, unraveling the case is likely to be intriguing.

Detective work may not be as flashy as fighting bad guys head-to-head, but it can be just as exhilarating. What has already been shown in the prologue gives hope for potential detective gameplay later on in the game. For Gotham Knights to hit its full potential, the player should feel like a good detective as well as a fighter.

Source: IGN/YouTube