Gotham City Impostors

But while there isn’t a whole lot of game here, there’s definitely no question that this is a very fun game that does what little it does well. First-person shooter addicts can definitely have a good time here, while curious Batman fans can enjoy this while we wait for the next sequel to the Arkham series.

None of this stuff is big enough to be a death sentence for Gotham City Impostors, however, but only time will tell how Warner and Monolith handle the growth and support of its game over the next few months. There's already been at least one new map promised for free in March, but initial signs for the future of this game don't seem promising - the Xbox 360 playerbase seems to be on the wane less than a week after launch. A good idea with some unfortunate but devastating missteps, Gotham City Impostors still has enough time to avoid the custard pie flying at its head.

Technical issues aside, Gotham City Impostors is a consistently thrilling experience that's easy to recommend. The limited arena count isn't nearly the flaw that it would be in most other shooters, thanks to the surprising number of ways you can experience each of them. And the deep class and cosmetic customization options may keep you up for some late nights even when you've already spent dozens of hours with the game.

Overall, I ended up enjoying my time with Gotham City Impostors, but the experience did feel a tad ‘light’ which makes it a game that I imagine I will not be playing in a couple of months. Five online maps are simply not enough for a game that is an online multiplayer experience only. Nevertheless, I do have to admit that it does have a degree of charm, and when you consider the price there is some pretty good bang for the buck overall.

The large majority of DLC is cosmetic, except for the ability to purchase double-XP time for yourself or your team. It’s hard to argue the value included with this title, as it contains a substantial shooter experience, unique weapons and gadgets, and more than enough incentive to keep playing. FPS fans that have tired of the typical shooter formula should find plenty to like about this high-flying, slapstick-heavy download.

The idea of a multiplayer-only downloadable shooter is a sound one, offering a lower-priced, stripped-down version of that Call of Duty progression model for people who don't care about campaigns and just want to focus on the headshots and skill unlocks. But given that most of the games in that category have been biting Call of Duty on every level, even in appearance and tone, it's been hard to get too excited about any of them. By contrast, Gotham City Impostors shows how far a clear sense of personality and humor can take you even when you're making the same old style of game.

This is a case of a game maker attempting to have its cake and eat it too -- charging the maximum price for a downloadable title while trying every trick in the book to squeeze extra cash along the way. And for a game that isn't even all that great in the first place, Gotham City's sheer gall boasts a level of ballsiness that almost demands respect.

Performing better in matches will also earn you costume coins, which can then be used to further customize your Batz or Jokerz gang member. Costume coins are dolled out a little slowly, and this is compounded by the hefty price tag on many of the completely superfluous accoutrements. You can buy these items with actual money, but players with patience will be better off.

For the price tag, Gotham City Impostors is incredible. It has bazillions of unlockable items including costume designs for each for your characters for both the bats and jokers. The game hosts a ton of weaponry and gadgets that rival the armory of Call of Duty. My only big gripe are the micro-transactions they added that help boost experience, buy costumes, unlock certain mascots, and expedite the time it takes how long to queue players into a working lobby.

Compared to other multiplayer shooters flooding the market, Gotham City Imposters may not offer the same breadth of game modes and map content, but it certainly stands out thanks to a great sense of self-referential humor and some oddball gadgetry. Even when the chuckles subside, the madcap action stands strong on its own.

L'absence de serveurs dédiés, la présence d'un système de matchmaking peu performant, l'obligation de passer par le service Games for Windows Live, et l'incertitude quant au nombre de joueurs qui seront encore là dans deux mois achèvent de doucher l'enthousiasme que pourrait susciter l'univers délirant du jeu.

Alla luce di tutto questo non ci sono dubbi sul fatto che, grazie anche a un prezzo particolarmente concorrenziale di dieci Euro, le versioni console di Gotham City Impostors meritino un'occhiata da parte di tutti gli appassionati di sparatutto dal gameplay sbarazzino e con un sacco di gadget, armi e personalizzazioni da sbloccare. Per quanto riguarda invece l'edizione PC, è meglio ponderare l'acquisto con attenzione: a meno di essere dei fan sfegatati di qualsiasi cosa porti il marchio di Batman, il mercato degli sparatutto prevede titoli con server decisamente più popolati di questo.

När Monolith utvecklade Gotham City Impostors verkar de tyvärr ha nöjt sig med en nyskapande idé. Allt annat är bara lättuggad action med en lätt känsla av serietidning. Visst har spelet en särskild humor och en del roliga element men jag undrar ändå hela tiden varför jag inte bara stänger av och spelar en bra förstapersonsskjutare istället för den här bleka kopian. Och det är faktiskt precis vad jag tänker göra nu; hellre ett bra spel utan en Batman-licens än ett medmåttigt med en.