Review: Gotham City Impostors (Xbox Live Arcade)

By Wayne Webb

Gotham City Impostors is not a Batman game, it’s more like a Batman tribute band. You play one in a group of seriously deranged Batman or Joker aficionados that take up arms and fight each other. Not crime or crime fighters, just each other. An odd concept, but the basis for a knock down drag ’em out fight to the death between fan boys.

Gotham City Impostors does not take itself too seriously, which is both fun and entertaining while being simultaneously a bit silly and pointless. The Batman and Joker weapons are interchangeable and despite level after level of unlockable elements, modifications and other things – feels limited and a bit small in scope.

There’s no single player campaign so it’s just straight to the online Xbox Live service (can’t play unless you’re a paid member – I’m not a fan of this) and drop in with a fully online tutorial lesson and then into combat. It’s not hard to pick up and get to grips with and soon enough you are online with people who have leveled up into the hundreds and you are cannon fodder until you level up enough yourself.

With only a few maps to choose from, and interchangeable villains and weapons, the game can get a bit confusing at times. Mostly it’s just a run and gun exercise to get your frag count up, get the unlocks and move on. Not sure this will have a massive amount of longevity.

Pros: Fully fledged multiplayer online, tongue-in-cheek humour, easy to learn, easy to play.
Cons: Limited resources, maps and weapons, too much loading time and silliness, online only.

3.5 Shacks Out Of 5