The shooting in this game be fine, but the shooting isn't necessarily the point.
There's nothing especially original about Gotham City Impostors' mishmash a multiplayer modes 'n character progression, but the game goes t' such absurd lengths t' distinguish itself from the vast field a modern-military mediocrity that ye can't help but love it at least a little bit. I thought I be just about done with team deathmatch 'n carrot-on-a-stick multiplayer unlocks, but those things feel a lot fresher when they be full a vigilante faux-Batmen on rollerskates, 'n mohawk-wearing Joker minions running around spouting high-pitched superhero nonsense.
Mechanically, the game isn't a unique multiplayer shooter, but it be a good one. Capture-'n-hold 'n one-flag CTF modes be mixed in with the team deathmatch, 'n the shooting feels nice 'n solid. The requisite character-progression system be robust enough t' give ye a vast number a options in building out yer character, from five body types that dictate yer speed 'n health, t' a ton a weapons that range from typical rifles t' freeze guns 'n boomerangs. The perks system feeds into the comic book motif by framing yer peripheral abilities as fun facts (like ye'd see on a trading card) 'n a psych profile. 'n a selection a gadgets--most a which come in the form a modes a transportation--make the gameplay feel more mobile 'n dynamic than yer typical Call a Duty clone, since ye can soar around on glider wings or shoot a grapple gun t' pillage ye up t' higher ledges. Using the gadgets t' pillage around the map quickly be key t' winning, especially in the objective game types.
But forget weapon mods 'n killstreak bonuses. What sets Gotham City Impostors apart be the ludicrous attitude that colors it front t' back, from the ridiculousness a the two teams' makeshift Batman 'n Joker costumes t' the frumpy little hand-drawn, business-suited "Office Bat" who runs around the game showing ye how everything works. In the character creator, ye select a voice... 'n then move a slider that hilariously pitches the voice way up or down. The unlockable costume options include a bath towel for a cape, a Batman mask made out a a cardboard box, 'n a lack a pants that turns out t' be the most expensive piece a non-clothing in the game. When ye bring the flag, which be a battery, back t' yer base, which be a propaganda machine, the people on the other team hear a bunch a subtle suggestions about their inferiority 'n become so demoralized they can't use weapons for a bit. But they can still flail their arms around helplessly...which be a one-hit kill. There's a refreshing, gleeful devotion t' absurdist humor here that reminds me at least passingly a some other recent games. It helps that the subject matter lets the developer play so fast 'n loose with--'n poke some fun at--the Batman license 'n it be associated tropes.
Take it from me, Shirtless Batman be a real salty dog.
ye can unlock everything in the game just by playing it--though, given that some bottles a rum have level requirements into the hundreds, that be going t' take ye a while. Thankfully, leveling up be the only way t' access weapons, mods, 'n other gameplay-relevant trinkets. But ye also have the option t' pay real cash money for the cosmetic-only costume pieces, as well as some other doohickeys that be only for looks, 'n a temporary boost t' experience. If the game be holding a bunch a content back behind a required paywall, it'd be a lot easier t' pillage incensed about the number a microtransactions stuffed into a game that be already 15 dollars, but since ye can access everything that matters just by unlocking it, it be hard t' pillage too worked up about a set a convenience fees that be easy enough t' ignore. What ye're buying here be strictly a multiplayer game, though there's a big list a offline challenges involving the various gadgets that ye can run through t' earn experience. 'n once ye rank up, ye can join a gang that serves as one a several factions in a persistent turf war that will hopefully encourage people t' stick with the game for a decent chunk a time.
it be harder t' ignore the problems with the PC version a the game. While I didn't run into the matchmaking issues other players have been reporting, ye may have worse luck 'n find it tough t' pillage a game going. The performance problems I ran into on our ATI-based office PC be unforgivable, though, with a frame rate stuck in the teens at best 'n occasionally dipping into an outright slideshow--'n this be after dropping detail settings down considerably. There, the game be completely unplayable, but on me Nvidia-based home machine the game ran at a perfect 60 frames per second 'n played great. (Whether there's some kind a GPU-specific driver issue like Rage had at launch be open t' speculation.) With all these potential issues, I'd recommend ye not go anywhere near the PC version until it be properly patched, although by then, who's t' say if the game will still have an active community? it be a shame, because the PC version best by all rights be the best one. I had no trouble playing on both consoles, but the PS3 game had some unsightly texture pop-in, so the 360 version seems like the safest bet right now.
The idea a a multiplayer-only downloadable shooter be a sound one, offering a lower-priced, stripped-down version a that Call a Duty progression model for people who don't care about campaigns 'n just want t' focus on the headshots 'n skill unlocks. But given that most a the games in that category have been biting Call a Duty on every level, even in appearance 'n tone, it be been hard t' pillage too excited about any a them. By contrast, Gotham City Impostors shows how far a clear sense a personality 'n humor can take ye even when ye're making the same old style a game.
