Gotham City Impostors Preview

Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh, so on and so forth.

It was easy to write Gotham City Impostors off as a Batman: Arkham City spinoff when it was announced. Who'd waste their time playing a first-person shooter filled with Batmen and Jokerz-with-a-z? Me. That's who.

The beta is starting to trickle out to console and PC gamers now and even an hour with the game can give you a great impression of the unique spin Monolith is putting on the multiplayer shooter that's taken gaming by storm and won't let go of no matter how badly we'd like to move on and please I'm so sick of all these military shooters when will it stop?



Gotham City Impostors takes the classes, player cards, and gadgets you'd find in other first-person shooters and gives them a made-in-my-garage spin. You'll use hunting bows, trash-can body armor, and a ton of glue and tape. There are still plenty of options to narrow down your class in addition to a handful of body types to choose from.

Easily the best addition to the formula is the numerous gadgets you can choose from. A cape allows you to glide and dive-bomb your enemies. A grappling hook allows you to attach to the environment and wind yourself up into the air or onto rooftops. Spring shoes allow you to charge up jumps. Two inflatable beach balls strapped to your feet give you the ability to double jump.

That kind of madness means maps become instantly vertical affairs. Threats exist in every direction and your opponents aren't limited by the surrounding environment. That means the action is faster and you have to be more nimble and more aware than in any other shooter.



The beta is limited to two game modes. The first is a Domination style mode where you hold three points until you fill the environment up with nerve gas or bat pheromones. The second is a capture the flag-style game where you capture a battery and use it to blast propaganda supporting your team.

The maps and modes may be limited right now but the extensive customization options and additions to the genre make Gotham City Impostors one to watch leading up to its release.