Gotham Knights has such huge shoes to fill that it's easy to think it's an impossible feat. Batman has had a decorated resume in gaming over the last few years that is simply too hard to ignore, ranging from family-focused Lego titles to the mature themes handled in the Arkham series. The Caped Crusader is nowhere to be seen in WB Montreal's latest project, as the family that often surrounds him takes center stage this time out. Batman's absence is sure to be felt, but using the rich history of Gotham City and some of its unique quirks could help make the game feel like a wholly justified experience.
One of the staples of any great Batman story is a villain of almost equal magnitude. Bruce Wayne isn't short of antagonists, as Joker, Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman have all been a thorn in his side for decades. One of the newer inclusions in his rogue's gallery - and the lead enemy in Gotham Knights - is the elusive Court of Owls, making its debut in the New 52 run of comics and quickly becoming one of the best evil entities in Batman lore. To truly make them stand out in a video game space that has no shortage of great villains, Gotham Knights will have to look to some unorthodox places for inspiration. Final Fantasy 7 should be such an example, as the Shinra Electric Power Company bears some strong resemblances.
Shinra and Court of Owls are Two Sides of a Coin
Lovingly recreated in the Remake and initially made for 1997's Final Fantasy 7, Shinra are the main threat in Midgar, the game's opening city. Masking its evil deeds as an upstanding company, Shinra is depleting the planet of its life force while supplying mako energy to provide electricity to Midgar's inhabitants, albeit at a costly price. Barret and his crew of Avalanche eco-terrorists do all they can to bring the corporation to its knees, but the tight grip it has on the city seems like too much to overcome. The desperate fight between the two had cataclysmic effects on the area, setting up much of the game's mature tone throughout.
The Court of Owls is far more inclined to work in the shadows, directly affecting the structures of Gotham City to work in its favor. Rarely does the Court get its hands dirty and instead deploys Talons - lethal assassins that date back centuries - to take out the trash. It's not overt in its messaging, and doesn't want to be known to the public, making it much more dangerous than most other more established groups in DC Comics like the League of Assassins, A.R.G.U.S, and Sinestro Corps.
What Evil Corporations Offer Video Games
As Shinra proved in Final Fantasy's now-beloved seventh entry, it can be such a compelling narrative thread to have an all-seeing villain to enhance the underdog story of the protagonists. Batman and his accompanying sidekicks have snatched victory against overwhelming odds plenty of times, yet the Court of Owls' massive, far-reaching influence means the bat family will not be in control of the threats they face this time. The Court of Owls prove that knowledge is power, and brute force isn't the only means to get the best of Batman. Shinra are much the same, as are Umbrella Corporation in Resident Evil or Hyperion in Borderlands.
For Gotham Knights to learn from Final Fantasy 7 and its 2020 Remake would be wise, not just because Shinra has become one of the most threatening presences in gaming, but also because it is ripe for internal divisions and disagreements. The Court of Owls is made up of Gotham's elite, and rarely do such significant organizations see eye to eye on all issues. Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin have their story with the secret criminal society, but there is still a lot of potential for narrative threads to unfold within the Court itself. There are plenty of scenes in Final Fantasy 7 that focus on Shinra's employees and higher-ups and the internal struggles of the company, and Gotham Knights should do the same, ensuring the Court of Owls it presents doesn't feel one-dimensional.
Gotham Knights launches October 21, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.