Gotham City Impostors

Overview

Which one is the real Batman? The real Joker? I'm confused.

Gotham City Impostors is a downloadable team-based first-person shooter developed by Monolith and published by WB Games on February 8, 2012 for the Xbox 360 (via Xbox Live Arcade), PlayStation 3 (via PlayStation Network), and PC (via Games for Windows - Live and Steam). Set in Gotham City, players are put into one of two opposing factions: freelance crime fighters dressed like Batman, and psychopathic criminals dressed like The Joker, calling themselves Bats and Jokerz respectively. Players can customize their characters (from cosmetic items to body types that impact the player's stats) as well as their equipment (such as grappling hooks and smoke bombs) as they set out to eliminate the opposing team.

Gameplay

Games contain up to 12 players in 6 vs 6 team matches. There are various body types that players can choose from, that not only have an aesthetic appearance, but an effect on game play. The five body types are Speedy, Nimble, Tough, Burly and Mighty. Use of each in the custom classes require you to unlock them through gaining experience points and new levels.

Weapon load out consists of a primary "ready" weapon, a backup, a support item, gadgets and a perk system called 'Fun Facts'. The ready weapons are typical of the genre, including a small selection of rifles, SMGs, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers. Weapons can be customized further by swapping out ammo types and applying skins. Support items include items such as pipe bombs, boomerangs, trap-in-a-box, and an energy drink that instantly boosts health. The support items have a cool down period, but can give a significant advantage to players. Gadgets help players move around the map. These include items such as grapple guns, roller skates and a winged glider rig that can also be utilized to take down enemies.

Game Modes

Team Deathmatch

Standard Team Deathmatch game mode, with the Bats and the Jokerz fighting each other for supremacy. Each kill contributes one point to the team's total, and the victory goes to the first team to reach 50 points (or whichever team has the most points when time runs out).

Fumigation

Conquest game mode where each team tries to take over the majority of three "Gasblaster" machines. Teams capture neutral and enemy-occupied Gasblaster machines by standing near it, and teams can defend the machines by also standing near it (nullifying the capture process). As a team controls the majority of Gasblasters, the atmosphere will fill up with their type of colored gas (green for friendly gas and red for enemy gas).

Once either team has reached critical mass (as noted on the bottom-left corner of the HUD), the opposing team will die and lose the match (the Bats' gas calls in a swarm of real bats that tear up any Jokerz still remaining, while the Jokerz release a deadly nerve toxin that kills any Bats still alive).

Psych Warfare

Assault game mode where both teams rush to acquire a neutral car battery that must be brought to their specific Propaganda Machines (special brainwashing devices located near the spawns of their enemy teams). Once the battery is inserted, a thirty-second countdown timer ticks down (in which the enemy team must detach the battery) until the team's Propaganda Machine goes off. A team earns a point by having their Machine activate successfully (and the team with the most points after the match ends win). The game runs for two rounds, with both teams switching Propaganda Machines and spawn locations at the half-time point.

When the team's Propaganda Machine goes off, it releases a brainwashing "propaganda" signal that demoralizes the opposing team (forcing them to lose control of their weapons and gadgets for 30 seconds). All they are able to do is a "panic slap" melee attack, which can kill enemies (giving bonus points due to its difficulty) and disable the Machine faster (by slapping it directly).

Bounty Hunter

A new game mode that adds a variation to team deathmatch. When a player is killed, they drop a coin, and players can pick up that coin for bonus points, and a temporary damage boost.

Challenges

A single-player game mode in which players can earn bonus experience points for completing special obstacle courses for each of the five maps (15 challenges for each map, split up by difficulty and gadget choice). Each challenge supplies the player with a gadget and one (or more) weapons, in which the player must use them to reach checkpoints and eliminate targets as fast as they can. Players can earn up to 100 experience points for each challenge by earning time-based Medals.

Maps

The game initially came with five maps, but two more have been added via free title updates since release. They all have various themes of locations around Gotham. There is a bit of emphasis on verticality, with the ability to get on top of most buildings and structures. All game modes can be played on all the maps:

Ace Chemical

• A rundown chemical processing plant that is a series of dilapidated buildings and rooftops.

Amusement Mile

• An amusement park area that has various arcades, roller coasters, & funhouses.

Crime Alley

• This map consists of a main road in the middle with various alleyways around the outside. The ends of the road are blocked by deadly nerve toxin.

The Docks

• A more open environment, with piers & dockhouses to move in and out of, and water bordering one side.

Gotham Power

• This map is located in and around the Gotham Power & Light facilities. The area is bordered by deadly electric transformers.

25th Floor

• A map that takes place on the 25th floor of the Gotham Times Building. Added March 2012.

East End

• Takes place in the streets of a run down dilapidated section of Gotham. Added April 2012.

Downloadable Content

Gotham City Impostors launched with over 100 pieces of paid DLC available, most of which are just cosmetic items like additional clothing & calling cards, and these items can also be unlocked simply by playing the game. The game does allow you to purchase double xp boosts for a set time period, allowing you to level up quicker.

Title Updates

March 2012:

• 25th Floor map - A new map that takes place on the 25th floor of the Gotham Times Building.
• Join games that are in-progress - players can now join games that are already in progress, allowing games to remain balanced if other players quit mid-match.
• Falcon Blade weapon - A katana blade that can block bullets.
• The Kingmaker weapon - A quickdraw pistol.
• Toxic Gas support weapon - Leave a trail of gas in your wake to damage enemies.
• "Nimble Fingers" Fun Fact - A new perk that allows you to capture gasblasters faster and attach/detach batteries faster.
• New costume choices - More items to dress up your player with.

April 2012:

• East End map - A new map that takes place in a run down urban section of Gotham.
• Bounty Hunter game mode - A new game mode that adds a variation to team deathmatch.
• New voice languages - A new option that allows your character to speak his taunts in French, German, Italian, or Spanish.