WB Games Montreal’s last game beforeGotham KnightswasBatman: Arkham Origins, which was released almost nine years ago.Batman: Arkham Originsis part of the Arkhamverse canonas the only game in its tetralogy not developed by Rocksteady. Likewise, it was likely its work on developingBatman: Arkham Originsthat led to WB Games Montreal getting tasked with developing another DC- or Batman-related title. Therefore, it would not be surprising to see features fromBatman: Arkham Originsreprised inGotham Knights. Such is the case for its fast-travel system.
Interestingly,Gotham Knightshas already had to endure unending comparison to the rest of Rocksteady’s Arkhamverse. These comparisons include how combat may not look as fluid, or howGotham Knights’ open-world Gotham Citymay not look as detailed or dense with content. However, its fast-travel system seems to have a direct connection to that ofBatman: Arkham Origins. In what seems to be the only animation shared between both games as seen thus far, it is clear thatBatman: Arkham Originshas had an influence on how fast-travel would be structured inGotham Knights.
RELATED:Gotham Knights Reveals PC Exclusive Features
Batman: Arkham Origins’ Batwing is the Fast-Travel Blueprint
to fast-travel inBatman: Arkham Origins, players must first unlock relay network towers in each district in Gotham City. This can be arduous, as access to network towers is progression-locked, where certain points of the story must be reached in order to receive a requisite gadget before players can navigate a particular tower.
However, once a tower is unlocked, it can then be fast-traveled to at any point by interacting with its Batwing Drop Point icon on the map. This initiates a cutscene where Batman grapples into the Batwing, flies through a snowstorm briefly as the area loads, and then dive-bombs toward the city again. This makes use of the Arkhamverse’s distinctive gliding system, where players dive-bomb and then rear upward with Batman’s cape fanned out to gain momentum and speed.
It is from here that players can choose to land where Batman is descending, which is usually amidst unsuspecting criminals, or they can choose to glide and make their way to another desired location nearby. This diving animation is not unique toBatman: Arkham Origins, but it is a clever way to let the players choose whether to land or glide after they have fast-traveled. InGotham Knights, however, that choice of whether to glide or land seems taken away.
Gotham Knights’ Fast Bat is Nearly Identical to the Batwing’s Drop Animation
Gotham Knightsdoes not allow Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, or Red Hood to use Batman’s plane to traverse. Instead, they use aback-mounted mechanism called the Fast Batthat flies them to their desired fast-travel point. They then careen in the jet-propelled apparatus in the same dive-bomb animation before being gently dropped from it as it vanishes out of thin-air.
This is similar to howcharacters’ Batcycles inGotham Knightssuddenly appear and disappear at the player’s command, and is arguably acceptable for the sake of gameplay convenience. Either way, it is clear that fast-travel will be an important feature inGotham Knightsdue to how immense its open world is. But if unique traversal methods and the Batcycle are truly satisfying, fast-travel will hopefully only be a feature for convenience itself inGotham Knights.
After an incredibly long wait, WB Games Montreal is ready to launch its newest game sinceBatman: Arkham OriginswithGotham Knightslater this month. When it does release, it will be interesting to see if any other similar animations or features have beeninspired byBatman: Arkham Origins.
Gotham Knightsis scheduled to release on July 06, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
