The developers behind the upcoming Gotham Knights game are under fire from fans for showing off a drastic redesign of maniacal Joker ally Harley Quinn.
IGN shared recently released gameplay footage on Twitter which debuted Harley Quinn's new look, with the crown princess of crime now sporting a chalk-white painted face, smudged red lipstick and a black spade symbol spray-painted over her eyes. She still wears her traditional black-and-red jester colors, though she appears older and has a make-up style similar to her mentor and love interest, Joker. The video sees her fighting against Nightwing in an apparent boss battle and shows off her distinct gymnastic abilities as she flips, dives and twirls through the air while wielding a hefty hammer. However, instead of increasing fan anticipation for the game, the new footage has stoked a fiery debate on social media over Harley Quinn's redesign.
RELATED: Gotham Knights' Surprise Gamescom Debut Hints at Another DC Hero
Users were quick to comment, with some negatively comparing Quinn's new look to previous character designs in games like the Batman: Arkham series. Others commented that they appreciated developer WB Games Montréal taking Quinn's portrayal in a new direction and expressed cautious optimism about her more mature appearance. One fan highlighted the casting of Quinn's voice actor and wrote they loved the fresh design, though a handful of players expressed more extreme views, with one going as far as saying the Gotham Knights version of the character was "the worst version of Harley Quinn" they had ever seen.
Some users also blasted other aspects of the game, such as Gotham Knights' battle mechanics, and derided its "subpar" level of animation and graphics. Harley Quinn is also not the first character to receive flak from fans, with Jason Todd / Red Hood recently facing poor reception to his perceived bulky redesign and rote combat style. Unfavorable comparisons of Gotham Knights to other successful Batman games are frequent on social media and can become particularly scathing when new gameplay footage becomes available.
RELATED: Gotham Knights Releases Harley Quinn's Boss Fight Against 'Nightbutt'
Gotham Knights is an open-world action game and is the first to spotlight Batman's allies, giving players control of Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin as they attempt to keep Gotham City's villains in check. The game will also highlight previously unexplored story avenues, such as Barbara Gordon and Jason Todd's shared Joker trauma. Fans can expect to face off against a host of classic Batman villains, including the horrifying Clayface and the wicked Mr. Freeze.
Gotham Knights launches on Oct. 21, 2022, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Source: Twitter