Video game reviews? Yup...we've got those now. Get the lowdown on Gotham City Impostors after the jump.

The Gist
Gotham City Impostors utilizes the Batman license in a strange way you'd have never imagined—as a first person shooter. The new online-only game from developer Monolith Productions (a studio that previously brought us the super-spooky/super-awesome F.E.A.R. 2) follows the gun-filled battles of two copycat gangs known as The Bats and The Jokerz. When the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime are nowhere to be found, everyday civilians adopt the style and personalities of the iconic DC Comics characters and take to the streets of Gotham.  Armed to the teeth with a veritable cornucopia of over-the-top guns and explosives complemented by a dizzying array of cartoonish gadgets (spring-loaded boots, roller skates and homemade grappling hooks are just the tip of this oddly addictive title), will The Bats succeed in aiding Batman’s quest, or will The Jokerz destroy what little safety the city has left?

The Good
While the caped crusader has always subscribed to a nonlethal brand of vigilante justice, the impostors are straight blastin' any Jokerz member foolish enough to stumble into the crossfire. Sure, Bruce Wayne can easily afford the multitude of tools which provide the means to render foes unconscious but, as the leader of The Bats points out during the brief (and optional) training period, these weirdos are just plain too poor to be honorable. Rocksteady Games' recent Batman titles have proven that beating—as opposed to killing—baddies can be every bit as exhilarating as cold-blooded murder, but Gotham City Impostors' goofy take on bloodshed is reminiscent of the glory days of cartoon violence. But don’t go out and get this for your kids just yet—this is adult-themed action on an entirely twisted level. It’s just that we can laugh about a sniper bullet to the brain once we realize the dude we just shot had performed a double jump thanks to the beach balls attached to his shoes. Add 1,000 levels to attain, a seemingly endless supply of unlockable content and a strange but original art style, and Gotham City Impostors is poised to become one of the more memorable digital downloads of the year.

The Bad
Constant server lag and inconsistent damage system are cause for frustration, and the lack of day-one maps can limit play time to a mere couple hours before more fleshed out titles start calling your name. This is by no means a top-tier title, meaning that you’ll have to forgive the less than superb graphics.

The Bottom Line
Call of Duty this ain't, but for a $15 downloadable title (and one that promises new and free content soon), Gotham City Impostors is a great value for any gamer desiring a unique experience. If you are still content with Modern Warfare 3/Battlefield 3’s current stranglehold on the FPS market, you can probably live without it, but for those craving a new and challenging experience on a limited budget, Gotham City Impostors might be just what you’ve been waiting for.

Platforms: 360, PS3, PC

Developer: Monlith Productions

Publisher: Warner Bros. Ineractive 

Rating: Teen

Cost: $15