Despite being revealed way back in 2020 during DC FanDome, the Gotham Knights developer has only just given fans a good look at Red Hood and Nightwing with an official gameplay demo revealed last week. Batgirl and Robin already had their time in the spotlight in early game footage, but other than a story trailer, not much has really been revealed about WB Games Montreal's upcoming game. With players still in the dark regarding a lot of Gotham Knights' features and the October release date looming, it was the perfect time to give fans a more detailed look at the other two playable characters of Red Hood and Nightwing.
The official Nightwing and Red Hood gameplay walkthrough featured Game Director Geoff Ellenor as he talked through in-game footage of the two characters. Various modes of traversal, combat styles, crafting, and customization was explored, with players afforded a greater glimpse of Gotham Knights. The gameplay demo was keen to label itself as a "work in progress," with some fans a little worried by the slightly choppy animations and textures, but there are still a few months for WB Games Montreal to smooth these out. Red Hood's sections also raised some questions about character authenticity alongside the deeper dive into his gameplay.
Red Hood: Gun-Focused Gameplay
Red Hood, the resurrected ex-Robin Jason Todd, is usually all about brutality. In the comics, he's a popular villain/anti-hero and foil for Batman and his team, preferring to unleash his rage and resort to more violent methods than the Dark Knight is often comfortable with. His use of guns and explosives sets him apart from the other three playable characters, and Gotham Knights has appeared to capture some of his more ruthless sensibilities. However, the game's Red Hood uses non-lethal guns, which some players feel lessens the impact of his character.
But compared to Nightwing's more acrobatic combat, Red Hood does feel distinct. As well as opening fire on enemies, Red Hood can use explosives and grenades to cause more damage, in addition to performing beatdowns on various foes similar to Batgirl, Robin, and Nightwing. The gameplay demo also features a mini-boss battle with Red Hood able to show off some more of his signature style and sticky bomb expertise.
Red Hood's Strategy and Style
Players will be able to upgrade their equipment in Gotham Knights so that their character is properly prepared for every new threat Gotham City tries to throw at them. Blueprints and crafting materials can be found throughout the game, and each blueprint has various unique stats to give players plenty of choices when it comes to both their strategy, and how they want their character to look. Mod chips can also be added to appropriate gear to help give them an extra boost.
There are different tabs visible in the menu for various things like Crafting, Mods, and Style, which will offer gamers a little more control over how they equip their characters. Fans will undoubtedly hope to see some references to the source material with comic-specific outfits, but they will have to wait and see once Gotham Knights is released to explore what's on offer.
Controversial Traversal in Gotham Knights
As well as being able to unlock fast travel, each playable character in Gotham Knights has their own unique way of getting around Gotham City. Nightwing has his glider named the Flying Trapeze, just in case players were worried he was forgetting his circus roots. All four characters can also make use of the Batcycle to maneuver around Gotham City's streets with ease. However, it's Red Hood's traversal option that has a few fans scratching their heads, or even a couple up in arms. Red Hood, famously a character without any powers like Batman, appears to have gained some in Gotham Knights after his resurrection.
According to Geoff Ellenor, "Red Hood gained new abilities after being resurrected by an assassin cult," and can now use a "mystical leap" to springboard across areas using his own "soul energy." The reference to "abilities" in the plural could suggest that Red Hood has a few more moves up his sleeve, but some fans aren't too happy about the presentation of the vigilante as a character with powers.
Gotham Knights is releases on October 25, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.