After months of rumors, speculation, and leaks, WB Montreal finally revealed its next game project. As many predicted, Gotham Knights thrusts the Bat Family into the starting role by removing Batman entirely. Shockingly, in order to really ground the story and take away a lifeline to players, the decision was made to kill Batman, leaving Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood to defend the city from chaos.
While many fans expected a link to the past Arkhamverse games, Gotham Knights charts its own path in its own universe. However, the debut gameplay revealed more than a few familiar elements from past Batman: Arkham games such as the open world traversal and combat mechanics. The game also features some new features as well such as an RPG system, batcycles, co-op, and a level scaling system to keep enemies from feeling like simple punching bags.
While each of the four playable characters have had different levels of training and tutelage under Batman, they each operate very differently, bringing different personalities and skills to the table. Here's a breakdown of each of the four playable characters in Gotham Knights.
Nightwing
Formerly the first Robin, Richard 'Dick' Grayson has since moved on to operate on his own as the vigilante known as Nightwing. Before donning the black and blue outfit, Dick grew up in Haly's Circus, performing acrobatics with his Mother and Father. The Flying Graysons were an incredibly popular act, though at age 16, the mobster Tony Zucco orchestrated an accident during the performance, leaving both of his parents dead. The horrifying event caught the attention of Bruce Wayne, who'd go check in on Dick often to make sure he was doing okay. Grayson would sneak out at night and hunt for clues and investigate his parent's death. Batman would frequently help in these investigations due to the similar fact that Bruce Wayne also lost his parents at a young age.
Eventually, Batman brought Grayson to the batcave and revealed his identity as Bruce Wayne. The two began a partnership, with Grayson becoming the superhero sidekick Robin, due to his mother's love for the bird. Over time, the two began to drift apart with Grayson growing tired of being his sidekick. He instead branches out and takes on a new identity as Nightwing.
Grayson's childhood home, Haly's Circus, also has a very dark legacy of being a training ground for the Court of Owls and their personal assassins, the Talons. Grayson was unknowingly selected to be the Court's newest Talon, though by leaving the Circus, Grayson narrowly avoided that fate. It's unknown if this part of his legacy will surface in some way in the storyline for Gotham Knights considering the main antagonists are the Court of Owls.
Robin
For comic book fans, the character of Robin has been Batman's sidekick served by a number of different people. In terms of Gotham Knights, this Robin is Tim Drake, the third major person to don the costume. Before joining with Batman, Tim was athletic, popular, and incredibly smart. He challenged himself to seek out new and exciting challenges everyday and eventually decided to try and figure out who Batman really is. After witnessing Batman and Robin together, Tim began to follow the careers of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson closely, eventually theorizing the two could be the dynamic duo. Using his impressive detective skills, Tim even uncovered that Dick eventually became Nightwing and that Jason Todd had become the new Robin.
Following Jason's death, Tim worked hard to reunite Dick and Bruce, who noticed the latter had started to experience a change in personality. Tim even helped when the pair were in a tough spot against Two-Face, and his actions impressed Bruce who agreed to train him as his new Robin. While comic book fans may know Tim Drake as Red Robin these days, thankfully, players will be able to customize their heroes with new outfits. As the debut gameplay revealed, one of those outfits for Robin is actually the Red Robin costume.
Red Hood
Before putting on the red mask, Jason Todd experienced a troubled childhood and taking odd jobs to support his drug addled mother. At 16, he experienced his first true run-in with Batman after attempting to steal the tires off of the Batmobile. Instead of getting punished for his actions, Batman took pity on the teen and instead gave Jason a chance to turn his life around. Before long, Batman took Jason under his wing as a new Robin, taking over for Dick Grayson who had since become Nightwing. Unlike his predecessor, Jason was undisciplined and fought recklessly ultimately falling into a trap set by The Joker. Brutally beaten by The Joker and left to die next to a ticking time bomb, Batman arrived too late to save Jason.
However, his story doesn't end there as six months after his funeral, Talia Al Ghul took his body to a Lazarus Pit to restore him, impressed by his actions earlier in his life. After being restored, Talia would mentor Jason and have him trained by the League of Assassins. Ultimately, Jason tapped into his rage and sought to take revenge on the Joker for what he did to him. Driven by vengeance, Jason returned to Gotham as the vigilante known as Red Hood with a mission to rid its streets of crime using any means necessary. Willing to cross a line that Batman and his Family did not means their relationship is typically strained.
For Gotham Knights, it appears that Red Hood has fully reconciled with the Bat Family and has embraced Batman's non-lethal combat techniques.
Batgirl
Last but certainly not least is Barbara Gordon, daughter to Police Commissioner James Gordon and the current Batgirl. Growing up inspired by Batman, Barbara intervened in a kidnapping attempted by Killer Moth on Bruce Wayne. Her actions impressed Bruce who took her under his wing. Unfortunately, that joy would be short lived as one of the most famous comic book arcs, The Killing Joke, saw the Joker arrive at Barbara's home and shoot her through the spine and paralyzing her. Unable to be Batgirl anymore, Barbara reinvents her self and instead relies on her intelligence to become the superhero Oracle. Using a super computer and her hacking skills, Barbara becomes a major resource to heroes like Batman and eventually Black Canary and Huntress after forming the Birds of Prey.
Three years would go by and eventually, Barbara would go under the knife and ultimately be cured of her paralysis. The cybernetic implant would restore her limb function and helped her fully recover to become Batgirl once more. She'd go on to fight enemies like Knightfall, The Court of Owls, another horrific ploy by The Joker, and even her deranged brother, James Gordon Jr. Worn out and seeking a change, Batgirl took up residence and began operating out of Burnside, one of Gotham City's wards.
Gotham Knights is currently in development and will release in 2021.