“What would Gotham be without Batman?”
It’s a question that feels almost sacrilegious, but is one Gotham Knights answers in thrilling detail – developer WB Games Montréal exploring what happens to a city stripped of its iconic protector.
As shown in the first preview back when the game was first revealed, instead of taking on the mantle of the Caped Crusader, Gotham Knights puts you in the spandex-clad shoes of Batman’s protégés in single player or two-player online co-op. Play as Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, or Red Hood as they join forces to mourn their mentor and keep the city safe. One will become the Defender of Gotham by the game’s close, but it’s up to you to choose which character that should be as you experience their journey of grief, duty, and… weightlifting. There’s a lot of gym work going on in the Belfry.
Nightwing is definitely a gym fanatic. Harley Quinn doesn’t give him the nickname ‘Nightbutt’ for nothing.
After visiting the WB Games Montréal studio for two hours of hands-on play, it’s fair to say that decision won’t be easy. The hands-on showcased a few areas of the game at different points in the story. Firstly, a look at the start of our crime fighters’ journey as they’re reeling from the loss of Batman and picking up the mysterious work he left behind, and then jumping to a few hours in for the start of Harley Quinn’s villain arc (and then later still for her boss battle), offering a better look at the powers these superheroes can wield.
You can switch between the four playable characters with a quick trip to the Belfry, aka Gotham Knights’ central hub, and while they all share a core control scheme when it comes to melee and ranged combat prompts, Gotham Knights does an admirable job of infusing each hero with their own distinct personality and unique abilities.
Batgirl is a hacker specialising in one-to-one combat, with a fluid approach to movement and disarming enemies that feels not dissimilar to classic Batman. Armed with tech abilities such as overcharging enemy weapons for bioelectrical damage or using AR mode to hack into nearby devices, her combat feels powerful and precise, a testament to Bruce Wayne’s training that she’s honed into her own style.
Nightwing can be your support figure with abilities that buff allies, but he also excels in acrobatic beatdowns and pinballing between enemies during battle. Playing as Nightwing is a more frenetic experience; he thrives when taking down large groups of enemies with lightning-quick movements, getting in before they can hit back – as well as the aforementioned Nest power that provides a defence bonus and healing to friendly figures for stronger teamwork.
Then you’ve got the younger Robin – a master of stealth, utilising sneak attacks and pouncing from above, while completing the quaternity is Red Hood, an aggressive gunfighter who dishes out justice in a rain of bullets.
Red Hood dominates with his twin pistols, but isn’t shy about delivering a hefty blow with his fists in closeup combat. Both his ranged and melee abilities are enhanced with spectral, otherworldly powers thanks to his backstory of coming back from the dead.
These differences are made all the more