Alfred Pennyworth has always been an instrumental figure in the DC mythology as Bruce Wayne’s backbone. This is no different in Gotham Knights, though players do not get to see the loyal confidant interact with Bruce. Instead, Alfred grieves alongside Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood. The remains of Batman’s gear are left enshrined on a mantle in the Belfry, where players can always see other characters keeping busy with criminal evidence and leads on cases. In this way, Alfred sort of subsumes the role of Batman in Gotham Knights’ Bat Family.
Gotham Knights’ original narrative takes a look at how the Bat Family rallies together in the absence of Batman, and some supplementary characters make an appearance with interesting ties to them. Barbara Gordon finds solace in her connection to GCPD Detective Renee Montoya, for example, as the two bond over their relationship with the late Jim Gordon. But as Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood wrestle with personal issues and develop into their own Knights, Alfred stands as their chief support system and is who characters always return to for comfort at the Belfry.
Alfred Becomes the Backbone for Gotham Knights’ Heroes
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Between every night on patrol in Gotham Knights’ open-world Gotham City, players return to the Belfry to reconvene and prepare for their next night out. Here, they can examine an evolving evidence board noting details about their leads, craft and equip new gear, or swap between playable characters.
The Belfry also features intermittent moments of character development for each Knight, marked by an icon bearing their respective colored insignias and a tabbed book. These cutscenes do not shed any more light on characters’ backstories apart from what fans may already know or presume, but they do display heartwarming conversations between characters. However, the Knights are not equipped to console one another as much as they are the ones in need of consoling.
Jason Todd is consoled by Barbara during a Dance Dance Revolution-esque gaming session, for example, when he suddenly feels a surge of mystical energy as a side effect from the Lazarus Pit. But it is in conversations with Alfred that characters truly receive the comfort they need, and from a figure that has experience repairing and reorienting Batman no less, such as when Tim Drake converses with Alfred over a game of chess.
Alfred Fulfills Batman’s Role as a Guardian Mentor in Gotham Knights
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Each Knight is certainly there for the others, but Alfred has clearly fulfilled Batman’s role in terms of the family dynamic. Of course, Alfred does not suit up in armor and take to the streets in the Batmobile, much to Renee’s disappointment. However, Batman would have originally been the guardian mentor who Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood could come to for counsel or strength in a time of need, let alone combat or stealth expertise. Alfred has always been there in a comparable role as well, but with Batman gone that entire task falls to him, and he seems more than prepared to reinforce the Bat Family’s morality.
Many modern interpretations of Alfred depict him as being uncertain about Bruce’s approach to crime and wanting him to live a normal life. Gotham Knights abandons that ideology completely, having him fully committed to the Bat Family as vigilantes that Gotham needs.
Gotham Knights does not end with any sort of closure whatsoever in terms of where the Bat Family stands with the GCPD, but it resolves itself with a tighter familial bond between its characters and their relationship with Alfred. Batman’s presence still lingers throughout the game for better or worse, but Alfred is undoubtedly a wonderful support figure and more than worthy of that leadership role in the Bat Family.
Gotham Knights is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
