The recent Gotham Knights gameplay showed fans just what playing the game with two of the four characters would feel like, introducing certain combat, traversal, and stealth features that players will use. In the gameplay reveal, fans got the chance to see both Nightwing and Red Hood in action, and even caught a glimpse of the team-based combat that will presumably be the driving force for the game. With Gotham Knights inching closer to its release, fans will undoubtedly be analyzing the gameplay to ascertain what hero would best suit their playing style.
Gotham Knights will bring a lot of versatility, and this was clearly shown in the gameplay reveal by the different approaches to combat that Nightwing and Red Hood will take. While Nightwing employs his mentor’s strategy of stealth more, Red Hood seems to focus more on his attacks with his guns and overall strength. Since Gotham Knights will focus on four members of the Bat-Family, each will have their own fighting style and abilities that will help them get around Gotham City and fight the Court of Owls.
Getting Around Gotham City
Gotham Knights features a Gotham City that has been plunged into chaos following the death of Batman and the actions of the Court of Owls. The heroes will need reliable and fast ways to maneuver around the city and reach points of interest. Nightwing is equipped with a glider called The Flying Trapeze, that lets him glide from rooftop to rooftop, much like Batman’s cape in the Arkham series. Nightwing, like the other three heroes, will also have access to the Bat-Family’s ground vehicle, the Bat Cycle, and the fast travel glider, the Fast Bat.
Nightwing’s acrobatic nature will also most likely offer certain parkour moves that will allow him to scale buildings easily. However, he could also use the grappling hook to do so. Using The Flying Trapeze, Nightwing can even position himself above enemies and take them out using a drop attack. He is also equipped with a flare-like device that will slow down Nightwing when he is falling to avoid taking any fall damage. All these gadgets and abilities perfectly emulate the type of character that Nightwing is and showcases the influence that Batman has had in Nightwing's development.
Nightwing's Fighting Style in Gotham Knights
Nightwing’s combat style perfectly capitalizes on his acrobatic nature and quick-hitting Escrima Sticks, adding elemental damage to enemies. Using abilities like Elemental Shockwave and Cryo Status lets Nightwing be more effective against large groups of enemies and gives him an edge in tough situations. Further, his stealth combat is a near mirror of Batman’s in the Arkham series which shows the years he spent training with The Dark Knight.
While there were not a lot of abilities that were shown in the gameplay reveal, a glimpse of the workbench menu in the heroes’ home base shows a ranged attack menu for Nightwing, which featured Modular Cryogenic Darts. Nightwing could also have access to his famed Wing-Ding, which is similar to Batman’s Batarangs. His agile movement ability also lets him move around the battlefield very quickly and attack multiple people at once, more reminiscent of a game like Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Nightwing's Stealth Gameplay in Gotham Knights
Like Batman, stealth is a major component of Nightwing’s arsenal, and will be used by all heroes throughout the events of Gotham Knights. Like Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood, he has access to both silent takedowns and ambush strikes, which are quick takedowns that can alert nearby enemies. Further, using his Augmented Reality Vision, Nightwing can not only find clues in his surroundings, but will also be able to see enemies through walls and possibly tag them.
While stealth gameplay has not been shown for the other heroes, it is likely that the other three will share similar techniques. The gameplay reveal already mentioned that each of the heroes will have unique stealth takedowns and ambush strikes. However, stealth gadgets may differ, especially for someone like Robin who will likely be more of a stealth-based character. Nightwing will also have access to smoke bombs that can be seen in the workbench menu during the gameplay reveal.
Gotham Knight’s gameplay reveal gave fans an opportunity to check out what WB Games Montreal's next title is all about. From fighting, to traversal and some story building, the reveal features the differences between Nightwing and Red Hood in terms of fighting and movement style and gives fans a look at what Gotham City will look like. With Nightwing’s reveal showing so much, it is safe to say that future reveals could give fans a look at the other two heroes, Batgirl and Robin, or even shift the focus to the numerous villains who have probably gained more confidence following the death of Batman.
Gotham Knights will be released on October 25, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.