Gotham Knightshas the potential to bring back the thrilling gameplay and narrative style of theArkhamSeries that has made Batman games so popular. With Batman no longer around to defend Gotham City, the job falls in the hands of his most trusted allies, the Bat Family, all of whom have remarkable fighting skills. However, of the four playable characters inGotham Knights, Red Hood stands out for his unique fighting style and the powers he now possesses that will help him save Gotham.
Unlike the three other members of the Bat Family, Red Hood is the only character that seems to have true versatility in combat, which could lead to him being the most popular pick for players whenGotham Knightsreleases later this year. His non-lethal guns, stocky build, and unique mystical powers set him apart from the rest of the members, and more importantly, his fighting style is the furthest away from Batman’s. Red Hood uses these differences in fighting and traversalto protect Gotham Cityand giveGotham Knightsplayers an interesting and enjoyable playthrough.
RELATED:Gotham Knights Will Expand Court of Owls Storyline
Red Hood’s Ranged Combat
With all the different fighting styles that the Bat-Family have in their repertoire, Red Hood is the only one that primarily involves the use of non-lethal guns, giving him much more range than the three other members. With Nightwing taking a more acrobatic approach, Batgirl having a melee combat style like Batman in theArkhamseries, and Robin using his trusted bow staff,Red Hood’s guns may almost seem like a support style. However, with how the gameplay has been portrayed in the trailers, the use of his guns blends well with the heavy-hitting melee fighting style he possesses.
With the added range, Red Hood gains the ability to systematically target an opponent’s weak points in a barrage of shots or even detonate stun bombs that he has attached to an enemy. This allows him to control the battlefield a lot more and deal damage to multiple targets at once, equipping him to specialize in taking on multiple enemies at once. When coupled with the teamwork-based gameplay,Red Hood can stun enemies and make them easier targets for the othersto take them down or level the playing field by drawing the attention of numerous enemies.
Heavy Hitter
While Red Hood’s combat will focus primarily on the use of his guns, he has also been trained in numerous martial arts that would help him fight in close quarters. His style is more heavy-hitting, almost closer to Bane than Batman, allowing him to not only deal more damage but also withstand heavier hits without being staggered or knocked down. This melee is a stark contrast to the other members who focus more on speed and agility, bouncing around the battlefield to take out enemies, which was seen inNightwing’s gameplay in theGotham Knightstrailer.
This style of gameplay could classify Red Hood as the Tank of the group, withstanding more attacks and dealing more damage, all while drawing the attention of the enemy group so that the other members can take quickly pick off individuals. However, with a single-player-focused game run,Red Hood’s combination of his gun and raw strengthcan allow him to control a battlefield, maintaining distance from the group and beating back any that get too close. It seems to be the right mix of strength and speed to help him as he goes up against the biggest threats to Gotham City.
RELATED:Gotham Knights: 10 Things You Missed in The Trailer
Mystical Traversal
Outside of combat, Red Hood’s gameplay is also different that the others inGotham Knights, mainly due to his origin story. Since Red Hood was resurrected by the Lazarus Pit, popularly used byRa’s al Ghul of the League of Assassins, he has developed unique powers that aid in traversal around the city. The Mystical Leap allows him to harness a magical power that lets him stay in the air longer, making it easier to travel from rooftop to rooftop. It is the perfect way to differentiate Red Hood from the others, as most of his lessons came from the group that resurrected him since he was believed to have been killed.
While the Mystical Leap will be most useful while trying to get around the city, using it in combat could help create some distance for Red Hood, helping him with his fighting style. Jumping away from the large group to take out several enemies from a distance using the guns and then finishing the rest off with the heavy-hitting melee combat seems in theory to be a great strategy. However, whether this ability will be as useful in battles as it will in traversal is yet to be seen, but the Mystical Leap makes yet anotherclear distinction between Red Hood and the other members of the Bat Family.
Red Hood is one of the most complex characters in Batman comics, and while he has seen his fair share of punishment, he has built his fighting style to ensure it never happens again. Red Hood is a stark contrast to other members of the Bat Family who all elect to focus on speed and agility over power, and close-range melee combat. This could makeRed Hood one of the most enjoyable characters inGotham Knightssince his fighting style is the most different from Batman, and ties in well with his rebellious nature.
Gotham Knightsis set to release on June 22, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
MORE:Gotham Knights: 10 Best Red Hood Comics To Read Before The Game Comes Out
