Gotham Knights features Nightwing, Red Hood, Robin, and Batgirl as playable characters instead of Batman, but Batgirl could become the best replacement for the Dark Knight in gameplay. Developer Warner Bros. Games Montréal is likely to spread Batman's abilities throughout the four characters, encouraging players to utilize popular strategies from the Batman: Arkham series and other Batman media. Early gameplay trailers for Gotham Knights already showcased several abilities remarkably similar to games like Arkham Knight and Arkham Origins. However, Batgirl could provide the best alternative for players looking to adopt a similar playstyle to the Caped Crusader himself.
Gotham Knights takes place after Batman's supposed death, with Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin struggling to bring peace to Gotham City. Villains like Mister Freeze are emboldened by Batman's disappearance, threatening the city with dastardly plots. The Bat Family's biggest threat comes with the emergence of the Court of Owls, Gotham City's secret society of wealthy, influential individuals. It's unknown what their plots are or whether they had something to do with Batman's death, but with their army of Talons and endless resources, the Knights are in a battle for Gotham's soul.
Though Nightwing, Red Hood, Robin, and Batgirl all acted as Batman's proteges and partners throughout his years of service, each has developed their own unique fighting style. As a result, players can expect special abilities from each character independent of Batman's powers. Gotham Knights' early gameplay footage suggests that players could utilize similar fighting styles to Batman. But only Batgirl has displayed an identical ability (Batman's glide kick) that appeared in previous Batman: Arkham titles. If Batgirl is the only true inheritor of Batman's move-set, Warner Bros. Montréal made the correct choice.
Batgirl's Costume In Gotham Knights Embraces Batman's Legacy
While Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin have adapted their uniform styles independently from Bruce's, Batman's name and look inspired Batgirl. Their similarities could work mechanically to transfer Batman: Arkham's combat into Gotham Knights. Batgirl is the only character with a cape and features a utility belt around her waist alongside Robin. Most maneuverability in Batman: Arkham games depended on players diving and gliding to extend flight time around Gotham City, a mechanic that could translate well with Batgirl. Additionally, her utility belt could feature practical abilities like smoke bombs, lock picks, Batarangs, and more to give players a kit that mirrors the Dark Knight.
Many aspects of Gotham Knights' design for Batgirl is heavily influenced by existing media and character versions - each armor piece and gadget has a practical use. Barbara Gordon's intensive training ensures that she can defeat enemies taller and broader than herself, and her uniform appears to have less armor-plating than Batman's. The lack of heavily armored gauntlets is countered with Batgirl's baton, which deals brutal damage against enemies in melee combat. Similarly, Batgirl's cowl is confirmed to come with a mechanic similar to Batman: Arkham's Detective Mode, which also appears in the gameplay trailer. One cowl features a white sheen over the eyes, enabling her to unlock more visual support abilities in identifying enemies, hacking electronics, or disabling security systems.
Gotham Knights' Batgirl Lost Her Father Like Bruce Wayne
Narratively, Gotham Knights' Barabara Gordon, aka Batgirl, could also function similarly to Batman in various situations due to her father's recent death. It's unknown how Jim Gordon died in the game, only that he perished in the line of duty sometime before Bruce Wayne's death. His statue appears in the game's cinematic reveal trailer, and his death is confirmed on the official Gotham Knights website. Given Jim Gordon's close relationship with his daughter in the comics, it's likely Batgirl will be heavily affected by his death and may use that pain to better her crime-fighting skills. If both characters shared a similar relationship in Gotham Knights, Barbara's motivations to pursue vigilantism could match Bruce Wayne's.
However, Batgirl isn't the only character to lose a father figure in Gotham Knights, as Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin also lost Bruce Wayne before the game's main events. A mobster assassinated Nightwing's parents during a circus performance and Red Hood's parents died from a drug overdose and a prison riot, but both characters received comfort and shelter from Bruce Wayne shortly after. The current Robin suffered neglect from his parents, but Bruce later took him in as a ward shortly before Tim Drake's parents were also killed. Batgirl is the only character to enjoy a somewhat stable home life during her vigilante career (despite her father's busy schedule), which may mean that WB Games will explore her darker side in Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights' Other Heroes Aren't Like Batman
Though Batgirl is the only character who wasn't adopted by Bruce Wayne and likely didn't spend much time with him outside the suit, she's more suited to continuing Batman's legacy. Nightwing and Batman's ideals clashed, as Gotham Knights confirms the former sidekick valued interpersonal connections more than his mentor. Jason Todd departed from the Bat Family's non-lethal methods after dying and being resurrected as the Red Hood, though he's since adopted non-lethal tactics an unknown amount of time before Batman's death. Tim Drake acknowledged Batman's shortcomings in the comics and improved on them by surrounding himself with friends while honing his detective skills. While each of the three Robins has taken inspiration from Batman's ways, they've moved beyond his image and become their own heroes.
Batgirl has also moved past Batman but can still represent his legacy. Having grown up with Jim as her father and spent time with Gotham City's officers, Barbara Gordon is likely more well-versed in its shortcomings than anyone. The GCPD is frequently depicted as corrupt and inefficient, with supervillains often avoiding capture and a bulk of the force heavily reliant on vigilante justice. However, Batman's methods are also flawed and fail to acknowledge the root problem of Gotham's Arkham Asylum and villains' abilities to play the system. Nevertheless, Batgirl's admiration and apprenticeship under the Dark Knight, combined with her impressive intelligence, ensure that she can pursue vigilante justice with fairness as she embarks into a new chapter of her life.
While every playable character in Gotham Knights is liable to continue Batman's legacy in their own way, Batgirl could be the most obvious in a gameplay sense. Her identity remains independent from the Dark Knight's shadow and provides significant room for further character development. It's unlikely that Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, or Robin can become the next Batman, but instead represent a new chapter for Gotham City. Gotham Knights is scheduled for a 2022 release but has not received a specific release date yet.