Gotham Knights is slated for release in October and is said to feature the “most dynamic and interactive Gotham City yet,” according to the official website. Despite some controversies around Gotham Knightsdevelopment and console accessibility, most fans seem excited about the day the open-world RPG debuts.
One of the more unique aspects of Gotham Knights is the fact that, in this timeline and this story, Batman is dead. The absence of the Caped Crusader has left the fate of the crime-ridden city to its many protégés: Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl and Robin. WB Games Montreal’s decision to explore members of the Batman family is a welcome one, but the developers’ approach to Red Hood and its non-lethal techniques has left many confused with Jason Todd’s background.
Red Hood’s personality is confusing
Red Hood is probably the most morally contradictory character of the four playable heroes, with his character biography confirming that the vigilante was murdered by the Joker and then “forcibly revived by one of Batman’s most dangerous enemies.” Whether Red Hood returned to Gotham City as a cold-blooded killer, as he did in some comics and in Batman: Under the Red Hood, has yet to be revealed. However, the developers made sure that Red Hood “has trouble controlling his temper” and “wants crime to pay because Gotham City is built on a foundation of corruption.”
The crime-fighting hero has always been a little more intense in how he deals with criminals than Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon or Tim Drake. Red Hood’s gameplay trailer is undeniably brutal, as is its character. Jason is featured with an impressive display of ranged firepower, including two pistols that can deal massive damage while beating enemies into submission. His methods include shooting enemies in the crotch, knocking them to the ground and kicking people over rooftops.
These images related to Red Hood’s biography have some fans scratching their heads as it leaves some uncertainty as to where Red Hood stands with his character development. In the trailer, Red Hood, voiced by Stephen Oyoung, states that “Bruce gave [him] a target” and his character biography indicates that Jason “embraced Batman’s non-lethal combat methods.” However, many of his actions can easily kill people, especially using weapons. While the weapons have been confirmed to be “armor-piercing” non-lethal contain bullets, which are likely wooden or rubber bullets, doesn’t mean they still can’t kill people, firing a single one can lead to internal injuries, nerve damage, and fractures.
Aside from the guns, even if Red Hood is able to control his strength and perform physical blows that won’t kill anyone, it still seems like the vigilante finds immense satisfaction in the violence he faces. While this doesn’t necessarily contradict his embrace of non-lethal techniques, it certainly makes Red Hood’s combat attacks and sticky bombs more than questionable.
Trauma from Red Hood can be thoroughly investigated
Gotham Knights was able to delve deep into Red Hood’s backstory and psychological trauma, from his anger issues beginning as an adolescent to what they eventually became after his resurrection. Such a decision could mean character development for Jason while also opening up an interesting philosophical discussion about what it means to be part of the Batman family. After all, WB Games Montreal has shown its willingness to incorporate drama into the action game, as evidenced by Nightwing and Batgirl’s relationship history.
Red Hood getting frustrated with avoiding deadly force can be a compelling plotline in Gotham Knights, alongside Batgirl’s recovery and Tim Drake’s mission to keep Gotham safe as a mark of respect for Batman. In Detective Comics #975, Red Hood talks about this topic after Batwoman kills Clayface and says that being a member of the team is important to him. He had “lost it for a while” and wanted it back, which could be exactly the kind of mindset that Gotham Knights needs for Jason.
If nothing else, the vigilante stands out from the other characters because Red Hood’s playstyle is so clear-cut; his strategies and combat gameplay are really the most different from Batman. He is a heavy hitter, but also dangerous in long-range combat, making him extremely capable in all environments. With all this in mind, Red Hood could be one of the more fun and plot-driven characters to play when Gotham Knights release.
Gotham Knights launches on October 25, 2022 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
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