However, a recent rumor has surfaced that has given fans a bit of hope for the next Batman game. While the Court of Owls is reportedly going to be the main enemy faction, the game will include a mechanic similar to the Nemesis System in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Not only that, the game will not only feature Batman, but according to a source close to the project, the entire Bat Family will be playable for the first time.
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Even with an expected reveal next month at the DC specific event being held in place of ComicCon, here are five characters from the Bat Family that absolutely should be playable in the next Batman Arkham game.
Dick Grayson aka Nightwing
The obvious choice is Dick Grayson as he has a lengthy history not only with Batman but the Arkham franchise in general. Originally the first Robin, Dick Grayson came from a circus background where he and his family worked as high flying trapeze artists. After his family is killed, Bruce Wayne takes the young Dick Grayson in as his sidekick. Over time, Grayson branched out on his own by taking up the mantle of Nightwing.
Even with a long and storied history with Batman, Nightwing makes for an interesting change of pace from his slightly slower and more powerful mentor. With his circus background, Nightwing is much more agile and relies heavily on speed to keep his opponents off balance. He’s also been featured in past Arkham games as a side character in the story as well as a playable character on some of the challenge maps.
Jason Todd aka Red Hood
The second Robin following in the footsteps of Dick Grayson, Jason Todd proved to be quite different from the previous Robin. Hot headed and impulsive, Todd was eventually captured by the Joker, killed, and revived in a Lazarus Pit where he eventually take son the mantle of the crime fighter Red Hood. While Red Hood and Batman are technically on the same team, the biggest factor is that they don’t always see eye to eye on how to get the job done. Where it may get a bit complicated is his history in the Arkham franchise.
As players discovered through the course of Arkham Knight, Jason Todd had become hellbent on seeking revenge on Batman who he had felt abandoned him to the Joker’s torture and ultimately replaced by the new Robin, Tim Drake. Truth was, Batman was wracked with guilt for what happened to Jason and believed him to be dead after Joker recorded a video of him being shot point blank. Joker instead twisted the young man through torture, only escaping with the help of Slade Wilson and the Arkham Riots. Fashioning himself into the Arkham Knight, Todd worked with super-villains like Scarecrow to take over Gotham City.
Even though the two eventually found common ground to heal their trauma and began to work together again, it’s entirely possible that this new Batman game is a soft reboot of the franchise which renders all of this moot. Still Jason Todd is a big part of Batman’s history and could be an interesting change of pace character from the typically Bat Family member who chooses not to take lives.
Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl
The other obvious member is Barbara Gordon, who’s better known as Batgirl. Being the daughter of Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, Barbara has seen a huge amount of changes over the course of her comic book history. Inspired by Batman, Barbara also took on fighting crime, frequently working with Dick Grayson who at that point was still Robin. Due to her being the daughter of an important Gotham figure like Jim Gordon, she was targeted by the Joker and shot through the spine which instantly paralyzed her.
Bound to a wheelchair but unwilling to stop fighting for good, Barbara became Oracle, someone who relied on their computer and hacking skills to assist heroes in the field. After undergoing an experimental procedure, Barbara has since fully recovered from her spine injury and has returned to her role as Batgirl. Not only is Barbara well known, likely due to the iconic book The Killing Joke, she was also featured as Oracle in most of the Batman Arkham games while also getting her own mini DLC expansion as Batgirl in Arkham Knight.
Damian Wayne aka Robin
Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, which essentially gives him access to not only the heritage of Batman, but also Ra’s al Ghul’s League of Assassin’s empire. Originally raised by Talia and trained in combat by the League, Damian eventually switched sides to join up with his father to fight crime as the fifth Robin.
This spot could also go to Tim Drake, who technically goes by Red Robin, but ultimately their both similar enough. The reason for Damian here would be his assassin like nature. Being trained by the League of Assassins means Damian is proficient with most weapons, martial arts, as well as stealth combat. His skill set could offer a nice change of pace by offering different options to the player when compared to the other Bat Family members.
What’s also a bit interesting is that WB Montreal may also have been working on a now canceled game centered on Damian Wayne. If that’s true then it may be easy enough to simple take those created assets and add them into this new game.
Kate Kane aka Batwoman
A cousin of Bruce Wayne, Katherine Kane grew up with parents who were active in the military. Unfortunately, this upbringing and the fact that her father was a prominent colonel would lead to Kate, her sister Beth, and their mom Gabbi being kidnapped. Gabbi and Beth were killed in front of her before being rescued by their father, but this moment impacted her in a way that led her down a path of living wildly. After a chance encounter with Batman after fighting off a mugger, Kate decided to take up vigilantism as it made her feel alive. Using stolen tech purchased off the black market and special forces training to hone her skills, she eventually became Batwoman.
One of the big reasons why Kate could make the cut is that she’s more of a household name these days than she used to be. While comic book fans likely always knew who she was, she’s also coming off of the first season of a big TV series on The CW. While the actor portraying her has since left the show, the character is now in the spotlight more than she’s ever been in the past. If she’s going to make the cut, there may not be a better time.
Honorable mentions
Selina Kyle “Catwoman” - While she’s been playable in the series before and may be a current ally and romantic partner to Batman in the comics, it’s not out of the question that this Batman Arkham title could be a soft reboot. This means that anything that happened in the past wouldn’t factor into this story, so it’s possible Catwoman isn’t quite the ally that she was considering he background is being a petty thief and burglar. Still, she’d make an interesting addition due to the fact that players are already familiar with what she can do in an Arkham game, which also could mean that she would be easier to bring back into the mix.
Duke Thomas aka The Signal - One of the newer Batman characters in the comics, fans saw Duke’s origins play out during the Zero Year storyline and eventually Endgame where his parents were lost to the Joker’s mind control gas. Seeking a way to make a difference in the city, Duke Thomas briefly became Bruce Wayne’s new protege and vigilante.
What makes Duke different from past versions of the character Robin is that he actually has metahuman abilities. Now calling himself The Signal, Duke is able to boost other metahuman abilities when they’re nearby. In addition, he can see beyond the visible light spectrum by absorbing light through his eyes, allowing him to see changes or variations in light that others can’t. Due to this power alone, Duke would make an interesting addition to the game, even if he may not be quite as recognizable as some of the other names on this list.
A new Batman game is in development.
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