When the teaser for the highly-anticipated Gotham Knights dropped, fans were eager to see gameplay action. Many wanted to see how this new action-RPG from WB Games Montréal would stack up to the Batman: Arkham series, which to this day remains the gold standard for any Batman-related video game.
Thankfully, a clip clocking in over 13 minutes has been released, detailing the open-world Gotham and what Bruce Wayne's proteges would be doing in the wake of his death. Fans learned more about their new base, the Belfry, how they were coping, and got insight into the field. In the process, the video confirmed that Nightwing is essentially going to be DC's version of the Vulture.
In the Marvel universe, Adrian Toomes and others who donned the Vulture mantle relied on robotic wings to get around. In Gotham Knights, Dick Grayson will be using tech similar to Toomes', particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the Fast Bat, which allows Nightwing to fly around the city at high-velocity. The design has also been tweaked in various Spider-Man cartoons, but while they felt cheesy, Dick's sleek design gives it a more modern look as a military application.
However, it's not made for stealth, but for speed, which Nightwing will need in a Gotham overrun by criminals. With Jim Gordon dead too and the Court of Owls rising up, Dick's going to have to get around quicker. While he may be compromising his black-ops style for something noisier, he's way more efficient. It remains to be seen if he'll have any weapons such as lasers or rocket launchers in them, but given how Dick's adamant his group of vigilantes needs a badass arsenal, it's easy to see the Vulture-like setup being retrofitted to be a war machine with influences of the Batwing present.
Additionally, Dick can get around using a glider known as the Flying Trapeze. This isn't like the Fast Bat in the sense that they're not attached to Nightwing's back, but Dick does have that Vulture feel in how he grabs on to it, secreting across the city. This hover-motion is quieter, so it's the kind of secrecy Dick often uses instead of roaring rockets and engines.
Fans have pointed out his hands could get tired and this seems impractical, but Dick is one of the fittest DC heroes ever. Plus, he has his circus background -- ergo the name of the tool. Ultimately, the principle is the same, with a bird-themed hero in Gotham's skies, looking to protect rather than rob people. Granted, Nightwing could have had simpler, more compact wings like in the '90s animated series, but while these are bulkier, just like the Batcycle, they add drama. Overall, they give an intimidating presence in a game that promises a lot of intense, high-octane action.