There is a lot going on inHood: Outlaws andLegends, the new IP from Sumo Digital, and the game’s name is due to the fact that players can take control of an outlaw of their choice. Players choose among a roster of four available characters, with the aim of stealing riches from the State and becoming legends. Of course, the “Hood” part of the title is one that pays homage to the tales and legends of Robin Hood and the Merry Men.
As a matter of fact, all the outlaws available inHood: Outlaws and Legendsare characters from these tales: Starting with the Ranger being Robin, wielding a longbow and capable of hitting enemies from afar. The game also features the Brawler, based on the character of Little John, and a true force to be reckoned with wielding his great strength and propensity for explosives. Then there’s the Hunter Marianne, based on Maid Marian, Robin’s lover; in the game, she is the heir of a powerful nobleman, and her signature weapon is wrist-mounted crossbow used to assassinate targets. Lastly, there is the ascetic monk-like character based on Friar Tuck, aptly named Tooke, wielding an incense-infused flail he uses to stun enemies and carrying poison bombs that blind their vision and draining their stamina.
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Hood: Outlaws and Legends' Robin, The Ranger, is Versatile and Deadly
Why should players pick the Ranger, though, with so many options available? Well, Robin is arguably the only character that can fight the long-range fight. Marianne’s crossbow is still considered a proper ranged weapon, but the range on her bolts is much less than that of the Ranger’s arrows. In fact,the Ranger can easily take out both guards and other playersfrom a distance with a single shot to the head. Aim is a key requirement for players willing to play as Robin, and it goes a long way in ensuring opportunity kills that will most likely help the team out quite a lot.
The Ranger is extremely versatile, though, as he can enhance his melee combat capabilities by firing “melee arrows.” This is particularly useful to have, as each and every heist is different from the others, and players can not know what could happen and which situations they might find themselves in. “Focused Flight” makes Robin’s long-range kills fill his explosive arrow ability meter quicker, which is especially juicy for players who want to fight from afar. That ability is especially powerful when combined with other perks, like “Broadhead” and “Mercurial Arrow.”
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Robin’s flash grenade makes for an excellent offensive and defensive tool, which can be used to disorient enemies in preparation for an attack, or to flee from them. Flash grenades are further improved with the perk called “Volatile Gourd,” increasing their capacity and effect duration. There are other options for building the Ranger differently, such as using perks like “Razor Gauntlets,” which makes Robin’s melee attacks deal more damage based on his ammo, combined with “Forceful Fighter” to make melee attacks more effective and cost less stamina. The Ranger’s perks vary, and some are more effective than others when tacklingheists in some specific maps.
This goes to show just how many options there are with Robin, and with his skill kit being very flexible and his perks improving different aspects of his playstyle, the Ranger proves to be a great choice for players juststarting their journey inHood: Outlaws andLegends. Robin is the perfect character to pick for players that want to strike a nice balance between PvP elements and PvE ones, and that is especially valuable inHoodbecause of its hybrid game mode that mixes both.
Hood: Outlaws andLegendslaunches on May 10 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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