NetherRealm Studios’ latest game is here, and if you’re a fan of DC Comics then you should definitely pick it up.
“Injustice: Gods Among Us” has been hyped for quite some time now.
A digital-first comic revealing the whole backstory has been coming out (and will continue to do so) since January, and the Battle Arena (where fans vote on their favorite characters to win a tournament) felt like it went on forever.
Now that it’s here, are we satisfied?
The story mode is really well done and flows like the smoothest of rivers.
It feels a bit like a hybrid between the world of the Justice Lords (from the Justice League cartoon) and the fantastic Elseworlds title “Kingdom Come,” with a little bit of “Superman: Red Son” thrown in there.
The Injustice world is one where Joker has tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane, their unborn son, and 8 million other civilians in Metropolis.
Superman kills Joker, and five years later he has the Earth firmly under his control.
Batman, of course, does not agree with Superman’s new regime and leads the Insurgency.
The campaign then starts with a handful of heroes and a wild card from a more recognizable DC universe transported to the one of Injustice, and the metahuman throwdowns begin!
We also get to see why street level characters like Green Arrow and Catwoman are able to stand up to powerhouses like Superman and Black Adam.
Joker calls them “happy pills.”
As fun as it is, and with as many twists as it has (looking at you, Nightwing), the story mode is unfortunately pretty short.
The graphics also look kind of “eh” up close during the cutscenes.
The single player goodness doesn’t simply end with the story mode, though.
Players can go to the arcade-style battle mode to unlock mini-endings for the 24 characters, and they can also do missions in S.T.A.R. Labs for more fun times.
You can also shake things up in battle mode by adding different stipulations (ex. half health) to the fights.
If that sounds very similar to the most recent Mortal Kombat, well…it is.
That’s not a bad thing.
The single player experience in MK 9 is one of the best in any fighting game, and even though I’m not too far in the other stuff outside the campaign, Injustice’s feels just as fun.
You can also head to the archives and view backgrounds, concept art, alternate skins (which I think there might be quite a lot of), etc.
I’ve yet to do any online stuff (I really hate online stuff), but I can only assume it’s fun to play against other people…if you’re into that.
The characters who show up in the background of levels (ex. Gorilla Grod, Martian Manhunter, Atom, etc.) also add some fun for comic book fans.
The controls are definitely not button masher friendly.
If you’re not familiar with a character, you will certainly spend time in the pause menu to figure out their specials and combos.
The supermoves also never—and I mean never—get old.
A true gem in this game, though, is the voice-acting.
A lot of these will sound familiar to fans of DC’s animated works.
Kevin Conroy, George Newbern, and Susan Eisenberg return to voice the Big Three.
Tara Strong returns to Harley Quinn and Raven, Grey DeLisle is back as Catwoman, and Khary Payton is once again Cyborg.
That’s right, Teen Titans fans, we get to hear that beautiful “Booyah!”
Richard Epcar voices the Joker again (he did so in MK vs DC), and he’s pretty legit.
Phil LaMarr and Jennifer Hale are two of the best voice actors out there.
LaMarr’s Aquaman is nothing short of regal, and Hale somehow makes me not dislike Killer Frost.
What was really surprising is Stephen Amell lending his voice to the game as Green Arrow.
I honestly couldn’t tell it was him since the Oliver Queen of Injustice is far more lighthearted than the serious and brooding archer from the CW’s Arrow.
So, fighting game fans, if you liked or disliked MK 9, you can base your decision on whether or not to pick up Injustice based on that.
Like I said at the beginning, any DC fan will find a lot of fun in this game.
If you fall into both categories, then Injustice: Gods Among Us is right up your alley.
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