Summary
TheBatman: Arkhamseries had no shortage of innovative features. From its satisfying Freeflow combat to its unashamed passion for the source material to its cameo-filled narrative, just about every bold new element ofBatman: Arkham Asylumquickly found its way to the rest of the superhero video game landscape, to varying degrees of success. So, after laying the groundwork for just about everything that’s come since, the pressure was on forRocksteadyto knock it out of the park withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t really happened. Released just a few weeks ago,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis already at a genuine risk of being forgotten. While its gunplay and traversal mechanics were praised practically across the board,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s story and live-service nature have resulted in a mixed reception. Though it wouldn’t have necessarily fixed much,Suicide Squadshould have brought over more features from Rocksteady’sArkhamseries, and there’s one that would’ve fit the game perfectly.
One of the biggest highlights ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis its titular team of heroes, all of whom (except Wonder Woman) have been captured and brainwashed into servitude by the big bad, Brainiac. UnderBrainiac’s control, the Justice League’s worst qualities are allowed to run free, turning Batman’s normally calm and calculated demeanor into cold stubbornness, The Flash’s cocky attitude into arrogance, and Green Lantern’s stoicism into ruthlessness.
ThroughoutSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s main story, players get to encounter the Justice League several times, each of which is a highlight of the game. It’s always fun to see the World’s Greatest Heroes go bad, and for the most part,Suicide Squaddoes a great job of letting each one shine in their own brutally evil way. Batman becomes a particular standout thanks to Kevin Conroy’s phenomenal performance, giving the Caped Crusader a truly evil spin that fans don’t often get to see or hear.
TheBatman: Arkhamseriesfeatures some of the most iconic death screens in all of gaming. After being killed in action, eachBatman: Arkhamgame would force the player to sit there as one of the Caped Crusader’s villains delivers a vicious one-liner, gloating over Batman’s dying body. There have been some truly chillingArkhamdeath screens over the years, from Scarecrow’s declaration that Batman and his legacy are finished, to Harley Quinn telling Batman to say hi to the Joker for her.
Of course, not all ofBatman: Arkham’s death screensare equal. For every chilling or amusing death screen that takes full advantage of the villain and their unique personality, there’s one that simply has the villain stand there awkwardly staring at Batman, not uttering a single word. On the whole, though,Batman: Arkham’s death screens added a lot of character to both the game as a whole and its rogue’s gallery, and it’s a feature thatSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguecould have made great use of, letting the evil Justice League shine even more by gloating over the corpses of Task Force X.
