Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has resurfaced once again, and Rocksteady Studios is now giving us a live-service action game where our favorite dysfunctional Task Force X faces off against a handful of mind-controlled Justice League members – because, you know, we haven’t seen superheroes being mind-controlled enough in every other comic book story.
The recently released gameplay trailer revealed the first episode, Suicide Squad Insider, giving us a sneak peek into the game’s early stages. Here, our beloved misfits – Captain Boomerang, Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Deadshot – are let loose in Metropolis, with their first big heist being raiding the Hall of Justice for gear.
They soon bump into Flash and Green Lantern, and surprise, surprise, our anti-heroes realize they need more than witty banter to take down these Justice Leaguers. Here, we meet Penguin, Gotham’s shady arms dealer, who’s conveniently set up in Metropolis, peddling anti-metahuman weaponry like a cosmic arms fair.
Rocksteady wasn’t shy about flaunting the gameplay, showcasing each Squad member’s unique abilities. These include mobility, flashy moves, and over-the-top ultimate finishing moves that can knock out any enemies. In addition to this, each character boasts a pretty handy attack move that can break enemy shields and set them up for critical hits, adding a dash of strategy to the usual button-mashing chaos.
Labeled as a “genre-bending action-adventure shooter,” Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set in an open world that players navigate using traversal mechanics. Though the gameplay trailer still shows a few kinks that need to be ironed out, it’s miles ahead of what we saw during Sony’s State of Play showcase earlier this year.
The gameplay revealed there was less than thrilling. Think shooting purple blobs, a yawn-inducing loot system, and gunplay that makes you wish for the sweet release of anything else. While the latest trailer looks a tad better, it’s still not winning any awards for creativity.
The combat system is as exciting as watching paint dry, and the choice of weaponry is certainly wanting. Plus, why are characters like King Shark and Boomernag running around with guns? Not that they can’t use guns, but it’s like giving Batman a lightsaber – it’s definitely cool, but it makes zero sense.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was supposed to hit shelves in 2022 but got pushed back to this year and then to February 2, next year. If you’re wondering why, you need not look further than the game’s “innovative” features, such as requiring an online connection even for single-player mode and a battle pass system, because nothing says “immersive gaming experience” like mandatory internet and cosmetic microtransactions.
Anyway, if you’re itching to throw your money at this game, preorders are now live. The game comes in two variants: the Standard Edition at $69.99 and the Deluxe Edition at $99.99. The Standard Edition offers post-launch updates, seasonal battle pass tiers, and outfits for each Squad member. However, if you’re feeling fancy, the Deluxe Edition adds Justice League outfits, some Black Mask weapons, and early access to the game.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League might not be breaking new ground in gaming innovation, but Rocksteady Studios sure is trying something. Whether that something is good or a spectacular dive into the pool of mediocrity, well, we’ll find out in 2024. Until then, keep those expectations in check.
