Still confused about whether you should play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League or not? Here’s our take on why you should give it a chance.
Whether it’s DC or Marvel, I’ve always enjoyed superhero video games and for die-hard fans like me, it’s even better when the games flip the script and break the ethos of a genre.
Now superhero games have evolved in recent years, shifting focus from fighting games to single-player adventures, but Rocksteady’s new looter-shooter Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is an impressive addition to the genre. If you’ve never heard of the Suicide Squad we don’t blame you. They were a relatively unknown team until David Ayer and James Gunn brought them to worldwide attention. Then Rocksteady hyped them up more in 2020 when they announced this game.
The fact that Rocksteady was involved in the game’s development boosted anticipation for the release and gave longstanding Arkham fans hope that the game would be faithful to the comics while providing an exciting experience similar to the Arkham Batman games.
Unfortunately, if we fast forward to February 2024, when the game finally dropped, the reception has been anything but positive. Players have been bashing Suicide Squad, criticizing its dull gameplay and controversial plot.
Yet, despite the negativity around the game, and the fact that players are already abandoning ship after just a few hours, I must confess that I have relished the experience. I took a ride with Task Force X for fifteen hours, and I think you should give Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League a go.
This article contains spoilers about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Killing in the Name
Right off the bat I should be honest with you. As the name suggests, yes, you do need to kill the Justice League, including Superman, Green Lantern, The Flash, and Batman. Thankfully, you spare Wonder Woman (although she still dies) and Aquaman just never turns up. While Wonder Woman is unaffected by Brainiac’s mind control, it seems like poor Aquaman ran off after seeing a talking shark with guns.
Anyway, the game lets you control all four members of the Suicide Squad – Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang – and you can switch between characters seamlessly, tailoring your playstyle to each character’s unique perks and quirks.
As I already mentioned, there’s been a lot of outcry among fans about the game. Most notably for the controversial treatment of the Justice League – be it Boomerang pissing on a dead Flash, Batman’s anti-climactic death, or even the hilarious Codex descriptions of the Justice League. That said, I think the crucial thing to remember when playing this game is that the Suicide Squad are not your typical heroes or moral characters.
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They are, without exception, criminals, and their actions and mannerisms are meant to be hated. If you’ve purchased the game in the hopes of being a hero, then I’ve got bad news for you. You’ve bought the wrong game because Kill the Justice League wants you to step in the villain’s shoes and see the world through their eyes. So when the Squad does intolerable actions or makes a snarky comment about your heroes, hey, that’s what you paid for.
With that in mind if you believe the Suicide Squad is reckless, doesn’t deserve the spotlight, and that the game should have been more respectful to your favorite hero, you are mistaken.
Born to be Wild
The gameplay is a lot of fun and allows you to match the speed of the Flash, the might of the Green Lantern, the strength of Superman, and the trickery of Gotham’s Bat. While each member of the team is Psyched Up on missions when they face their arch-enemy, it’s interesting to observe the dynamic between the villain and the hero who mistreated them.
The game’s map is also suitably impressive and immerses you in a Metropolis you never believed possible as you try and stop Brainiac from terraforming the Earth. Oh and if you’re wondering why these villains are trying to save the day, well it’s because they have no choice but to obey Waller’s orders, or else the nanobombs in their necks will detonate, killing them instantly.
Take a chance on the bad guys
While fans are outraged with Rocksteady for insulting their favorite characters, I believe the game allows the developers’ artistic genius to shine. The game’s storyline makes each individual in the squad to be powerful enough to battle corrupted heroes while also partnering you up with other villains such as the Penguin, Gizmo, Toyman, and Lex Luthor.
I spent the majority of my time playing as Captain Boomerang, and believe me when I say that using the Speed Force gauntlet and attacking adversaries with quick boomerang strikes was immensely exciting.
I was also impressed by the way the open-world looter-shooter heightens the action with its random enemy encounters but also lets you progress through missions or side tasks at your own pace. That said the most fun I had was playing co-op with a friend and we’d have a blast playing as our favorite members of Task Force X.
So be wild, be the villain. Don’t have a plan? Don’t worry. Risk it by being reckless in the game. And if you’re still upset about Batman’s death in the game, give it another chance. It will be worth the ride in the end.
