Sweet Injustice reigns
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US Rated: ★★★★ Available on: PS3, Xbox 360 and WiiU
Rated: M for Mature
This is one game that comic book nerds can get excited about. Injustice: Gods Among Us is easily one of the most entertaining superhero-themed video games released to date.
The title takes place on an alternate Earth and Superman has gone rogue after being driven mad by the actions of the Joker, who has tricked him into killing Lois Lane.
Using his abilities, Superman conquers the planet, appoints himself dictator and takes control of the superheroes in his universe. In a last-ditch effort to stop the evil Superman, Batman summons superheroes from our Earth to fight alongside his resistance. This is where the game gets going.
Injustice is a fighting game. A gory throwback to the good old days of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat in darkly lit arcades across the country. The difference is, instead of stepping into the shoes of some unknown character, players get to take control of DC’s bestknown heroes and villains.
Of course, comic fans will have to suspend some of their biases. In order for this game to make sense, some storylines were changed. For example, Batman’s batarangs can hurt Superman and big slow-plodding enemies like Bane are capable of grabbing the fleet-footed Flash. The changes help to level the playing field in battle.
Battles are used to advance the storyline, which finds players fighting enemies en route to ending Superman’s tyrannical reign. Play control consists of mashing various buttons to make character’s perform various moves, which are capable of inflicting extra damage.
Part of the game’s appeal are the levels where the battles take place. Players can use the surroundings to their advantage. For example, players can launch a spaceship that appears to sit in the background. If their opponent is near the ship’s thrusters when it takes off, they will be hurt by the launch.
The action culminates in a battle against the Man of Steel to save the Earth that he has conquered. It’s gory, action-packed and full of comic book goodness. Injustice: Gods Among Us packs one heck of a super-powered punch.