Injustice 2

This is a review of the single player portion of Injustice 2

Developed by: NetherRealm Studios
Release Date: May 11, 2017

Injustice 2 features a story mode that starts off with Superman’s Cousin, Super girl (Kara Zor-El) running away, fearing for her life following Brainiac’s invasion of Krypton. Kara’s mother grants her the responsibility of taking care of her cousin Kal-El, who’s still a baby as she sends the both of them to planet Earth.

The motion acting is top notch, while not at the same level as Detroit Become Human’s or The Last of Us Part 2’s, it’s still impressive nonetheless. The game boasts a cinematography that rivals those of the best DC live action films, the voice acting is top notch and the set pieces are spectacular.

Batman vs Superman

The plotline is as dark, gritty and mature as the first game. The first chapter has you playing as Batman who’s accompanied with his son Damian (Robin). they’re chasing down a bloodthirsty Superman into Arkham Asylum. Clark Kent is out for blood and plans to execute the inmates there, one by one. He gives off the same vibes as that of Homelander, the evil superman from Amazon Prime’s The Boys.

As Superman and Batman are hashing it out, Robin goes behind his mentor’s back by cutting Victor Zsasz’s throat right there and there, deeming him incorrigible. It’s a philosophical idea that the caped detective have been trying to prove in almost every media that portrayed him. Are the scum of the earth villains, the rapists, the murderers, capable of being rehabilitated? Or should they be downright executed?

Judge, Jury and Executioner

This age-old question is at the crux of the conflict between Batman’s team and Superman’s regime. The story mode however isn’t interested in answering or discussing that question. Similarly, to the DC movies, they’re so fixated on one idea. In this case, it’s the idea that Superman is evil. And in their fixation, they neglect to develop an impactful storyline.

One of the cons of the story mode is that it often changes up the characters quickly. As soon as you get comfortable with a certain character, the game soon forces you into fighting as another, forcing you to adapt all over again to the style of the new fighter. Another gripe of mine is that there aren’t chapters for any of the villains, but that can also be a good thing since you’ll have new characters to try out once the credits roll.

Despite all that, the story mode is fun to play through that introduces you to all of the characters and arenas. The game also offers a training mode that teaches you all the techniques and strategies you need to win every fight, as well as a practice mode that lets you spar with a customizable AI.

There’s Plenty To Love About Injustice 2

The combat in Injustice 2 is responsive, fast and impactful. You’ll feel every punch, jab and kick you land. Chaining combos together in a rhythmic pattern is also as addictive as ever. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in Injustice 2, despite never playing a single online match. The combat kept me hooked even when fighting with the relentless AI.

The game’s roster is plentiful, filled with the super powered characters that we cherish and love. The multiverse is also an addictive addition to the game that provides plenty of hours of fun by making you go through a roster of foes as you face different challenges.

A Looter Fighter

Each fight in the game awards you with points that can be used to unlock new gear for your characters. The game offers thousands of combinations of items that you can dress up your characters in. These cosmetic items also change some of the stats of the character that equips them.

However, the gear you earn is randomized and there’s no way to acquire loot for any certain character. We would’ve loved to be able to pick up loot for our favorite fighters. The burn meter fills up as you deal and receive damage, which can be used to do the supermoves and the special attacks. You can also use environmental attacks, and the game features the usual arena transitions that can be triggered with an attack done next to the edge of the arena.

Unfortunately, there are no alternative super moves. All of the characters are limited to only one of these spectacular moves. Besides being visually satisfying, the supermoves also deal quite a bit of damage.

Instead of dividing each match into two rounds, each of the players have two health bars. Once the first one is depleted, the match takes a few seconds of a break while each character exchange quips with one another before resuming their fight. The meter can also be used to initiate a clash, depending on the amount of meter already filled; you can damage your opponent or regain some of your health.

Overall,

It’s hard not to recommend Injustice 2. It’s a solid experience that offers plenty of content. Even if you’re not a fan of fighting games, you’ll still get plenty of bang for your buck. Injustice 2 will keep you busy for a long time.