In short
If the DC Comics’ theme doesn’t sway you, then the combat will. Injustice: Gods Among Us is wonderfully stylish, exceptionally engaging and a celebration of all things DC Comics, Warner Bros. and NetherRealm. It also manages to do something few other fighting games can – offer a proper, enduring singleplayer experience. An absolute collectable.
Developer: NetherRealm
Publisher: Warner Bros.
Distributor: SterKinekor
For fans of: Brawlers, DC Comics, Superheroes, Mortal Kombat
Reviewed on: Playstation 3
Also available on: Xbox 360, Wii U
If we had to give it a numerical score: 9.6/10 [singleplayer]
What I loved
- Artwork
- Fighting mechanics
- Fighters’ individual moves
- Singleplayer offerings
- Audio
- Collectables
- And, and, and…..
Not so much
- Vita version please
Gameplay and Features
If you’ve played Mortal Kombat, then the basic mechanics will seem familiar. Fortunately there is more than enough variation with the heroes’ fighting styles to make Injustice much more than a Mortal Kombat with DC skins, something I was concerned about pre getting my hands on Injustice. The heroes’ fighting styles are particularly impressive and distinct to the various characters. So the basics are familiar, but the various heroes have their own unique moves and super powers, with some similarities. Some use shooting mechanics together with the basic strikes, and then others have weapons. The character’s need to charge their ‘super meters’ by performing combos and then the meter can be used for either more complex moves, or filling the meter entirely to unleash the Super moves. The Clash system makes its debut in NetherRealm games, which allows players to trigger a block and set a wager on a cuts-scene clash between the two fighters. I am very impressed with the “individuality” of fighting on offer, using the different characters. I am also impressed with how the various heroes’ powers [from the comics] were incorporated into the combat. Injustice’s combat was exceptionally designed and put together.
The game modes are an evolution from Mortal Kombat – so there’s the campaign, Single Fight mode, S.T.A.R Lab mode which offers objective based missions, a Tutorial, Training mode and the Multiplayer mode (offline and online). The campaign follows a fairly interesting narrative, with cinematic sequences leading to the fights. There’s a bit of QTE’s and you get to play with the various characters throughout the campaign. The campaign is interesting, but I don’t see myself playing through a second time. Fortunately there’s plenty to do offline and alone.
The S.T.A.R mode offers the most value offline and should keep you playing for some time to come thanks to the 240 missions with the various characters. This mode is mission based, offering a few missions for the vast line-up of heroes, with three objectives within each mission. Achieving each of the three objectives within the mission rewards you a star per objective. To progress you need to unlock missions with the asked for amount of stars. So just achieving one star per mission will eventually not allow you to progress, as you might not have enough stars. The objectives vary in difficulty, and so I can see myself taking forever and a day to achieve some of the more difficult objectives. What really impresses me with the offline offering is not only the modes’ design, but the difficulty level. I play on a medium difficulty, and while I found the campaign fairly easy, the single fights and S.T.A.R mode were a proper challenge. The Tutorial and practice modes are self explanatory, but uniquely allow for co-op training.
[NOTE: At this point we have not tested the multiplayer as we were playing pre-launch]
We do know that the online multiplayer includes straight forward versus matches, as well as an interesting ‘King of the Hill’ mode. Here you fill up to eight player lobbies, all competing versus one and other until the overall winner is reached. Players can even watch fights between their own matches, to see what they are up against. While we have yet to test the online modes, the Mortal Kombat code is fairly solid, so we suspect [hope] it will be the same story here.
The extensive offline offerings make Injustice the most complete and interesting brawler for the single player. Another aspect that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, and again makes for a more rewarding singleplayer experience, is the AI difficulty. I generally always find fighting games to be way too easy when facing AI. Not with this one, I lose just as much as I win at this point, and I still have two more difficulties to increase to. NetherRealm really nailed it down with the AI difficulty in this one. Even on medium difficulty, your foes don’t sit back and wait for punishment which is common with brawlers. The action is fast and furious and the AI doesn’t seem to hold back. I also suspect Injustice: Gods Among Us will capture a great online following, so I suspect the king of brawlers has arrived.
Sound and Visuals
Ed Boon and NetherRealm made great use of the source material theme when it comes to the audio and visuals. Everything looks and sounds very authentic, and as a DC Comics fan, I was awestruck. From the heroes’ abodes as venues, like Wayne’s mansion to Joker’s asylum; to the heavily detailed heroes themselves. The animations; the typical one-liners during matches; the voice-acting and script in the campaign, all very authentic and extremely well crafted.
The venues are all dynamic, with elements incorporated into the battles. There are objects that when standing close to, you can hit R1 to thump your opponent with the various objects. There’s also a super attack that results in you thumping your opponents through the venues, so you get the tour of the place. It also equates to a nice combos of hits. The heroes’ superpowers are also an over-the-top cinematic treat, like Superman’s blasting foes into the atmosphere and back.
Your progression is levelled up with all the modes you play and Injustice really uses the DC Comic theme when it comes to collectables, which will want to keep you wanting. Things like character skins, player cards, icons etc. are on offer by levelling up and performing various tasks with the various characters. This is not only great to keep you playing, but it also persuades you to use different characters.
Closing comments
I love a good game. A good game makes me sleep better at night, it makes my food taste better. There is however so few titles that make me feel that excitement like a little kid at Christmas. Injustice is one such title. Being based on the DC Comics game, it would either be outstanding and I would love it, or quite frankly I would hate it for not using the source material well. Fortunately NetherRealm are some of the most accomplished developers when it comes to fighting games, and used the theme in splendid style. Without any reservations, I consider Injustice: Gods Among Us the very finest fighting game you can buy.
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