Video Games Review - Injustice!

This Batman Day, let's talk about Injustice! Injustice: Gods Among Us was a game released by NetherRealm Studios which created Mortal Kombat and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  The game was released in 2013.  It is a fighting game with the superheroes and villains of the DC Universe.  The game takes place in a reality where the Joker deceives Superman into killing Lois Lane and destroys Metropolis with a nuclear bomb.  This makes Superman the leader of the Regime and sets him against Batman who leads the Insurgency.  Batman works with Lex Luthor to create a pill from Kryptonian DNA to make humans resilient to fight against the Regime.  You fight in comic book locations like the Batcave and can use parts of the scenery as weapons like cars.  It was the best selling game in the US and UK and led to a comic book series that is ongoing.  The back story of the game was filled in by writer Tom Taylor and later Brian Buccelato.  Injustice 2 came out in 2017.  

The Injustice arcade game is produced by Raw Thrills.  I find it surprisingly player friendly, the controls are not complicated, and the game play is simple.  It took several plays before I understood how it all worked, but you can instantly play it.  Once you start you have the option of just getting a card without game play or play a game, but you get a card win or losing a battle.  If you do not scan your card in a small scanner next to the start button, you will have a random assortment of characters.  This game now features three difficulty levels, I play the Hard difficulty, but only reached the fourth level.  Also, the collectibility of the cards which has levels of rarity which has great replay value for the game..  Comic books, collectible cards, and an easy to play video game add up to one of the most addictive games I’ve played.  I was obsessive and have about 87 out of 100 cards.  I’m missing Shazam and Martian Manhunter.  The first series has Gold cards, the most common, Silver, and Bronze, the most rare.  Plus, there are regular cards and also for versions.   

Injustice Arcade game, photo by the author.

The cards have different versions of some characters; a card with just the character’s name, Regime or Insurgency, and a variant from the comics, Arkham Asylum game, television or movies.  You can the cards to build a team of up to three characters.  The variants mean that you can put together a team of Supermen or Wonder Women.  My favorite was an All Women Team; Wonder Woman, Raven, and Harley Quinn.  I also had a Villains Team with Darkseid, Sinestro, and Deathstroke.  I put together a Justice League Team with Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.  Also, a Teen Titans Team with Nightwing, Cyborg, and Raven.  I fought against one player who favored using Sinestro until I slammed him several times with Wonder Woman’s shield.  Unfortunately, I lost my play cards, and building a new team with Static (whose special power charges up fast), Flash, and Catwoman.  Once you scan in your team or start with a random team, you face your opponent.  The button layout is simple; a red Quick attack button, white Block button, and blue Strong attack button.  Above them is the large Special Attack button.  

The difficulty ramps up with a computer opponent.  Easy levels, you can start out attacking your opponent, every attack builds your power meter.   Difficult levels and fast opponents like the Flash, start off with tapping Blocking, then you can follow up with your strikes.  Also, don’t be fooled by the comics characters, I had difficulty playing Superman because I thought he could take a few hits, no he falls as easily as any other character. The game gives you the option to sitting to another team member if your character is nearly beaten, a window is spattered red showing the health and there is also a health bar.  Multiple strikes builds your power meter at the bottom and this enables Special Attacks.  You will get a notice you that you can Special Attack, Block (too slow to warn you), or use the Strong button.  There are three levels of Special Attacks, so you can wait until the last level, a Finishing Move.  If you have a tough opponent, don’t wait for the Finishing Move, use the first Special Attack.  You have a meter for some Special Attacks, you can build it to maximum tapping the Strong button.   The Finishing Move for Aquaman has him skewering his opponent with his trident, then the opponent is gobbled up by a giant shark.  You can go through the Finishing Moves with Easy level difficulty.  I hope you can assemble your team and play Injustice!   

Five Batarangs, Lassos of Truth, and Green Lantern Rings out of Five!  

#BatmanDay, #Injustice, #NetherRealmStudios, #RawThrills