Summary
The following contains story spoilers for Rocksteady Studios’Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leaguehas been fighting an uphill battle ever since it was revealed it would have live-service elements, and further marketing material leading to release may have not done the title a lot of good. For example, the reveal ofSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s Jokercaught players off guard for the wrong reasons, seeing how the originalBatman: ArkhamJoker was one of the most popular characters in the DC universe, let alone Rocksteady’s own work. Now thatSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leagueis out, though, the latest controversy to surround the game is once more tied to Rocksteady’s previousBatmangames, and specifically the in-universe Batman’s fate.
AlthoughSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leaguesports great combat gameplay and players can zoom around the world with each squad member’s traversal abilities, a lot of fans are in for the story and how it moves Rocksteady’s DC universe forward. Unfortunately, the way Batman’s scenes are handled made many long-time fans and new players alike unhappy, especially seeing how this was Kevin Conroy’s final appearance in the series. After the legendary actor died, many wondered how Batman’s story would carry on, possibly with aBatman Beyondgame or some sort of continuation of theArkhamseries, butSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leagueseems to wrap everything up - at least for now.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leaguedoes exactly what it says on the tin, and it does deliver deaths for each of the four Brainiac-controlled heroes, with Batman being one of them. Although some were upset that it was theArkhamBatman to die inSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, one could argue that it was to be expected, but the main reason why his death became a controversy is the way it all was handled.
TheBatman: Arkhamseries is one of the most popular in terms of DC video games, and after four games, the already-popular Caped Crusader became all the more cherished by fans - especially after seeing his dynamic with Mark Hamill’s Joker and how he copes with his death. Players are comparing Batman’s death inSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice LeaguetoJoel’s death inThe Last of Us Part 2, as it’s breaking the internet and it’s incredibly heartfelt by fans. An even stronger comparison, however, is that with Batman’s death inGotham Knights.
Even ifGotham Knightswas not considered a great gameby all means, it had its moments. As of now,Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leagueplayers are comparing Batman’s death at the hands of Harley Quinn to his sacrifice while fighting Ra’s al Ghul inGotham Knights, detonating the Batcave to protect Gotham. Instead,Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s Batman is defeated by the squad in combat, and is then executed by Harley Quinn with the Joker’s laugh echoing in the distance, as she delivers a speech that is being defined as inadequate as a send-off for a character of Batman’s caliber.
The dispute has it thatGotham Knightsmanaged to respect Batman as a character despite the game’s flaws, whereasSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice Leaguefails to deliver a compelling death scene to one of the most iconic DC heroes of all time. This especially stings for fans who have been around since theBatman: Arkhamseries, as not only does this seem like an end for the character, but Rocksteady’s past work as a whole. It remains to be seen how exactly Rocksteady’s DC universe will continue, especially withSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’s Elseworldsplaying a huge part in the game’s live-service approach, but delivering the final blow to Batman did upset a lot of fans.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as the Suicide Squad to take down the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes, The Justice League. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, is a genre-defying, action-adventure third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.
