Suicide Squad Takes Down Justice League in Epic Showdown

The upcoming Suicide Squad game from Rocksteady has faced some backlash following its gameplay reveal, due to the recent trend of poorly received multiplayer superhero games. With the likelihood of future games of this type being put on hold indefinitely, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League must strive to break the mold and become a standout example of a third-person shooter. To achieve this, it must avoid the pitfalls that previous superhero games have fallen into. While Marvel's Avengers had the potential to be a fantastic multiplayer superhero game, it ultimately failed to produce enough quality content that would keep fans engaged. However, the game's story campaign was a high point, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is right to aim for a similar level of narrative excellence.

Rocksteady’s Metropolis is Celebrating the Justice League Before Brainiac’s Invasion

Kamala Khan was a clever choice to be the protagonist of Marvel's Avengers, as her love for the superhero group reflected the audience's enthusiasm for them. Her relatable and down-to-earth personality provided an immersive introduction to the game, as players experienced her excitement meeting the Avengers at the San Francisco celebration. This event established the Avengers as beloved heroes, celebrated with merchandise and informational exhibits. However, the catastrophic events that ensued caused the disbandment of the Avengers and their subsequent vilification by the public.

Metropolis in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is depicted as a city consumed by the hero worship of the Justice League. The streets are adorned with Justice League memorabilia, standees, and balloons, and larger-than-life statues of the superheroes loom over the city. It seems that the Justice League has become a commercialized brand, celebrated in a manner that is almost hyperbolic in its expression of gratitude. This over-the-top celebration sets the stage for the inevitable disaster that occurs, conveniently providing Rocksteady with a plausible reason to assemble the Justice League before Brainiac's invasion.

Based on narrative trailers, it seems Brainiac could potentially brainwash the entire Justice League except for Wonder Woman, leaving him with the upper hand. This is where Task Force X comes in. Unlike Batman: Arkham Knight, which had a five-year gap, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will not have a time jump afterward, but it will have been five years since the events of the previous game in the proposed timeline. The presence of the League's memorabilia scattered around Metropolis suggests a city-wide celebration may have occurred, making any other opening quite unexpected. With both Suicide Squad and Marvel's Avengers featuring their respective comic giant's star ensemble group, this common narrative thread will be intriguing to see if Rocksteady can match the heights set by Crystal Dynamics.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League releases on February 2, 2024, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.