The Ultimate Superman Game: Why DC Can't Afford to Wait for Superman: Legacy

Superman is perhaps the most famous superhero of all time, but his presence in the world of video games has not been as strong. Despite being the face of the Justice League, Superman has mostly played supporting roles in various appearances. However, with the confirmation of Superman: Legacy in production and the start of a new DC Comics film universe, the time may finally come for the man of steel to have a solid video game. Although the movie's release is still far away, a Superman game could happen sooner than later.

The Batman: Arkham game series was a huge success and changed how many fans viewed Batman as a superhero. Unfortunately, Superman has not had a similar experience. While Arkham Asylum made sense as a release alongside The Dark Knight Trilogy, this level of treatment has only been given to Bruce Wayne. The era of Man of Steel and its sequels has passed without a proper Superman game, leaving the flagship DC character to only appear in ensemble rosters.

Superman Games Are Historically Difficult to Get Right

The absence of Superman games has been largely attributed to the difficulty in creating a satisfying gameplay experience for a character with such immense power. Unlike Batman, who relies on advanced gadgets, Superman's abilities trivialize traditional mechanics like combat and gliding. To develop a Superman game, developers would need to think outside the box and potentially create a whole new subgenre of action games.

Past attempts at Superman games have not been successful, with titles like Superman: The New Superman Adventures for Nintendo 64 being poorly received. The infamous Superman 64 featured gameplay that revolved around flying through floating hoops, while even the 2006 Superman Returns tie-in game included battles with fire-breathing dragons and tedious experience grinding. The relatively unknown Superman: Shadow of Apokolips is often considered the most enjoyable, as it features powerful robot enemies that resemble humans.

Superman Deserves the Batman: Arkham Treatment

Superman game ideas have been discussed before without success, but it might be time for Warner Bros. to take the risk again. The success of Superman: Legacy at the box office should not determine whether the character gets a game. The Batman: Arkham series has shown that a DC superhero can have their own successful game and even establish a new universe. Developing a Superman game might have challenges, especially with flight mechanics, but that's all the more reason to start working on it soon.

Superman: Legacy, directed by James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad fame, will offer a fresh take on the character. With Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League portraying Superman as a villain, a more traditional version of the hero could find its place in modern gaming. Rocksteady, known for their work on the Arkhamverse, could potentially create a standalone Superman game within that universe. Despite the game already featuring Metropolis as its setting, a Superman game would deviate from the current trend of looter shooter gameplay.