Though there is no shortage of superhero video games in 2022, it’s a genre that is becoming increasingly dominated by Marvel properties.FromGuardians of the Galaxyto the upcomingWolverineproject, the battle between Marvel and DC Comics in the realm of gaming has been rather one-sided in recent years, and most offerings from the latter center around just a handful of its iconic characters. Batman hasn’t been short of titles, but withGotham KnightsandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueanticipated by many, there seems to be a lack of any franchise from the company that revolves around a solo hero.
Marvel’sSpider-Manhas gone on to be a runaway success and one of Sony’s most beloved first party franchises of recent years. It does this by focusing on New York City from the perspective of Peter Parker, challenging his morals and physical capabilities as he desperately tries to save the city from looming threats. The character development is excellent because it can focus on just one personality through most of its story, and with DC Comics' vast array of heroes available, now is the time for DC to do the same, especially with Insomniac’s take on the belovedWolverineon the horizon.
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Batman’s Arkham Adventures Are in the Rearview
Perhaps the most beloved DC superhero games are theArkhamtitles from London-based studio Rocksteady. Spanning four separate releases across six years, they all bring something fresh and exciting while also adhering to the eclectic Batman lore. From its superb action/stealth gameplay to itsfaithful depiction of iconic Batman-related characters, it effortlessly captures what makes Batman so great, and few would dispute that theArkhamtrilogy-plus-Originsstill sits atop the genre, satisfying both veteran gamers and comic fans alike.
However, the final installment of the series,Arkham Knight, released almost seven years ago. Since then, there has been a sizable hole in DC games left behind by the Caped Crusader. Aside from a couple ofLEGOofferings as well as the sequel toInjustice: Gods Among Us, DC hasn’t been hugely present in games, and the projects that have been announced are superhero team-up affairs, so there’s a market for something new. TheArkhamgames, regardless of quality, will eventually be overtaken in relevance by other heroes, so DC needs to find a new character to bring to the gaming space.
Wolverine and Spider-Man are Leading the Charge
Being developed by Insomniac, creators of the sublimeSpider-Manin 2018 and the equally fantasticSpider-Man: Miles Moralesin 2020, therecently announcedWolverineprojectis something that fans have fantasized about for years. His gruff, straight-talking, and seasoned nature contrasts Peter Parker’s bumbling, youthful personality beautifully, meaning that there will likely be a stark difference in tone between the two. This gives Marvel even more of a foothold in the gaming market, since the variety of its offerings is only increasing as time goes on.
DC isn’t bereft of available characters, with most bringing their own unique flavor to the comics in which they appear. DC characters are a varied bunch, so with the wealth of personalities that fall under its banner, there’s a lot of potential to giveWolverinesome much-needed competition.Gotham Knightswill show off a handful of them, but the nature of the game means each character will have to share the limelight. Marvel easily has the upper hand when it comes to solo hero games, but theArkhamseries proved that DC is more than capable of achieving success too.
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DC Has Plenty of Team-Up Titles
Gotham KnightsandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguemake up most of DC Comics' current presence in gaming, but despite the teams being radically different, they both have the same narrative weakness. Having a single, clear protagonist makes writing a stellar story much easier. With an ensemble, it’s critical to ensure that there is chemistry in the team, since many of the conversations will occur between friends. In the case ofBatman: Arkham AsylumorMarvel’s Spider-Man, the stories they present are fantastic because the narrative can focus on the titular characters more than any other, but games likeMarvel’sAvengerscan struggle because they have too many characters to maintain.
Team-ups are fun, andGuardians of the Galaxyproved that it doesn’t take a whole franchise to make an unlikely group of heroes feel like a natural fit, but with the volume of well-rounded heroes at the company’s disposal, it would be a shame for DC to not give someone a chance to flourish indepedently like Batman did in 2009 with Rocksteady. Some of the best comics in the publisher’s history focus on a single character,including the likes ofBatman: The Court of OwlsandSuperman: American Alien.Adopting a similar philosophy in games would do well to balance out the team-centric titles that are already slated for release in the future.
A New Hero: Who Could it Be?
Of all the characters in the DC Comics toy box, there are so many that are deserving of a game all their own. Superman, who will feature asan antagonist inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, hasn’t been the subject of his own console video game since the release of movie tie-inSuperman Returnsin 2006, and though his presence has been felt in other projects, he has often taken a supporting role. Superman has been a great DC hero for decades, from his humble beginnings in 1938 to today. It’s curious that it’s taken this long to develop an all-new project based on the Man of Steel, and now would be the perfect time to rectify the issue, balancing out Wolverine’s standoffish aura with Clark Kent’s friendliness.
Other suitable candidates could be the likes of Green Arrow, The Flash, Green Lantern, and Cyborg, who all have abilities that would bring something fresh and exciting to the video game medium. Green Arrow in particular could use the template thatother bow-wielding video game protagonistshave forged, easily making it an appealing proposition toTomb RaiderorHorizon Zero Dawnfans. Cyborg’s capabilities could be perfect for a puzzle game and The Flash lends himself perfectly to a story-driven racing title like theNeed for Speedseries. The abilities and personalities of DC’s best characters have so much potential for their own game, and while Superman would be the most obvious choice, he doesn’t have to be the only one.
Wolverine is a revered character, so his upcoming adventure from Insomniac is going to turn the heads of many.He’s one of Marvel’s best heroes, and will likely make the jump to gaming with ease. However, he’s following in the footsteps ofSpider-Man,who has already found a comfortable home on Sony consoles. Logan’s debut on PS5 will be a long time coming, but what is longer still is the reemergence of a new solo hero-focused DC title. It doesn’t have to be Batman, or even Superman, but someone from the rich history of DC has to step up.
Marvel’s Wolverineis in development for PS5.
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