Summary
In 2023, it feels like there is no stopping the superhero craze. The MCU is still going strong as it builds out its fifth phase, DC is preparing for a massive reboot alongside its many Batman-centric adventures andshows likeThe Boyscontinue to excite audiences. That popularity has also found its way into the gaming industry with the likes ofGotham Knights,Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and the recently releasedMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. All of this has let players experience what it means to be a superhero, and there are plenty more on the horizon.
After two successful Spidey adventures, Insomniac Games has once again shown players why it is one of the best in the superhero business withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. Because of the games' acclaim, all eyes are on what the studio and the genre will do next. While Insomniac will be focused onMarvel’s Wolverinefor the time being, the next AAA superhero game will likely come in the form ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. And that game may be facing an incredibly steep uphill battle as its release date nears.
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Marvel has not only had immense success in the film industry, but itsInsomniac Games-led video gameshave also been met with critical acclaim. Every single one has further cemented Insomniac as the premiere superhero studio, which is probably why Marvel is letting it run wild with its characters.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2has continued that trend by delivering one of the best superhero experiences to date. It is not only a fantastic Spidey game, but it has just been a spectacular video game experience from start to finish.
Unlike Marvel, DC has not had as great of luck in recent years. The DCEU has been struggling to make an impact which has forced the studio to reboot, and recent DC games have failed to deliver.Gotham Knightswas supposed to be thisbig new co-op Batman adventure; however, it fell flat with audiences. Now,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis supposed to continue the critically acclaimedArkhamseries with brand-new characters. But things are not looking good for that game either.
The first gameplay trailers forSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueshowed what looked to be a live-service looter shooter with the DC brand attached. That was not what fans of theArkhamseries or superhero lovers wanted, especially afterMarvel’s Avengerstried to do something similar.A couple of months after the gameplay reveal, the studio chose to delay it to 2024 to ensure it had a strong launch, but that core gameplay loop will not be able to suddenly change this far into development. That means that players will probably be stuck with many of the live-service elements, which could impact the fun factor considerably.
Not only do many DC fans not want a live-serviceSuicide Squadgame, butthe release ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2has shown players what a quality single-player superhero game can look like. After the last game set a new standard for the genre, this has raised the bar even higher. It is exactly the kind of superhero adventure that players are looking for, yetSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewill likely not be able to deliver that.
There is a lot stacked up againstSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewhich may be hard to push through. TheArkhambrand may help it a bit, but its gameplay and story will need to be on the level ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2if it wants to succeed. However, there is always the chance the game will surprise audiences when it finally hits store shelves. Rocksteady is known for crafting some exciting titles, so hopefully this continues that trend.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2is available now on PS5
