Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is nothing short of novel. Although the game was almost universally panned as yet another live service flop, its use of DC Comics storylines and characters, coupled with its industry-leading graphics and character animations, gives it a certain appeal that, while perhaps not enough to save it entirely, has certainly caught the attention of many.

This kind of attention-grabbing premise is embodied by Joker’s arrival in the game. He joined the team of playable characters almost two months after the launch of the Suicide Squad base game, Joker revived interest in the project, though this revived attention was short-lived. While it may have been in vain, Joker’s introduction as a playable character speaks to a broader phenomenon in the world of DC Comics adaptations: there is a non-negligible portion of the gaming public that would love to play a real-life Joker game. The popularity of Batman’s arch-nemesis never seems to wane, weathering harsh on-screen portrayals and cinematic flops with ease, seemingly making him an easy choice for a video game protagonist. However, this idea is nearly impossible for several reasons.

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Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a Joker-friendly venue

The story of The Suicide Squad The game is still evolving, but it is safe to say that it has established itself as something over the top. Although it is set in the same universe as the decidedly serious and sober Batman: Arkham Games, it is surprisingly ironic and lighthearted and incorporates unusual concepts such as alternate realities into a game world that up to that point had been relatively down to earth and aligned with comic book standards.

Through this narrative and tonal framework, the Joker can find his way onto the stage. Brought from another reality, Suicide SquadThe Joker’s version of the Joker fulfills a long-held dream of many gamers: he can float around Metropolis, shoot down bad guys while cracking jokes and being crazy like he likes to do.

In a way Suicide SquadThe generic, straightforward gameplay loop of is what makes the Joker a playable character. It’s easy to turn off your brain when stepping into the Joker’s shoes when all he does is gun down mindless enemies. Even if certain elements of Joker’s moveset in Suicide Squad don’t necessarily make sense for the character, who isn’t exactly known as an acrobatic action star, but it at least somewhat fits the interactive and narrative aspects of the game in general.

Joker probably can’t be the star of his own game

Kill the Justice League inadvertently reveals some of the complications inherent in developing a Joker video game. The most obvious problem with putting the Clown Prince of Crime at the helm of his own adventure is his inevitably amoral worldview: it would be difficult to develop, market, and ship a AAA game that had players commit mass murder, citywide destruction, or various acts of terrorism as its central objectives.

But even putting that issue aside, it’s hard to imagine what a complex video game based entirely on the Joker could look like from a practical standpoint. The Joker isn’t an antihero with questionable morals who ultimately gets the job done—he’s a madman seemingly driven by chaos. A feature-length game with him as the protagonist could easily degenerate into a jumble of narrative gimmicks and clumsy justifications for gameplay, since his madness makes it impossible to incorporate him into a compelling, understandable story, at least in the context of a video game. There have been a few “What If” comics where the Joker becomes more sane, but a full game following that premise would arguably defeat the purpose of having him as the main character in the first place.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Play as the Suicide Squad to defeat the world’s greatest DC Super Heroes, the Justice League.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a cross-genre action-adventure third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, the creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League features an original storyline set in the sprawling open-world city of Metropolis. The four DC Super Villains find themselves on a collision course with an invading alien force and DC Super Heroes now focused on destroying the city they once sworn to protect. At the same time, the Suicide Squad must be wary of the deadly explosives implanted in their heads that could detonate at the first sign of resistance.

Each squad member has their own unique moveset with enhanced movement abilities to freely explore the dynamic open world of Metropolis, as well as various weapons to customize and skills to master.

Released

February 2, 2024

Multiplayer

Online multiplayer

Motor

UnrealEngine 4

ESRB

M17+ For adults aged 17 and over Due to blood and brutality, strong language and violence

How long does it take to hit?

10 hours

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