Summary
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis part of a trend that shows that the nextLEGO Batmangame is long past due. Outside both being based on DC properties, there’s almost nothing else tying the two together.Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguedoesn’t even share a genre withLEGOBatman. However, the differences between the two underscore how much the latter is needed.Kill the Justice Leagueis set to do its own thing as it continues theArkhamuniverse, but it is far from the only game that DC has to offer in the future.
The news thatKill the Justice Leaguebrings back the Jokerwas a fittingly large bombshell to cap off the long wait for the game. Following up on the wildly successfulBatman Arkhamuniverse,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueshifts perspective to a quartet of villains fighting to save the Earth against brainwashed versions of DC’s greatest heroes. The development cycle has been full of headlines, from the initial delay to rumors and leaks. The run-and-gun gameplay ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguecombined with its villain focus makes it an unusual entry for DC, but one that should ultimately be memorable.
DC has been following a pattern recently, withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s storybeing the latest step down that path. The game has made no secret about being mature, gory, and raunchy, much like the 2019Suicide Squadmovie. The upcomingDC: Dark Legionalso looks to be a more mature property since it will be spotlighting The Batman Who Laughs, one of DC’s more horrifying recent villains. Also, while little is known about Monolith’sWonder Womangame so far, while it probably won’t go as far asKill the Justice League, it’s not likely to significantly reverse DC’s more mature gaming direction.
Marvel’s upcoming games are also largely for mature audiences, withWolverineandBladebeing prime examples.
DC Lacks Any Major Upcoming Games For Younger Fans
This trend of more mature DC games is exactly why thenextLEGO Batmangameshould come out sooner rather than later. DC has had success with more adult audiences lately, but not offering anything for younger fans is a risk. Superheroes have enduring popularity among kids, as shown by how many animated superhero shows have earned high praise. As it stands, DC doesn’t have anything lined up in the near future for its younger fans, which is an issue that would be best addressed quickly. DC games could be missing out on major opportunities by following their current trajectory.
LEGO Batman Can Bring Lighthearted Fun Back to DC Games
Superhero media has spent several years trending towards the darker and grittier side, perfectly embodied bySuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s villainous Superman.LEGO Batman’s sense of humor would be a perfect foil to this approach, especially since it involves a character who has seen several dark storylines of his own.LEGO Batman 4can embrace the fun and fantastical side of superheroes mixed withLEGOcharm. It would be a refreshing change of pace, and the end result could be something that every superhero fan could enjoy. DC could have a lot to gain from putting out a game along the lines ofLEGO Batmanagain.
DC is appealing to adult audiences withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, as well as other upcoming games. Mature content may not be one ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s difficulties, but there’s a chance that it could become a problem for DC as a whole. There’s nothing wrong with making stories and games for older audiences, but superheroes often thrive when they have broad appeal. AfterSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguelaunches, DC may want to tackleLEGO Batman 4as its next project.
