Warning: Minor spoilers.

In Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Batman was terrified by the idea that Superman could turn against humanity. The realization of Superman’s humanity, specifically that the two had mothers who shared the same name, shook Batman to his core. This is not the first story to tackle the threat of a rogue Superman. The Tower of Babel story arc in the Justice League comics also addressed Batman’s fears of superheroes going rogue. In it, Batman’s contingency plans are stolen and used against his fellow Justice League members. In Injustice: Gods Among Us, however, the Justice League does go rogue and there is little Batman or anyone can do to stop them. An interesting idea, but is the story worth experiencing? Is there a solid game underneath this clash of comic book titans?

Injustice: Gods Among Us was developed by NetherRealm Studios, the team behind the Mortal Kombat franchise. Despite this pedigree, the game doesn’t have gruesome Fatalities or provocative attire. There are however, a number of similarities between Injustice and NetherRealm Studios’ previous game. Like Mortal Kombat, Injustice has a strong single player component due to the game’s focus on story. Regardless of whether or not the story (written in part by actual comic book writers) impresses players, DC Comics went the extra mile by publishing a short series of comics leading up to the events  portrayed in the game. The additional material helps draw in comic book readers, as well as better explain how the Justice League went from superheroes to villains. From a marketing standpoint, the use of a different medium is a stroke of genius, helping to broaden the game’s target audience beyond just fighting game fans.

The events of Injustice are set in an alternate universe which differs somewhat from the mainstream DC comic universe. For example, in this alternate universe, Lex Luthor and Superman have never been adversaries. The setting helps provide justification for the game’s events. Under the control of Joker, Superman not only wipes out most of Metropolis, but he also kills Lois Lane and their unborn child. This moment of powerlessness becomes the basis for the reign of tyranny which follows. Superman brutally kills Joker, then, with the assistance of most of the Justice League, installs a world government, ruling through force. Batman’s resistance has been nearly defeated and he’s running out of options. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, Batman pulls the Justice League from the mainstream DC comic universe over to this alternate universe to fight by his side. Alternate universes have been a DC comic book staple for decades. One of the most notable examples is ‘Crisis on Earth-Three’, in which the Justice League faces off against the Crime Syndicate, a group of evil superpowered doppelgangers. The plot is surprisingly good for a video game, providing players with a better understanding of the comic book characters. For example, when Superman from the mainstream universe argues with the High Councillor Superman over the ruthless actions he has taken since Lois’ death; it provides a unique look at the character and the struggles he faces as a result of his incredible power. Comic book fans that are looking for a good story will not be disappointed.

As stated previously, like Mortal Kombat, Injustice has a strong single player component due to its story focus. This is where the game really shines. The Story mode is broken up into several chapters, each focusing on one particular character during the story's events. Completing Story mode will take players roughly six hours to finish, maybe longer depending on their skill at fighting games. Battle mode is the game’s arcade mode, allowing players to take a character of their choosing and play through one of many different arcade ladders. Completion of a ladder unlocks a character specific ending which can be viewed again at any time in the game’s Archive. There is also the S.T.A.R. Labs mode which is much like Mortal Kombat’s Challenge Tower, filled with character specific challenges which vary from fun to frustrating. There are additional characters available as downloadable content (included in the Ultimate Edition), along with corresponding S.T.A.R. Labs missions. There is more than enough single player content to make it worth the purchase, despite the poor quality of the game’s multiplayer. Couch multiplayer is solid, but online play is, to be blunt, weak. NetherRealm Studios’ netcode appears to have been improved since Mortal Kombat, but online play is inferior to other fighting games. Mortal Kombat X, NetherRealm Studios’ latest game, fares no better, despite promises to improve online play. Matches are hampered by lag, even when both players are in the same geographical region and have strong connections. If you really want to play a fighting game online, Ultra Street Fighter IV and Dead or Alive 5: Last Round are much better. One can only hope NetherRealm Studios figure out how to improve their online play by the time Injustice 2 is released.

Considering that neither Zauriel nor Blue Devil is part of Injustice’s cast, there is no mention of Christ or Christianity. This should not come as a surprise as comics tend to be geared towards secular audiences. Though religion doesn’t play a part in Injustice, there are mentions of Greek Mythology (Wonder Woman and Ares), as well as magic (Shazam and Zatanna), and alternate dimension demons (Raven’s father Trigon, as well as guest character Scorpion from Mortal Kombat). Magic and superpowers are staples of DC comics, so parents shouldn’t expect that to change in Injustice. What is troubling, however, is how shockingly violent the game is, even for a fighting game. For example, High Councilor Superman’s tyrannical reign begins with the brutal murder of the Joker, and by the end of the game, he kills two more characters before being stopped by Superman, who is recruited by alternate universe Batman. There is also a few moments of sexual innuendo and minor swearing. Injustice is a far cry from its gore-filled cousin, Mortal Kombat, but parents should be aware that this isn’t a family fun game with the Super Friends.

As a long-time fan of DC comics and fighting games, I thoroughly enjoyed Injustice: Gods Among Us. There is a reason why it received “Best Fighting Game” awards from IGN, GameTrailers, Game Informer and the VGX in 2013. Injustice offers more mature gamers a solid fighting game, despite its rigid combo system, with a great story written by professional comic writers. It’s a shame that all of this is hampered by poor online multiplayer. Parents concerned about the dark nature of the game’s story, as well as the graphic displays of violence, may want to do a bit of research before deciding whether to pick up or pass on this game. Injustice is nowhere near as violent as Mortal Kombat, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it for younger gamers.

-Christopher Lancop