for the Arkham series introduced a much-loved series of Batman games, DC Comics had limited success in the video game space. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will appear to be the latest in a hot streak for the company as Marvel begins to make its mark on the industry. The title is currently under development by Rocksteady, creator of the Arkham trilogy, sparking excitement for fans as its stellar resume puts it in the best place for the new game to revolve around Amanda Waller’s unwilling heroes. It is unclear how much inspiration it will get from, among other things, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Arkham Knight, but they did so well that it might be a missed opportunity to neglect them completely.
Promotional material for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has been limited, but what has dripped from the developer has been insightful, with essential story beats, a change in location, and more emphasis on team-based gameplay. One of the most notable differences between the upcoming game and the Arkham series is the tone. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League seems to have a more comedic vibe, and while this is indicative of the comics and characters it is adapting, the release shouldn’t ignore the benefits of a darker tone Arkham so well used.
The great atmosphere of Arkham
Batman has been subject to numerous tonal changes since its inception in 1939, but most agree that the character thrives in a darker, noir-esque and mystery-driven setting and story. Adam West’s Silly Slapstick Character of the Sixties Batman undoubtedly has its charm, but stories like The long Halloween, The black mirrorand The Court of Owls That Gotham Knights where influence comes from are much more revered from a narrative standpoint. Batman is primarily a detective, which lends itself well to stories that are more serious and exciting.
The obstacles that The Caped Crusader must overcome are enormous, but even harder is fighting back against a Gotham City that just won’t behave. Arkham Asylum is perfect for people who want to experience a horror-like game without encountering tropes of the genre, and this is because the setting, story, characters and building a world all come together to create a finished product that never something other than a gloomy atmosphere and a wonderfully dark tone. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be different simply because of the character dynamics it will inevitably present.
The Eccentric Personalities of Suicide Squad
Much of the tone of the Arkham games is possible because the stories they tell revolve around one man’s desperate grasp on crime and rogue. It feels like an impossible feat, and while Batman preaches the importance of justice, he also does it because it makes him feel important. It is his struggle and his alone. However, the Suicide Squad has a much more reserved and involuntary approach to fighting bad guys, as their characters and their backstories are riddled with evil deeds. As such, they are less constrained by the weight of the task at hand and so the relationship they develop with each other will cause a change in the overall tone.
This is perhaps most apparent in recent film adaptations such as the aptly titled The Suicide Squad, with serious themes that would otherwise be more atmospheric if not balanced by a healthy dose of comedy. This affects the characters, story and tone of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League for all the darker storylines will be tackled by an ensemble of personalities who take as much pleasure in irritating each other as in creating chaos.
Harley Quinn is Arkham’s Legacy in the Suicide Squad
It doesn’t look like it Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be strongly associated with the Arkham series despite being set in the same universe, but Harley Quinn appears in both. If Rocksteady’s crowning trilogy all feel any different, that would be a disservice to the character who plays such an important role in what preceded it. When Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League releases Harley Quinn will be more Rocksteady-developed Arkham games than The Dark Knight herself, and it’s essential that her character carries the events of the trilogy into the upcoming release.
This doesn’t have to be via funny dialogue and not-so-subtle Easter eggs that can isolate new players. It could be something as simple as a change in her character model to resemble what she was in Arkham Knight or a flashing and you’ll miss the flashback to one of her many standout scenes in the trilogy. Her character has been open to interpretation since her debut in Batman: the animated series, but making a version of Harley Quinn that didn’t feel like the one players had come to know in Rocksteady’s previous games would only make the Arkhamverse feel less connected and cohesive. Maintaining a similar tone to the Arkham trilogy in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League would do well with her character, and opting for an entirely new vibe could ruin it.
Batman may be more suited to a dark atmosphere than the Suicide Squad, but that’s not to say Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League should neglect it completely. It will no doubt be a more comedic affair and fans will expect it, and even look forward to it, but there must be a reason the game is being placed in the Arkhamverse outside of Rocksteady’s development. It’s a huge risk as players keep a close eye on continuity, and so the developer has to take extra care to make sure the upcoming game fits in with Batman’s great but grim adventures.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launches in early 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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