Summary
After a nine-year wait, the next chapter in Rocksteady’s popular Arkhamverse is finally here.Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguenot only continues the story of this acclaimed franchise, but it also expands the universe immensely with the introduction of so many iconic DC heroes, including the Justice League. And while that makes for a pretty interesting adventure,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguealso seems to undo some ofBatman: Arkham’s biggest moments.
SinceSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis supposed to be this massive live-service DC game, it makes sense that the studio wants all ofDC’s most iconic charactersto join in on the fun. However, after four games dealt followed some of these characters and even gave them satisfying conclusions, it feels strange that they are suddenly back. Even though Rocksteady gives players an explanation, some ofSuicide Squad’s plot beats make what came before feel kind of pointless in the grand scheme of things.
One of the biggest plot points thatSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueseems to undo isthe finale ofBatman: Arkham Knight. In that game, Bruce Wayne is unmasked to the world on live TV. Once he successfully takes down Scarecrow, he proceeds to activate the Knightfall Protocol to protect his loved ones. So, he returns to Wayne Manor, is greeted by Alfred, and then everything explodes. Batman is presumed dead, but a nightmarish bat-like figure still takes on criminals in the streets of Gotham City.
While it was heavily implied that Batman was alive or that someone had taken up his mantle, he was still dead to the majority of the world. However, by the time ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Batman is back and better than ever. Not just that, but he is also an integralpart of the Justice League, with the entire world seemingly knowing he is alive again. Additionally, there are entire museum exhibits that tell his entire story. Even though Batman was likely not going to stay dead within this universe, the ending ofBatman: Arkham Knightfelt like a fitting conclusion to the character. Yet, this game has undone that.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguedid not stop there, as other Arkhamverse characters are suddenly alive again. Perhaps the biggest is Poison Ivy, who sacrificed her life to save all of Gotham City fromScarecrow’s toxin inBatman: Arkham Knight. After the Arkham Knight activates the Cloudburst and floods the city with fear toxin, Batman enlists Poison Ivy to help stop it. She ends up empowering an ancient tree that neutralizes it, yet the exertion kills her. This makes for a pretty big moment in the story, butSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguehas revived her in the form of a child.
Suicide Squad’s version of Poison Ivyis not the same Ivy fromBatman: Arkham, but instead, she is a reincarnation that Lex Luthor was forcing to create weapons. This means that Rocksteady has not technically undone her sacrifice, yet it still kind of feels like it did as Ivy exists in this world once more. Now, the studio can tell even more stories with the character, and can even have her follow a Baby Groot-like arc. While that could be interesting, it also makes it feel like her death inBatman: Arkham Knightwill not really have any lingering effects on this universe.
Poison Ivy is not the only villain that is being “revived,” as the Joker is also set to come back inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s first season. Although this version of the Joker comes from another universe, his inclusion still seems kind of strange after four games centered around a different iteration whose death had a massive effect on Batman’s story. There is a chance that this new version is well worth the wait, but players will have to wait until March to see for themselves. And even if he is a fantastic addition to the roster, it may have been better to keep him dead.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as the Suicide Squad to take down the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes, The Justice League. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, is a genre-defying, action-adventure third-person shooter from Rocksteady Studios, creators of the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series.
