Before E3 started this year, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Mortal Kombat developer Netherrealm Studios, introduced a bold new fighting game featuring familiar characters from the DC Comics universe in a whole new fighting experience – not a subdued one like the crossover we got from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe two years ago. Injustice: Gods Among Us has the characters brawling with one another for undisclosed reasons, and rather than talk about the story surrounding them, the team felt it was a better idea to show the game in action through a behind-closed-doors demo. Needless to say, they made the right choice.
The demo consisted to two separate fights – one between Superman and The Flash in the Batcave, and another between Batman and Solomon Grundy on the streets of Metropolis.
The Batcave battle was quite fun to watch, as Superman powered up with a number of his traditional techniques, including heat vision blasts and thunderous power punches. The Flash relied more on speed boosts to make his attacks count. More importantly, brawling in the Batcave introduced some interactive background environment items, such as loose cables that can electrify an opponent in midair, leaving them open to a combo attack. You can also hit a button on the side of the stage and make the Batmobile fire missiles at your opponent. Way cool.
Like Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, you can also knock enemies through walls and objects into all new fighting areas. We managed to hurl the Flash down into the lower depths of the Batcave, where the Batboat floated around in the background. It’s here we saw more of the fighting tactics in the game, before it eventually went back to the surface (through a quick elevator brawl) and Superman put on the finishing touches.
When you perform a super attack, the game breaks out between real-time action and cinematic. For instance, when Superman strikes The Flash, he actually flies way up into the stratosphere, demonstrating the “S” Man’s incredible strength, before he comes crashing down to Earth in the stage. The final pose by the victor also uses said cinematics as well.
The second fight between Grundy and Batman showed even more interactive features, as well as the unique abilities between characters. Batman is able to launch all sorts of toys from his belt, including Batarangs and a grappling cable that acts the same way as Scorpion’s spear. As for Grundy, he can take knives out of his back as projectiles, and even grab cars in the environment to throw on his opponent. SLAM! Good stuff.
For Injustice, Netherrealm Studios is really trying to make the fighting experience so much more than just a Mortal Kombat clone, and it really shows in every aspect of the engine they’re working on. The graphics are outstanding, capturing nearly every detail you’d expect from the DC Universe, and the final roster will be packed with good and bad guys alike. We just hope Joker comes along with some sort of pencil trick…
Look for Injustice: Gods Among Us sometime in early 2013. We’re pretty sure it’ll put Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe to shame. Not that it was a bad game…but how can you beat this follow-up?!
