Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – A Fumbled Heist? – Review
Rocksteady Studios, the team behind the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham series, set high expectations with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The prospect of controlling Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark in a sprawling Metropolis seemed like a recipe for chaotic fun. However, the final product is a frustrating mix of good ideas and missed opportunities.
A Story with Potential, Buried Under Loot
The narrative starts strong. Amanda Waller, the ruthless leader of Task Force X, sends the Suicide Squad on a seemingly impossible mission: take down the mind-controlled Justice League. The interactions between the squad members are a highlight, with their dark humor and dysfunctional camaraderie providing genuine entertainment. However, the story gets bogged down by a relentless focus on loot. Missions often feel like repetitive slogs designed to shower players with generic gear rather than advancing the plot.
Rocksteady’s Combat Shines, But Gets Repetitive
The core gameplay, built upon Rocksteady’s expertise, is undeniably fun. Each character has a distinct combat style, from Harley Quinn’s acrobatic brutality to King Shark’s grappling and chomping. Traversal through Metropolis is exhilarating, with characters utilizing their unique abilities to zipline, grapple, and glide across the cityscape. However, the combat encounters themselves lack variety. Enemies fall into predictable patterns, and the novelty of using the Suicide Squad’s powers wears thin after repeated encounters with the same enemy types.
Live-Service Woes and a Shallow Endgame
The decision to make Suicide Squad a live-service game feels like a misstep. The core campaign, while flawed, is enjoyable. However, the endgame content is a repetitive grind, focused on acquiring loot and completing the same types of missions over and over again. This structure feels at odds with the strengths of Rocksteady’s previous work, which excelled in delivering a tightly crafted single-player experience.
A Glimpse of What Could Have Been
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is not a terrible game. The core combat is solid, the world is beautiful, and the characters are entertaining. However, its ambition is undercut by repetitive mission design, a bloated loot system, and a tacked-on live-service structure. It’s a frustrating reminder of what could have been – a fantastic single-player experience with a unique cast of characters facing off against a mind-controlled Justice League.
Here’s hoping Rocksteady Studios returns to its roots in the future and delivers a game that truly captures the chaotic potential of the Suicide Squad.
Final Verdict:
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a flawed experience with moments of brilliance. Fans of the Arkham series might be disappointed, but players looking for a mindless action romp with a good dose of dark humor might find some enjoyment here.
This review is based on 27 hours of playtime.
