Injustice 2 comes to Canada
Injustice 2 from NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment came to Canada in a big way this week. Making a special appearance at the game’s Canadian launch was none other than legendary video game creator Ed Boon. Boon has a decorated history that includes the creation of Mortal Kombat, as well as Warner’s Injustice franchise.
Injustice 2 pre-order links:
Pre-order Injustice 2 for PS4
Pre-order Injustice 2 for Xbox One
On a personal note, Boon happens to be a lifelong idol of mine, making this a particularly memorable experience. It was surreal meeting the creator of Mortal Kombat, a series I’ve been hooked on since its 1992 arcade debut.
But of course, this event was all Boon’s latest action-packed fight game, Injustice 2. After getting hands-on time with the game I’m happy to report it’s shaping up to be a phenomenal sequel. Let’s take a look at what the new game offers!
Largest roster of DC heroes and villains ever
Right off the top I was amazed at how huge the roster is for Injustice 2. The game features a massive lineup of new and returning characters for you to choose from. In all, I counted 28 heroes and villains on the character select screen.
On the hero side, we have returning favourites like Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Arrow. They’re joined by new cast members including Robin, Supergirl, and Black Canary. Blue Beetle also joins the hero ranks, a personal favourite of mine from the DC Comics.
Looking across the fence to the villain side, making their second appearance are icons like Joker, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman. New villains entering the fray include Scarecrow, Cheetah, Darkseid, and Gorilla Grodd.
It’s a huge roster to say the least, but what struck me the most is how diverse it is. There are the obvious well-known inclusions, but also plenty of obscure characters clearly catering to DC’s fan base. Examples like Firestorm and Captain Cold come to mind. There’s also a great mix of heroes and villains, and the male/female ratio seems more balanced this time around.
Warring Factions
Another key point about Injustice 2 is the story continues where the last game left off. It begins following the dismantlement of the Justice League, with Batman and Superman clashing for control. Meanwhile, a new villainous group led by Gorilla Grodd arises, known as “The Society.” Making matters worse, Superman’s arch-rival Brainiac shows up with his own plans to destroy the Earth.
It sounds like a meaty recipe that will surely result in epic conflicts between these various factions. Like in the first game, a full story mode is included in Injustice 2. From the trailers I’ve seen so far, it appears Batman’s squad will once again play a hero role. His team of freedom fighters includes Harley Quinn, Black Canary, Flash, and Green Lantern. On the flip side, Superman’s faction consists of Robin, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Black Adam.
It’s interesting to learn Grodd’s group is called The Society, perhaps a nod to DC’s Secret Society of Super Villains. His group is comprised of Cheetah, Bane, Catwoman, Captain Cold, and others. I really can’t wait to see how Batman and Superman’s teams will handle The Society. Friends? Foes? Neutral? We’ll have to wait and see!
I also learned there are a few wild cards thrown into the mix for good measure. Swamp Thing, Supergirl, and Atrocitus are three such examples. How they factor into this seemingly packed story will have to be seen. I’m personally stoked about Swamp Thing as he’s always been a fascinating (and underrated) DC character.
Injustice 2’s Gear system
To emphasize how much larger Injustice 2 is compared to its predecessor, its new Gear system lets you customize heroes in near infinite ways. Much like an RPG, your heroes gain EXP and leveling up can improve their Strength, Ability, Defense, and HP stats. Furthermore, you’ll also unlock unique gear with perks, like bonus EXP for meeting certain win conditions, or boosts to stats.
To incentivize continued play with individual characters, gear benefits increase as you level up. This could be mean obtaining gear with more specialized properties, or receiving huge bonuses by wearing gear sets. As well, gear modifies your heroes’ looks, letting you create original versions that suit your play style. While I wasn’t told exactly how much gear is included, a recent Injustice 2 trailer seems to indicate quite bit.
Hands-on with Injustice 2
Later in the evening, I got my much anticipated chance to try out Injustice 2. For my head-to-head battle I chose Swamp Thing, a character I was told was slow by deadly. Immediately I was amazed at how fast the game ran—60fps without any dips at all. It was also exciting to see elements like clashes, environmental interactions, and stage transitions all back in this version.
Swamp Thing, as I discovered, is an awesome grappler with a very unique skill set. He can create vines and branches to aid him in battle, and can attack from any distance. For instance, he can turn his arm into a thick wooden club and bash his opponent into the ground. I also did this cool combo move where I made a clone of myself that joined me in the pummeling. Last but not least, I managed to pull off his cinematic super move called Green Kingdom. With it, Swamp Thing draw his opponent into an underground cavern and a giant fist punch the daylights out them. It was really cool to see!
While my time with the game was limited, I was really impressed with how fast and fluid the gameplay was. I cannot wait to get my hands on the final game and explore the dozens of characters on the roster!
I had an absolute blast at the Canadian launch of Injustice 2, and now I’m even more pumped for the game’s release. Injustice 2 is coming on May 16th, just a few days away!
If you’re interested in pre-ordering the game, I’ve provided the links below. Also, I’d love to know which heroes or villains you’re most looking forward to playing as. Let me know in the comments section below!
Injustice 2 pre-order links:
Pre-order Injustice 2 for PS4
Pre-order Injustice 2 for Xbox One
