Review | Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League
As a big fan of the Batman Arkham games, I was heartbroken after playing Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagues alpha test. The shooter component and associated live service model took some time to get used to. In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, heroes are villains and villains are heroes.
Developer Rocksteady set a new standard for licensed games in general and superhero games in particular two console generations ago with Batman: Arkham Asylum. Although Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is narratively a continuation of the same Arkhamverse, the British studio takes a radically different approach in terms of content.
The game’s story sets exactly the right tone: light-hearted, funny, a bit crazy, but above all believable. At its strongest moments, it’s reminiscent of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy films. Brainiac has attacked Metropolis, Superman’s city, and brainwashed some members of the Justice League. Commander Amanda Waller retrieves Deadshot, Harley Quinn, King Shark and Captain Boomerang from Arkham Prison to stop Brainiac. And you guessed it, for that you have to go straight through the Justice League.
Of course, the four psychopaths also have to deal with each other, their erratic leader Waller and her right-hand man Rick Flag. Yes, Kill the Justice League is once again packed with iconic and obscure DC characters, and they are all convincingly portrayed by the voice actors. From Batman (played by the late Kevin Conroy, of course) and Wonder Woman to Riddler and Gizmo, as well as Task Force X itself; the acting is convincing, the chemistry between characters is there and that often creates hilarious scenes.
In between you mainly carry out the same types of missions. For example, there is a mission in which you have to escort a number of people to Toyman’s bus. Sometimes these are Rick Flag’s soldiers, other times Penguin’s henchmen, but the mission itself is exactly the same, except for that cosmetic detail and the location on the map, every time, right down to the animations.
Moreover, it hardly matters whether you have to evacuate people, escort a van, or destroy turrets. Bottom line, Suicide Squad mainly consists of jumping around with everyone’s unique traversal abilities (Deashot uses a jetpack, Boomerang a Speed Force Gauntlet, Harley Quinn takes up Batman’s grappling hook and King Shark can just jump really far.) and shooting at everything that moves.
Let’s be honest: shooting, jumping, flying, pounding, running and swinging goes very smoothly. The four anti-heroes all have slightly different skills, but the controls allow them to operate all four with almost the same speed. As soon as the controls click a bit, the game makes you feel strong and powerful, just like the games with Batman and Spider-Man do. Not an unimportant detail in a superhero (or rather villain?) game.
To make Suicide Squad playable for longer – beyond the end of the story – collect new weapons and gear every time. You can then also upgrade and modify that gear. The problem is that none of it really matters.
Your weapons have more stats than necessary, because the only number that matters is how much damage you do per second. Especially in the midst of the chaotic shootings, every gun feels and sounds the same. Side characters whose sole function is to modify those weapons and gear are therefore just as forgettable as Milton.
It’s a shame that your loot still plays such a major role in the game. The cutscenes, for example, are beautiful, well written and also feature excellent voice work. Often a shame is the score screen after a battle, which completely takes you out of the story.
Despite its flaws, Rocksteady still shows at certain moments that it is still a talented studio. The city is beautifully and richly designed, with all kinds of unreal art deco constructions and countless references to the DC universe and all its inhabitants, it is definitely worthwhile to go on a sightseeing tour of the city.
Suicide Squad is also technically well put together. The game looks colorful, sharp and lightning fast. During battles, the frame rate remains quite stable at 60fps, even during the bizarrely chaotic final battle, a feat in itself.
Still, it’s clear that Suicide Squad and Rocksteady are not a happy marriage. The studio’s talent is clearly visible when it comes to the technology, the acrobatic fighting and the voice acting, but the boring missions and meaningless loot make Suicide Squad a mess. After about ten hours, Task Force X’s mission is over. However, Suicide Squad still has all kinds of endgame content to offer and new seasons will be released soon, which will also add other anti-heroes to the game.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. For this review, the game was played on an Xbox Series X.
Score:
0,0
+ High-quality voice acting
+ Fighting feels powerful
+ Stable frame rates under impressive conditions
– Repetitive missions
– Scoring and loot screens are often annoying interruptions
News | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will release May 26
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be released on May 26, 2023.
That was announced during The Game Awards. The game was supposed to be released in 2022, but was already postponed to 2023 this spring. So now a precise release date is known. You can watch a new trailer below.
It was also announced that the late actor Kevin Conroy has once again crawled into Batman’s suit to voice him. Conroy first played Batman in the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series. He then reprized the role several times, including in the Batman Arkham games. He died of cancer on November 10.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set in the universe of developer Rocksteady’s Arkham games, who are also responsible for this game. The game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
News | Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy (66) passed away
Voice actor Kevin Conroy has died at age 66. He was most famous for his iconic role as Batman.
Diane Pershing, another protagonist of Batman: The Animated Series, confirms this via Facebook. Conroy suffered from cancer and died after a short illness.
Conroy began his career in theater and made his superhero debut in 1992 in Batman: The Animated Series. He then provided voices for various films, series and games, including the Arkham games. He recently had a role in Multiversus. Previously, he also starred in Injustice and Lego DC Super-Villains. He was also featured in projects outside the DC universe, including Crusaders of Might and Magic, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, and Max Payne 2.
Stunned by the loss of this brilliant actor. Words can't express my admiration and respect for the man. I loved him like a brother.#RIPKevinConroy đź’” pic.twitter.com/THlaZ2uTSh
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) November 11, 2022
Many celebrities reflect on his death, including Mark Hamill: “Stunned by the passing of this brilliant actor. There are no words that can express my admiration and respect for this man. I loved him like a brother,” the actor writes. on Twitter.
Review | Gotham Knights
If you've been in someone else's shadow for years, it can be quite difficult when the spotlight is suddenly on you. At Gotham Knights, it's not just the four new Guardians of Gotham struggling with their new status.
It’s almost impossible not to compare Gotham Knights to the Arkham games. While the Arkham trilogy was primarily developed by sister studio Rocksteady Studios, WB Games MontrĂ©al developed the prequel Arkham Origins. This studio is also inextricably linked to these legendary superhero games. However, Gotham Knights is not a continuation of the ‘Arkhamverse’, but offers its own, unique story. Without Batman.
At least: the Caped Crusader does of course play a role in Gotham Knights. At the beginning of the game, Bats is killed and now it is up to his four protĂ©gĂ©s to continue his work. Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin and Red Hood team up on a case involving the world’s greatest detective at the time. They set up headquarters in the Belfry, an old clock tower, and fight crime in Gotham from here every night. They track down the Court of Owls, a secret society that has been pulling the strings behind the scenes of Gotham for centuries.
That sounds like the breeding ground for an interesting plot with some other enemies than the standard Joker or Two-Face, but Gotham Knights never really knows how to surprise. The game obediently follows the standard pattern of a superhero story, so that despite a handful of memorable moments you see the most important revelations coming from afar. That in itself is not a disaster, because the story mainly offers a reason to hit a lot of enemies on the nose.
After all, that’s what you do most: smash enemies into each other. The combat system in Gotham Knights is very simple and has no block or counter mechanisms. It’s all about attacking and dodging and that feels a bit rudimentary. The much-discussed frame rate of 30 fps is not the reason for this; after all, the Arkham games played as smooth as an eel in a bucket of WD-40 even on the PlayStation 3. Without counters, everything just flows a little less smoothly.
As a result, a certain grind quickly creeps into the fights. Many enemies look alike and you can defeat them with the same tactics. For variety, you can select a different superhero for each mission, but don’t expect to suddenly play a completely different game after changing the night watch. The different fighting styles are mainly cosmetic; in the end they all have about the same attacks. For example, where Red Hood shoots with his (non-lethal) pistols, Batgirl throws a Batarang.
The biggest challenge is created by the level system. Enemies later in the game still look exactly the same, but because of their higher level, it simply takes longer before they go down.
It’s especially frustrating that the level system puts so much pressure on the game’s progress. Certain side missions play out nicely in their own story arc with their own villain, but you have to play them in an almost completely fixed order in between. Otherwise, you’ll either be too weak for the main story or way too strong for the side mission if you pick it up later.
Along with this level system hangs an loot and craft system. You unlock new packs and weapons all the time, and the level system practically forces you to blindly choose your strongest gear. You can craft something yourself with the countless raw materials you collect.
Fortunately, your four heroes level at the same time, so you don’t have to train them one by one. The main and side missions together also give you enough XP to continue, so you don’t have to grind in the city.
Crimes take place in various places in the city, such as robberies, hostage-taking, or organ trafficking. The four vigilantes can solve those crimes by taking out everyone. Every now and then you can also chase the bat moped through the streets of Gotham.
The city is very atmospheric, especially if you take the time to take it in. When the clouds break open and the silver moonlight in the wet streets merges with the red and purple neon of nightclubs and billboards, ray tracing, volumetric lighting and the 4K resolution come together in harmony.
Even when the game comes out positively, there always seems to be a poorly thought-out development choice. In a number of missions, the game surprises by tailoring dialogues or even pieces of gameplay to the hero (in) you control at that moment. Then you want to be able to replay such a mission as a different hero, but that is not an option. The game encourages you to switch, but then gives each hero his or her own story.
Gotham Knights certainly also has highlights, but much more often plays it safe and unfortunately monotonous. The co-op mode cannot change that either. There are no special attacks for two players; it remains the same monotonous fighting game, but with two superheroes on screen.
Gotham Knights is nu verkrijgbaar voor PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X en S, en pc. For this review the game has been played on a PlayStation 5.
Score:
7,0
+ Beautiful and atmospheric city.
+ Satisfying combat system.
+
+ ,
– Level system is way too decisive
–
Game Guide | Gotham Knights
Achievement / Trophy guide
Overview:
– Estimated achievement difficulty:Â 3/10
– Offline: 49 (1
, 2
, 7
, 39
)
– Online: 0
– Approximate amount of time to 1000
 / 
Platinum: 18-20 Hours
– Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 1, but must play some New Game+ to reach Max Level (Level 40 not available in 1st playthrough).
– Missable achievements  : No
– Does difficulty affect achievements: No, can do everything on easiest difficultyÂ
– Unobtainable/glitched achievements :Â No
– PS4/PS5 Autopop & Save Transfer:Â No, game is on PS5 only.
– PS4/PS5 Crossbuy:Â No, game is on PS5 only.
– Free-Roam / Level Select after Story?: Yes, there is still Free-Roam after the story, but there is no Mission Replay
– Extra equipment needed:Â No
– Release Date: October 21, 2022
Welcome to the Gotham Knights Trophy Guide! The game is set in the Batman universe but you play 4 different heroes: Batgirl, Red Hood, Nightwing, Robin. The trophy list doesn’t lock you into playing a specific character or playstyle. You can pick whoever you like best, there’s nothing missable and nothing to look out for. Your character level is shared between all 4 heroes so feel free to switch between them, you don’t have to stick to the same one. It’s best to play through the story first because it gradually unlocks side activities tied to trophies. Then do the side content and collectibles, then mop up what you have left, then start New Game+ to increase the level cap for reaching max level. It’s a pretty fun and easy platinum. Everything can be done on the lowest difficulty and completely offline solo. The Batcycle time trials are also very easy and quick. Enjoy the game any way you desire.
Step 1: Finish Main Story (6 Hours)
For the first step, simply finish the Main Story. This will make available various Side Activities, Side Quests (“Villain Cases”), Collectible Types, and Enemy Factions – all of which are tied to trophies. After the story you will have access to everything. Nothing is missable, you can do everything after the story in Free-Roam. The difficulty you pick doesn’t matter, can do everything on “Very Easy”. You don’t need to look out for anything. If you already want to work on side activities as they become available, refer to Step 2 for a list of all side content.
There are only 8 Main Missions, a story-focused playthrough takes about 6 hours including all cutscenes:
- Case 01: Batman’s Last Case
- Case 02: The Rabbit Hole
- Case 03: In the Shadows
- Case 04: The Masquerade
- Case 05: The Court of Owls
- Case 06: Jacob Kane
- Case 07: The League of Shadows
- Case 08: Head of the Demon
Step 2: Villain Cases (2Â Hours), Side Activities (1-2 Hours), Collectibles (3 Hours)
After the story you will have access to all side content. Do all of the following:
Villain Cases (3 Total):
- HQ01: Harley Quinn –  Get ReQ’d,  Working Hard or Harley Working?,  Universal Health Scare
- FR01: Mr. Freeze –  To the Victor Go the Spoils,  Quartzer Life Crisis,  Snow Problem,  Cooldown
- CF01: Clayface –  Something in the Clay,  The Show Mud Go On,  Rock and a Hard Place
Side Activities (40Â Total):
- 12 Secret Caches (Bruce Wayne’s Hidden Audio Recordings) –  Gotham City Confidential
- 5 Secret Identity Compromised –  Solid Alibi
- 7 Batcycle Time Trials –  Bat Out of Hell
- 16 Training Arena Exercises –  Practice Makes Perfect
Collectibles (154 Total):
- 60 Batarangs –  Batarang Collector
- 42 Historia Strigidae Pages –  Read Owl About It
- 12 Street Art (Murals) –   Claiming the Mural High Ground
- 40 Landmarks –  History Major
Step 3:Â Farm 250 Crimes, get Enemy-Specific Trophies, Craft Full Legendary Set (5 Hours)
At this point you will likely still need the 250 Crimes, crafting a full Legendary Set, some of the “kill specific enemy type a number of times”, and getting 50 modchips from mod fusions.
You can combine all of this nicely. Keep grinding out random crimes until you have the trophy for doing 250 total. Doing the white crimes (small crimes) counts for the 250 total. In the end-of-night results screen it will only show the number of red crimes you did, but don’t be fooled by it, the white crimes are much quicker to do and are confirmed to count for the trophy. From doing all the crimes you should also get your remaining enemy-specific trophies. They also drop lots of mods to use for mod fusions.
For the legendary crafting materials, the best way is to do “High Difficulty” Premeditated Crimes to find “Gotham’s Most Wanted” enemies, they are rare spawns that drop around 250+ legendary crafting materials. Then use the legendary materials to craft a suit, melee weapon, ranged weapon.
If you like, you can actually combine some of this step with the 4th step in New Game+, but be careful to get the trophies tied to endgame enemies out of the way first (10 Man-Bats, killing enemies from late-game enemy factions). Otherwise, you’d have to replay all of the story in NG+ to respawn those enemies. Once you start New Game+ there’s no way to go back to your 1st playthrough save, so be very sure you got everything you want before continuing with Step 4.
Step 4: New Game+ to reach Max Level (2-4 Hours)
In the first playthrough the level cap was 30. To reach Max Level (40) you have to start New Game+ from the Title Screen, available after finishing the main story for the first time on any difficulty. All your progress carries over. However, once you start, it overwrites your story progress from the 1st playthrough and there’s no way back. To get from Level 30 to Level 40 you can either farm crimes in the open world or replay half the story. It should only take about 2-4 hours if you skip cutscenes.
Heir to the Cowl
Earn every Trophy in Gotham Knights
News | Take another look at the upcoming Gotham Knights
Warner Bros. Games released a new trailer for Gotham Knights, which mainly focuses on gameplay from the game.
The publisher is calling it a “gameplay launch trailer” as the game will be released in two weeks. Check out the trailer below.
In Gotham Knights, players take on the role of Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood and Batgirl, shortly after the death of an important figure in Gotham. The game should have a “dynamic and interactive” open world that will house famous villains such as the Court of Owls.
Gotham Knights is out October 21 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. Initially, the game was also going to come to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but that version was canceled.
News | Multiversus Beta Hits Over 140,000 Simultaneous Players on Steam
The beta of Multiversus officially started yesterday is proving very popular on Steam. Last night there were 140,868 concurrent players.
As a result, the game came in fifth place on the list of most popular Steam games. At the time of writing, the game is in ninth place.
Yesterday, the game’s open beta officially began – allowing anyone to try the game out. Previously, however, the beta was already available to a select group of players. The game has since become the most popular fighting game on Steam.
The beta is not only available on PC , it can also be played on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Xbox consoles. There is also cross-play available. People can choose from seventeen characters.
Multiversus is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring various characters from Warner Bros. franchises. The game mainly focuses on 2v2 combat, but 1v1 and a four-player free-for-all mode is also available.
News | Comic series serves as a prequel to Gotham Knights
A comic series will be released that will serve as a prequel to the upcoming game Gotham Knights.
DC made the announcement during the Gothem Panel at San Diego Comic-Con. The series will consist of six issues and is called Gotham Knights – Gilded City. Where Batman does not appear in the game, he can be found in the comics. He tries to stop a virus in Gotham City that is making everyone aggressive.
The game should have a dynamic and interactive open game world that houses famous villains such as the Court of Owls. Gotham Knights will be released on October 25 for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. The game was originally scheduled for release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but that version has been canceled.
News | New Gotham Knights trailer is all about Batgirl
A new Gotham Knights trailer revolves around one of the playable characters, Batgirl.
Batgirl is also known as Barbara Gordon, a trained fighter and a hacker. She uses both her muscles and her brain to take on the bad guys in Gotham.
The game should have a dynamic and interactive open world that houses famous villains such as the Court of Owls.
Gotham Knights will be released on October 25 for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. The game was originally scheduled for release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but that version has been canceled.
News | Open beta MultiVersus starts on July 26
The MultiVersus open beta will be held from July 26.
That’s what Warner Bros. Games announced. The beta will be available to everyone on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, and Xbox One. Full cross-play is available. People who have already participated in previous testing periods for the game will have access to the beta as early as July 19.
There are eight different maps in the beta, including the Batcave, Scooby’s Haunted Mansion and the Tree Fort from Adventure Team. Modes like 2 vs. 2 cooperative, 1 vs. 1 matches, 4-player free-for-all and co-op vs. AI are provided. For the first time, local matches for four players can also be played.
In a new trailer, the character Iron Giant was also shown in action for the first time. Other characters in the game include Batman, Superman, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman, Shaggy, Velma, Tasmanian Devil, Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, Jake and Finn from Adventure Time and Steven Universe.