Injustice 2 Preview: Building a Better Batman

Most superhero video games allow fans to take part in the stories that they love. We can be Batman or Spider-Man as they fight crime and save the city. Other superhero video games however, like fighting games, allow us to tap into the burning questions of “What if?” What if Batman fought Superman? What if Aquaman fought Supergirl? Who wins? Why? NetherRealm Studios‘ Injustice: Gods Among Us let us play out these questions and its upcoming sequel appears to be letting us ask even more.

The major changes from Injustice to Injustice 2 are primarily in the character roster and the customization. 28 slots sat on the selection screen of the demo I played and I tried my best to figure out who these characters were that were being obstructed from my view. However, in an effort to prevent nosey folks like me from guessing the roster, the NetherRealm team added silhouettes of famous movie characters to throw us off. For a brief moment I thought Jonah Hex was in the game but quickly realized it was Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars, among many others. I asked one of the developers how many characters will be in the final tally and he said they weren’t sure, so the sky is the limit.

The customization is the big change to Injustice 2, however, and allows players to create their own definitive version of each of the characters in the game. After every match, be it a victory or a loss, players are rewarded with new gear for their character. Helmets, body armor, arms, legs, and capes can all be customized and changed and some even feature damage or defensive bonuses when equipped. Furthermore, you can alter the color of the gear, from the color of the individual items or a palate for the entire costume.

As far as gameplay, Injustice 2 remains similar enough to its predecessor with simple controls that are easy to master. Even if you’re not keen on fighting games, it’s easy to pick up and play. Like the previous game, each character is given a special ability that recharges over the course of the match and proves to be quite useful. One big improvement comes in the form of the character’s super power abilities. These over-the-top efforts by the player can send their enemy into the sky, sea, and crashing down to Earth. They flow much better than in the original game and with the added improved visuals look like the kind of comic book splash pages we’re all used to seeing.

Every battle matters in Injustice 2 because they’re all going to be different. Once the game has been out long enough and you hop online, you’ll never see the same Batman twice, and I was assured there are “thousands” of gear options so that’s a guarantee. Customization in games looks to be the thing that games are gravitating toward and it’s doubly exciting when it comes to crafting your ideal superheroes, or villains.

Injustice 2 will be released on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2017. You can pre-order the game by clicking here.