Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review – A Wild Ride with Bumps and Bruises

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the latest offering from Rocksteady Studios, throws players headfirst into a chaotic, over-the-top showdown against the corrupted Justice League. After several hours of grappling hooks, headshots, and explosive mayhem, the game leaves a distinctly mixed impression. While the core gameplay loop can be exhilarating and the narrative occasionally shines, several persistent issues prevent it from reaching its full potential, leaving us with a title that feels both promising and frustratingly incomplete. Gaming News takes a deep dive into the highs and lows of this ambitious, albeit flawed, superhero shooter.

A Narrative Bursting with Potential, But Struggling to Connect

The premise is undeniably captivating: Brainiac has invaded Earth, and the Justice League, under his insidious influence, has become a tyrannical force. Task Force X, a motley crew comprised of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, is reluctantly tasked with the unenviable mission of taking them down.

Strong Character Dynamics and Voice Acting

The strength of the narrative lies primarily in the interactions between the Suicide Squad members. The banter is sharp, often hilarious, and surprisingly insightful, exploring the group’s complex relationships and individual traumas. The voice acting is superb, with each actor perfectly embodying their respective character, bringing nuance and personality to the often-outlandish dialogue. Tara Strong’s Harley Quinn is a particular standout, capturing the character’s manic energy and underlying vulnerability with aplomb. Similarly, Samoa Joe delivers a compelling performance as King Shark, balancing the character’s brute strength with a surprising layer of childlike innocence.

Uneven Pacing and Missed Opportunities

However, the overall narrative suffers from uneven pacing and a tendency to prioritize bombastic action over meaningful character development. While the initial setup is compelling, the middle act feels somewhat rushed, with key plot points glossed over in favor of extended combat sequences. The game introduces several intriguing subplots, such as Amanda Waller’s manipulative tactics and the Squad’s internal conflicts, but these are often underdeveloped, leaving us wanting more. The emotional impact of facing a corrupted Justice League is also diminished by the repetitive nature of the boss battles, which often rely on generic shooter mechanics rather than exploiting the unique weaknesses of each hero.

The Death of the Justice League

A contentious topic for many fans, the game’s central premise of killing off iconic Justice League members has been met with mixed reactions. While the concept certainly generates a sense of urgency and stakes, the execution feels somewhat anticlimactic. The deaths themselves are often perfunctory, lacking the emotional weight and gravitas that one would expect from such pivotal moments. The game struggles to balance the shock value of these deaths with the need to maintain respect for these legendary characters.

Gameplay: A Looter-Shooter Rollercoaster

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League attempts to blend the frenetic action of a third-person shooter with the addictive loot grind of a live-service game. The result is a gameplay loop that can be incredibly satisfying in short bursts but ultimately falls short of its potential due to repetitive missions and a shallow progression system.

Exhilarating Traversal and Combat Mechanics

One of the game’s strongest assets is its traversal system. Each character possesses unique movement abilities that allow for fast-paced, acrobatic navigation of Metropolis. Harley Quinn utilizes a grappling hook, Deadshot wields a jetpack, King Shark leaps across vast distances, and Captain Boomerang teleports with his boomerang. These abilities are not only visually impressive but also integral to the combat, allowing players to quickly reposition themselves, evade enemy fire, and unleash devastating attacks from unexpected angles. The core combat mechanics are equally engaging, with a focus on fast-paced shooting, melee combos, and utilizing each character’s unique special abilities.

Repetitive Missions and Shallow Progression

Despite the solid foundation, the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive due to a limited variety of mission objectives. Most missions boil down to defending a point, escorting an object, or eliminating a wave of enemies. The lack of environmental variety and the predictable enemy AI further contribute to the sense of monotony. While the game features a loot system with a wide range of weapons, gear, and mods, the progression feels shallow and unrewarding. Many of the upgrades provide only marginal improvements, and the constant need to grind for better gear detracts from the overall experience.

Live-Service Elements and Endgame Content

As a live-service game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League promises ongoing content updates and endgame activities. However, the current endgame content feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged in the long run. The available missions are essentially recycled versions of the main campaign, with slightly increased difficulty and minor cosmetic rewards. The game’s reliance on repetitive grinding and microtransactions further exacerbates the issue, creating a sense of artificial progression that undermines the player’s sense of accomplishment.

Visuals and Performance: A Mixed Bag

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League boasts impressive visuals, with a detailed and vibrant rendition of Metropolis. The character models are well-designed, and the environments are filled with intricate details, from crumbling skyscrapers to bustling city streets.

Stunning Visuals and Detailed Environments

The game’s art style strikes a balance between realism and comic book aesthetics, creating a visually appealing and immersive world. The special effects are particularly impressive, with explosions, energy beams, and other visual flourishes adding to the sense of spectacle. The game also features a dynamic weather system that adds further depth and realism to the environments.

Performance Issues and Technical Glitches

However, the game’s visual fidelity comes at a cost, as it suffers from noticeable performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. Frame rate drops and stuttering are common occurrences, especially during intense combat sequences. The game is also plagued by a number of technical glitches, including texture pop-in, audio issues, and occasional crashes. These technical issues detract from the overall experience and can be particularly frustrating during critical moments.

Conclusion: A Promising Start, But Needs Refinement

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a game with a lot of potential, but it ultimately falls short of expectations due to its repetitive gameplay, shallow progression system, and technical issues. While the narrative has moments of brilliance and the character interactions are genuinely entertaining, the overall experience feels uneven and unpolished.

The game’s strengths lie in its exhilarating traversal mechanics, engaging combat, and impressive visuals. However, these elements are overshadowed by the repetitive mission structure, the lack of meaningful progression, and the persistent performance issues. As a live-service game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has the potential to improve over time with future updates and content additions. However, in its current state, it feels like a promising start that needs further refinement. Gaming News awards Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League a score of 6.5/10. We recommend waiting for further updates and improvements before diving into this chaotic, albeit flawed, superhero adventure.