Community Review — Injustice: Gods Among Us

27 responses to “Community Review — Injustice: Gods Among Us”

1. 

   drcurlytek

   April 29, 2013 at 11:09 am

   I think my copy of Injustice (Special Edition) is at the delivery dock at work, will pick it up this afternoon for some play time tonight. Looks an interesting game from what I’ve seen so far, but hopefully the crappy online multiplayer code will be tweaked to improve performance soon.

   Reply
2. 

   distantdrop

   April 29, 2013 at 11:15 am

   shmexy dollop of fan service

   Apart from Harley Quinn’s skin it’s nothing to write home about? or am I missing something?

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   1. 

      piat

      April 29, 2013 at 11:17 am

      Fan service is not always in the anime sense

      Reply
3. 

   badger

   April 29, 2013 at 11:22 am

   I find Netherealm Studios games clunky, Injustice included. From watching other people play them, though, they seem to be a lot more appealing to non fighting-game players than other series like Tekken, Soul Cal, Virtua Fighter, etc. You don’t need a lot of experience or skill to make something big, flashy, and highly damaging happen.

   So it’s not a game for me, but I think I understand why some people love it.

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   1. 

      badger

      April 29, 2013 at 11:31 am

      Holy crap that sounded patronising. For the record, I don’t think it’s a bad game, and I get that there are people with excellent taste, fighting game fans included, who will love it.

      My first impression of the game was dismissive, but experiencing it with others helped me see its positives.

      Reply
      1. 

         rowan

         April 29, 2013 at 1:39 pm

         I didn’t think it sounded patronising at all. You spoke your mind, but didn’t put anyone else down for thinking otherwise. Well said!

         Reply
      2. 

         ashuramgs2sub

         April 29, 2013 at 2:21 pm

         I don’t think it was meant to sound patronising. Part of the charm of Netherrealm games is that once you get past how clunky they feel when compared to other fighting games, it’s easy to get in and learn some basic combos and start doing ‘cool shit’ without needing a background in fighting games. Dead or Alive is similar in that it’s easy for someone who doesn’t play fighting games to get in and have fun without having to learn multiple movesets or advanced techniques (such as cancels, parrys, FADCing, etc). Netherrealm games and DOA games are the few fighting games that I can get friends to play who don’t really touch the genre and have them enjoy the experience as much as I do as someone who’s a big fighting game fan, which is a huge credit to those studios.

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         1. 

            n0neoftheab0ve

            April 29, 2013 at 9:11 pm

            Looks like fun (played the demo), while Tekken is more my speed I do like the ability to throw dumpsters at your opponents.

            The character design for Batman though – is hideous

            Reply
            1. 

               zac

               April 30, 2013 at 7:52 am

               A lot of the characters are pretty…different in their design. I’m not a fan of them, most of them are wearing an armoured version of their regular suit. I can see why, but it just feels wrong. But there are skins that you can get that go back to the regular suits

   2. 

      Neo Kaiser

      April 29, 2013 at 12:49 pm

      I disagree. I think Netherealm Studios makes thier games more accessible to less then hardcore fighting players.

      One thing I’ve always disliked about fighting games like SF, is that when you first buy the game you have to spend a couple of hours in training just to figure out how the game plays. Usually with more then neccessary button imputs for simple attacks. Not only that, but the games aren’t designed with console controllers in mind, meaning if you really want to take it seriously, you have to spend 200 bucks on controller that will only be used for this game. Not only that, but they list the attacks and not the button inputs. Light punch is X? Why not just tell me to press X?

      In Injustice? Just pause the game, your moves are listed there. Select combos and mark simple combos on the screen. Now you can easily remember special attacks and do simple combos. Barely 5 minutes in training. Can even start the story mode and learn as you play, don’t need to spend hours figuring out how to do the attacks. Then you can start learning more complex attacks like meter burning, juggling, dash cancelling, ect. I spent 5 minutes in training with Catwoman and I already taught myself a simple combo attack that reduces health by 25%. Not as strong as someone with more experience, but I don’t need a post-it note to remember that light attack = A.

      Reply
      1. 

         n0neoftheab0ve

         May 2, 2013 at 9:45 am

         Agree 100% about SF. Not using the console button prompts is either laziness, pig-headedness or both

         Reply
   3. 

      kinggeorgevii

      April 29, 2013 at 1:01 pm

      No, you don’t.

      If you understood why people loved it, you’d realise it’s because it’s a fighting game based on tactics, not combo memorisation.

      Reply
4. 

   mitchyd1989

   April 29, 2013 at 11:27 am

   I bought it on Friday and love it. The story mode doesn’t last long, it took probably a few hours to finish, but the actual fighting is awesome, the interactivity of the places you fight in etc is insane. I picked it up from Harvey Norman for $68 (no other places sell games in my town so don’t hurt me, lol) and can definitely say it’s worth it.

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5. 

   gunnie

   April 29, 2013 at 12:23 pm

   Picked this up on the wkend. It’s a lot of fun, I really dig the super moves (Batman uses this Batmobile in his) and the arena transitions but I think MK9 is slightly better. I’m still trying to figure out the combos and how to use the meter burn though.

   Anyway for those that have it, did you get an instruction manual at all? I have it on 360 and when I first opened it, it only had the CD in it. It was sealed with that Xbox side sticker on it. I know it’s covered fairly well in the tutorial but I just hate this trend these days. I actually enjoy flicking through a physical game manual before I dive into a game.

   Reply
   1. 

      mrtaco

      April 29, 2013 at 12:42 pm

      My friend’s PS3 copy had two things in it – a slip of paper for the DLC codes, and a “manual”. Except it was hardly a manual at all. Literally all it contained was “setup information” (ie put the disc in the machine and go), I think there was a blank page for notes, then license and warranty information. Not even so much as a basic description of the game or controls.

      Disgusting, imo.

      Reply
      1. 

         zac

         April 30, 2013 at 7:49 am

         I got the collector’s edition and that’s all I got as well. The thing is, though, it doesn’t really matter since the controls and combos are available in-game. It’s not a huge cost but those manuals, that very few people actually read, can add to a cost for the developer. The information is all there, on the pause screen. If you’re going to stop a fight halfway through to pick up the manual, you’re going to pause the game.

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         1. 

            mrtaco

            April 30, 2013 at 11:46 am

            If the added costs are so great, then why aren’t the manualless games cheaper than the ones with the manuals?

            And there’s more to know about the game mechanics than just the movesets.

            Reply
            1. 

               zac

               May 1, 2013 at 9:33 am

               The costs/savings aren’t passed onto the consumer either because a) retailers don’t pass on any saving or b) the developer doesn’t usually pass the cost on to the consumer. It’s not a huge cost, but it’s a cost.

               You’re right, there are other mechanics in the game, but that’s why there is a tutorial mode.

   2. 

      nevets

      April 29, 2013 at 12:46 pm

      No booklet here either – seems to be the way games are going. Cut back on costs by not printing a manual.

      I suck horribly at fighting games, but it is something you can button mash in story mode pretty easily. I’ve also found in some fights where I get blown away, hitting retry seems to really drop the difficulty which was great. Nothing worse than getting frustrated doing the same fight over and over again.

      Quick question though – the arena transitions, any tips? I keep trying to get them to work, big fail.

      Reply
      1. 

         mitchyd1989

         April 30, 2013 at 9:15 am

         Yeah they did the same with Mortal Kombat in that the difficulty dropped a little bit each time you lost a fight in story mode or the challenge tower, I think it’s great.

         Arena transitions are pretty simple, you get the opponent close to either end of an arena, and if there’s a transition for that side, hold the directional button away from them and press A (or X on PS3) and that’s it. Not both ends of every arena have a transition.

         Reply
6. 

   vapor

   April 29, 2013 at 1:01 pm

   Unfortunately a lot of games are doing that now. There are quite a few reasons for it (It saves them money on printing, looks good for the environment, ect), but the material girl in me cries everytime it happens.

   Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was the most recent one to do it to me. Sure I can access the manual in game, but it’s just not the same. Many fond memories of getting a new game, and being driven home by mum while reading the manual back to front and back again in anticipation.

   Reply
   1. 

      gunnie

      April 29, 2013 at 1:36 pm

      Yeh, I know what u mean. I hope Rockstar dont do this with GTAV. I’m sure they won’t. I loved how their game manual was a parody on those city guides. And they include full size map/posters.

      Reply
      1. 

         chrobaciky

         April 29, 2013 at 3:27 pm

         Nothing better than reading game manuals on the toilet.

         Reply
      2. 

         n0neoftheab0ve

         April 29, 2013 at 9:14 pm

         Given that Borderlands 2 had a manual (in Colour no less) I think Take Two still does them

         Reply
7. 

   scruffy

   April 29, 2013 at 2:12 pm

   My copy just arrived in the mail this morning and i’m enjoying it so far.
   It would have been cool to have Hamill or DiMaggio as the Joker though. Those guys set the bar pretty high.

   Reply
8. 

   cameronj

   April 29, 2013 at 2:17 pm

   I enjoyed the game, it seemed to me though that the difficulty slightly reduced when you lost a battle in story mode, as the retry was a lot easier. I like how they did the double health bars instead of having Round 1and Round 2. Kept the flow going

   Reply
9. 

   zac

   April 30, 2013 at 8:03 am

   SPOILERS BELOW

   Personally I love this game. The story mode was short and fun, the story itself was weak even for a comic book game and it felt like I was fighting the same characters often and others barely made an appearance. Batman managed to get two chapters, but I couldn’t play as Shazam? what’s up with that? From the beginning it was clear how the story was going to end, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun.
   It also wasn’t very clear on how to practice the game. S.T.A.R Labs is labelled as missions, but it’s really just practice mode for each character.
   It’s a gimmick and it doesn’t work but I liked the idea of some skins coming from the mobile version. In terms of gameplay it didn’t change much but you still get something cool. I managed to get the New 52 Green Lantern skin to work, but nothing else. On Green Lantern, they introduced Yellow Lantern and then you can’t play as him? That sucked
   It’s very clearly aimed at newer players to the fighting genre, few buttons for big bangs and fairly obvious pieces of scenery that are supposed to be interacted with. In that regard it felt a little forced.

   Overall I think it was great, it was fun and I don’t regret buying it for a second

   Reply
10. 

    Novakolbra

    May 28, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Having played the game to near completion,

    The story-mode shows off the best of both DC and NR story writing, a strong pro about the MK games is how well the story….for the most part…was pieced together beyond “I see you have a fist, lets Fight!” approach to plot. Injustice balances the comic fan service with the darker story writing of mortal kombat to reveal an engaging and edge of your seat plot, with cinematic fights weaved into it. Should you enjoy good story content or if you purchased the game because you can’t not have anything with DC’s name tag then this will not disappoint you.

    The Battle mode is by far the most challenging, and is best suited for the mid to experianced fighting gamers, following the tradition 10 battle ladder this mode provides hours of just cathartic mayhem. Be warned even the most veteran gamer will struggle with “The Max” as a personal challenge attempt to do it without using the Hawkgirl/Doomsday exploit.

    Star Labs was a stroke of genius, something apart from fighting in a fighting game breaks down it’s monotony keeping the re-playability of this game right up there. With a cornucopia of various mini-games, tutorials and stories for each of the characters (excluding DLC characters), anyone has the ability to become reasonably skilled with their favorite characters. This is a must see for those interested in more than just bloodying up your knuckles.

    Mobile App (just a mention) it’s fun it’s free, sucks that it’s only on apple. But find a friend who has one and unlock the skins. Don’t assume because it’s an accompanying app that it’s quality as a game is lacking, I actually found it surprising that such a good quality game was free.

    Now onto the multiplayer – to be honest if this is your bag, then have fun. Lag issues and cheap tactics run rampant across the online community like in any game. As of recently I have laid down my multiplayer gauntlets in response to the latest low punch spam wave that has struck the Injustice community.

    System : Not all is sunshine and roses however, I find that the game itself is really bad for my xbox having experienced several severe crashes during gameplay and disc loading. On occasion skins and DLC characters will vanish from my list and without a bit of tinkering (deleting your title update and re-downloading it once in a while.) the game can come to a complete stand still.

    I commend NR on their brilliant programming for “The Max” battle and the highest difficulty of their AI. However having a flawless reactive algorithm makes defeating it nearly impossible, to the point of frustration. I don’t know if the programmer realized that it’s the players that should eventually win the game not the AI.

    The final thing I wish to mention is the visual aesthetic, as most of you know the new inter-actable levels and multilayer levels are something that was a big seller. There is a good reason, with stunning cinematic and character design, the levels and maps are absolutely stunning, and it’s innovation will hopefully usher in a new standard for the fighting game genre.

    Reply