About a week before the release of Injustice: Gods Among Us I wrote an article analyzing the roster for the game and gave my opinion about each character that was announced as to why I felt they were a good fit for the game or as to why I felt that their inclusion was a bad choice. Now, after playing the game for about a month, I want to look back at the game’s roster, my initial feelings and whether or not I still feel the same way or differently about the characters that DC and NetherRealm chose to be in the game. For the most part, Injustice: Gods Among Us is an incredible fighting game that really has no rivals on the market at this point. Merging the best of Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and the 2011 reboot of Mortal Kombat and blending it with one of the best storylines in a fighting game that I have ever seen, the game is bar none above any fighting game released in the past two years and ranks among the best fighting games of this generation. But that doesn’t mean that it has the best roster of characters in it.
As much as I loved the game, I just can’t get around why some characters were chosen and some left out, especially when it comes to the “Batman family” of characters in the game. Do we really need SEVEN characters related to Batman out of (currently) 26 selectable characters? I mean, damn – one quarter of the roster is Batman-related. I get it; Batman vs. Superman is the underlying fight in the game, but come on… DC and NetherRealm couldn’t find other interesting characters out there or what? Ugh! Anyway, I am going to take a look back at my previous list and refine it here to reflect how I feel now that I have played the game and experienced what every currently available character has to offer.
Aquaman
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Atlantean Rage
Initially I was impressed with both the inclusion of Aquaman in the game and the way he appeared. I liked the new costume he was in and the Regime version of the character was pretty awesome looking as well. Also, given his strength and power and the cool factor of his super move, Aquaman was a nice addition to the game. After playing the game, I still feel the same way about the character and I have even found some new respect for the character because of it. I still think he is a crap, second rate character in the comics but he pulls off being a total badass in the game.
New Assessment: A
Ares
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Annihilator
I was kind of high on Ares being in the game. He is an awesome Wonder Woman villain and his powers as a god would definitely fit in with some of the heavy hitters in the game. Though his super move is a bit weak (do you think the makers of the game watched 300 enough times?) it still looks pretty cool. Again, this is another character that I thought would be a good addition and my opinion of that has neither been heightened nor fallen. He was a decent addition and filled out his role in the game nicely. And, he even had something important to do with the story, which was a nice change.
New Assessment: B
Bane
Initial Assessment: D
Super Move: Break the Bat
I said it many times before but I will say it again here: I absolutely hate the character of Bane. He was a one shot character that has completely outlived any kind of usefulness. So to say that I wasn’t a fan of him being included in the roster of the game is a huge understatement. Even his super move couldn’t move the character passed his initial use and again proves that the character is a one trick pony. Though he played a lot better than I thought he would in the game he really has no full use besides a multiplayer vs. match that gamers would enjoy.
New Assessment: C
Batgirl
Initial Assessment: N/A
Super Move: High-Wire Act
Batgirl is a good addition to the game. She brings in some speed, finesse and a bit of attitude and humor to the game. My only problem with Batgirl being in the game, and this is no fault of the character herself, is that there are way too many Batman related characters in the game already. They make up a little over a quarter of the roster. I get that Batman is DC’s cash cow, but some variety would have been of batter service to the game than what is presented. What a shame too because her super move is one of my favorites. Oh well. A great character who only gets a low score for being part of Batman’s crew. Actually, you know what – fuck it. High marks for being a great character.
New Assessment: A
Batman
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: The Dark Knight
As always, I was pretty high on Batman being included in the game since he has proven to be quite popular with the fans. Plus, knowing of the somewhat rivalry kind of relationship Batman has with Superman, I thought this would be a fun aspect to play off in the game – and it was to a certain degree. That is until I actually played as Batman. Ugh, I absolutely hate how he moves in the game. I think there was a little too much emphasis trying to make Batman move like he did in the Arkham series of games instead of making him work as a fighting character. His finishing move is kind of cool, but that is not enough to impress me with the character all that much.
New Assessment: C
Black Adam
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Teth-Adam
I was actually kind of surprised that the Black Adam character would be included in the game, but I totally like the character. His place in the story makes sense, even if it kind of undermines another’s. Still, his move set, including his super move, and the way he plays in the game is pretty damn fun. I actually had more fun with Black Adam than I did his counterpart. These are the kinds of characters that I think the game would have benefited more from than multiple characters from one stable of comics. I was high on Black Adam before and I still remain so now.
New Assessment: A
Catwoman
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Nine Lives
Speed and agility. That is what Catwoman brings to the roster of the game. The way she moves and fights is fun to watch and a joy to control. Just try out her super move to see what I mean. I wish more character would have been made to play like her because there are too many powerhouse characters in the game for my taste. I wasn’t sure how Catwoman would play in the game when she was first announced but I am glad to say that she turned out a lot better than I had anticipated.
New Assessment: A
Cyborg
Initial Assessment: D
Super Move: Target Locked
While I may like the character of Cyborg as a Teen Titans and even a Justice League member, I don’t think that he quite fit in well within the game. I didn’t like his moves and fighting style; hell, even his super move didn’t impress me. I went into the game believing that and after playing the game extensively with every character I still feel the same way about Cyborg. I just don’t like how he fit into the game… though I will admit that I liked the Regime version of the character’s costume.
New Assessment: D
Deathstroke
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Eye for an Eye
Deathstroke definitely turned out to be one of my favorite characters to use in the game. Then again, I had a bias towards the character going into it since he is one of my favorite characters in the DCU. Even still, I knew that because of the character’s background, he would be a natural fit in a fighting game. Thankfully his move set, super move and the way he plays were all reflective of the character that I have liked since his debut. I liked the character going in and still feel the same way now.
New Assessment: A
Doomsday
Initial Assessment: F
Super Move: Mass Destruction
Oh jeez, here is another of those character that I felt should have been one and done when their purpose in the comic book storylines had been fulfilled. Instead the character has managed to linger on in the comics and has since made his way onto the roster of this game. While I may not have fully liked the character of Doomsday being included in the game he actually wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be, including a super move that actually was quite super. However he didn’t impress me that much.
New Assessment: D
Flash
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Speed Zone
The character of Flash really surprised me in the game. I knew I would probably like him when I heard he was on the roster, but after playing quite a bit with the character he became one of my favorite characters on the roster. He moves speedily and gracefully in the game and controls like a dream. He also has this simple but devastation move set, including an awesome super move that really shows off the character’s strengths. I have to admit that I came out of the game liking him more than I did going in.
New Assessment: A
Green Arrow
Initial Assessment: C
Super Move: Arsenal Assault
Here is another character that I ended up liking more after playing the game than I did beforehand. I was quite surprised that Green Arrow was added to the roster – then again, considering how much DC is pushing the TV series I should not have been. But it was still fun trying my hand at playing with the character. He has some pretty good moves, though a weak super move, and is easily one of the easiest characters for players to get used to.
New Assessment: B
Green Lantern
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Beware My Power
Green Lantern is my absolute favorite DC comic book character. And I was excited as hell to see him included in the roster of the game. I may not have been thrilled with the way he was represented in the game, but he was still an awesome character to play in the game. His move set was a bit weak, and his super move was so-so, but he was still a great addition to the game and I am glad he was included.
New Assessment: B
Harley Quinn
Initial Assessment: C
Super Move: Mallet Bomb
While I love the character of Harley Quinn, I had some reservations about her being included in the game. I just didn’t see her going toe-to-toe with some of the powerhouse characters that filled the roster. But she certainly worked out beautifully as a character in the game. She had a fun and easy to use move set, a funny and killer super move, and her agility more than made up for any lack of strength. Any reservations I had about the character going in were quickly quelled.
New Assessment: B
Hawkgirl
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: The Power of Nth
What the hell happened to Hawkgirl? I was so thrilled that she was included in the game’s roster that I really wanted to try my hand at her. However, despite an awesome super move, the character is one of the most clunky characters to play as. It is an absolute horror to control her backwards and forwards jumps and that can make the character a bit hard to precisely control for some players.
New Assessment: C
Joker
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Let’s Be Serious
Man, I was really high on Joker being included in the game, especially the way the character was to be presented in the story. But after some time playing with the character, I grew rather bored of him fairly quickly. I mean, he had some pretty basic move sets, a lack luster super move and I just can’t get used to the actor voicing the Joker voicing him. I got over the Joker very quickly.
New Assessment: C
Killer Frost
Initial Assessment: C
Super Move: Endless Whiteout
I was really happy to see that Killer Frost was one of the last characters announced to the roster of the game because it showed that DC and NetherRealm were dipping in to the deep well of DC characters available. And while I wish she would have played a bit better, her super move and her move sets were pretty basic. Kind of like a female Sub-Zero. I wish she would have been better, but at least she didn’t suck.
New Assessment: C
Lex Luthor
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Coordinates Received
Lex Luthor is perhaps the clunkiest moving character in the game. That slow moving, awkwardly jumping armor of his makes him a nasty one to control. Seriously, if that armor was such a horrible thing to control, how could Luthor possibly go toe-to-toe with Superman or other DC characters? Aside from his super move and power level I totally despise the character.
New Assessment: D
Lobo
Initial Assessment: N/A
Super Move: The Main Man
Another DLC character that had not been announced at the time of my original article, Lobo is a character that I had wished they would have included in the original roster. Still, I was glad he was included in the Season Pass. He has an awesome move set definitely centered around his character and his super move is absolutely genius. He is nothing short of a great addition to the roster.
New Assessment: B
Nightwing
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Dark as Night
Ugh! Another freaking Batman character. I am getting really sick of Batman characters in the roster. Thankfully, this is the last one left to discuss… kind of. Anyway, I like Dick Grayson. Nightwing is an awesome character and a great extension of the Batman mythos. That being said, Nightwing was my favorite Batman character to play with. His move set and super moves really made the character stand out.
New Assessment: A
Raven
Initial Assessment: B
Super Move: Deadly Sin
Right from the start, I had a not so good feeling about Raven being on the roster. She has a great super move, but the overall presentation of the character in the game is just wrong. It doesn’t seem like the Raven we have seen in the comics or the animated series. And then that voice… oh my stars and garters, what is up with her voice? It is just so off. It totally turned me off to the character.
New Assessment: C
Shazam
Initial Assessment: C
Super Move: The Power of SHAZAM
I want to start by saying that I hate the name Shazam for the character. What was wrong with Captain Marvel? I mean, you’re going to go around yelling your super hero name every time you want to change. Ugh. As for the character in the game; he so worked in the game and was a lot better than I thought he would be. His move set and super move are very much what I would expect from the character.
New Assessment: B
Sinestro
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Sinestro’s Might
If Green Lantern is my favorite DC hero, how far down the list of my favorite DC villains do you think Sinestro is? Needless to say I was really happy to see him on the roster for the game. With a way better super move than Green Lantern and a better set of moves he definitely remained high on my favorite characters for the game. Heck, even his ending in classic battle is pretty freaking awesome.
New Assessment: A
Solomon Grundy
Initial Assessment: D
Super Move: Grave Digger
Where to start with Solomon Grundy? Let’s see; stupid move set – check, stupid finishing move, check, slow and horrible mobility, check. Yep, I feel he is a disaster character. Definitely not my favorite character to use and one that I felt should have been kept off of the roster from the start. Somebody must be a huge zombie fan to have wanted this character in the game.
New Assessment: D
Superman
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Kryptonian Smash
Nothing, and I mean nothing in this game would work without Superman’s involvement. From being the central character of the story to being the main force to end the violence and war, Superman is the integral part that brings everything in the story together. And playing as the character is just as natural and easy as it should be. None of his moves are overly complex to pull off and all look amazingly impressive, especially his super move which is my favorite super move of the game.
New Assessment: A
Wonder Woman
Initial Assessment: A
Super Move: Justice Javelin
When you talk about the differing fighting styles that each character has when activated, that is pulled off the best when using Wonder Woman. Whether she is floating and using her lasso and power or she is walking and using her shield and sword, she is the easiest character to control in these ways. Add in a devastating power move and great characterization on both her normal and Regime versions and you have one of the best designed and implemented characters in the game. If only they would have found a way to incorporate some more of her associated supporting characters in the game as well.
New Assessment: A
Despite my reservation with using some characters and how they were implemented in the game and their move sets, I genuinely still feel that overall Injustice: Gods Among Us is still one of the best fighting games to see a release during this generation. Amazing play mechanics, high replayability and one of the better executed storylines of any game out there, Injustice is a game that should certainly not be missed. Yeah, I wish there would have been more variety when it came to character choices – too many heavyweights and too many Batman characters – but overall they do not take away from how engaging and entertaining the game is.