While Marvel is dominating the film space with the MCU, on the gaming front there’s all to play for.Marvel’sSpider-Man 2is on the horizon, as isSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and in the distant future Insomniac is returning withMarvel’s Wolverineand Monolith is bringing fans aWonder Womanproject. Superhero fans have a lot to be excited for, and with theArkhamseries already under its belt,DCcan reaffirm its place as the go-to comic company in games.
However, while comic character adaptations for the big screen are mostly seamless when done well, games are tougher because the people absorbing the product aren’t doing so passively. Games require a level of input from the player, and with a laundry list of abilities it’d be tough to strike a positive balance. DC’s films are also in flux, meaning people have different predispositions that would have to be acknowledged to make sureDCgames are enjoyable for all.
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DC’s Characters are Gods Among Men
Superhero games have always been a tough thing to get right. The smorgasbord of powers that many of them have would not only be hard to viably develop into a gameplay loop to begin with, but it also has to be done in a way that complements progression and doesn’t break a game’s difficulty too early. A different method would be to take an altogether unique direction, giving amajor DC personality to a more story-driven studio like Deck Ninethat prioritizes character development over the fun of using their abilities. However, many want the former approach, which means that there are only a few where a game can truly capture their best side.
The likes of Batman, Deathstroke, Black Canary, andGreen Arrowwould typically be suitable for a game because a lot of what they do lies within the realm of realism, or close to it. Batman knows how to take down multiple enemies at once and dissect a crime scene in moments, but these elements can be adapted with ease (as theArkhamgames showed), while Superman lifting a tank, slicing a building in half with heat vision, or moving faster than the speed of sound will be difficult to replicate. Crafting AAA games that rely on these abilities could render the central character insignificant, as the title would become more about what they specialize in rather than who they are.
The DCU is a Wrench in the Gears for DC in Gaming
Whilethe Marvel Cinematic Universeis still trucking along showing no signs of stopping, DC’s film slate is in a state of transition. With James Gunn’s DCU beginning withBlue Beetle, fans are to be reintroduced to the characters they’ve become familiar with since 2013’sMan of Steel. This can have a big impact on the DC video game offerings, as each fan has their own perspective and opinion on what a character should be like and what values they should hold.
Henry Cavill’s Superman is vastly different from the one presented in Geoff Johns’Last Sonor Grant Morrison’sAll Star Superman, for example, andDavid Corenswet’s take on Supermanmay once again be something new. The comics provide some level of consistency, but most find an interest in the films and TV and not much else, meaning a game focused on Superman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, or even the upcomingWonder Womanproject would have to somehow satisfy all preferences, whereas Marvel can rely more on what the MCU has created for inspiration.DChas a tough situation to deal with, but the characters have always been the company’s biggest strength.
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