At the end of August, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment pulled back the curtain on two long-rumored and much-anticipated titles based on popular DC superhero comics:Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, andGotham Knights. Both properties have solid bases of hardcore fans which should help the games at launch, but WB has even better secret weapons up its sleeves.
Usually, releasing new titles in crowded landscape of similar games makes it harder to stand out amongst the competition. Insomniac’sSpider-Man: Miles Moralesand Square Enix’sAvengershave already made it to market in time for the holidays and next generation console launches, but in this case, their early head start isGotham KnightsandSuicide Squad’s greatest advantage. Stealing pointers and avoiding missteps from fellow superhero games will allow WB’s developers to deliver stellar experiences.
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But WB Games Montreal and Rocksteady Studios should be open to influences outside of capes and tights comics, as well. 4-player co-operative play is at the heart of both forthcomingGotham KnightsandSuicide Squad, and there are plenty ofexcellent co-operative multiplayer titles in a variety of genreswhose influence could improve Warner Bros.' DC-centric offerings.
A Lesson in Loot for Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad
It would be a considerable understatement to say Crystal Dynamics’Marvel’s Avengershas stumbled out of the gate.Square Enix has yet to recoupAvengers' development costs, and posted a substantial loss in the quarter following its release. The title has plenty of room for improvement, but one key area where it falls short is the game’s loot and microtransaction system. Most of the randomized gear is devoted to raising character stats, rather than providing characters with game-changing abilities.
WB Games Montreal has already confirmedGotham Knightswill be launching with a wide variety of cosmetics. Rather than usingAvengers’micro-transaction examples,Gotham Knightswould be better off followingSpider-Man:Miles Morales' example of featuring a large wardrobe of costumes as core game content. At the very least, WB should pay attention toAvengerspoorly-received price points and adjust accordingly if the game features microtransactions.
As far as loot goes,Avengersalso leaves something to be desired, with most gear providing randomized stat bonuses like a standard MMO. While it is possible that neither DC game will make use of a lootable equipment system,Gotham Knightsis breaking with the long-runningArkhamfranchise formulaand Suicide Squad members use a wide variety of weapons in the comics, so it seems likely that players will be able to customize outfits and equipment to some extent. For that purpose, Gunfire Games’Remnant:From the Ashes' is a worthy touchstone. Rather than equipment drops with randomized stats, challenges and missions could yield pre-fixed gear with carefully balanced stats and meaningful abilities from a randomized pool.
Co-op is at the core of bothSuicide SquadandGotham Knights, and being able to switch between characters with distinctive playstyles is a great way to keep a game fresh and make group play more fun. Each ofGotham Knights’playable characters will have personalized skill treesand distinct XP progression. Another recent hit that follows a similar pattern isGenshinImpact. Being able to switch between Bat-Family or Suicide Squad members on the fly, both in single player and multiplayer, would enable some incredibly in-depth combos, especially since the characters in both titles will likely be deeper and more complex thanGenshin Impact’s gacha-gated roster.
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There even a precedent for switching between playable characters mid-fight in theArkhamseries. And while both titles are carving new paths—and possibly laying the groundwork forWarner Bros.' shared universe of DC video game titles—synching distinctive character abilities in devastating ways is one of PVE co-op’s great joys. There is no reason for the game to focus cooperative elements solely on combat, either. Allowing different characters to affect the environment in unique ways would help make each hero and anti-hero feel more distinctive, and opens the door to some potentially impressive group puzzle solving.
The Spice of Life in Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad
Insomniac’s originalMarvel’s Spider-Manborrowed a great deal from Rocksteady’sArkhamfranchise, but it also pushed the formula forward in certain ways, especially where mission variety was concerned. Providing players with a large number of distinct activities is a key aspect of successful superhero games, and bothSuicide SquadandGotham Knightsneed more varietyto keep pace with the competition.
Again, having different characters with personalized abilities is a good way to achieve that versatility, but looking to otheropen-world games with great side questsfor influence will help.Spider-Man’sMJ and Miles missions provide a hint at how these character-specific activities could work. InGotham KnightsDick Grayson’s background as an acrobat could allow Nightwing to achieve jumps that other bat family members couldn’t manage, whereas Barbara Gordon’s computer savvy could allow Batgirl to hack security systems.
Suicide Squadpresents a different opportunity for distinct missions: crime. Harley, King Shark, Deadshot and Captain Boomerang are on-again off-again bad guys, and while Amanda Waller has them wired to explode if they step too far out of line, the Squad has been known to indulge in some extra legal activities on the side during missions.Deadshot is a peerless assassin in DC’s comicswho could take on additional targets as the group tries to take down Supes, while Harley could pull off Robin Hood-esque heists. Better yet, these antiheroes could have to strike a balance between traditional good guy stuff (rescue hostage rescue, defense missions, fighting crooks) with less savory activities that provide unique opportunities for character growth.
Red Dead Online,which is soon to be released as a standalone title,is another co-op game that presents players with a good amount of variety, and its honor system hints at a potential model for a hero/criminal dynamic. Rather than a meter that simply tracks one’s morality however, good deeds could serve as “fuel” to be spent on transgressive missions. And if players dip their toes too deep into dark waters, or even cause too much collateral damage, they may have to answer to Waller’s wrath. Being aware of what the competition is doing, and seeing what resonates with fans is an excellent model for refining an established formula. And while superhero games often adhere to certain conventions, bothSuicide SquadandGotham Knightshave a golden opportunity to break the mold.
Gotham KnightsandSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueare currently in development for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Exact release dates have yet to be announced.
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