14 DAY TRIAL // 
I have a special place in my heart for superhero movies, so when Warner Bros. and NetherRealm Studios announced they would make a game based on the DC Comics universe, I was very excited.
Although it might seem that Injustice: Gods Among Us follows the same formula as Mortal Kombat, the game feels and plays different. Having just finished Injustice 2, I can definitely say that NetherRealm have nailed it again by building on the core gameplay mechanics of the predecessor and adding new ones.
But it's not just the updated combat system that makes Injustice 2 so much better than the predecessor, the story is compelling as well. Injustices 2 picks up five years after Superman's defeat, as Batman and his partners try to put the world back together.
The campaign, online, as well as arcade modes are not the only activities in the game, as NetherRealm has added a brand new Multiverse mode where players travel through parallel worlds within the DC Universe and fight opponents with various goals.
Even though the single-player campaign is rather short, there's so much else to do in Injustice 2 that it's easy to lose track of time, especially when you need just 5XP points to reach the next level that will allow your favorite character to wear a powerful piece of gear.
Story
If you play a game just for its single-player component, then you'll probably be disappointed to learn the Injustice 2 campaign can be finished in one sit of about 5 or 6 hours. Because Injustice 2's story is so condensed, I did not experience anything that would come close to boring moments. It's like playing poker and never having dead draws.
Initially, I thought the background story of Injustice 2 would be just a pretext that would allow players to get to meet and fight against some of the characters in the game. To my surprise, the plot is more than engaging, especially that we now have a central antagonist that both Superman and Batman must defeat.
By placing Brainiac at the center of the conflict, Injustice 2 writers solve the core Batman versus Superman conflict that was predominant in the first game. Each of these superheroes has collaborators and own agendas, but they close ranks and unite against a common enemy: Brainiac.
I won't be spoiling anything for you story-wise, but I'll be pointing out that the Injustice 2's story unfolds across 12 chapters. Players are also offered alternate endings, so depending on which side you choose (Batman or Superman), the game will end differently.
“Even though I felt the single-player campaign was rather short, it was definitely an exhilarating experience that few other fighting games offer these days. Obviously, I might be a bit subjective since I'm a big fan of DC Comics and Marvel universes.”
Injustice 2 has a base roster of 28 playable characters, but some characters are playable as “premier skins,” which basically turn some of them into other DC Comics characters with unique voices and dialogue: Grid, Mr. Freeze, Power Girl, Reverse-Flash, and a few others.
Gameplay
If you've played Injustice: Gods Among Us, then you'll feel right at home when playing the sequel since many of the gameplay mechanics from the first game are present in Injustice 2 as well.
New players might find it a bit overwhelming, but completing the tutorials should give them an idea of what to expect in terms of gameplay. One thing that hasn't been included in the first game but it's now a rather important aspect is the Gear System.
While playing the Injustice 2 campaign, you'll receive loot boxes and gear that you can use to outfit your favorite characters. The gear that you get after completing each of the game's chapter is pre-defined, so all players will receive the same pieces of equipment.
However, the drops from the loot boxes are random, so you might end up with a nice epic armor for Bane, but not a single piece of gear for your preferred Batman character. Moreover, the gear has level requirement, which means most of the legendary equipment that you get in story mode can't be used until you have characters of level 20.
There are three types of gear that you can get in Injustice 2: equipment, shaders, and abilities. Some of them are cosmetic, while others can seriously influence your performance in game. However, each time you start a fight against another real player, you have the option of disabling the gear system, so the equipment won't provide neither of you with any advantages.
Aside from that, Injustice 2 offers players the possibility to interact with the environment, but developers also included stage transitions, clashes, and enhanced special moves. Each time two characters clash, they can bet to regain some of their health or execute a devastating attack that does a lot of damage.
Betting is based on the size of the super meter that has four small parts that charge up by executing special moves. When your super meter is fully charged up, you can execute a “super move” that does more damage than any other attack, but can be blocked or avoided, so plan carefully.
What makes Injustice 2 one of the best fighting games out there is the combo options players have at their disposal. Naturally, there are characters more powerful than others, but so is the case with all the heroes in the DC Comics universe.
Also, it's nearly impossible not to find a character that fits your playstyle. The amount of content you're giving access to is humongous, regardless of whether you like multiplayer games or not. Not to mention that you get to learn to excel playing at least 28 superheroes who have their own traits to master.
Graphics and audio
After the Mass Effect: Andromeda's facial animations fiasco, I feel the need to address these concerns every time I play a new game that does a great job at portraying characters' expressions.
Injustice 2 has absolutely no issues when it comes to facial animations, on the contrary, they're some of the best that I've seen in a fighting game.
Even though many were disappointed when developer NetherRealm announced they would use a modified version of Unreal Engine 3 for Injustice 2, the game looks nice and feels smooth at 60fps. However, resolution is different on Xbox One and PS4, so if you can choose, we suggest getting the latter.
Injustice 2 runs at a native 1600 x 900 resolution on Xbox One, but PS4 offers a much better 1920 x 1080 gameplay experience. Overall, everything in Injustice 2 oozes polish, as the developer has gone to great lengths to improve and optimize the slightly older Unreal Engine 3.
“What I really love about Injustice 2 besides everything else is the voice acting. Warner Bros. has outdone itself and employed the services of some of the best voice actors in the gaming industry.”
Almost the entire Critical Role crew appears in Injustice 2: Matthew Mercer (Deadshot), Liam O'Brien (Reverse-Flash), Laura Bailey (Supergirl), Travis Willingham (The Flash / Jay Garrick), and Taliesin Jaffe (The Flash / Barry Allen). Not to mention that well-known movie actors like C. Thomas Howell (Captain Cold) and Alan Tudyk (Green Arrow) are members of the cast too.
Multiplayer
Injustice 2 is clearly advertised as the ultimate multiplayer fighting game, even though it offers a ton of content for those who'd rather play it alone. For the first time since the launch of the franchise, an Injustice game includes a “Gear System,” which allows players to improve their characters with equipment and abilities.
However, as mentioned earlier, the “Gear System” can be disabled in online multiplayer mode to give players equal chances of winning a fight, while providing more balanced gameplay for competitive matches.
Injustice 2 allows players to group together in “guilds” of up to 50 members. Collaboration between guild members is possible and very helpful for completing daily and weekly quests.
Unsurprising, the game features a micro-transaction system where players can purchase “Source Crystals” with real money, which can then be used to unlock premier skins and shaders. The good news is these are just pure cosmetic items that won't influence the performance of a player in a competitive match. Moreover, every premier skin and shader is obtainable for free if you're lucky enough.
Another use for Source Crystal is leveling up characters. Once you reach level 20 with at least one superhero, you can use your purchase Source Crystals to level up other characters without having to win fights for experience.
The Good
- Enticing story
- Solid fighting mechanics
- Huge amount of content
- Top notch graphics and voice acting
- You get to fight Atrocitus
The Bad
- Minor plot flaws
- Expensive cosmetic items
- Gear System is not as useful as it should
Conclusion
There are few other things that I would have liked to see in Injustice 2. Despite the few flaws in the plot, NetherRealm has proven once again that it can craft amazing stories for its fighting games.
It might not be the best fighting game out there, but Injustice 2 is definitely the most solid among them thanks to the amount of content it offers for single-player and online experiences.
