Injustice: Gods Among Us is the latest fighting game to come from Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon and studio NetherRealm Studios. Having already dabbled into DC Comics territory with 2008's enjoyable Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe, Injustice marks Boon's first departure from the Mortal Kombat franchise for more than a decade. Superhero fans have plenty to get excited about, as the game features a roster with the likes of Superman, Batman, Catwoman, Green Arrow and Nightwing and locations including the Batcave, Metropolis and the Fortress of Solitude. However, NetherRealm know how to make an excellent fighting game, judging by the Mortal Kombat reboot, and after sitting down with Injustice for a full hour, we can say we're definitely on board with what they're crafting. A DC twist to the Mortal Kombat formula In fact, Injustice takes quite a few cues from Mortal Kombat. Characters get roughed up as they're fighting - for example, clothing gets torn - while players can bust out a super move when their super meter is full. Each super move has its own brutal charm, designed specifically for each DC character. Batman stuns his opponent so he can run them over with his Batmobile. Elsewhere, Flash speeds around the globe before delivering a devastatingly meaty punch. But it's clear that a lot of thought and attention has been given to each character. Each one has their unique fighting style - Green Arrow, for instance, excels by maintaining some distance from his opponent with his arsenal of arrows. No two characters feel the same. Unlike in the majority of fighting games where matches are split into a number of rounds, each character in Injustice has two health bars, with the first fighter to deplete all of their enemy's health named the victor. Matches feel very fluid; lose one health bar, and you'll be knocked down for a couple of seconds providing a quick respite from the action. Similar to Mortal Kombat, you'll get back up and the fight will resume. Use the environment to your advantage Stages also allow fighters to execute environmental attacks, depending on where they are standing, so loitering near a control panel in the Batcave may let you fire rockets at your foe. In addition to interactive and destructible environments, levels are multi-tiered. You might start fighting on the upper level of the Batcave, but a well-timed attack can launch the pair of you deeper underground. All of these mechanics and intricacies add up to a fighting system that feels accessible and fun. It should appeal to newcomers to the genre who are enticed by the DC Universe slant, but fighting veterans will also find a relatively deep and definitely engaging system that will take a while to truly master. Campaign mode takes inspiration from Mortal Kombat The structure of Injustice's campaign is reminiscent of Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe and 2011's Mortal Kombat, with the campaign split into numerous chapters, each one giving you a different character to control to tell its story. The opening sees players fight as Batman not long after the Joker sets off a bomb in Metropolis that kills millions of people. Casualties include a pregnant Lois Lane, which enrages a usually cool Superman. Batman later on checks the Joker's cell in Arkham Asylum, only to find that his nemesis has escaped - and he is then ambushed by Deathstroke. Deathstroke proved to be a difficult encounter as he was a nuisance from afar. We relied on the Caped Crusader's grappling gun to rapidly close the distance before beating him up with some handy punches. Get a head start with quick-time events After a confrontation against Bane, Batman then did battle with Lex Luthor - but not before some quick-time events that had the superhero throw Batarangs at the bald-headed supervillain. Failing to complete these quick-time events will never result in a game over, but with every successful button press, some of Lex's health is chipped away making the subsequent fight a little easier. We were reassured that as part of the story it would be explained how someone like Superman - who boasts superhuman strength and speed - isn't ridiculously overpowered against everyone else in Injustice. Injustice: Gods Among Us appears to be a confidently-made fighting title which pays tribute to the DC Universe, offering an exciting fighting system mixed with an entertaining story that builds upon the success of Mortal Kombat. Injustice: Gods Among Us will be released on April 16 in North America and April 19 in Europe on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U. Source Digital Spy.
