After mixed success with a crossover that joined DC Comics with Mortal Kombat,
creator Ed Boon and his team at NetherRealm went all-in
to craft a fighting game that took full advantage of the DC universe.
The original Injustice brought solid mechanics
and an interesting tale focused on a totalitarian Superman.
Now NetherRealm looks to maintain that momentum with Injustice 2.
The story picks up where the first game left off.
Superman is imprisoned due to his fundamental split with Batman,
after tragedy caused irreparable damage to his outlook on humanity.
Much of the campaign revolves around this conflict
and how it effects the heroes and villains as various events
pull characters to either side or push them to join forces in tentative alliances.
The story is easily NetherRealm’s most personal
and manages to maintain exceptionally high stakes
throughout the six to seven hour duration.
The core mechanics from Injustice: Gods Among Us
haven’t drastically changed.
Each fighter has unique special moves and combos.
Items in the background can be used offensively or defensively,
and certain stages have devastating arena transitions
when you knock opponents through the walls.
Throughout the match, each fighter fills a super meter to a maximum of four bars.
Some special moves can be “meter burned”
to add additional damage or effects at the cost of one bar.
With a full meter saved, you can unleash all-or-nothing super moves
that let you enjoy an over-the-top spectacle befitting your character.
Meanwhile clashes between two characters have you bet portions of your meter
in an attempt to outbid your opponent,
bestowing the winner with extra damage or restored health.
The most important additions to combat are escapes.
A roll escape can be used to close the distance on ranged enemies
or get out of sticky situations,
while air escapes can be used to break an opponent’s deadly juggle combos.
Managing the super meter is paramount.
The strategy involved in knowing when to meter burn, clash,
or risk it all on a super move brings tension to each moment of Injustice 2.
Executing special moves and combos is relatively simple,
but the dynamics of a fight are always shifting,
forcing each fighter to constantly adapt and think ahead.
Profile XP and character XP are earned from every match.
The maximum profile level is 70 with each level offering various rewards.
There are also character levels tied to each of Injustice 2’s 29 fighters.
Characters begin at level one and climb to a cap of twenty,
increasing base stats like strength, ability, defense, and health along the way.
More importantly, there’s the new gear system
which allows you to equip fighters with various pieces of armor and accessories.
As gear requires a certain character level to equip,
higher level gear is naturally more valuable
and encourages you to put more time in with fighters.
There are sets of gear that offer different stat bonuses for equipping multiple pieces,
and gear that grants additional abilities
that can dramatically change a fighter’s move set.
It all adds up to a staggering amount of options,
contributing to a sense of ownership for your personal stable of characters.
Outside of the story mode, there’s the Multiverse,
which makes the most of Injustice 2’s RPG elements
in a structure similar to the Living Towers in Mortal Kombat X.
Here you fight in rotating missions
against computer controlled opponents of varying difficulty.
Some have certain attribute or level requirements,
while others may force you to use a specific character.
The multiverse is full of surprises
and creates a meaningful sense of progression with your entire roster.
While you need an internet connection to access the Multiverse,
it can be played entirely alone, adding a welcome sense of longevity
for players that aren’t as interested in the pressure
of fighting real opponents online.
For players that enjoy the rivalry,
ranked online mode is where the stiffest competition resides.
Gear stats are turned off to ensure a more balanced playing field
but the aesthetic qualities still remain.
Wins and losses are recorded with an effort from NetherRealm
to match you against similarly skilled opponents.
Fortunately, online play is free from technical headaches
as the majority of matches we’ve joined have run smoothly.
In addition to ranked mode, there are unranked player matches
where you can play with or without the benefits of gear.
There’s also King of the Hill where players can hang out in a lobby
watching the top two fighters battle to keep playing.
It’s a fun way to engage with the community and much less serious than ranked games.
As part of its progression, Injustice 2 rewards you with loot boxes
that can be earned in a variety of ways.
Leveling up, completing daily challenges, and participating in the Multiverse
are the quickest ways to earn loot.
Credits gained through various accomplishments
can be used to buy boxes at lower tiers,
but the more valuable offerings can only be earned
through the Multiverse and challenges.
It’s a thoughtful system that makes every piece of gear rewarding,
and it helps knowing other fighters around the world earned their gear
instead of just dumping a ton of cash.
Source crystals are a separate currency that can be purchased with real money.
Crystals can be spent on cosmetic items, and once one character reaches level 20,
you can use crystals to boost other characters to level 20 as well.
However, since you earn gear at the same rate,
this feature is a minimal time save.
Players can form guilds up to fifty members strong,
gaining access to benefits for everyone in the group.
Guild Coins can be used to buy special sets of loot boxes,
while achieving guild-specific goals yields additional rewards.
The Guild also has their own rotating Multiverse
which can be attacked together to gain an advantage.
It’s an engaging element that makes it simple and rewarding
to interact with other players in the community.
NetherRealm has raised the bar for storytelling in fighting games once again.
The additional RPG elements could have gone sideways,
but the long term goals and rewards
create a sense of ownership with each character.
The few additions to combat add thoughtful strategy to every encounter
while maintaining accessibility for casual players.
It’s clear that a lot of care has been put into every element of Injustice 2,
making it a game that everyone should try.
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