Netherrealm Studios’ DC-focused fighting series,Injustice, has always shared some similarities with its acclaimedMortal Kombatfranchise, from its visual style to its fast-paced, visceral combat. As the developer prepares for therelease ofMortal Kombat 1later this year, with a timeline-resetting storyline certain that’s sure to shake things up, it should consider taking a similar narrative leap at the conclusion ofInjustice 3. Giving Netherrealm’s superpowered fighting franchise a timeline reset would be keeping in line with the time-hopping hijinks that have become a comic book staple and potentially help refocus the series moving forward.
With a cross-media continuity that stretched across video games, comics, and even an animated film, theInjusticefranchise was a big deal for both Netherrealm Studios and DC Comics. The story’s premise of superheroes-gone-bad provided the perfect setup for having some of DC’s mightiest heroes come to blows, letting players see how thin the line separating the superpowered beings from the villains they fought truly is. If Netherrealm wants to keepInjustice’s evil superhero storylinefeeling fresh, though, it should consider moving away from the established timeline afterInjustice 3and introducing some powerful new threats to the universe.
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Magic Could Be the Key to a Rebooted Injustice Universe
No matter which of theendings forInjustice 2that players chose, the story was resolved in a fairly tidy fashion while still leaving the door open to potential future installments. While both paths provide a solid setup forInjustice 3, trying to carry forward the story of a beleaguered Batman trying to take down his best friend-turned-foe, Superman, into a fourth game could feel repetitive. By taking influences from the often magic-infused storylines of DC Comics,Injustice 3could have a conclusion that introduces powerful, magical threats to the universe while positioning the Caped Crusader as the series’ newest threat.
Some of DC’s magical heroes and villains have appeared in previousInjusticegames, meaning that introducing a magical menace to the games wouldn’t be wholly unprecedented. With Ed Boon teasing that he’d like toadd Teen Titans member Raven toInjustice 3, who counts time travel among her many magical abilities, the franchise would have the perfect opening for a timeline reset. Having somehow fallen under the sway of powerful villain Ra’s al Ghul, Raven could reset the timeline at the end ofInjustice 3, giving birth to a world where Bruce Wayne never left the League of Assassins and now stands as the same sort of looming threat previously posed by Superman.
A Rebooted Injustice Could Place the Spotlight on Justice League Dark
A magically-influencedInjusticetimeline would help the franchise escape theevil Superman tropeand open the door to giving the mysterious Justice League Dark a leading role. First introduced in 2011 and comprised of a rotating cast of some of DC Comics’ most powerful supernatural characters, Justice League Dark focuses on taking down magical threats to the DC Universe. With Raven’s time travel having unleashed chaos on the world,Injustice 4could see Justice League Dark assembling to stop a now-evil Batman and reset the timeline to its proper order.
Justice League Dark members like Doctor Fate and Swamp Thing have already appeared in previousInjusticegames, andInjustice 4could see the introduction of Hellblazer John Constantine as the group’s reluctant leader. With Raiden’s ending forInjustice 2having already shown Constantine forming the magical group, this would be in line with the franchise’s existing storylines. Netherrealm could introduce some of the more unusual members of Justice League Dark, like Detective Chimp and Man-Bat, to theInjusticecharacter rosterto add some variety to the franchise’s familiar faces.
By followingMortal Kombat 1’s lead and rebooting theInjusticetimeline, Netherrealm could reinvigorate its superhero fighting franchise. Placing the spotlight on DC’s magical heroes and villains would be the perfect way to do this, paving the way for a new slate of playable characters and establishing a corrupted Batman as the series’ biggest, most menacing threat yet.
Injustice3is rumored to be in development.
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