The Full Potential of Kevin Conroy’s Batman Goes Untapped In Suicide Squad

Rocksteady’s most recent DC game falls short of providing the farewell Batman truly deserved. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is burdened with unusual challenges for a superhero game. While it is the sequel to the widely admired Batman: Arkham Knight from 2015, it has faced considerable setbacks, including multiple delays and concerns about its live service elements and gameplay choices. Furthermore, it marks the culmination of Kevin Conroy’s tenure as the voice of Batman in DC games. With the game now released, it becomes apparent that this is not the fitting sendoff for Rocksteady’s Dark Knight.

What makes Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League fall short in its portrayal of Batman? Let’s thoroughly explore the aspects where the game falters, but be cautious as we delve into full spoilers for the latest Suicide Squad game!

You can check Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review Screenshots here. 

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Confronting the Dark Knight

Firstly, let’s address the bat-sized issue – they’ve done away with Kevin Conroy’s Batman in a rather lackluster manner. We’ll delve into that shortly, but let’s discuss the missed potential in the gameplay itself before we do.

One of the intriguing aspects of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was its promise to shift the narrative regarding Batman. Rocksteady’s earlier DC games consistently placed players in Batman’s armored shoes. As Batman, players soared through the skies of Gotham City, pursued criminals across alleyways and rooftops, and harnessed Batman’s complete arsenal of gadgets and weapons. No other game series has been as successful in immersing players in the role of the Dark Knight himself.

In Suicide Squad, a sudden reversal of roles occurs. We embody the criminals, with Batman now positioned as the adversary. This presents an intriguing opportunity for the inevitable Batman boss battle within the game. What does being at the receiving end of the Caped Crusader’s fury feel like? How does it feel to navigate the darkness, aware that every ledge or perch may conceal a crazed vigilante poised to unleash havoc?

The Batman boss battle would unfold in a superior game as a survival horror mission, inducing genuine terror against this unhinged billionaire and his lethal arsenal. While Superman may be invulnerable, at least he provides a visible target. On the other hand, Batman is the concealed adversary, only revealing himself when prepared to mete out punishment.

The Game’s two Confrontations with Batman Become Dreary, Poorly Illuminated Challenges

Instead of delivering a tension-filled experience of being Batman’s prey, the game’s two encounters with Batman devolve into tedious, poorly illuminated obstacle courses. When the anticipated Batman boss battle finally arrives, it falls short of pitting you against the Dark Knight directly. Instead, you grapple with the effects of Scarecrow’s fear toxin, stumbling through the darkness and pressing buttons to create more fear toxin. Throughout this encounter, you shoot at an endless stream of Bat-like apparitions and evade Batman’s explosive gel. It proves to be a monotonous, lacklustre sequence that fails to deliver the anticipated, thrilling action.

The culmination of this boss battle ultimately results in an actual confrontation, albeit one that falls far short of the stature of the Dark Knight. The Squad engages in a seemingly lackluster battle, jumping and shooting at an enlarged Batman monster. The entire scene feels reminiscent of the nightmare sequences from the original Arkham Asylum. However, this encounter concludes abruptly, leaving the game to never truly capture the exhilaration of battling Batman or evoke the fear of facing the ultimate ninja warrior in his prime element.

Certainly, missing the chance for a compelling Batman boss battle is regrettable, but the true issue emerges after the confrontation concludes. The real problem arises in how the game handles Rocksteady’s Batman’s ultimate farewell, marking a critical misstep for Suicide Squad.

The Melancholic Conclusion of the Arkham Saga

In Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the title is undeniably fitting, as the game lives up to its name. Throughout the gameplay, you systematically eliminate the members of the Justice League, taking down Earth’s most formidable superheroes one by one until facing off against Brainiac. Even the formidable Batman succumbs, falling prey to Harley Quinn and her team. Harley achieves what her notorious “puddin'” never accomplished—dispatching Batman at point-blank range and enticing Superman into a vulnerable position.

It’s an unexpectedly undignified conclusion for a character as beloved as Batman, and perhaps that was the intentional essence. Suicide Squad seems to deliberately dismantle the mystique and put an end to Batman. It also does so unceremoniously, something that can almost be grudgingly respected.

However, the problem is that this is not just any iteration of Batman. This is the Batman of Rocksteady’s Arkham games. Suicide Squad is technically a sequel to 2015’s Arkham Knight. It also brings numerous references to its conclusion, such as the disappearance of Poison Ivy and the revelation to the public of Batman’s secret identity. It also cements the connection between the two games.

The Untapped Potential of Arkham Knight Squandered for a Mere Chuckle in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

To be fair, there’s always the possibility that Rocksteady hasn’t entirely concluded Batman’s story. While his death scene appears definitive, the Batman comics have frequently employed fantastical means to resurrect deceased characters. Moreover, the game delves into the DC multiverse towards the end, allowing players to pursue 12 additional versions of Brainiac through DLC campaigns. Considering a playable version of Joker is introduced, it raises questions about the potential return of Batman. However, if he does come back, will it be the same Batman, and will Kevin Conroy still voice him? If not, does Batman’s return hold the same significance?

The silver lining emerges in the revelation that while Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League serves as a lackluster farewell for Rocksteady’s Batman, it is not the final outing for Kevin Conroy as the Dark Knight. IGN has discovered that Conroy will reprise his role as Batman from Batman: The Animated Series in the animated movie Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 3. With any luck, this film may give Conroy’s Batman the fitting sendoff he deserves. Unfortunately, Arkham fans are not as fortunate.

For more insights on the game, explore IGN’s review of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Image Via Rocksteady Studios

I am a circus aerialist influenced by Dick Grayson and Spider-Man. Fortunate to write about the characters that inspired me. I also have a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in International Trade.