Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League review – Batman isn't dead, but he's gone a bit wrong… and the fate of the world now rests in the hands of Harley Quinn, writes PETER HOSKIN
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £69.99)
Verdict: Bring back the good Batman
At least half of my personality is based on Batman. And at least half of them are based on the Arkham games starring Batman.
So I've been at a loss since the last game in the series, 2015's Arkham Knight, and the apparent death of my role model.
But now there is finally a sequel. Of sorts.
Morbidly titled Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, Arkham creators Rocksteady Studios reveal that Batman didn't really mess up.
Instead, he befriended Superman, Wonder Woman, and a number of other heroes, before (almost) all of their minds were taken over by the supervillain Brainiac and turned evil. So: Evil Batman it is now.
Batman befriended Superman (pictured), Wonder Woman and a number of other heroes, before (almost) all of their minds were taken over by the supervillain Brainiac and turned evil
It's up to a bunch of ne'er-do-wells – the Suicide Squad of the title, including the maniacal Harley Quinn (pictured) and gun-loving Deadshot – to take on the (former) good guys, save the world, that sort of thing
It's up to a bunch of ne'er-do-wells – the Suicide Squad of the title, including the maniacal Harley Quinn and the gun-loving Deadshot – to take on the (former) good guys, save the world, that sort of thing. .
As setups go, it's quite tempting. And initially, its execution is also decent.
The new location, Superman's city of Metropolis, is large and detailed. The voice and animation work put into the antagonist protagonists are some of the best I have ever seen.
The combat and movement is so, so smooth. Even compared to the Arkham games, it's clear that this is Rocksteady's blockbuster.
But after a few hours, doubts start to set in. For a game where you can switch between a giant shark person thing and a zoom star with a boomerang, the main characters all feel a bit the same in the hands.
The story ultimately becomes an abrupt, rather than luxurious, experience.
The new location, Superman's city of Metropolis, is large and detailed. The voice and animation work put into the antagonist protagonists are some of the best I have ever seen
The combat and movement is so, so smooth. Even compared to the Arkham games, it's clear that this is Rocksteady's blockbuster
But after a few hours, doubts start to set in. For a game where you can switch between a giant shark person thing and a zoom star with a boomerang, the main characters all feel a bit the same in the hands.
And then it all becomes clear: unlike the Arkham series, this is one of those persistent looter shooters that seemed ready to take over gaming about five years ago.
The idea is that you continue it, permanently online, with your friends. New storylines, costumes and weapons will be added in the future – probably for a fee.
Hmm. Maybe it's time for me to find a new role model.
Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £49.99)
Verdict: Striking stories, standard gameplay
If there's something strange in 17th century New England, who are you going to call? The Banishers, it turns out: a pair of sword-wielding, incantation-speaking freelancers who can banish wandering spirits back to the spirit world.
One is called Antea, a wise and worldly ghostbuster from Cuba. The other is Red, a bluff Scotsman who is Antea's student and soulmate. They seem to be good at their jobs and good to each other… until Antea dies and becomes a ghost herself.
That's the point of Banishers: The Ghosts Of New Eden, but it also suggests many of the game's charms.
Here is a wonderfully dark fairy tale, set in a carefully rendered world populated by characters whose lives intertwine in meaningful, believable ways. And ghosts. Lots of ghosts.
If there's something strange in 17th century New England, who are you going to call? The Banishers, it turns out: a pair of sword-wielding, incantation-speaking freelancers who can banish wandering spirits back to the spirit world
One is called Antea, a wise and worldly ghostbuster from Cuba. The other is Red, a bluff Scotsman who is Antea's student and soulmate. They seem to be good at their jobs and good to each other… until Antea dies and becomes a ghost herself
Here is a wonderfully dark fairytale, set in a carefully rendered world populated by characters whose lives are intertwined in meaningful, believable ways
Every time I wandered through the New England countryside as Red, getting involved in the personal horror stories of others and weighing whether to make terrible compromises to bring Antea back to life, I was convinced that I was a contender for the game of the year played.
The sword-and-spell combat in Banishers isn't exactly bad, it's just very standard for these types of RPG-style adventure games
It should come as no surprise that a game from French studio Don't Nod – makers of the Life Is Strange games and Vampyr – excels in terms of story and character. And it really shines.
Every time I wandered through the New England countryside as Red, getting involved in the personal horror stories of others and weighing whether to make terrible compromises to bring Antea back to life, I was convinced that I was a contender for the game of the year played.
The problem, however, is everything else. The sword-and-spell combat in Banishers isn't exactly bad, it's just very standard for these types of RPG-style adventure games.
The enemies, the semi-open world, the fast travel systems… it's all so reminiscent of a hundred other games you've played before, but in a game that stood out for its differences.
The result is an experience that is at times exhilarating and somewhat disappointing.
Come for the supernatural romance; return to the physical world when you are tired of the rest.