Game Review: Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition

Injustice Ultimate Edition
Xbox 360, PS3, PS4, PS Vita
$59.99

Let me preface this by stating, I’ve played both the original version of this game on Xbox 360 and the Ultimate Edition on PS4. So I feel comfortable playing referee between the battle of the Ultimate version and the original. Let’s bring out the contestants and let the battle begin.

Round 1: What We Get

First round begins with what comes with the game.

Standard version comes with the base twenty-four characters, multiple skins for each character, customizable player data that has tons of icons, and art to unlock for your own special style.

The game has multiple play modes for single and multiplayer with a story mode, character specific mini battle modes, arcade style mode, and online mode. Altogether, a crazy amount of game play and customizable fun. Worth every penny.

Ultimate comes with everything the base model has and six extra characters—that’s it. The extra characters have an ending story at the finale of the arcade mode, some S.T.A.R. mini battles, and nothing more. No skins, no icons, no art, no unlocking; therefore one pays the price for extra characters and next-gen playability, but what one gets is disappointing in the character department. I really wanted J’onn J’onzz and Lobo to bring it home for me, but, alas, not having Space Dolphin related unlockables disappointed me. J’onn J’onzz is just a baby from the wicked union of Superman and Dhalsim from Street Fighter. Plus every new character had way too many versions of the same move and too many combo options to be characters you could pick up and just love the way they are. Seriously, Psionic blast, PB far, PB near, PB full, PB air, PB air near, blah, blah, blah. Although, Zatanna is a magic hat filled with fan service. Her special attacks are all sdrawkcab sdrow as well. Yay.

So after the first bell has been rung, our current winner is: original version.

Round 2. Graphics

Original version has amazing character art and battle sequences. Super moves, level transitions, and the fighting are all beautiful. Everything is living, breathing DC viewed through Netherrealm shaded glasses. This is what it’s like when worlds collide. However the video sequences were all fairly disappointing with their graphics level. It’s like they decided to phone in the godliness on that one.

Ultimate edition ups some various items to next-gen level, but that’s not saying a lot if you take into account next-gen has just started. On top of that they didn’t even bother to upgrade the videos! Sigh…

Winner: Original version because it has an excuse.

Round 3: Gameplay.

This round is a tie because they are the same game. Honestly they play the same, which means they play like a good Mortal Kombat game. The level interaction makes for some really fun game play. Smashing someone in the face with a chandelier or lighting them on fire with a lion head figure makes for really fun elements. Level transitions allow you chances to see more characters and enjoy a moment of violent repast. Seriously, the Scarecrow stabbing someone in the throat and Darkseid doing what he does best to helpless opponents makes me happy inside.

My complaints are: no “test your might” modes for super-heroes and villains. Weaksauce. Also, no fatalities. I wanted to go online and make fan boys across the world cry as I used Superman to freeze their faces and then punch through them.

Results:

The winner is, hands down, the original version! If you have it, you really don’t need to buy the new version unless you just want to play on PS4 or PS vita. Just download the extra characters you want and enjoy the greatness that is Injustice: Gods Among Us.

——————————————
Alex “Danger” Byers is a regular person in the working world, but at night (after work) he transforms into a video game loving, comic book reading, super tasty beer drinking, foodie of near hipster level. You can contact him at alexoftheazuresky@gmail.com or with a beer signal.

——————————————-