Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, starting July 16. As the 10th anniversary of the event, the retailer is going big, offering a bunch of free games to commemorate the occasion. Chivalry 2 and Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20-Year Celebration are welcome additions but not the most surprising. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, however, is just five months old, which speaks volumes about its lacklustre reception. But at the low, low price of nothing, is Rocksteady’s action-adventure shooter worth it?
The short answer is that you might as well add it to your library if you get the chance. You can always decide later whether it’s worth playing. All three games are only available to Prime subscribers starting on the same day as the event. Do note that these are Epic Games Store versions, so you won’t get the glorious sheen of Steam’s platform.
Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League worth it?
Given the premium behind Rocksteady’s Arkham games, a true sequel had most people excited until the reveal trailer. The gameplay showed a cluttered user interface, generic gameplay driven by loot, and not a whole lot of soul. Sadly, not even a delay could save opinions, and Warner Bros. knew it, withholding review codes to soften the blow. Releasing on February 2, 2024, it was far from DC’s Finest.
As someone who completed the game in just under 19 hours, I can say it’s not worth the full price. That said, there is merit to it when you’re not having to pay a thing. While there are variations in the style of each character, the gunplay gets old quickly, and there are some incredibly frustrating challenges relating to shields and meleeing in a mostly ranged game. Metropolis lacks the heart of Gotham but getting from A to B can be fairly fun by zipping through the air.
The story is the most divisive part, particularly since Arkham Knight was such a good send-off for Batman. His return isn’t the most triumphant. Personally, I took a lot of joy in listening to the late Kevin Conroy’s sultry tones take a more villainous turn. For just a brief moment, it shows you what it’s like to be a criminal fearing the shadows as you’re hunted down one by one by the most terrifying Batman I’ve ever seen.
It’s these performances that carry the story. I loved hearing Jason Isaac’s Brainiac taunting me over comms. Nolan North returns to Superman, giving a particularly twisted take on the Man of Steel. And the dysfunctional dynamic between the core four is enough to keep you smiling, even if it’s short of making you laugh out loud. Granted, it’s not the most engaging narrative from DC’s department. Universal and multiversal stories are rarely entirely cohesive, and you’ll need to suspend your disbelief more than usual. Regardless, it’ll still have you wondering why on earth Warner Bros doesn’t do more with its animations.
There’s not enough life to keep it going beyond the main story. I’ve come to regret buying the deluxe edition. Still, there’s a modicum of fun in the initial few hours to warrant downloading it. Just set the bar low, relish in the fact you didn’t pay a dime, and it might exceed your expectations.