While Marvel seems to be enjoying a renaissance in the gaming space,DC’s offerings are slipping in confidence.Gotham Knightsreleased to a lukewarm reception, and thedelay ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leagueis cause for hesitation given it was so close to its launch date. The company will forever be known for Rocksteady’s superbArkhamseries, but it has some catching up to do after quality releases likeGuardians of the Galaxy,Spider-Man, andMidnight Suns.
DChas the iconic characters to provide an expansive gaming universe full of character intrigue and elaborate storylines, and series likeInjusticeshow this. After two consecutive team-centric offerings, it may be best to select a character who can carry their own game, and one forgotten DCEU anti-hero - Deathstroke - could be the catalyst for something really compelling, especially as there is a Marvel game out there who laid a decent blueprint.
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Deathstroke is Yin to Deadpool’s Yang
While their names and abilities are deliberately similar, Deathstroke and Deadpool’s personalities are night and day, which could be a real blessing should DC decide to give its character his own AAA game. Deadpool is jovial, crass, and light-hearted, butDeathstroke’s stoic maturity and killer instinctmake him a worthy adversary for even the mightiest of DC’s heroes. He’s morally malleable enough to be a complex gaming protagonist, much like Deadpool, and has enough content in the pages of comics to lean on for any potential story angle.
The aptly-titledDeadpoolfrom developer High Moon Studios was a valiant attempt at a faithful and fun Deadpool game in 2013, but it left enough on the table to be improved in some key ways. The combat was repetitive, the art style left much to be desired, and the story (outside its strong humor) was forgettable. It’s a shame that there wasn’t a follow-up, but a couple of fantastic films launched just a few years later, giving audiences a new take on the character that has become near-universally beloved.
Deathstroke Has All the Makings of a Great Gaming Protagonist
ThoughDeathstroke has had plenty of appearances in games likeLEGODC Super Villains,and a more prominent but unforgettable role inBatman: Arkham Origins, he has yet to be given the reins for his own adventure. The apparent absence of the character in the DCEU despite being teased with Joe Manganiello duringJustice Leagueis frustrating, as he has much to give the silver screen. However, this could be rectified somewhat with a video game outing of quality. Insomniac’s choice to go with Wolverine for its next superhero title is proof that there’s a lot of interest in morally gray characters, and Deathstroke has a compelling enough personality to stand out in a packed landscape of great characters.
Deathstroke’s role as a mercenary means his ideals often alight with the best and the worst that society has to offer, so being the center of his own game could provoke an interesting morality system likeMass EffectorInfamous. Giving players the opportunity to show off his abilities in an action game like 2013’sDeadpoolcould correct that game’s mistakes and allow a character who is perfect for the medium a chance to make a mark outside his fleeting season ofArrow. Withthe Suicide Squad at the center of their own title in 2024, it’s not a huge stretch to think Deathstroke could, and should be next out ofDC.
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