Injustice: 10 Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About The Games

Even though it has just two installments so far, the Injustice franchise has managed to capture the attention of many DC fans. With involvement from the creators of Mortal Kombat, the games have also impressed fans of the fighting game franchise.

The game’s release was also followed by several hit spin-off comics written by Tom Taylor as well as an animated movie. So, it is safe to say that the Injustice games have spawned a dedicated fanbase. Some of these devotees might not know about the various Easter eggs in the games along with specific behind-the-scenes details that they missed the first time around.

Several DC Alumni Reprise Their Roles

The games’ voice cast includes several actors who have played these characters in previous DC shows and games. Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman, a character that he has played in Batman: The Animated Series as well as the Batman’s Arkham games series. In addition, Troy Baker served as the voice for Sinestro whom he had previously played in Lego Batman 2.

Susan Eisenberg similarly played Wonder Woman earlier in Justice League and its spinoff series Justice League: Unlimited. While Young Justice alumnus Alan Tudyk reprised his role as Green Arrow, Arrow leading man Stephen Amell lent his voice to the character whenever he donned the costume from the CW series.

The First Game’s Story Is Similar To A Justice League Episode

Injustice: Gods Among Us is set in an alternate universe where Superman turns into a tyrant, wishing to create a new world order while facing opposition from Batman and his allies. This storyline is actually reminiscent of one of the best Justice League episodes, a two-parter titled “A Better World.”

The episode revolves around an alternate version of the Justice League called the Justice Lords that finds the major members take a more “anti-heroic” route towards delivering justice. The one major difference between the episode and the game is that in the former, Batman also turns into a rogue tyrant like Superman.

Injustice 2 Crossed Over With Masters Of The Universe Through A Comic

In Injustice 2, Superman’s ending involves the Kryptonian rebuilding his “Regime” and killing Brainiac. A crossover storyline involving characters from Injustice and Mattel’s Master of the Universe franchise adds more detail to this ending.

The comic mini-series, a strong candidate for one of the best Justice League titles of the 2010s,  is divided into six parts and focuses on an interdimensional battle between He-Man and Superman. The latter’s dark version along with Wonder Woman is recruited by Skeletor, wreaking havoc in all of Eternia. Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe was written by Tim Seeley who has authored similar crossover comics like GI Joe vs. the Transformers.

Flight Is Incorrectly Listed As One Of Aquaman’s Powers In The Archives

A major goof in Injustice comes in the character bio for Aquaman. It is mentioned that the Atlantean king has superhuman strength, the ability to breathe underwater, and telepathic control over sea creatures.

However, below these abilities, flight is also mentioned as one of Aquaman’s powers. Never in the comics or games has Aquaman been able to fly. Even in the modified world of both Injustice games, Aquaman never displays any flight ability in his already deep arsenal of superhuman moves. So, this might just be an unintentional mistake in the character archives.

DC’s License Over Characters Prevented The Games From Being Too Violent

With Ed Boon’s NetherRealm Studios handling Injustice‘s development, there was speculation among fans that the game might feature graphic violence as seen in the Mortal Kombat games series.

However, DC’s creative control prevented Boon’s team from crossing some bloody boundaries. As Boon told Kotaku, “DC understandably will never let us cut Batman’s head off…They’re never going to let us stab Wonder Woman in the face.” However, he still ensured that the violence would be replaced with “over-the-top” action.

Injustice’s Soundtrack Featured Some Popular Rock And Electronic Acts

Coinciding with the release of the game was the launch of the official soundtrack Injustice: Gods Among Us – The Album. The album is an interesting blend of indie rock, punk, and electronic music featuring the likes of British act Depeche Mode and Chicago-based punk rockers Rise Against.

Clocking in at 41 minutes with 11 tracks, the album serves as a perfect companion piece to the game for diehard fans. With even DC’s motion comics spawning original songs as promotional ventures, it wouldn’t be surprising to find the future Injustice games having similar star-studded soundtracks.

Doomsday Sports His Death Of Superman Costume In One Arena

Ever since his debut in the Death of Superman event in the early 1990s, Doomsday has been an iconic Superman villain in the comics. While players cannot access Doomsday’s costume from the comic as a playable option in Injustice, they can still view it as a background Easter egg.

To catch a glimpse at the costume, two players must fight it out as Doomsday in the Fortress of Solitude arena. Another required condition is that the two Doomsdays must be donning the regular costume and the Insurgency costume. Only then can they see a Doomsday in the background wearing a classic green containment suit and gloves. The costume was later added to the game as a DLC.

The Matrix’s Neo Was Supposed To Be Featured On Injustice 2

Ed Boon has never shied away from his appreciation for Neo, the protagonist of the Matrix films. In fact, as he told Game Informer, there was a possibility for Neo to appear as a guest fighter on Injustice 2. But for undisclosed reasons, this never turned into reality.

Back in 2016, there was also speculation for “The One” to appear in Mortal Kombat 9 but the result was the same as Injustice 2. It makes sense the character would appear as Warner Bros. owns both The Matrix and DC’s IP. Neo would have been a formidable fighter, and fans can only dream as to how he would use his superhuman strength and speed to battle the likes of Superman or CHeetah.

The Games Are Filled With Mortal Kombat References

Given Ed Boon and NetherRealm’s involvement in the games, there are a few references to Mortal Kombat games. Apart from obvious mentions like Scorpion’s inclusion as a playable fighter, there are other subtle Easter Eggs too. For instance, whenever Flash wins a battle, the speedster’s victory sequence is comparable to his Heroic Brutality move from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe video game.

Then, there is the amulet worn by Quan Chi that can be spotted at a Metropolis museum. Injustice 2 also features a multiverse event called “Doctor Fate-ality,” an obvious reference to not just the DC character Doctor Fate but also to the gruesome Fatalities in Mortal Kombat.

Only Four Characters Kill Their Opponents

While Injustice is more violent than the usual DC video games, it still tones down on the deaths. There are only four characters in the game that actually manage to kill their opponents.

The limited list includes The Joker, Black Adam, Ares, and Scorpion. It makes sense for the former three characters to be major DC villains and death goes well with their usual remorseless personalities. While Scorpion’s kills aren’t as brutal as his Mortal Kombat adventures, it is expected for him to have a violent and fatal persona in the game.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
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Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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