Injustice: Gods Among Us is a 2013 fighting game developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 3, Wii U, and Xbox 360. It is the first installment in the Injustice series based upon the fictional universe of DC Comics. The storyline is set in a parallel universe within the DC Comics' Multiverse, where Superman has become a tyrant and established a new world order after the Joker tricked him into killing Lois Lane and destroying Metropolis. In an effort to stop this, Batman summons counterparts of the Justice League's members from the main universe to join his insurgency and end Superman's totalitarian regime.
The game was released in April 2013 in North America, Europe, and Australia, and in June 2013 in Japan. An expanded version, titled Injustice: Gods Among Us – Ultimate Edition, was released in November 2013 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, and Xbox 360. A free-to-play mobile app based on Injustice was also released for iOS and Android devices, which was then ported to arcade machines by Raw Thrills in the fall of 2017, months after the sequel's release. A prequel comic book series of the same name, written by Tom Taylor, was released beginning in January 2013.
Players select one of several characters from the DC Universe (consisting of both villains and heroes) to engage in combat, aiming to knock out their opponent. The game is set in a 2.5D environment: while character models and backgrounds are rendered in three-dimensional graphics, the characters are restricted to fight within a two-dimensional space. Injustice builds upon several aspects from NetherRealm Studios' previous title, Mortal Kombat (2011), including its controls, game mechanics, narrative-driven campaign, and online functionality.
The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its story, gameplay mechanics, and use of the DC Comics license. Injustice became the highest-selling game in the United States and United Kingdom during the month of its release. The game also won several awards for "Best Fighting Game" in 2013. A sequel, Injustice 2, was released in 2017, while an animated film adaptation, Injustice, was released in 2021.
Gameplay
Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game in which players control characters with different fighting styles and special attacks, engaging in one-on-one combat to deplete their opponent's life gauge. The game is in 2.5D: movement is restricted to a two-dimensional plane, while the characters and backgrounds are rendered in three dimensions. Unlike the traditional fighting game design involving multiple rounds with regenerative life bars, Injustice uses a scheme similar to the Killer Instinct series. Each match consists of a single round, with each player bearing two life bars. The game utilizes a four-button control layout of light, medium, and heavy attacks, alongside a "character trait" button, which activates a unique ability or attack designed to showcase each character. For instance, Superman's character trait provides a temporary boost in strength, while Batman's character trait summons a swarm of robotic bats.
The stages, based on various locations from the DC Universe, such as the Batcave, Metropolis, and the Fortress of Solitude, feature interactive environments and multiple areas. If an opponent is hit with a heavy attack near a corner of the arena, it launches them, triggering a transition animation and taking the fight to a new section of the stage. Each section also contains objects that characters can interact with differently depending on their class. Characters fall into two classes: "power characters", who rely on brute strength and innate abilities, and "gadget characters", who use weapons, items, and other external mechanisms to win. For example, a gadget character like Batman can attach a bomb to a car to cause an explosion, while a power character like Superman will pick up the same car and smash his opponents with it. Players have the option to turn off interactive elements and stage transitions.
As characters perform special moves, block oncoming attacks, or get hit by the opponent, their "super meters" will gradually fill. Portions of the super meter can be used to execute enhanced special moves or counter enemy moves. With a full meter, players can unleash their strongest special attack. Players may also expend their meter to interrupt a combo and enter a wager battle, dubbed the "clash system", which combines individualized cutscene cinematics with the process of betting meter. A clash may be triggered by a player only after they have lost their first life bar. During the sequence, both players commit portions of their meter in secret, with the highest bidder winning the clash.
The story mode is split into several chapters. As the narrative plays out, the player swaps between different characters. Minigames are also incorporated into the story. The outcome of minigames can impact an upcoming battle, such as giving the player a health advantage over the CPU opponent. Additional game features include Battle Mode, Versus Mode, Training Mode, and S.T.A.R. Labs, which includes 240 character-specific challenges of varying difficulty. Online multiplayer modes include King of the Hill, a setup that allows up to eight players to spectate a match while waiting for their turn to fight, and Survivor, which carries over the current winner's health bar and character selection over each match. Playing through any of the game modes, including online matches with optional goal objectives, will net the player experience points that may be used to unlock alternate costumes, music, concept art, and other rewards.
Synopsis The campaign of Injustice: Gods Among Us was written by NetherRealm Studios in collaboration with DC Comics' writers. Described by NetherRealm as "Story Mode 3.0", the Injustice campaign was approached similarly to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot through the use of a cinematic narrative versus the traditional ladder-based single-player experience. According to lead designer John Edwards, the plot is meant to rationalize the game's fighting mechanics between characters that would not normally fight one another and explain how Batman can "stand toe-to-toe" with Superman. Writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti served as story consultants to ensure that the comic characters kept their proper voices in Injustice.
Plot In an alternate reality (known as Earth-49), the Joker tricks Superman into killing a pregnant Lois Lane, which detonates a nuclear weapon that destroys Metropolis. After a grief-stricken Superman murders the Joker, he goes on to establish the One Earth Regime to enforce global peace, while Batman forms the Insurgency to oppose him. Five years later, in the Prime Universe, the Justice League and Teen Titans subdue various villains across Metropolis and the Watchtower. Batman learns from Lex Luthor that the Joker plans to detonate a nuclear weapon in Metropolis, but when the heroes attempt to stop him, they, as well as the Joker, are teleported to the alternate reality.
Batman and the Joker find themselves in a rebuilt Metropolis, where they escape capture by the Regime's forces. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern, who were teleported to Gotham City, split up to determine the cause of their arrival. Green Lantern encounters this universe's Cyborg and Raven, who have joined the Regime, and stops them from torturing a captive Deathstroke. He also faces and defeats Sinestro and his own Yellow Lantern counterpart. Meanwhile, Aquaman discovers his counterpart preparing to sign a peace treaty between Atlantis and the Regime and stops him. He then encounters Ares, who helps him escape Atlantis, revealing he has allied with the Insurgency due to the global order enforced by the Regime diminishing his powers.
After regrouping, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Aquaman meet the alternate Batman and Lex Luthor, the latter of whom maintains friendly relations with Superman and acts as a spy for the Insurgency. Batman and Luthor provide the heroes with nanotech pills derived from Kryptonian DNA, which increase one's strength and durability, and reveal that they summoned them to this universe to access a kryptonite weapon that could weaken Superman; however, Prime Batman and the Joker were teleported by accident. Elsewhere, Batman is captured by the Regime while the Joker meets this universe's Harley Quinn, who allied with the Insurgency and founded the Joker Clan in his memory. After helping the Joker Clan fight off a Regime attack on Arkham Asylum, the Insurgents have the Joker imprisoned and infiltrate the Batcave to retrieve the kryptonite weapon, which requires the DNA of the Justice League's core members. Although they succeed in their attempt, the weapon is damaged by Black Adam during the Insurgents' escape.
In the Prime Universe, Superman, the Flash, and Cyborg attempt to recover their missing comrades, resulting in the latter being inadvertently teleported to the Regime's universe. Following some initial confusion, Cyborg joins the Insurgency and works with Deathstroke to take over the Regime Watchtower. Meanwhile, Superman discovers that the captured Batman hails from another universe and makes a public announcement about his plans to execute him, hoping to lure the Insurgency into a trap. After Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman stage an attack on Stryker's Island to distract the Regime, Green Arrow and the alternate Batman break into the prison to rescue Prime Batman. Despite altercations with this universe's Catwoman and Nightwing, who joined the Regime, they succeed in freeing Prime Batman, only to be confronted by Superman during their escape.
After the heroes use the Watchtower's teleporter to flee, Superman realizes the Watchtower has been compromised and flies towards it, but Deathstroke detonates the explosives he planted, destroying the Watchtower. The force of the explosion sends Superman plummeting towards Earth, where he is left momentarily weakened. Seeing this as an opportunity to finally kill Superman, Luthor dons a battle suit equipped with the kryptonite weapon and heads off to confront Superman. On the way, he is attacked by the Joker, who was released by Harley, but Luthor defeats him and helps Harley realize that the Joker never cared about her. Arriving at Superman's location, Luthor reveals his allegiance to the Insurgency and criticizes the Regime's hypocritical methods of achieving peace, but is stopped by Shazam before he can kill Superman, allowing the latter to recover his strength and murder Luthor.
Now aware of humanity's hatred for the Regime, Superman decides to destroy Gotham City and Metropolis and invade the Prime Universe as revenge for its heroes' interference. Shazam protests the plan, but is killed by Superman after mentioning Lois. Shocked by Shazam's death and disillusioned with the Regime's brutality, the Flash defects and informs the Insurgency of Superman's plan. As the Insurgency's hideout is attacked by Regime forces, Wonder Woman is teleported to Themyscira by Ares, who reveals the alternate Wonder Woman's plan to use the Amazons to attack Metropolis. Wonder Woman defeats her Regime counterpart and convinces the Amazons to side with the Insurgency. Meanwhile, Prime Batman persuades his counterpart to summon Prime Superman for help.