KTJL Is the Second Chapter of a Story That Was Never Told

After a 9-year wait, the Batman: Arkham series has made its grand return through Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. While it is great to see all of these iconic characters again, the actual game has proven extremely controversial with the fanbase. From its focus on live-service elements to the story being told here, fans have not really flocked to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League like Rocksteady hoped. Yet, the studio had the perfect blueprint laid out for it, but what fans got was very different.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League‘s story has glossed over what could have been a fascinating Batman adventure. Batman: Arkham Knight set up a world where Batman had seemingly died, yet a cloaked figure still roamed Gotham taking out villains. Instead of picking up from there, this title sees Batman suddenly brainwashed by Brainiac alongside the rest of the Justice League. That may lead to a wild adventure, but it also feels like the middle chapter of a story fans have not been able to experience.

Suicide Squad Seems to Have Skipped an Arkhamverse Chapter

Batman: Arkham Knight Hinted At a Very Different Sequel

Batman: Arkham Knight saw Batman take a stand once more to protect Gotham City from evil. In this game, Scarecrow launched an attack on the city, causing citywide madness. Alongside the mysterious Arkham Knight, Batman’s greatest foes came together to finally defeat him once and for all. While many felt it did not match the heights of Arkham City, this tale still made for a fantastic conclusion to the Batman: Arkham series.

At the end of Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman was finally unmasked as Bruce Wayne. After Scarecrow was defeated, the city was reclaimed, and Batman activated the Knightfall Protocol to protect everyone he loves. He returned to Wayne Manor, and it exploded, seemingly killing the Caped Crusader. However, the final scene depicted a figure resembling Batman taking down criminals in an alley, which hinted that Batman was still alive out there, or at least someone had taken on the persona.

The Events Leading Up To Suicide Squad Could Have Made a Fantastic Game

Instead of picking up where Batman: Arkham Knight left off, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League seems to skip ahead a bit. Now, Batman is suddenly a member of the Justice League, even though he never worked with them in any of the past games. Everyone also seems to know that he is Bruce Wayne, and no one really cares that he apparently “died” years prior. He is just back, part of a team, and now brainwashed by Brainiac.

It is a bit jarring that Batman is suddenly a part of a superhero team after Batman: Arkham Knight‘s explosive finale. The tale of Batman stepping out of the shadows to rejoin society and teaming up with the Justice League for the very first time could have been a treat for fans of the franchise. That story could have kicked off a new series of adventures exploring this team dynamic, leading up to Brainiac’s invasion in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. But instead, fans have only gotten to hear about it through museum exhibits and various comments from different characters.

While the story of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League can be fun, some important story beats seem to have been skipped over. If Rocksteady had made a title that explored Batman’s journey post-Arkham Knight, then it may have led to a stronger transition between the two games. Because right now, it seems like players are stepping into a new trilogy halfway through. And it currently does not seem like Rocksteady will explore that period in a video game, even though it really should.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Released

February 2, 2024