Over the last few decades, DC has gained a bit of a reputation for being the tonally darker one of the two comic giants, thanks in no small part to the grounded Dark Knight trilogy and the brooding, self-serious Snyderverse entries. In actuality, DC has more than its fair share of colorful characters, and the vast majority of its line-up are traditional superheroes who value truth, justice, and the concept of a better tomorrow. That said, NetherRealm’s Injustice series doesn’t show this side of the universe much.
Set in an Elseworld where Superman accidentally killed Lois Lane, snapped, and decided to create his own Regime of super-powered rulers, the Injustice series tackles some pretty dark subject matter, and in classic NetherRealm style, there are plenty of shocking deaths thrown in for good measure. But if NetherRealm ever hopped the fence and made a Marvel fighting game, it could easily be just as dark, if not even more so.
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How a NetherRealm Marvel Game Could Be Even Darker Than Injustice
The Marvel Universe Has Plenty of Truly Evil Villains
Batman’s rogue’s gallery often gets credit for including some of the most despicable villains in comic book history, with The Joker often being viewed as an irredeemable monster capable of some horrific crimes. While that’s a fair rundown, the Marvel universe has plenty of villains that could give even The Joker a run for his money.
The Red Skull was Hitler’s protégé and the leader of Hydra. Baron Zemo created the Masters of Evil and killed Captain America’s son. Ultron longs to eradicate all of humanity. Doctor Doom became a god and stole Reed Richards’ family. And that’s just scratching the surface of Marvel’s roster of long-standing villains.
One of the more recent, but heinous villains in Marvel history is The Maker, the Ultimate Universe version of Reed Richard that turned evil and recently tried to rule over a new universe where he stopped superheroes from existing. NetherRealm could pick from any of these Marvel villains and immediately have a believably evil, compelling antagonist to drive the game’s plot forward.
A NetherRealm Marvel Game Could Let Its Heroes Loose
Along with showcasing some of the most evil villains Marvel has to offer, a NetherRealm game could let some of Marvel’s heroes go further than some fans are used to seeing. While the MCU has occasionally shown the darker side of some heroes’ tactics, there are a wealth of comic book heroes whose fighting style will often result in their opponent lying on the ground, covered in their own blood.
The Punisher, Wolverine, Daredevil, and even Spider-Man (when he’s not pulling his punches) are all capable of brutalizing their opponents, and a NetherRealm Marvel game could highlight this darker side of the universe’s most revered heroes. Of course, even a NetherRealm game wouldn’t be able to take things too far, with Injustice still needing to meet a T-Rating and Marvel unlikely to sign off on anything higher. But a NetherRealm Marvel game could still deliver action and a narrative that’s just as tonally dark as what fans have seen from the Injustice series.
- Released
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May 11, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence