Suicide Squad review code discourse explained
The news that Rocksteady Studios is releasing its first game in nine years is enough to pique our interest, but when it's a continuation of the beloved Arkhamverse, includes the Justice Leauge, and lets you explore your filthy side by playing as the Suicide Squad, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League should be GOTY material.
Unfortunately, the long-awaited and long-delayed shooter has hit almost every hurdle you can think of. After a pretty disastrous February 2023 showcase that confirmed Kill the Justice League would be a live service game, Rocksteady scrubbed its release date and shoved the title into 2024. Finally, it's approaching its January 30 release.
Where are the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League reviews?
Click to enlargeYou might've noticed a distinct lack of reviews for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but it's not because the industry has been slow on the uptake. It seems review codes just haven't been given to press before launch, with ourselves at GGRecon also being on the list.
IGN's "Where's Our Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Review?" and Forbes' "What's Going On With ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League' Reviews" prove we aren't alone in being disavowed from Task Force X, so what gives?
There's no official word from Warner Bros. Games about why review codes haven't been given out early, and to be fair, publishers don't have to give out codes. Still, the general consensus is that if you aren't letting press preview a title, you might be worried that it's not very good.
Forbes has speculated that because Kill the Justice League requires an always online connection, journalists aren't being given a sneak peek due to the servers not being live yet. Then again, others have pointed out that this didn't stop Diablo 4 from being previewed.
Also, there are complaints that the lack of codes wasn't communicated very well, throwing further fuel on the fire that someone is hiding something. There's a hefty campaign that could've easily been previewed, and given that spoilers have already rocked the game, a lot of stuff is out there anyway.
Even if codes arrived today (January 29) for a release day embargo, it's unfair to expect an outlet to tear through the game in time and give it a full review. Like it or lump it, it looks like we're going into Kill the Justice League blind.
Fans are worried about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Click to enlargeOver on the gaming subreddit, this lack of reviews has casual gamers worried. Summing up what most of us are thinking, one critic said, "Not giving codes/allowing reviews is the worst move you can make. It just makes it look like you’re hiding something."
Another added, "It's outstanding that the more I see and hear about this game, the less I want anything to do with it. If they had announced it and shut up, I would've likely tried it out based on the dev." A third concluded, "Feel bad for the Arkham subreddit. They’ve fallen into insanity and this game won't help."
Considering the work that went into the Arkham games and the fact the first three are held as one of the greatest trilogies of all time, it's a shame that Kill the Justice League is caught in a scandal before it's even released. Whatever is going on with the next entry in the Arkhamverse, let's hope the Joker doesn't get the last laugh.
