It surprises me how often the world of superheroes is subjected to a lackluster game on its behalf. Here are some of the easiest characters and stories from which to derive a fun game, and yet we are too often stuck with mediocre shovelware. Justice League: Chronicles continues this trend, much to my dismay.
In fact, you are at the helm of no less than six classic superheroes in Chronicles, so one would think that there would be some damn fine gameplay behind this title, the type of which capitalizes on the different powers of each hero. I wish that were the case, but it is not so – this is a straightforward, isometric brawler.
Each hero does have a power or two, but they make no impact on the game mechanics, and most of the time you can actually finish level after level without activating them. Why does Batman not have his utility belt? Why does Superman not have selectable powers? Why does Daredevil not have heightened senses? If you are going to make a game with six unique heroes in it, you have got to make sure there's more to differentiate them from one another than the character sprite.
Graphically, the game suffers from bland environments and stiff animation. There's no listening pleasure to be found, either – this is generic game music if I have ever heard it, meaning there's nothing "superhero-y" about the score.
I'm sure that putting six of the most memorable heroes fro comic book history may be just enough to make some of you want to pick this up. Save yourself a lot of pain and don't do it – Justice League: Chronicles is a rush-job beat-em-up with a heroic paint job, nothing more.
-George
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