It’s only a matter of time before gaming audiences see a large-scale, ambitious newSupermanvideo game. Aside from the fact that such a product would garner massive success due to its cultural relevance and brand recognition,Warner Bros. has been open about its desireto fully leverage its slew of prestigious IP for cross-media endeavors, with gaming being a significant focus for the company moving forward.
In a 2023 earnings call, David Zaslav of WB Discovery explicitly referenced theSupermanIP as an example of a property ripe for cross-media expansion, suggesting that the hero may be top-of-mind when it comes to video game adaptations.
ButSupermanhas long posed a major problem when it comes to game development. On the one hand, the inherent power fantasy of being the Last Son of Krypton, plowing through enemies without any resistance and soaring through the skies at supersonic speeds is certainly enticing, but this same unchecked power is precisely what makes such a game hard to design. For instance, it would be very difficult to make a satisfying combat loop if almost none of the enemy NPCs pose a threat. Plus, there’s the question of why Superman would even waste time fighting normal humans, robots, et cetera, instead of just flying past them. There’s no easy answer to these sorts of questions, but one thing is certain: anySupermangame would need to think outside the boxwith respect to its gameplay and narrative design.
Spider-Man 2’s Playable Venom Section Could Inspire Something Similar in a Superman Game
Superman Needs a Major Threat, Whenever His Game Comes Out
The answer to whySpider-Man 2’s Venom setpiecemight serve as good inspiration for a similar passage in a futureSupermangame is a complex one. First, one must identify what factors would go into a successfulSupermangame: it’s clear that the titular hero would need to go up against a formidable force. In the case of an Earth-boundSupermanstory, Lex Luthor has always proven to be Superman’s greatest nemesis, as he leverages his supreme intellect to get the upper-hand on the hero, especially when he has access to Kryptonite.
Consider the following scenario: players control Superman for an hour or so, learning his powers and experiencing the full weight of his near-godlike abilities. Then, Lex Luthor is revealed to have obtained Kryptonite somehow, abruptly ripping the player out of this power fantasy and into a world with actual danger. Perhaps Lex Luthor could infuse robots or other fodder-type enemies with Kryptonite to make for enemy variety—but that’s just one of many possible routes. The point is,Superman needs a threat in his game, and the combination of Lex Luthor and Kryptonite, perhaps through his Kryptonite-laden Warsuit, would be the way to introduce it.
Lex Luthor would be a good choice for an antagonist, but all these points apply toother major Superman villains as well, like Darkseid. It’s just a matter of making them an appropriately menacing foe.
Lex Luthor Warsuit Gameplay Could Mirror Spider-Man 2’s Venom Setpiece
Spider-man is far from a destructive force. He may be strong, but he is more elegant than brutal, using acrobatics, swift movement, and clever maneuvers to his advantage rather than raw power. This is why theVenom section inSpider-Man 2is so effective: it clearly communicates, in no uncertain terms, how distinct this villain is from both Spider-men, establishing him as a significant threat through the language of gameplay.
This same strategy could work well when establishing Lex Luthor or some other villain as Superman’s foil. Players could experience firsthand the parallels between Superman’s immense power and the villain’s, with the game making full use of the strengths of its medium to convey this experience.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
