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Wonder Woman’s Triple-A video game is huge

December 13, 2021 0 comments Article Commentary Robin Flanagan

I’m not going to say “this game is even bigger than you think,” because most people reading this can tell how important this is. A full-size open world action-adventure starring Wonder Woman? Sure, it’s easy to say “it’s about time,” which it absolutely is, but I think this is even bigger than just Warner Bros. giving the greatest superheroine a proper video game. Monolith Productions is one of WB Games’ big guns. Their smash hit Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and its sequel, Shadow of War, are amazing games with fantastic action and exploration. The writing ranges from good to excellent, even if they fall into the “beloved franchise, but darker” trap in an effort to make Middle-Earth “edgy.” If they can avoid that pitfall with Diana, this single-player spotlight could finally give Wonder Woman her gaming due (especially after the Injustice franchise’s execrable handling of the character).

I can easily imagine Shadow of Mordor’s open zones could replicate travel between Themyscira and various hot spots around the world. Wonder Woman has a short A-list when it comes to her villains, but any of them could have armies of soldiers, mythological beasts, and super-powered lieutenants. The Nemesis System is a curious addition, but one with tremendous potential when considering the Lasso of Truth. One exciting option for getting past Shadow of Mordor’s creepy brainwashing mechanic is to invert it. Any of Wonder Woman’s top-tier enemies could use mind control of one sort or another on minions (not to mention Diana’s friends), and the Lasso could be a literal case of “the truth shall set you free.” Given how a major part of Wonder Woman’s character is reaching out to enemies and turning them into friends, that feels like a great potential inclusion.

That’s just the beginning of how Wonder Woman’s powers make great game mechanics. She’s incredibly resilient, but not invulnerable. Her bracelets are a fantastic defense option, with reflecting attacks back on foes a perfect upgrade. Wonder Woman might be the greatest close-quarters combatant on DC Earth, and the Lasso is a fantastic mid-range subdual weapon. One oft-forgotten part of Diana’s arsenal is her ability to throw her tiara like a boomerang (or Captain America’s shield), making for an unusual long-range weapon with style. Flight is another great upgrade possibility, starting the character with leaping and lasso-grappling, then picking up the ability to fly around mid-game.

Wonder Woman has remained legendary for generations. There’s a reason for that. If Monolith does this right, they could make a game to rival — or even surpass — Arkham City and Spider-Man PS4. Here’s hoping they do it right.

Robin Flanagan

Robin Flanagan (they/them), aka Peter Flanagan, lives in California with their wonderful wife and muse, a stepson, and a crazed feline. An occasionally too-avid player of and writer for tabletop roleplaying games, their other passion is metaphysics, which informs most of their fiction.

Tags: Design, Gaming, Video Games, Wonder Woman

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